SSRI’s and libido.

[Whybother]

My wife takes Lexapro and it’s one of the contributing factors (if not the only cause) for her lack of desire and anorgasmia. She mentioned trying to stop.

Does anyone have any experience with antidepressants. I’m wondering if she might get her desire back.

Please message me if you aren’t comfortable discussing on the forum.

 

[Whybother]

Mods:

Should I have post in this in the sexual health forum?

 

[Mr E]

I've played musical meds with SSRI's for 20 yrs now. I'm sorry but I can't remember the one that least affected libido(memory is shit these days). They all have some effect and affect people differently. I Can tell you, STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM WELLBUTRIN!! I've been on it twice and it absolutely destroyed my libido. On Abilify right now. It's very affective and doesn't have any real effect on my libido. It does cause a bit of ED with me like they all do. I'm not sure it that would be a problem with a woman.

 

[Mittimer]

The only one that didn't mess with me, but helps my severe panic/anxiety issues is Buspar. Off lable it's also used to treat non bipolar depression. So it could be something to check into if that is her.

When I was on other stuff when I was younger, it destroyed my sexual desire.

 

[Mr E]

I just remembered, it was Cymbalta that was good for me. They affect everyone different though.

 

[JackieJormpJomp]

Depending on how high her dose is, her doctor might recommend tapering off slowly and sometimes this can help with sexual side effects, but sometimes it takes a little while after getting off the med. Sexual interest and arousal relies on an interesting balance of neurotransmitters in the brain. SSRI’s help with increasing serotonin presence in the brain which can help increase calm or happy feelings, but that throws off the serotonin/dopamine ratio which contributes to the dip in libido and ability to orgasm. Sometimes doing other things to help increase dopamine in the brain can help get things moving sexually (but definitely not in all cases). This is a really simplified way of describing it, but I hope it makes sense (to any neuroscience people on CP, I’m sorry if I got some of the science wrong on this)

Be mindful that as she’s coming off a med like Lexapro she might be more irritable, anxious, sad, or some other difficult state. Usually it doesn’t last forever but just hang in there…I speak from personal experience on this one .

 

[Largecar307]

Citalapram hasn't been bad for me after a couple weeks taking it I was back to normal. If I miss one dose it's like I have to start all over

 

[LFGM]

I've been taking Lexapro for a few years now. It does not seem to affect my libido, but sometimes it takes me a long time to finish during sex - almost to the point where I have to focus on finishing.

 

[Ukg6]

I had the same experience on citalopram. Found it impossible to finish. It also killed my appetite. Went down to 8 stone.

The effects from SSRIs are just to wild and variable for me to ever trust taking them again.

 

[LFGM]

Still taking lexapro.

I've noticed that sometimes my penis is just "numb" after a few minutes of sex. ugh.

Had sex with gf last night and was great. Tried to do round 2 this morning and was going great until we were a few minutes in and then it goes numb. Like I'm thrusting my dick into the void. I'm usually only affected by this in the morning though. At least she was able to get off lol.

Just wanted to vent my frustration lol.