Whether you dabble in cocaine or use it regularly, the famed party drug can have serious consequences on your sex life. While it may help you get aroused more easily, it also has the potential to negatively impact your erections, even leading to the development of erectile dysfunction (ED).

Today, we’re talking about the effects of cocaine on erectile dysfunction, as well as the “coke dick” phenomenon and what to do about it.

Coke Dick: Everything You Should Know About Cocaine and Erectile Dysfunction

Cocaine use is prevalent in the United States. In 2021, 1.7% of Americans aged 12 and older (that’s 4.8 million people) reported using cocaine within the last 12 months, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Research also shows that approximately 52% of men suffer from some form of ED. The likelihood of erectile dysfunction increases after age 40, so many men in middle age and their golden years struggle with their sex lives in some capacity.

Coke dick occurs when cocaine prevents you from being able to get or keep an erection, despite sexual arousal. The term is colloquial rather than medical, but it is a real problem that affects a lot of men who take the drug.

The effects of cocaine on erections can be short- or long-term depending on your usage and body. The physical and mental side-effects of the resulting ED can be challenging to deal with, especially if they aren’t open about their cocaine use.

Signs of Coke Dick

There are three telltale signs that you may have erectile dysfunction from cocaine:

• You cannot get an erection
• You cannot maintain an erection
• You cannot get an erection hard enough for sexual activity

Many men are unaware how cocaine can impact their sex lives, and they are shocked when they find out that their use of the drug has led to ongoing issues with ED. Even worse, some men may try cocaine thinking it could stimulate arousal, only to find that it worsens their ED.

Can Cocaine Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

Yes, because cocaine contracts blood vessels in your body, which can make it difficult to get an erection. After taking cocaine, some men cannot get an erection at all, no matter how in the mood they are.

Taking cocaine once is unlikely to cause long-term erectile dysfunction, and the results of one-time use are likely to resolve within a day or two. But if you regularly take cocaine, the chance of developing ongoing issues with your erections is higher.

Coke & Erections in the Short-Term

Let’s say you went to a party, took cocaine, and found you couldn’t get an erection that night when you wanted to. It happens, and it’s not surprising given how cocaine affects blood flow.

In this case, so long as you don’t struggle from ongoing ED, you’re likely to find everything back in working order once the drug completely leaves your system, which takes two to three days on average.

Having temporary ED from cocaine is not going to be diagnosed as ED because it resolves on its own in a short period.

Coke & Erections in the Long-Term

More frequent, repetitive use of cocaine can lead to ongoing issues with erectile dysfunction. You could suffer from ongoing ED, as well as physical and psychological side-effects that take a toll on your sex life and self-confidence.

In this case, you could be diagnosed with erectile dysfunction.

How does cocaine affect erections?

Physical Effect of Coke on Erections

On the physical front, cocaine constricts your blood vessels, making it harder for blood to flow where you want it to go when it’s time for intimacy. In medical terminology, this is known as vasoconstriction. The opposite term is vasodilation (more on that later).

In addition to making it harder to get an erection, cocaine can also lead to issues with ejaculation. Men may experience delayed ejaculation due to reduced sensitivity.

In serious cases, some men can even develop priapism, a painful erection that requires emergency medical attention.

In the long-term, frequent cocaine use may lead to permanent vascular damage that causes ongoing erectile dysfunction. You may also experience decreased libido because cocaine affects your hormones.

Primarily, dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline are heavily affected by cocaine highs. Over time, using the drug repeatedly could negatively impact your brain’s ability to produce these hormones at the appropriate times.

Psychological Effects of Coke on Erections

Erections aren’t all physical, which is why even ED medications like Viagra won’t deliver instant results if you aren’t feeling up for sex. Psychology plays a huge role in arousal, which is why any type of mind-altering drug could potentially impact your ability to get an erection.

There are several ways cocaine may impact your sex life.

