Sex on SSRIs

[Bighammerfucker]

Hi! So I posted in this board before asking for advice on sexual functioning because I’d suffered from a lack of sex drive after some trauma that happened to me around Covid (before it, I’d had quite a high drive and a love of sexuality). I had felt altered by the experience in a way I wasn’t able to get rid of or shake and I had developed very bad anxiety which made me finally make the decision to try a very low dose SSRI.

I was a bit leery considering that I’d heard of the correlation of sexual dysfunction with SSRI use and considering I was already suffering an altered drive I didn’t particularly love the idea but my anxiety had reached a breaking point so I went with it anyway.

And I’m … just over a month since I started and I am honestly shocked because, after spending multiple years after the trauma trying and failing to re-engage my sexual satisfaction back to pre-trauma levels - it feels like this drug has “reset” whatever chemistry had been altered and resumed some semblance of actual drive and a hell of a lot more enjoyable sex and orgasm.

Like, tbh, orgasm is inexplicably far more pleasurable and satisfying than it’s felt since at least 2020. And I actually feel an internal desire again in ways I hadn’t fully felt since.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Like everything I’d ever heard says SSRIs decrease drive and make orgasm harder to achieve, and yet last week was the first week in years I’d woken up feeling semi aroused for multiple days in a row, and again, orgasm is far more comparable to the way it was before the trauma happened. I’m definitely not complaining! But, I’m just really surprised and wondering if anyone else experienced this. It *feels* like what’s happening is that the drug reset some kind of chemical imbalance that was causing the lowered drive since the trauma as this is more akin to the drive I had before it, but at the same time, could it be a side-effect of the drug itself? It seems unlikely to me all things considered but, I still wanted to ask about this here in case someone else has some firsthand experience or more knowledge! Thanks

 

[Ssbbw4u1974]

I'm wondering if you're on a new SSRI or old.. you don't have to say, but I've been on them for many, many years. Some newer ones may be better about not taking away ones sex drive..
I'm on Lexapro & Abilify, so it's like a possible double whammy of possible sexual dysfunction.

Maybe because you're feeling better from the drug that you're able to achieve great orgasms? Could be, I'm not a Dr but I've been a patient for years, tried many, many meds, and have been fairly stable on my current concoction.

My orgasms have been amazing on the regime I'm on..

I'm happy you're feeling the pleasure!!

 

[Bighammerfucker]

I'm wondering if you're on a new SSRI or old.. you don't have to say, but I've been on them for many, many years. Some newer ones may be better about not taking away ones sex drive..
I'm on Lexapro & Abilify, so it's like a possible double whammy of possible sexual dysfunction.

Maybe because you're feeling better from the drug that you're able to achieve great orgasms? Could be, I'm not a Dr but I've been a patient for years, tried many, many meds, and have been fairly stable on my current concoction.

My orgasms have been amazing on the regime I'm on..

I'm happy you're feeling the pleasure!!

Sertraline, but my doc said that sexual dysfunction is still a possible side effect.

I want to say that it’s fully just feeling better - and maybe it is because I also dream the amount I did before it all (I started to dream less around the trauma too), so I def think there was some kind of shift that caused my symptoms in the first place which now seems to be normalized - but - I mean - it’s such a SUDDEN difference - it’s hard to wrap my mind around it I guess

Like huh I hope it’s not just because the drug, but to be fair I did notice that even if I pause taking it for a week, the changes to my sex drive and dreaming and orgasm do not fade. I would think, if it were directly a result of the drug, that I would see a faster “reset” upon not taking it? (I know you are supposed to always take them but I am a 14-on, 7-off 12 hr shift night shift worker and the drug helps me have more energy as well and I naturally suffer from insomnia at the best of times so I try to avoid anything that gives me any extra energy on my time off)

 

[Saint_Ann]

Just drop a little molly first.

 

[Britva415]

Anyone suffering the usual problems can consider talking to their doctor about these unwanted side effects, and asking whether adding Wellbutrin (buproprion) to your SSRI is something they'll prescribe.

For a lot of people, that co-prescription really takes the worst of the sexual side effects away, without decreasing the therapeutic effectiveness of the SSRI. *raises hand*

I see the smiley face, but I don't think molly/ecstasy is good advice for SSRI users. It could trigger an acute reaction called "serotonin syndrome" which is unpleasant and dangerous.

