Which type of drug is primarily associated with causing priapism?

Priapism, a prolonged and often painful erection that lasts more than four hours, is primarily associated with certain medications, most notably some antihypertensives. This is particularly true for drugs such as trazodone, which, while primarily an antidepressant, also has effects on blood pressure regulation. Antihypertensives can lead to priapism through mechanisms that affect vascular function or neurological pathways.

While other drug categories, such as antidepressants and certain analgesics, can occasionally be implicated in priapism, it is antihypertensives that create a more direct connection through their influence on blood flow and vascular dynamics. Antihistamines are less commonly associated with this condition, mainly because they typically have a different profile of side effects impacting vascular or erectile function.

Understanding priapism's association with these types of medications is crucial, especially in a clinical setting, to prevent potential complications linked to such prolonged erections, which can result in tissue damage if not addressed promptly.