Nutrition Health Chat: Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 5-6 PM Eastern. Learn how vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients affect your health. Free live Q&A. Join us!
Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum.  ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Mental Health  (Expert Forum)
 | 
sexual side affects
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.

sexual side affects

by fairshake, Jan 30, 2006 12:00AM
I have been taking lexapro for about a year now,I have also tried effexor and welbutrin for my depression/stress.I have had problems with no ejaculation with all three.I can get excited and have great intercourse but just every once in a while do I actually ejaculate.I am to be married in a few months and this particular side affect is very much a problem..

My question is:  are there any other depression/stress drugs I can take that wont have that same side affect? also, is there something to take that would help me to ejaculate if i stay on the lexapro? I really don't want to stop the lexapro if I don't have to, it works the best for my depression and stress problems.anyone with some good advise would be greatly appreciatted!!!!!

by Roger Gould, M.D., Jan 30, 2006 12:00AM
I am not aware of anything you can take to counteract that side effect, but a urologist might.  Its surprising to have that with wellbutrin, but not surprising about the others.  Have you tried to talking to your doctor about staying on Lexapro but experimenting with a lower dose?
Member Comments (4)

by Ann A., Feb 01, 2006 12:00AM
I have multiple sclerosis and take an interferon injection which has a side effect of depression.  I naturally suffer with anxiety.  I couldn't stay on the MS treatment because of the depression so my dr prescribed Celexa 20 mg which I took until I gained weight.  He then put me on Lexapro.  I took 5 mg because I knew it was stronger than Celexa and that worked fine for several years.  For anxiety, I've taken .5 mg of Klonopin at night since starting the injections. Then after many years of not dating, I've recently started seeing someone and the sex is so frustrating!  I knew my sex drive was weakening, but it didn't matter that much, now it's a real problem for me.   I asked my doctor if I could change from the Lexapro just because of the sexual side effects and she said, "no, it's working", (which it was).  When I asked a second time she said, "stop the Lexapro and start 150 mg of Wellbutrin XL".  The sexual drive was great for a few days until the depression and anxiety kicked in.  She then told me, "stop the Wellbutrin and take 37.5 and then 75 mg of Effexor".  Only took the 75 mg for a week, but it was way too much for me.  Anxious, couldn't sleep.  Called again.  Now, she says, "stop Effexor and take 75 mg of Wellbutrin" (which I decided to break in half).  It's only been one day and I'm feeling anxious.  I feel like I need take a little Wellbutrin and a little Lexapro, but the dr says I can't.  HELP!

by BenjaminSpicer, Feb 01, 2006 12:00AM
Antidepressant drugs are notorious for causing total sexual ruin.Dont believe that your body will return to normal functioning after you come off the drug your taking.


I have recently found an online  support group with almost 500 members in it for people who have sexual dysfunction caused by antidepressants that doesnt go away after you quit the drug -

***@****
Related discussions
RSS Expert Activity
7 Ways to Reduce Stress During the ...
11 hrs ago by Steven Y Park, MD
What You Can Learn From Tiger Woods...
Dec 04 by Steven Y Park, MD
When the Mexican Drug Trade Hits th...
Dec 03 by Arnold L Goldman, D.V.M.