 

[Britva415]

It *feels* like what’s happening is that the drug reset some kind of chemical imbalance that was causing the lowered drive since the trauma as this is more akin to the drive I had before it, but at the same time, could it be a side-effect of the drug itself?

My experience with SSRI's wasn't about trauma and trauma-induced anxiety, and it didn't match your experience.

But I think it's very plausible that the trauma and anxiety themselves were disrupting your nervous system's regulation of your sexual experience, and the relief the SSRI is providing is setting it back closer to where your un-traumatized nervous system was.

 

[Saint_Ann]

Anyone suffering the usual problems can consider talking to their doctor about these unwanted side effects, and asking whether adding Wellbutrin (buproprion) to your SSRI is something they'll prescribe.

For a lot of people, that co-prescription really takes the worst of the sexual side effects away, without decreasing the therapeutic effectiveness of the SSRI. *raises hand*

I see the smiley face, but I don't think molly/ecstasy is good advice for SSRI users. It could trigger an acute reaction called "serotonin syndrome" which is unpleasant and dangerous.

Are you one of those internet doctors like the online viagra pill pushers use?

 

[Britva415]

Are you one of those internet doctors like the online viagra pill pushers use?

Free consultation!

 

[Bighammerfucker]

Anyone suffering the usual problems can consider talking to their doctor about these unwanted side effects, and asking whether adding Wellbutrin (buproprion) to your SSRI is something they'll prescribe.

For a lot of people, that co-prescription really takes the worst of the sexual side effects away, without decreasing the therapeutic effectiveness of the SSRI. *raises hand*

I see the smiley face, but I don't think molly/ecstasy is good advice for SSRI users. It could trigger an acute reaction called "serotonin syndrome" which is unpleasant and dangerous.

I actually took Wellbutrin before! It absolutely nothing to my sex drive at the time lol funny enough, perhaps it had made it a little less. So strange that I should not react to the one that usually causes increased drive, and yet have an increased drive from one that often lowers it in others. Lmao

 

[Bighammerfucker]

Just drop a little molly first.

Also rate this reply 0/10, never touched drugs once in my life, if you want to do that that’s your decision but I don’t support the idea that that’s a suggestion you should be making to me, as a stranger

 

[Saint_Ann]

Also rate this reply 0/10, never touched drugs once in my life, if you want to do that that’s your decision but I don’t support the idea that that’s a suggestion you should be making to me, as a stranger

1. You came to a porn board for medical advice.
2. If you are taking SSRI's, you're taking drugs.

 

[Britva415]

I actually took Wellbutrin before! It absolutely nothing to my sex drive at the time lol funny enough, perhaps it had made it a little less. So strange that I should not react to the one that usually causes increased drive, and yet have an increased drive from one that often lowers it in others. Lmao

It doesn't necessarily do anything to the drive, what it does is it reduces the SSRI's tendency to make it impossible to orgasm.

 

[Ssbbw4u1974]

1. You came to a porn board for medical advice.

It's still a sexual inquiry, so it's relevant to be asked...

 

[Saint_Ann]

It's still a sexual inquiry, so it's relevant to be asked...

You're taking anti depressants. One of the side affects is " may cause depression". Seems a little counterintuitive to me. But hey. Maybe some GB genius will figure it all out for ya.

 

[Britva415]

@Saint_Ann Thanks for the compliment!

 

[Crankbait88]

SSRI's have had the opposite effect on me as most would attest to. While I certainly last longer, I still have the ability to ejaculate and reset a couple of times. I also find myself more aroused than I was in previous years. So all around, they have actually been a boon to my sex life.

 

[Saint_Ann]

@Saint_Ann Thanks for the compliment!

If the shoe fits!

 

[wetsawdust]

I am on a low 5mg dose of Lexapro. I had a really hard time a year and a half ago when my anxiety came to a head and just nearly broke me. The medication has probably literally saved my sanity. I was able to navigate big life changes, work stresses and social situations so much easier. In fact, I'm a fucking social butterfly now. I'm extroverted for the first time in my life. It's incredible what it's helped me achieve.
But I fucking hate it because it takes an hour to cum. I talked to my doctor during my annual, and he suggested halving the dose, and if that didn't work, reach out and we can switch meds.

