Antidepressants and sexual dysfunction

Oh, come on now! David Nelson74, it’s easy for you to say, but it really isn't that simple. Sure, maybe once or twice—even five times—people might be patient enough to listen and understand, but anything beyond that becomes a real struggle.
Just shut my brain off??? 😕 How would I even do that? If I actually knew how to do that—or if I had been able to—I wouldn't even be in a position where I need to take an antidepressant. On one hand, they help; I feel so much better, I'm crying less, I'm stronger, and things don't get under my skin as easily. But on the other hand... it’s almost like I’ve become numb. I love my husband and he loves me—he’s truly a wonderful man, my partner, my best friend, and my lover—and I really don't want to let him down. Maybe the best thing would be to just stop taking them altogether? 😢

It’s been my experience that ever since I realized I was slipping into depression, the panic attacks started rolling in too, and my sex drive just completely bottomed out. And when I say zero, I mean it's deep in the negatives. It honestly feels even worse since I started taking Xanax and Zoloft. To make matters more complicated, I'm actually in a happy relationship 🙂
...

Antidepressants... yeah, they definitely mess with your sex drive, whether you're a guy or a girl.

Gregory Wells6 said:Oh, come on now! David Nelson74, it’s easy for you to say, but it really isn't that simple. Sure, maybe once or twice—even five times—people might be patient enough to listen and understand, but anything beyond that becomes a real struggle.
Just shut my brain off??? 😕 How would I even do that? If I actually knew how to do that—or if I had been able to—I wouldn't even be in a position where I need to take an antidepressant. On one hand, they help; I feel so much better, I'm crying less, I'm stronger, and things don't get under my skin as easily. But on the other hand... it’s almost like I’ve become numb. I love my husband and he loves me—he’s truly a wonderful man, my partner, my best friend, and my lover—and I really don't want to let him down. Maybe the best thing would be to just stop taking them altogether? 😢

I actually used them myself before eventually quitting because I didn't feel any better on them... specifically, I was on Zoloft. And even now that I've stopped, my libido still hasn't really bounced back. So, if they are actually helping you manage your other symptoms, I wouldn't suggest walking away from them just yet, because in my experience, if you quit and all those original issues come rushing back, you'll likely find yourself right back in the same situation regarding your sex drive... so... I don't exactly have a magic solution here... 😢

Hey everyone, I have one more question for you all. How long did you end up staying on those antidepressants? My doctor is suggesting a six-month course, but honestly—does that seem like an eternity to anyone else?

The main reason I finally decided to seek professional help was because of sexual dysfunction. My libido is just incredibly low—I mean, I do have some desire, but it’s infrequent and really weak. I can still reach orgasm, but I struggle during intercourse (I just realized I should probably mention that I'm female 🙂 ).
I have a boyfriend and we get along great, but obviously, things get tense and we run into friction because he has a totally normal sex drive and, well, you know how it goes...

I don't think your depression is what's causing the sexual dysfunction. Honestly, I suspect it might be the other way around—that you're feeling depressed because your libido isn't being satisfied in the way that works specifically for you. You should try exploring and experimenting; eventually, you'll figure out what you need. Otherwise, you're just stuck in this endless loop. Why bother taking antidepressants when you could just find a way to enjoy yourself sexually? Look into it. Maybe you need something else entirely—perhaps a different partner, a more open relationship, a bit of kink, or... It's probably easiest to leave it to your doctor. But ultimately, you have to be the one to find it. Just keep looking, and you'll find it.

How long does it actually take for your libido to bounce back after you stop taking antidepressants? And is it even possible for them to just wreck your sex drive forever? I quit my meds about a month ago and, honestly, things still aren't working the way they should down there—it's kind of freaking me out. I was on 30 mg of Paxil for about 10 months.

