Anyone on SSRI's?

My hubby recently went on a SSRI for mild / medium anxiety, at the doctors suggestion. He’s been on them a couple of months and normally has a very high / good sex drive but is now struggling to get aroused. I thought it maybe me but he’s said that he hasn’t even felt the need to wank at all for the last month or so it seems there are definitely some side effects happening.

He is going back to the doctors to discuss but we were wondering if others had seen similar side effects taking SSRI’s and how you dealt with them?

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Hubby is on SSRIs and has exact same issue. They are trying him on Anti Psychotics now (as these have just been licenced for treating depression). Slight improvement but he hasn’t been on them for long.
You can ask your GP to prescribe Sidafinil (generic Viagra). There were very strict prescribing regulations on the NHS but these have now been removed. It’s what OH is using at the moment and it definitely helps him rise to the occassion.

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I wasn’t on SSRI but I was on antidepressants for number years for anxiety, depression and PTSD and it really affected my sex drive. I think it is a side effect for quite a few antidepressants, it really sucks.

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I’m not on SSRI but medication can effect things and I would recommend seeing a doctor and having a review. Its important to get his sex drive back which in its self will improve his mood hopefully. Its great you are being supportive and want to resolve the issue. Good luck @luscious_laura

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One of the big side effects to many anxiety and depression medications is the decrease in sex drive.
I’ve been on sertraline pills for many years and that’s definitely impacted my sexual needs but weirdly for me I’ve found ways to cope and kinda work around it in a sense.

One thing doctors may offer to him is erection pills - typical me has forgotten what they’re called lol

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@luscious_laura definitely don’t blame yourself. I’ve been on ssri’s and the like for years and this can be one of the major side effects sadly. I’ve been lucky to find one that doesn’t seem to affect my sex drive but some were really bad.

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That’s ok! And yes I’ll also agree it is one of the more common side effects you get when on this type of medication which sucks but sometimes you have to weigh up what’s more important if the anxiety was really bad before the medication and if it’s actually had great benefits since he’s been on it :slightly_smiling_face:

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I was on Sertraline then Fluoxetine for Anxiety and OCD due to the pandemic. I normally have a good sex life, twice a week or so with my Wife and most other days on my own. With Sertraline lost interest and couldn’t climax. I ended up using Hot Octopuss Jett, which gets you aroused and climax handsfree! I came off the medication about a year ago and vowed never to go back on due to the side effects.

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I was on SSRI’s for 12 years. My sex drive was low too. I came off them for various reasons, all because of negative side effects.

I have returned to a normal/high sex drive, now being off them for a few years - but then now I have to navigate life with this brain without meds; which crippled me with fear before I came off them.
I’ve come to prefer it this way, although I don’t know if I would exist if it wasn’t for the meds during that time, so I think there’s a time and a place for them for sure.

That’s a very long story short - but yes, medication definitely has an effect on libido.

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I’ve been on multiple different meds for anxiety & depression & honestly I hated all of them - some more than others. In my case, my sex drive increased slightly due to the impact on my anxiety & confidence but it was near impossible to even get close to climaxing on them all which ultimately left me feeling horrid. This was one of a few reasons I decided to come off of them. I’ve found the most beneficial treatment to be online CBT - I’ve had multiple courses of face to face over the years but online was so much better for me - it’s just like instant chat & I recommend it to anyone who asks. My issues are deep-rooted so I do still struggle, but I understand my conditions more & that has helped me to find coping mechanisms that work better for me than medication. The problem is everyone is different & what works for one doesn’t work for the next where, especially where SSRIs & other MH treatments are concerned.

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Hubby has tried SSRI for premature ejaculation issues and they definitely work for this. They have have much improved our sex life and he lasts much longer. He has also seen his drive to masturbate reduce as others have reported but we have laughed that him not needing to wank all the time is not too bad a thing!

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Hi @luscious_laura. Yes, I took SSRIs for many years. It’s a very common side effect for people of any gender. If they’re helping his anxiety, he doesn’t have any other side effects and the lack of sex isn’t bothering him, then I’d suggest supporting him for the time being with the goal to get him better and to come off the meds when he feels better. He can concentrate on pleasuring you in other ways if he isn’t interested in receiving anything.

