Medication and Sexual Dysfunction

[Snowman5933]

About a month ago I began taking prozac for depression...the good news is I responded well to the medication and my symptoms have greatly improved, but I think I am experiencing some sexual side effects.

Prior to taking this medication I got aroused very easily and could orgasm in less than 10 minutes while masterbating (intercourse could go longer or shorter depending on position, level of excitement and what my partner was doing).

Overall my desire for sex has decreased, I find it harder to become aroused, and it takes about an hour to orgasm while masterbating (my SO cannot take an hour of intercourse or perform oral long enough to bring me to orgasm). Sex has become frustrating...I bring my SO to orgasm by oral and then we have intercourse for a few minutes and either stop, or we take turns masterbating me until I orgasm.

Any suggestions?

Snowman

 

[Trxjw]

Look into some alternative medications.

I was taking anti-depressants for anxiety/depression for about 4 years and had all sorts of issues with them. Started off with Effexor and gained about 35 pounds in 3 months. Switched to Zoloft and couldn't hold an erection for more than 10 minutes or so. Finally I settled on Wellbutrin, which didn't have any sexual side effects but instead made my hands shake for no apparent reason.

Finally I just stopped taking them all together and focused more on a life style change instead of medication. Changed school which brought me to a new state and made an effort to spend more time out of solitary situations. After a while I started feeling much better.

Note that I'm not trying to advise you on what to do with that last paragraph. Everyone is different so ask your doctor if you can try some different meds for a while.

Good luck.

 

[erodream351]

xxxxx

 

[FamilyTherapist]

What my doctor suggested about anti-depressants and sex

I took a different anti-depressive a few years ago. The Good news is it made me much happier and easy to get along with. This made my wife much more amorous, but then there was the bad news, that it took me too long to cum. It was before her menopause, so she didn't mind, but it was a bit difficult for me.
My Dr suggested skipping a day of medicine if we were likely to do it, and it worked. I was still kind and easygoing, but I was no longer "pre-orgasmic."
Hope this helps.

About a month ago I began taking prozac for depression...the good news is I responded well to the medication and my symptoms have greatly improved, but I think I am experiencing some sexual side effects.

Prior to taking this medication I got aroused very easily and could orgasm in less than 10 minutes while masterbating (intercourse could go longer or shorter depending on position, level of excitement and what my partner was doing).

Overall my desire for sex has decreased, I find it harder to become aroused, and it takes about an hour to orgasm while masterbating (my SO cannot take an hour of intercourse or perform oral long enough to bring me to orgasm). Sex has become frustrating...I bring my SO to orgasm by oral and then we have intercourse for a few minutes and either stop, or we take turns masterbating me until I orgasm.

Any suggestions?

Snowman

 

[SweetErika]

I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble with those side effects, Snowman.

I did something similar to Trx. I was on buspirone and an antidepressant while finishing school, and finally had to stop taking the antidepressant because the sexual side effects were making my depression worse overall. I continued with the buspirone to control my anxiety symptoms (which helps me with much of the depression and didn't have any negative sexual side effects - in fact, many people find it enhances their libido and pleasure!), talk therapy and lifestyle changes such as diet, nutrition/supplements, exercise, limiting stress, having coping strategies in place and forcing myself to do things that made me happy.

The first anti-depressant I tried (as a prophylactic for migraines, actually) didn't have noticeable sexual side effects at such a low dose, but I started waking up in the middle of the night with the worst acid reflux in the world.

ETA: I did talk to my doctors about these side effects, and neither lowering the dosages (I was on a low dose in the first place) nor switching drugs worked. So, I'm fairly convinced antidepressants probably just don't mesh well with my body in general.

Buspirone, therapy and lifestyle changes worked for me at the time, and I recently started taking buspirone again, hoping it'll help this time around, too. I don't know if it'll be enough to get me through this period of anxiety and depression (my docs have said they usually go hand-in-hand), but I have very few options and am only willing to try an antidepressant as a last resort. I honestly feel having a healthy sex life is critical to my well-being to the point where I can see myself going downhill quickly if I went back to having a lot of trouble orgasming and wanting sex a lot less.

From a male's perspective, my husband has also started buspirone recently along with lifestyle changes, and has mentioned he's not only noticed positive mental, emotional and relationship side effects, but his libido has increased and he's become more open sexually.

So, I don't know what to tell you other than exploring the other options with your doctor and making sure you're doing everything you can non-medication wise to treat the depression. Drugs like Wellbutrin, and particularly the extended-release version, are supposed to have a lower risk of sexual side effects than Prozac and the like, so you might try something like that or give something like buspirone and natural supplements (there are safe ones for long-term use, unlike St. John's Wort, which can harm the liver) a shot and only go to the prescription anti-depressant if that doesn't work.

