Hi,
I have tried everything to hit the high notes so to speak but I just can't let go, I remember reading that being on Antidepressants can hinder sexual satisfaction does anyone have any advice they could share with me as alone or with a partner I am just not being satisfied even with aids
Having been on antidepressants twice, I can say that the first time round (for a few years in my teens) taking them meant I that had no real sexual desire til I was in my late teens and well off them.
When I went back on them for a short time last year they made reaching orgasm more difficult or even impossible at times. As far as I know it can be a very common problem with certain types and can be worse in the beginning. I'd say to discuss it with your doctor if it's having a negative effect on your sex life, which can't be good for your mood.
I second what Redcheeks said. I was given them for pain management and they made it extremely difficult to reach orgasm. I have a male friend who took them for two weeks and binned them because he couldnt get an erection. The options are 1) Go back to the doctor and explain the side effects of the particular brand you were given are not agreeing with you and see if you can try a different kind (Apparantly some wont cause problems in some people and its just about finding your ideal one.) or 2) Stop taking them (but thats between you and your doctor.)
I heard several stories when people on antidepressant effected badly the sex drive of people or ability to orgasm. It is down the personal reaction to them, the same like with hormonal contraception, as some women also report problems with sex drive when taking it, but not all. So I guess its down to how your body reacts to certain meds.
Sometimes changing the antidepressant for different ones can solve the problem.
Ive been on anti-depressents for 4 years now, and i have noticed a drop in my "randy levels"
I dont really get horny that often, it doesnt effect my ability to get erections , but i find that i only ever feel the need to do anything with them late at night.
I also have found that the tablets have stopped me from producing natural lubricant which can be very painful if not addressed :|
I took anti depressants years ago. 20 to be precise (amiltriptoline"It had major effects to the extend of I couldn't get hard, didn't even think of sex and was in my youth.it also gave hallucinations which was ridiculous at the time and probably made me worse. I stopped taking them and have not had a problem since.probally didn't need them but at the time it was suggested I was depressed (witch i think I wasn't) so I took them. Made me feel worse than anything else.
As for being depressed, I would recommend getting up early having breakfast, go out for a walk for at least 30minutes listening to iPod/radio something different everyday . Becoming more active helps a great deal.also stop drinking coffee and alchol till you feel better.and knock the tablets on the head, unless you are a long term user then i would suggest weaning of them slowly and suggest a gradual reduction.
Depression is a mindset and anything can put us all there(even the weather). But you can put it at bay with ease its a bit like becoming a non smoker, does not work for everybody but for those who it does reaps the benefits.
When on fluoxentine I had the same trouble if I was in the mood at all, which made the depression worse! Best thing, as others have said, it to speak to your doctor.
Hi Lubear78,
I am a med student and have just finished a major neuroscience module so I just thought I'd contribute my knowledge on the subject! (I'm not claiming to be an expert at all, but I am fairly knowledgable).
In response to spiceitup's post: there is a huge difference between reactive depression (which would occur after the death of a loved one for example) which is completely normal and can be alleviated with the things that you have suggested, and major clinical depressive disorder which is certainly not just a mindset. I would certainly not suggest coming of the meds unless advised by your doctor, and withdrawal symptoms can be really nasty, even after only two weeks use so gradual reduction in the meds is definitely necessary.
All kinds of sexual dysfunction are really common side effects with nearly all types of anti-depressants because the chemicals and receptors that they're working on in the brain to restore a 'normal' chemical balance are also present elsewhere in the body. Sadly, there isn't that much you can do to help combat these side effects.
Definitely go back to your doctor and ask for advice, you may have a lesser reaction with other types of anti-depressants, the doctor really wants what's best for you and the only way for them to do that is to talk to them as much as possible.
Depression is not just a mindset, it's a clinical disorder and the meds are designed to help you get better (although sadly they're not perfect)! I hope this helps, feel free to come back to me with any questions and I'll do my best to answer them.
Hope you start to feel better soon, keep thinking positively, you can get better! :)
No chance! The longer youre on them, the worse it gets and when you come off them it takes ages to return to normal - actually may never. I was on th3m for a year and a half and tried other types but to no avail. I had to come off them to save my relationship cause it got that bad. Been off them for a few months now and havent noticed a change in my sex drive, although im much more sensitive now
shoelover wrote:
Hi Lubear78,
I am a med student and have just finished a major neuroscience module so I just thought I'd contribute my knowledge on the subject! (I'm not claiming to be an expert at all, but I am fairly knowledgable).
In response to spiceitup's post: there is a huge difference between reactive depression (which would occur after the death of a loved one for example) which is completely normal and can be alleviated with the things that you have suggested, and major clinical depressive disorder which is certainly not just a mindset. I would certainly not suggest coming of the meds unless advised by your doctor, and withdrawal symptoms can be really nasty, even after only two weeks use so gradual reduction in the meds is definitely necessary.
All kinds of sexual dysfunction are really common side effects with nearly all types of anti-depressants because the chemicals and receptors that they're working on in the brain to restore a 'normal' chemical balance are also present elsewhere in the body. Sadly, there isn't that much you can do to help combat these side effects.