The only thing I can really speak from experience on is SSRIs since that's what I've been on myself! Usually, you'll feel things start to shift after maybe two or three days, though if you've been on them for a long stretch, it might take up to a week at most. But honestly, regarding this specific SSRI... I don't know, just looking at it, a whole month feels like way too long to me!
Maybe try picking up some Ginkgo Biloba capsules? There's a good chance they'll help you out with this. 😉

I was on Asentra before and my libido took a massive hit—erections were pretty weak. I’ve since switched over to Celexa, which has the same issue, but I’m also taking antipsychotic Risperdal now and it’s actually helping... I'd say my performance is about 80% back to normal on just one pill of Celexa. Things are looking up! When I was cranking through three 50 mg doses of Asentra, my drive was basically zero and the impotence was just awful—it honestly sent me spiraling even deeper into depression. Now? The situation is way better. These antidepressants are absolute devils, but they definitely pulled me out of the jaws of OKPa

rowdylynx17 said:My psychiatrist keeps telling me that the more I obsess over my inability to relax—how I just can't seem to function when it comes to winding down—the harder it becomes. It’s like I’m stuck in this loop where I'm hyper-focused on my own lack of relaxation, which basically means I'm just sabotaging myself...🙄
I suppose it has to be something more instinctive or hormonal. If I spend all my time trying to rationalize it or overthink the mechanics of it, then none of that really helps...
So, right now, I'm just trying my best to stop thinking about it. I've been sipping on some St. John's Wort tea, and I'm planning on picking up some ginseng soon. That's pretty much my whole strategy...
Mind you, I don't take Lexapro, so my aunt can't just tell me, "Oh, just turn your brain off." But honestly, how am I even supposed to do that?🤷
Anyway, that was essentially where we left things during our last session.🙂

Just grab some "ANDROGEL" at the pharmacy.
It's pure testosterone applied to the stomach.
It won't mess with your cycle, but it'll give you intense orgasms unlike anything you've experienced.
For women, maybe one application a week—half on Tuesday and the other half on Friday or Saturday.
For men, once a day. You'll see results in a week.
Glad I could help out with some advice.
Good luck and enjoy...
PS: Sex isn't everything, but it certainly covers a lot of ground.

vividhawk442 said:Just grab some "ANDROGEL" at the pharmacy.
It's pure testosterone applied to the stomach.
It won't mess with your cycle, but it'll give you intense orgasms unlike anything you've experienced.
For women, maybe one application a week—half on Tuesday and the other half on Friday or Saturday.
For men, once a day. You'll see results in a week.
Glad I could help out with some advice.
Good luck and enjoy...
PS: Sex isn't everything, but it certainly covers a lot of ground.

Whoa 😁, does that stuff actually work though? 😁

dustyfalcon12 said:If you ask me, I’d steer clear of those antidepressants...🙂
The issues you're dealing with—well, you can handle them on your own, if you ask my opinion...🙂
Maybe you're just a bit scattered or something...
And jumping onto medication, it feels like such a massive step...🙂

Brenda Sanders46 said:It’s way too easy for her, honestly. She just hands out the antidepressants like candy... you show up to a couple of sessions and suddenly—bam—here we go, straight to the meds.👎

🙄 Look, antidepressants are a lifesaver for people who truly need them.
Personally, I don't think psychotherapy would do me any good at all without an SSRI in my system.

Carl Thompson4 said:For mild anxiety or depression, talking it out is usually the better move. If that doesn't cut it, maybe look into something light, something natural?
Look, AT&T can definitely mess with your libido, so you have to figure out which option helps with the mood stuff versus which one actually helps with the drive... it's hard to balance both. You might end up stuck in a loop that's pretty damn difficult to escape. As for the libido side of things, you can try handling that without meds—re-evaluate your relationship, change your routine, whatever...

If we're talking about libido specifically, it wouldn't hurt to get your thyroid levels checked out.

Jeffrey Chase442 said:Whoa 😁, does that stuff actually work though? 😁

Give it a shot... it works for me, and I don't see how you're any different...
We’re all cut from the same cloth.
Think of testosterone as... well, fuel.
Without those hormones, the engine won't even turn over.

Elizabeth doesn't experience those kinds of side effects from her medication (Escitalopram).