Why do young men think Captagon is a sexual stimulant?
“My friend told me one pill and you'll be a lion.” This advice is repeated in conversations among young men, and it makes the question of Captagon and sex one of the questions we hear most often, in a whisper, in the clinic. The answer starts with a different question: what is actually in the pill?
Captagon was originally a brand name for a medicine containing fenethylline, but the pills in circulation today are different, as the Captagon guide explains. Analysis of seized pills shows that fenethylline is rare in them and that most are amphetamine with caffeine and other substances. So anyone asking about Captagon and sex is really asking about amphetamine and an unknown mixture.
The feeling that it is a “stimulant” has a simple explanation: stimulants raise dopamine and energy and reduce tiredness and inhibition, so the feeling of vitality and boldness gets mixed up with a feeling of sexual capacity. But energy is one thing, and sexual function is another, depending on blood vessels, hormones, nerves, and psychological state.
What does research say about amphetamine stimulants and sex?
Studies of Captagon itself are few because its contents vary from pill to pill, so doctors rely on amphetamine research. The largest is a Taiwanese study published in 2015 in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, which compared 1,159 men who used amphetamine alone with 211 men of similar ages:
- About half of the users said the substance changed nothing in their sex life.
- Of those who noticed a change, more described weaker erection firmness and less satisfaction than the reverse, while some described delayed ejaculation and intense orgasm.
- Sexual desire increased in some and decreased in others in roughly equal numbers.
- Erectile dysfunction was 29.3% in users versus 11.9% in others, and the likelihood remained about double after accounting for other risk factors.
The researchers noted that frequency of use was linked to the sexual effect more than its duration. A review by two Egyptian andrology researchers covering 75 studies also concluded that most narcotic substances negatively affect a man's sexual health to varying degrees.
Captagon and sex: the myth versus what happens
| What the user believes | What the evidence indicates | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | “It makes you stronger and last longer” | The likelihood of erectile dysfunction is about double in amphetamine users |
| Cravings | “It increases desire” | It rises in some and falls in others, then the crash brings a loss of desire |
| Confidence | “It makes me bold” | Boldness with poor judgment of consequences, so unsafe sex rises |
| Safety | “One pill won't do anything” | The pill's contents are unknown, and it may sharply raise blood pressure and pulse |
Captagon with erectile dysfunction drugs: a danger to the heart
When a user notices dysfunction, many add an over-the-counter pill for erection. This combination carries a doubled risk: amphetamine and caffeine raise blood pressure and pulse, and the US National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus) warns that sexual activity can strain the heart of someone with heart disease, that sildenafil should not be taken with nitrate medications, and that you should stop and contact a doctor if you have chest pain or dizziness during sex.
Young men in their twenties and a problem that wasn't there before
Many people who use Captagon are young men who started it for studying, long work hours, or staying up late, and who had no sexual problem before it. When dysfunction appears, they link it to anxiety, the “evil eye,” or anything except the pills, so anxiety increases and the dysfunction increases. A frank explanation from a doctor, together with stopping and treatment, breaks this cycle.
Does sex life improve after quitting Captagon?
It improves in most people who stop, but gradually. The first weeks may bring long sleep, exhaustion, and low mood, which are temporary symptoms of stopping stimulants. Regular sleep and eating, treatment of depression if it appears, and a medical assessment if the dysfunction persists all help improvement. The page on amphetamine addiction treatment explains the stages of treatment that apply to most Captagon pills.
If Captagon has become part of your day or your relationship, the first consultation at Eradah is free and confidential. Do not start or stop any medication without a doctor.
Warning signs after using Captagon: call an ambulance (123) immediately
- Chest pain or pressure, or severe palpitations.
- A sudden violent headache, weakness on one side of the body, or difficulty speaking.
- A very high temperature with agitation or confusion.
- Seizures or loss of consciousness.
- Hallucinations, or threats to harm themselves or others.
Call ambulance (123) immediately. If the person is unconscious but breathing, place them on their side so they do not choke on vomit. Stay with them and do not leave them alone. Do not give them food or drink, and tell the paramedics everything they took or used, and the amount and time if you know them.
Call the ambulance 123