On the other hand, if the lack of sex and intimacy is distressing for you both then I’d suggest asking to try something else. If the lack of sex causes tension in your relationship or distress to your husband then this can make depression and anxiety worse in the long run. It’s important that, if sex is a priority for you both, you find something that works without the side effects. There are lots of other classes of meds that can be used such as mood stabilizers and antipsychotics (they are used to treat anxiety as well as psychosis).

I’d also like to point out (sorry if this is unhelpful) that after years of failed attempts at medication, I’ve found that the best treatments have been talking therapies (private counselling), spending time outside in nature, and, better than any medication for me, has been regular HIIT workouts / weight training because the endorphins you get after just 15 mins makes me feel like I can take on the world. Eating regular, healthy meals high in protein, fruit and veg and natural healthy fats has also helped me - processed foods and too much carbs make me sluggish and anxious. If you’re interested in exercise, in the UK, it’s worth knowing that you can get reduced price gym membership on the NHS for weight loss and helping with mental health and other medical conditions.

Sorry for the essay! Don’t settle for the first medication that you try if it isn’t right. I hope all goes well for you both :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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Hi @Kitty-Cat01, thank you for all the info and detail. Now we have looked into things further we realize it is down to side effects of the medication and these are very common and actually feel much better about the situation. Actually, our sex life is still very good, probably better as he is fine during sex, his drive is OK for this and has found he now lasts a lot lot longer! Our sessions are longer and intimacy is good so I am probably more satisfied now than before and get fully pleasured :grinning:

So really the only definite change now is on his drive and urge to masturbate. I have asked him a few times about this and he says it is OK as he is just not feeling the need to do it at all or any frustration from not doing it, so I guess this is not a problem if he doesn’t mind.

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I was on An SSRI seroxat way back in 2000. Aged 38. It was a traumatic time for me. A long story, basically i was transferred under section 2 of the mental health act. I perscribed the meds under GPs control.

He was only ever given basic training with regards to dosage. I was Totally suppressed for 1 year. so like a zombie. SIde effects, could get a healthy erection when in mood, but the meds slowed down or stopped an orgasm. They considered it as an ED drug!.
Could spend ages trying but it would take a lot of effert to fire, as it were.

2002 A new GP and Area Mental Health clinic, more aware of dosage. It turned out I was on too high a dose. New studies available, so started a slow wean off of the drug. Finally off completely 2003.

2020 - 2022- am now aged 58 -60 With the total lockdowns of Covid. Been a strain in my in person sex life. Relationships. Being single on own for 2 years working remotely. Plus points, More online purchases, forums learning ways to Self pleasure, remote sex etc. my views are more relaxed using toys and gave me time to embrace my kinks.

This is interesting - I’m on sertraline for anxiety and have had a mixed reaction with respect to libido and erectile difficulties (my libido initially increased, I was insatiable, completely not what I was expecting) but has recently after about 6 months of treatment crashed. I’ve considered asking for a swap over to fluoxetine because it’s supposed to have fewer side effects and be better overall side effect wise, but might not work as well for the anxiety. Did you find it worked?

Fluoxetine was better for me for anxiety and for sex life.

@LPX @peeq Interesting topic for us as hubby was on sertraline a few years back for about 18 months for anxiety and we saw the similar impact on his sex drive as others have mentioned. For us it was actually positive as he could get an erection without issue, as long as I got things going, but also go for ages without cumming and we had some amazing sex due to this :stuck_out_tongue:.

And to be honest, him not getting the urges or needing to masturbate for most of the time he was on the medication was not a negative thing at all for us.

I’ve used them before, didn’t effect my sex drive, but found it very hard to finish when using them

I feel this. Respect to you. It’s not easy

I’m on 50 mg of Sertraline (generic Zoloft) for anxiety and have found that it has lessened my libido somewhat, but it has also got me lasting longer during sex, so I’m actually happy with the outcome. I was probably TOO horny prior to getting on it and not lasting quite as long as I’d have liked and knowing that it is sometimes prescribed for that issue made it a win-win for me. Sorry to hear that other folks are having negative outcomes due to taking it :frowning: