Priapism in a Healthy Male: A Rare Side Effect of Herbal Medicines Containing Withania somnifera

Abstract

Priapism is an uncommon urological emergency. Drugs are known causes of priapism. Self-medication and use of over-the-counter drugs are very common in India. Withania somnifera is common over the counter herb used in India for anxiety, depression, boosting immunity, infertility, etc. Despite the unprohibited and over-the-counter use of drug, the efficacy and adverse events data are not available. We report a patient of anxiety and depression self-medicating with W. somnifera and multivitamins presenting with ischemic priapism.