Depression meds affecting sex drive: what's the truth about that?

[jcw888]

I am a 29 year old man... I have been considering treatment for depression--due to physical reasons, not emotional ones--although emotional frustration from not being able to do a damn thing because I'm always tired is certainly starting to become a factor...btw, it's not a thyroid problem, I have none of the other symptoms for that.
The problem is, I have heard that antidepressants take away your sex drive or at least reduce it considerably... that is NOT going to work for me, uh-uh, no sir. But then, the Catch 22 of this whole situation is that fumbling through life lacking energy and vitality, like I am now, is clearly not going to result in me "scoring" many sexual encounters with women anyway.  I don't know many women who go for the Prince Valium type, although I did notice a few hotties in one of my grad courses who looked a bit hot-and-bothered seeing me fall asleep in class for the umpteenth time. (that last sentence was sarcasm, for those who are not well-versed in it)
So I guess I want to know what anyone with first-hand experience has to say about the whole antidepressant/sex drive connection, before I go as far as going to a doctor.  Personal experience is what I'd like to hear the most.

[riverwalk]

Effexor causes sexual problems for men and women, stay away from that one, it's bad news all the way around.  I don't know an SSRI antidepressant that is not potentially causing sexual dysfunction.  Effexor is only supposed to cause sexual dysfunction in 10-15% of users.  Ha!!!  Check out effexor boards and see all the complaints!

If you think an antidepressant is going to give you energy and vitality...that's nothing I have ever seen in anyone on antidepressants.

If you DO decide to take a med, check it out before taking it with actual users by googling the name of the drug with the word withdrawal and see why people are getting off of it.

Just some first hand experience and advice from mistakes made by yours truly.

[lovelee1]

i am on lexapro and i have no complaints in that department but i am a women it may affect men different but not that i heard of

[what2donow]

I am a woman and I am on cymbalta.I am having problems in that department.I cant ummm......well I ...wow how do I say this...I cant ...finish.I have never ever had problems and since starting the meds thats the problem im having......

Good Luck

[charlestonbum19]

Try Wellbutrin. There are no side effects because it is a different type of drug than the SSRIs and SNRIs. In fact, to help out my sex drive and to counter the sexual side effects, my doctor put me on Wellbutrin along with Cymbalta. BTW, I'm a 24 year old guy...so I know what you're talking about. Trust me, Wellbutrin, with or without another anti-depressant, is what you should try first.

[umya]

i know a woman who said celexa for all intents and purposes reduced her sex drive to zero.  i know that zoloft can prolong ejaculation.  

[xanweaner]

I have also heard the Wellbutrin does not affect your sex drive and the ability to "finish". Did your Dr. consider putting you on Prozac since you have no energy? It's supposed to be one of the most energizing of all of the newer SSRI's.

Who diagnosed you with depression, by the way? Is your only symptom fatigue? Well, when I was in college, I was constantly fatigued. Not sure I would classify it as depression. These days, it seems like the docs are quick with the depression diagnosis  think the SSRI's are the cure-all for whatever ails us.  Just a thought...

[jcw888]

Thanks to everyone for their responses.

Charlestonbum19, I will consider what you said about Wellbutrin, for sure.

Xanweaner, I am not sure if I would say fatigue is my only symptom, but I do feel like many of my other problems (especially emotional frustrations) would vanish into thin air if I had an energetic body that had the capability to be active and do things. On the other hand, some of my problems are emotional, and I've been discovering that certain types of emotional lows will cause me to feel physically tired, and sleeps and naps as a form of escape probably does play some role, now that I really think about it.  You said you were always fatigued in college but wouldn't call it depression; so what ended up happening? Did your fatigue eventually clear up?  Did you undergo any kind of treatment that ended up working?  

Hensley258, so are you saying the meds don't affect your ability to get an erection at all, they only affect the ability to orgasm?  Because that's a GOOD thing.  I WANT to be able to go on longer without "popping," if that really would be the only thing that would happen.   Would it make the orgasm weaker?  Or just harder to attain?  Weaker would be a problem; harder to attain would not be.  I have the "worker bee" mentality anyway, when it comes to sex.  Having an orgasm is something any schmoe can do (I guess, unless there are other problems)... making a woman have one is a much more satisfying accomplishment!  Oh, and by the way, the "saving it up" thing you mention is something I already do (the only problem is that it makes it extremely frustrating if, when the time comes, she decides she doesn't want to)

Riverwalk, I've heard other bad things about Effexor.  I'll definitely avoid it.

everyone else who responded, thanks a lot!

[xanweaner]

I did the same thing - napped to "block out" things.  The fatigue I felt as an undergraduate student just gradually went away. I know at one point that I felt like I was in a "black hole" after a tough break-up, but I pulled myself out of it. If I recall, I did a lot of bike riding and it must have helped. No one was taking antidepressants back then.  

I'm a bit concerned that the entire medical community is doling out antidepressants to people who just aren't really seriously depressed - life has its shares of ups and downs which we know is quite normal. What makes it dangerous is if: we're suicidal or we're so physically/mentally debilitated that we can't function. Then, antidepressants can certainly play a key role, if we find the right one, along with a good therapist to get some talk therapy.

I think that much of your stress fatigue is a result of the stress of being a student. Let's face it - college is stressful - especially as a grad. student or if you really have to work hard to get good grades, which was my case.

I hope this info. helped - and good luck! I suggest trying to talk to a therapist first before popping a pill. I don't think anything is an instant fix...

[decks93095]

Im 31 and a woman and lexapro is horrible.  I can start but can never finish the job i would not recommend lexapro.

[Flutterby111]

Great, so the Opiates killed the sex drive already, I'm trying to get that back, and now the Cymbalta can reduce the desire and climax too?  Great, my husband is going to be thrilled....I've heard of Amino Acids working for depression, I don't know if it's only during recovery after opiate use? or if it's in general....maybe I'll look into that....anyone know?
Thanks....  I'm going to see therapist on Wedn...I'm going to ask her advice too. :)

[jcw888]

Hi Xanweaner,
Thank you for your feedback.

>>I'm a bit concerned that the entire medical community is doling out antidepressants to people who just aren't really seriously depressed - life has its shares of ups and downs which we know is quite normal.>>

Nah... in my case it's downs all the way across the board.  Nonetheless, you're probably right, before I try the meds route I should probably talk to a therapist and try to sort out what's going on that is physiological, and what parts are psychological (because I am starting to notice the line between the two can overlap sometimes)

As for suicide, I won't lie and say I don't fantasize about it ever, but don't worry that I'll actually do it.  It is very much a last resort kind of option in my mind.  If I ever kill myself, it would be in what we might consider a doomsday/apocalyptic kind of future scenario.  I would end my own life to escape torture, or becoming a slave, but that's about it.

[peachsurprize]

Hey the main reason for an ANTI DEPRESSANT is to make you feel BETTER AND LIFT your spirits so you CAN FUNCTION, thats a good thing. Its not addictive and it helps you stablize your thoughts . Valium isnt prescribed , its a depressant.. you want an ANTI depressant. You should be able to GET IT UP just fine, remember there are many different drugs and people react differently to the different brands and such, you can change them iif you need to. See a psychatrist and discuss all your concerns with him.
Even if you have some gettin up trouble, it will be temporary as when you STOP taking the drug your Droopin problem will cease. If you FEEL BETTER in  your moods, you whole being will FEEL Better.. dont make an excuse out of BETTER SEX by not treating the mood problem. good luck

[treefarmer1]

Hi,Check out the website www.protazen.com.This product could help you out with your depression and other problem.Good luck Treefarmer1