• Anxiety. If you are unable to get an erection because of cocaine at some point, you could become anxious about it in the future. This performance anxiety can directly cause erectile dysfunction in healthy men.
• Dependency. Taking cocaine to become aroused or more confident, which makes it harder for them to get an erection without the drug.
• Insecurity. Similar to our previous point, if you need cocaine to feel self-confident outside of the bedroom, it can affect how your body reacts in the bedroom.

Cocaine is not only a physical drug; it has a large influence on your self-perception. Research has found a parallel between the cocaine high and narcissistic personality traits; this is due to the impact of the drug on dopamine, which can inflate your self-confidence under the influence.

Unfortunately, playing with your emotions like this can have serious consequences, which is why being aware of the possible side effects is important before turning to substances for anything.

Self-medicating may deliver short-term benefits, but the trade-offs aren’t worth it.

How Long Does Coke Dick Last?

The short-term effects can be just one night, but long-term issues can be ongoing. You may find that cocaine stops you from getting an erection every time you use it. You won’t be able to get one until the drug has worn off.

The truth is that everyone’s body processes drugs differently, so while your friend may take cocaine and have no problem in the bedroom, you might take it and struggle to have an erection for days after.

Generally, the more frequently you take cocaine, the more likely you are to have issues with erections.

How to Fix Coke Dick

The easiest way to get rid of coke dick is to not take cocaine. If you do, then you will need to wait until its effects wear off before your body returns to normal.

Frequent users who have ongoing ED from cocaine use will need to speak with a doctor. Again, stopping use is the primary goal here, as this can prevent further vascular damage that could impact your erections and sex life.

One possible option for treating ED is taking medication like Viagra (sildenafil) or Cialis (tadalafil). These act as vasodilators, which expand rather than constrict the blood vessels to allow for easier circulation.

However, you cannot combine ED medications with cocaine or any other drug that causes vasoconstriction, as this could lead to life-threatening side effects.

Solutions for Coke Dick Problems

If you have issues after taking cocaine, then stop taking the drug and see what happens.

For those who experience ED days after the fact, consider stopping the drug and discussing these effects with your doctor.

In cases of more permanent vascular damage, stopping cocaine and seeking treatment is the best course of action. Working with a provider like one of the doctors at Phoenix can help you find a reliable, discreet treatment that restores your erections.

Solutions for Psychological Coke Dick Problems

If your issues stem from anxiety, then you want to understand where it originates and why you are so reliant on cocaine to resolve it. Though we are not therapists, we can suggest reflecting on your anxiety to get a better understanding of where it originates.

Knowing why you feel so anxious about having an erection or being intimate in the first place can help you begin to build confidence.

Of course, it may benefit you to work with a licensed sex therapist who understands the unique relationship between anxiety and ED. Psychosexual therapy can be a highly effective way to treat your erectile dysfunction and low libido if they stem from your mind more than your body.

How to Avoid Coke Dick

Simple: don’t take cocaine. This may be a downer, but we have good news. The team at Phoenix is here to help you combat ED and regain your confidence without the need for drugs.

Next Steps

Reach out to us to schedule a virtual consultation with a licensed doctor. We’ll ask some questions about your erectile dysfunction to get a better understanding of why it’s happening and how we may be able to help.

All of our conversations are 100% private and personal. We never share your information with anyone, and we even conduct our appointments via chat, so there are no awkward conversations to worry about.

Reach out to us today to get started.

Sources:

• https://www.jstor.org/stable/48511448
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/priapism/symptoms-causes/syc-20352005
• https://www.besturologyclinic.com/blog/how-does-anxiety-impact-ed#:~:text=When%20you%20have%20unmanaged%20anxiety,also%20face%20issues%20with%20ED.
• https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20438087211044362

This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or other professional advice. Your specific circumstances should be discussed with a healthcare provider. All statements of opinion represent the writers' judgement at the time of publication and are subject to change. Phoenix and its affiliates provide no express or implied endorsements of third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products, or services.