Antidepressants and low sexual drive?!
Question: My husband was placed on a antidepressant and is doing well with it. But, he has had a low sex drive and we have had several arguments over the past few months about this. We have tried a counseler, but it has not worked and my husband became very angry after our session. What more can I do? The medication has been changed two times and nothing seems to work.
Answers: My husband was placed on a antidepressant and is doing well with it. But, he has had a low sex drive and we have had several arguments over the past few months about this. We have tried a counseler, but it has not worked and my husband became very angry after our session. What more can I do? The medication has been changed two times and nothing seems to work.
Look at any change in sexual function since the antidepressants were started.
If there has been a change since the initial prescription of a serotonergic antidepressant (e.g. Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Effexor, Cymbalta. Lexapro, Paxil) then that would not be unusual. High rates of sexual dysfunction are associated with these drugs - loss of libido, impotence, ejaculation problems. This is a drug-induced problem. One comprehensive study looking at 4 of these antidepressants found dysfunction rates of 54-65%. Changing antidepressants will not necessarily help, since another SSRI/SNRI may also affect sexual function.
Other issues with these antidepressants would include agitation, emotional blunting, anger, irritability, 'loss of inhibition'... the side-effect sheet (e.g. rxlist.com) will have a comprehensive listing... so you can assess whether other antidepressant issues may be involved in your husband's behavior.
Certainly, any loss of sexual function (including libido) since the drug's prescription, should be viewed as highly indicative of the cause. Sexual function usually returns when the drug is lowered/withdrawn. If you wish to research the nature of the sexual dysfunction, if this has happened since the onset of medication, then there is a complete chapter on the subject in 'Prozac Backlash' by Dr Joseph Glenmullen, which looks at the side-effect profile of these antidepressants. It also looks at the possible methods by which sexual function is disrupted, and ancilliary effects.
People may be told that that altered sexual function is due to depression, despite studies indicating this is not so.
low sex drive may be a symptom of his depression rather that a side effect of the tablet. Although you say he is doing well, it may take a while for his sex drive to pick up. Get him to ask his doctor about it if it continues though
STAY AWAY FROM ANTIDEPRESSENTS.
my best friend's parents put her on them and it messed with her mind.
she used to tell me how she would have hallucinations when she didn't take them and how she would get head aches and stomach aches without them.
I think the company does something to them to make you dependant on them.
they would have really messed her up if she hadn't of stopped taking them