 

[kathyisgr65]

Hi! So I posted in this board before asking for advice on sexual functioning because I’d suffered from a lack of sex drive after some trauma that happened to me around Covid (before it, I’d had quite a high drive and a love of sexuality). I had felt altered by the experience in a way I wasn’t able to get rid of or shake and I had developed very bad anxiety which made me finally make the decision to try a very low dose SSRI.

I was a bit leery considering that I’d heard of the correlation of sexual dysfunction with SSRI use and considering I was already suffering an altered drive I didn’t particularly love the idea but my anxiety had reached a breaking point so I went with it anyway.

And I’m … just over a month since I started and I am honestly shocked because, after spending multiple years after the trauma trying and failing to re-engage my sexual satisfaction back to pre-trauma levels - it feels like this drug has “reset” whatever chemistry had been altered and resumed some semblance of actual drive and a hell of a lot more enjoyable sex and orgasm.

Like, tbh, orgasm is inexplicably far more pleasurable and satisfying than it’s felt since at least 2020. And I actually feel an internal desire again in ways I hadn’t fully felt since.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Like everything I’d ever heard says SSRIs decrease drive and make orgasm harder to achieve, and yet last week was the first week in years I’d woken up feeling semi aroused for multiple days in a row, and again, orgasm is far more comparable to the way it was before the trauma happened. I’m definitely not complaining! But, I’m just really surprised and wondering if anyone else experienced this. It *feels* like what’s happening is that the drug reset some kind of chemical imbalance that was causing the lowered drive since the trauma as this is more akin to the drive I had before it, but at the same time, could it be a side-effect of the drug itself? It seems unlikely to me all things considered but, I still wanted to ask about this here in case someone else has some firsthand experience or more knowledge! Thanks

I..me...kinky Kathy..was on them a couple yrs ago.. anyway... they completely killed my sex drive... needless to say that wasn't ok.. anyway short story long...in my experience they definitely affect the sex drive..

 

[Mystical24]

I know they can decrease sex drive and cause sexual dysfunction but I’m sure I read something (can’t find it now) that the increased serotonin can help contribute to an increase in sex drive or being able to enjoy those feelings at a higher level

 

[Bighammerfucker]

1. You came to a porn board for medical advice.
2. If you are taking SSRI's, you're taking drugs.

I recognize your account, you’re only ever posting one-liner comments with a smiley face that are usually completely useless. Knew you’d say that about drugs, sure, ok, 0% difference between the lowest possible dose of an SSRI and suggesting someone take molly.

… but I know a baiter when I see one, and I’ve thought since I first saw you post that this is a troll account. Your gimmick kinda sucks btw

 

[Saint_Ann]

I recognize your account, you’re only ever posting one-liner comments with a smiley face that are usually completely useless. Knew you’d say that about drugs, sure, ok, 0% difference between the lowest possible dose of an SSRI and suggesting someone take molly.

… but I know a baiter when I see one, and I’ve thought since I first saw you post that this is a troll account. Your gimmick kinda sucks btw

Yep. You got me. I'm a bot.

The GB medical staff could be more helpful if you gave more information about this "trauma" you experienced.

 

[God_Above]

Abstain.

 

[Britva415]

I am on a low 5mg dose of Lexapro. I had a really hard time a year and a half ago when my anxiety came to a head and just nearly broke me. The medication has probably literally saved my sanity. I was able to navigate big life changes, work stresses and social situations so much easier. In fact, I'm a fucking social butterfly now. I'm extroverted for the first time in my life. It's incredible what it's helped me achieve.
But I fucking hate it because it takes an hour to cum. I talked to my doctor during my annual, and he suggested halving the dose, and if that didn't work, reach out and we can switch meds.

Consider asking the doc about buproprion/Wellbutrin, added to the lexapro you're already on. It might reduce that problem quite a lot - it did for me (different SSRI, not lexapro).

 

[wetsawdust]

Consider asking the doc about buproprion/Wellbutrin, added to the lexapro you're already on. It might reduce that problem quite a lot - it did for me (different SSRI, not lexapro).

Right. When I went in for my yearly, I mentioned it to him and he said the same thing. I am actually starting to wean myself off of Lexapro altogether. I'm feeling really whole lately, and I think I can exist without it. I'm taking it every third day. After a week, every fourth day, etc.....I have some coworkers I trust keeping tabs on me, I asked them to throw something at me and tell me to make a phone call if they start seeing me act like I was pre-lexapro.

But I put a message in with my doc to get the wellbutrin scrip rolling in case I wanna go that route.