What to do with low libido from antidepressants?!
Question: Help, I take Lexapro for Anxiety and when the doctor prescribed it I told him I didn't want any sexual side effects that is why he prescribed Lexapro instead of another antidepressant. Well now I have been taking the med for 2 months it has worked well for the anxiety but I have not had an orgasm since and my husband gets quite upset because I can't preform like I used to. He feels like I don't get anything out of sex with him anymore that is not true but I can't prove it to him because no matter how hard I try or what I do I can't get off. I really need help is there anything I can do to help the low libido and still take the medication?
Answers: Help, I take Lexapro for Anxiety and when the doctor prescribed it I told him I didn't want any sexual side effects that is why he prescribed Lexapro instead of another antidepressant. Well now I have been taking the med for 2 months it has worked well for the anxiety but I have not had an orgasm since and my husband gets quite upset because I can't preform like I used to. He feels like I don't get anything out of sex with him anymore that is not true but I can't prove it to him because no matter how hard I try or what I do I can't get off. I really need help is there anything I can do to help the low libido and still take the medication?
Try not to worry, a lower dose might work but you need to talk to your gp. DON'T STOP TAKING THE PILLS! this can cause you more harm than good. talk to your husband and prehaps you can try a bit more foreplay or different positons. Tell your man that you still love him, and that you are going to see about finding a way to improve the love experience for yourself. Try and relax and have a nice bath and build up to your love life this might help. but go and see your doctor and see if they can help. Good luck.
Try a lower dose, unless you are on the low dose, then try an herbal libedo remedy. You can find them near the vitamins at most stores, just buy it and bring it to the doctor (or pharmacist) so he can check if it will interact with the Lexapro.
Well, unfortunately almost any medication can have a sexual side effect. You could try getting a butterfly. I know that may not appeal to some but it may work. It is a really small vibrator about the size of your thumb and it strapped on to you and you can turn it on while having sex with your husband. You also may want to try to have sex during the time the medication is beginning to wear off. I am not familiar with the medication but your doctor will be able to tell you what the duration of action is. It sounds as if the med is peaking and you are trying to be intimate. You won't be able to get your rocks off due to the stimulation from the med. Definitely call the doc and find out what would be the best time to have sex. Don't be embarrassed because he is trained to answer these sort of questions and doctors are not usually very shy or easy to embarrass.
Lexapro - along with the rest of the SSRI antidepressants - is known for causing sexual dysunction.
"Escitalopram, like other SSRIs, has been shown to cause sexual side effects in many patients."
"One RCT (121 men and women) reported increased overall adverse events with paroxetine compared with escitalopram (89% with paroxetine v 77% with escitalopram), but found that escitalopram significantly increased rates of sexual dysfunction compared with paroxetine (ejaculation disorder: 30% with escitalopram v 14% with paroxetine; decreased libido: 26% v 5%; anorgasmia: 26% v 7%; P values not reported, reported as significant; some analyses one sex only). [49] Another subsequent RCT found that 6.5% (9/139) of people treated with paroxetine 20 mg daily over 12 weeks complained of anorgasmia compared with 4.4% (6/136) of people receiving escitalopram 10 mg daily and 0% (0/139) in the placebo arm (reported as P less than 0.05).
It may recede with a drop in dose, since the effect is reported to be dose-related, but some find they only regain sexual function once off the drug.
Ladies may suffer from low libido, inability to orgasm or reduced orgasm, loss of ability to lubricate/become aroused, reduced genital sensitivity.
It's one to discuss with your doctor.
If you wish to read up on the subject ,then Chapter 3 (p.106-135) of 'Prozac Backlash' by Joseph Glenmullen deals with the issue of SSRI/SNRI sexual dysfunction, and the various options of approaching the problem.