Have you asked on Quoll's Depression thread in the Cafe, too? I'm sure some of those participants will respond here, but they may be able to point you to some things to talk to your doctor about.

 

[PertPerth]

I'd suggest talking to your doctor again too. I don't think I can add anything to everyone elses advice.
I'd also like to add that my doctor has put me on a low dose (5mg each night) of amitryptilin (which is an old style antidepressant) to help with the pain I have during penetration (I'm a girl). It is known to literally dull the senses, so in my case, has made sex SO much better!

Medications/drugs are amazing things, you've just got to find one which works for you.

 

[NaughtyLil1]

you should see your doctor about your dosage, fiddle around with it some

Talk with you doctor. As stated, it might be as simple as having a dosage adjustment, or perhaps a different medication that counter balances your side effects.

 

[amber_petite]

One of the side effects of Prozac (and any other anti-d of the same class - ssri) is sexual dysfunction. This can include anorgasmia (inability to orgasm), reduced libido and impotence(male).
You can try a different class of anti-d but they have different side effects or issues, i know TCA anti-ds can also cause decreased sexual activity.
Best is to talk to your doctor.

 

[Snowman5933]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all the comments. I meant to get back earlier, but this was my weekend to work...****, fun. I talked to my SO about the situation and we both agree that I need to stay on the medication (it has made a major improvement). We'll have to adjust to the side effects (we had about 30 minutes of foreplay before intercourse today...this was fun and helped alot). Maybe the side effects will diminish after I've taken the medication longer. Thanks again.

Snowman

 

[SweetErika]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all the comments. I meant to get back earlier, but this was my weekend to work...****, fun. I talked to my SO about the situation and we both agree that I need to stay on the medication (it has made a major improvement). We'll have to adjust to the side effects (we had about 30 minutes of foreplay before intercourse today...this was fun and helped alot). Maybe the side effects will diminish after I've taken the medication longer. Thanks again.

Snowman

Would you not consider switching to a drug that was likely to work just as well with fewer sexual side effects?

I've heard Prozac is one of the worst for sexual problems, so I'd think it'd be wise to talk to your doctor about the other options, rather than just resigning yourself to trying to deal with the side effects of the prozac.

And I think simply exploring the possibilities is what we're all suggesting, even those of us who eventually chose to stop taking the antidepressants altogether. You don't have to not treat your depression; you should educate yourself on the options and advocate finding the most effective, realistic treatment plan for you with the fewest negative side effects and risks for your condition. I totally understand not wanting to change something that's had positive effects on an important area, but I'm guessing there's something out there that will allow you to keep those effects AND reduce the negative effects on your sex life to some extent, which is likely to put you in a better state than you are now.

 

[tommynova2001]

Anti-deppressants

I was on fluoxitine (Prozac) for 10 years. one of the things I first noticed was that in the gym on the treadmill, I used to hit a runner's high at about 20-40 minutes.

On the drug no matter how hard I chased those endorphins I couldn't get there. It became the same way with sex. It did not (for me) affect arousal, or erection but it did make orgasm and ejactualation extremely frustrating. It would sometimes cause what I would describe as a dry orgasm, I would feel like I came, but no ejaculate and it was pleasant but not as fulfilling as it had been. It seemed to take more and more effort both the physical activity itself as well as the imaginative process to reach an orgasm, and it wasn't something that really either of us would want to attempt say daily, because it was easier to get off if I took a break for a day or two. What a depressing way to live one's life when you think about it.

I finally just quit taking them and am hoping I don't need to find a replacement, but I will try other types if needed. It is great to be able to again get off several times in a day if we both want to. My wife is easily orgasmic and it was no blessing to her for me to go at it for an hour.

I was hesitant to discuss this with my doctor..(I know stupid!). It seemed silly to tell my doctor (a female) Hey, doc, I am kind of wearing out my wife with my long lasting and manly torpitude. I did try briefly a switch to welbutrin, but that one made me irritable and angry, I wasn't on it long enough to notice what the sexual side effects were. Talk to your doctor, try alternate meds. I would never tell anyone to avoid needed pharmaceuticals, because it isn't just a massive conspiracy that makes the drug companies rich, meds do work in most cases, the question is always weighing the risks and the unwanted side effects of the drug you choose.

Consider also, not necessarily as a replacement to but in conjunction with your medication therapy such things as psych therapy (if it is at all relevant, if your depression is strictly chemical this will have no effect), look at diet, exercise (I recommend lots of sex), and look for things that bring you joy.

 

[raggedyann]

Your Dr. can give you several different choices of meds to use, they all have a chance of decreased sexual function. That doesn't mean they all will, sometimes you have to try several different meds till you find the one that works for you. Lexapro is a good one