Definitely go back to your doctor and ask for advice, you may have a lesser reaction with other types of anti-depressants, the doctor really wants what's best for you and the only way for them to do that is to talk to them as much as possible.
Depression is not just a mindset, it's a clinical disorder and the meds are designed to help you get better (although sadly they're not perfect)! I hope this helps, feel free to come back to me with any questions and I'll do my best to answer them.
Hope you start to feel better soon, keep thinking positively, you can get better! :)
As per Shoelover's comments above and further to: this is not my area of expertise either.
A lot of what I'm writing, you may already be aware of. That's good. Therefore you may already have a measure of understanding.
I could reel off a list of other activities you could try, however, it would be trite and probably of no help. Nobody deserves that...
• Have you seen a Doctor about this already? If not, do so. It may not be entirely related to you medication. Before anything else that needs to be ascertained.
• You don't say how long you have been using Antidepressants, whether you are a man or woman (neither does your profile) or how long you have been experiencing your problem. This matters.
A wait and see approach is sometimes taken intially to determine whether your symptoms spontaneously resolve. If you have been taking antidepressants for some time and your symptims have only just arisen, make an appointment with your GP ASAP as it could well be indicative of other causes. A double appointment would be prudent to give you plenty of time.
Your biological Sex often has an effect on how antidepressant drugs affect Sexual Dysfunction; that is to say what type, how and why. It is very common and whilst undertandably it is incredibly frustrating, please bear with it until you have seen somebody.
As the medication is designed to redress issues with your brain chemistry, if tempted it would be exceedingly poor judgment to discontinue your drug regimen without first consulting your GP or if you have one, Consultant. It's easy to see why this would be an attractive prospect, but I would implore you not to. Doing this could potentially result in your depression relapsing and/or a frightening array of withdrawal symptoms.
Antidpressants can react unpredictably and undesirably with a wide range of prescription and non-prescription (i.e. over-the-counter, off-the-shelf and recreational) drugs as well as alcohol. It may be helpful to make a list of any you take so that you don't forget to discuss them with your doctor(s). I find it unlikey they are contributing, although as with anything, there's always a small possibility and ignoring them could be detrimental. You may then be able to discuss viable alternatives to these additional medicines, ones that do not disrupt the effectiveness of your antidpressants.
Given that different antidepressant drugs have varying degrees of success with many conditions (as Fluffbags mentions, they are also finding increasing use in the management of chronic pain), there should be at least one that will work best for you. Sadly they are far from perfect, so there is always an element of experimentation and compromise...hopefully one that you and your partner are both happy with whilst you get better. Again, your Doctors should properly counsel you in respect of these.
Please bear in mind: they whill have "heard it all before". Don't be frightened to discuss your problem with them. Take your partner with you too if it helps and don't shut him/her out if you are doing so already. This is hard on you both.
It may be an unpalatable truth, but these things take time, so be patient.
In the mean-time reasonable exercise and diet; good sleep hygiene and routine — decluttering your bedroom of electronics + work related paraphernalia/going to bed at a and waking at a reasonable hour may help you feel better in general. Likewise, try taking your medication(s) at exactly the same time every day as it may help in alleviating some of your usual side effects. Established routines appear to often be a good thing.
I have the same problem! I don't even get wet anymore and it's effecting my relationship as my OH can't help taking it personally. I can climax occasionaly when I am on my own using aids but it is always a struggle. I have found though that the more I worry about it the harder it has become for me. The only advice I can give is try not to worry about the climaxing and learn to enjoy yourself without it and it will probably happen on it's own eventually. Also if you are in a relationship make sure you are open with your partner about what is going on and how you both feel about it. Hopefully as your body gets used to the medication the side effects may improve slightly. Good luck :)
hi there, tried to respond earlier but my phone was playing up.
I'm on Sertraline at the moment and have to say that at the time I bit the bullet and went to the docs it helped an imense amount, but did kill by ability to have an organsm. I can now but think that's more to do with my mindset now.
Generally, there's lots of drugs out there that do similar things but you've got to remember that the Nurofen 'targeted pain' thing is bollocks, anything you take goes around you whole body. Trying to change something will effect various other areas of you brain and body
It's abit like 'the pill'. Some can have horrific effects on some people while others are fine. Don't feel you have to stick to the first AD you try. Talk to your doctor about it - amazingly they get it despite you maybe feeling foolish trying to describe how you feel. Noticed you always feel more sane and grounded when you talk to them than when you're on your own feeling miserable? they get that too.
it can be tough on the partner who's there to support them. Firstly, get them to research things, get them to be open with you and vice versa (protecting them does not work( and if they seem to be suffering realise it can be as bad for them as it can be for you having to be the person to watch you're deteriation.
I think im the rare one, whenever i'm on antidepressants i have a higher sex drive. I would go to the doctors and see if they can send you to someone who can help with sex while on them. I know in my area they do it as i've got a friend who was rather ashamed to tell anyone only her doctor untill this problem was sorted and they sent her to see a specialist about it and now has the same sex life as she does while shes not on them. Hope this helps :D