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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Celexa sexual side effects
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Celexa sexual side effects
by dt33, Jun 20, 2001 12:00AM
I have been taking zoloft (100 mg daily) for the last year or so. Has helped to stabilize mood swings and levels me off from sinking into demotivation, sadness and general depression. However the Zoloft has created ejaculatory problems with me and I hate having to explain this to my wife, who of course blames herself and thinks she is not turning me on.
Anyway - a psychiatrist recommended celexa as a possible alternative - but my initial research indicates that there are sexual side effects with celexa. Are these side effects generally associated with ejaculation delays? I'm tellin' ya -- If I have to work any harder to orgasm - I am going to give my self cardiac arrest before I turn 35.
Please let me know if I should stay away from Celexa and what other medications would be appropriate to consider.
Thank you.
- dt33
Anyway - a psychiatrist recommended celexa as a possible alternative - but my initial research indicates that there are sexual side effects with celexa. Are these side effects generally associated with ejaculation delays? I'm tellin' ya -- If I have to work any harder to orgasm - I am going to give my self cardiac arrest before I turn 35.
Please let me know if I should stay away from Celexa and what other medications would be appropriate to consider.
Thank you.
- dt33
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jun 25, 2001 12:00AM
, Jun 25, 2001 12:00AM
Celexa can have the same side effects. Ask your doctor about adding wellbutrin to the zoloft. It has worked well on many to stop this particular side effect. Start with one half a pill and go up to 75mg.
I am a registered pharmacist in New Hampshire and I may be able to offer a suggestion. Instead of the Celexa, you could try Wellbutrin (buproprion). It is marketed as an anti-depressant with fewer sexual side effects.
Hope this helps,
JOHN W
Brenda is quite right that bupropion does have its own set of side effects to deal with--this medication effects different people differently. She is also right that most insurances do not cover Zyban, but will cover Well. SR. While it is true that Wellbutrin SR (150 mg) is also marketed as Zyban (in fact the pills are identical looking only with different stamps on them), Wellbutrin does come in a 75 mg and 100 mg tablet (Zyban has only 1 strength-150mg). You can avoid many of the side-effects by slowly and properly increasing your dose over days to weeks.
Anyway, if you are interrested in reading the study which directly compares Zoloft (you'll see it as its chemical name 'sertraline') to Wellbutrin in the area of sexual side-effects, it is now available on the web at:
http://www.biopsychiatry.com/bupropion.htm
I should note in passing that your doctor may not go this route because Wellbutrin is not an SSRI, but a newer class(monocyclic aminoketone). Additionally there is a small risk of seizures associated with Wellbutrin.
Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
JOHN W