Drug makers have long bemoaned the list of negative side effects while taking the older tricyclic antidepressants (the most prevalent of which were a feeling of “dry mouth”, drowsiness, upset stomach or constipation). None of those side effects are good things to have to deal with when taking an antidepressant.
Lo and behold, the new generation of antidepressants was introduced starting with Prozac. Drug makers claimed this new class of drugs (SSRIs) had fewer and less severe side effects.
Now, after being on the market for more than 20 years, we’re learning how prevalent and severe some of those “lesser” side effects are, especially the most common one experience — sexual side effects. Like losing all sensation in your genitals, or lacking any desire for sex, or the ability to even have sex when you want to.
Fortunately for most of us, sex is a pretty enjoyable part of our lives. So when something takes it away, it’s unlikely that’s going to help our depressive symptoms, thoughts or feelings.
SSRIs are generally useful as a class of drugs to help people with their depressive feelings. We just wish they didn’t come with the sexual side effects (and that docs educated their patients more routinely about these commonplace side effects).
CL Psych has the full story: Sexual Side Effects of SSRI’s: Is the Blindfold Coming Off?
(8 votes, average: 4.38 out of 5)
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9 Responses to “Sexual Side Effects of Antidepressants” (Pingbacks/trackbacks not shown below)
Emmy at 9:25 am on
May 18th, 2008
Docs need to ASK about the sexual side effects the same as they ask about constipation. They need to make it a part of each session in order to help patients become more comfortable talking about this issue. This goes for PCP’s as well as psychiatrists.
Psychiatrists also need to ask BEFORE prescribing for a baseline. And they need to understand if the patient would like to improve their sexual resposiveness as part of regaining their health. Doctors need to get over their shyness/fears in order to help patients achieve fuller lives.
em
In my opinion, this is part of what enhances the placebo effect of antidepressant medications. This is based on Cognitive Dissonnance theory. In order to justify the suffering of the side effects, the patient/client will come to believe, “But it’s really worth it, because it is so beneficial.” So, what I am saying is that negative side effects actually enhance the perceived benefit (and actual benefit) of the medication in terms of reduction of symptoms of depression. Patients don’t have to feel like they were “fooled” by thinking that the drugs were effective, but they can marvel at the strength of their beliefs in curbing their difficulties with depression. It’s really incredible how beliefs can affect biology.
John M. Grohol, Psy.D. at 9:28 am on
May 19th, 2008
I think people could do themselves a favor and always ask their doc before starting any new medication — “Hey, what kind of common side effects should I expect with this medication?”
If someone has asked a doc about the expected side effects for a SSRI antidepressant and wasn’t told about the possible sexual side effects, I’d love to hear about it. Post your experiences here… Thanks!
wordmeister at 12:55 pm on
May 19th, 2008
Amen!
I’m happy to say I can’t post an experience. I hear about side effects from my doc, then have the chance to ask questions and decide whether the potential side effects are worth the potential benefits to me (including the sexual side effects of Zoloft before I started a brief course about 10 years ago).
If ever I had a wish for others, it’s to have a clone of him in their lives. If ever I had a sadness, it’s that most people don’t.
Dawn Carter at 11:04 am on
May 20th, 2008
I have been seen by numerous psychiatrists and have been prescribed several antidepressants. NONE of the psychiatrists forewarned me of possible sexual side effects. When one psychiatrist suggested I take prozac—I refused because I had taken it before and it caused me some sexual problems. When I told the psychiatrist this, she said, “maybe sex is not really that important.”
Natalie Bishop at 2:41 pm on
May 22nd, 2008
I have never been on antidepressants but my boyfriend takes zoloft and he has no sexual desire at all any more it has been very hard for us in our relationship and our age does not help any because we are not that old.
I remember when I was put on venlafaxine I slowely lost all interest in any form of sexual contact.
My doctor advised this was due to my mood and not at all related to the medication.
Yet after some research of my own if then found out it’s quite common in the newer forms of SSRI’s.
Lori at 3:00 pm on
July 2nd, 2008
Both prozac and cymbalta dampened my desire, but when i started taking a beta blocker and benzodiazapene in combo with cymbalta to help with anxiety, desire came back like mad. My poor partner can hardly keep up with me now. Any ideas for why this good turn of events occured?
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Docs need to ASK about the sexual side effects the same as they ask about constipation. They need to make it a part of each session in order to help patients become more comfortable talking about this issue. This goes for PCP’s as well as psychiatrists.
Psychiatrists also need to ask BEFORE prescribing for a baseline. And they need to understand if the patient would like to improve their sexual resposiveness as part of regaining their health. Doctors need to get over their shyness/fears in order to help patients achieve fuller lives.
em
In my opinion, this is part of what enhances the placebo effect of antidepressant medications. This is based on Cognitive Dissonnance theory. In order to justify the suffering of the side effects, the patient/client will come to believe, “But it’s really worth it, because it is so beneficial.” So, what I am saying is that negative side effects actually enhance the perceived benefit (and actual benefit) of the medication in terms of reduction of symptoms of depression. Patients don’t have to feel like they were “fooled” by thinking that the drugs were effective, but they can marvel at the strength of their beliefs in curbing their difficulties with depression. It’s really incredible how beliefs can affect biology.
I think people could do themselves a favor and always ask their doc before starting any new medication — “Hey, what kind of common side effects should I expect with this medication?”
If someone has asked a doc about the expected side effects for a SSRI antidepressant and wasn’t told about the possible sexual side effects, I’d love to hear about it. Post your experiences here… Thanks!
Amen!
I’m happy to say I can’t post an experience. I hear about side effects from my doc, then have the chance to ask questions and decide whether the potential side effects are worth the potential benefits to me (including the sexual side effects of Zoloft before I started a brief course about 10 years ago).
If ever I had a wish for others, it’s to have a clone of him in their lives. If ever I had a sadness, it’s that most people don’t.
I have been seen by numerous psychiatrists and have been prescribed several antidepressants. NONE of the psychiatrists forewarned me of possible sexual side effects. When one psychiatrist suggested I take prozac—I refused because I had taken it before and it caused me some sexual problems. When I told the psychiatrist this, she said, “maybe sex is not really that important.”
I have never been on antidepressants but my boyfriend takes zoloft and he has no sexual desire at all any more it has been very hard for us in our relationship and our age does not help any because we are not that old.
I remember when I was put on venlafaxine I slowely lost all interest in any form of sexual contact.
My doctor advised this was due to my mood and not at all related to the medication.
Yet after some research of my own if then found out it’s quite common in the newer forms of SSRI’s.
Both prozac and cymbalta dampened my desire, but when i started taking a beta blocker and benzodiazapene in combo with cymbalta to help with anxiety, desire came back like mad. My poor partner can hardly keep up with me now. Any ideas for why this good turn of events occured?
