SSRI's and loss of arousal

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  Beachlover1999

  11 years ago

  Lube lube and errrrrr lube!!!! So I am with you sister!!!!!! I was taking a particular type last year and the same prob, but due to inability to lose weight my GP changed script and now back to Niagara Falls!!! Lol I think time and more stimulation helped and the right lover!!! It's a juggle, balance can be a bugger!!! :))

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  Mischeviouslad

  11 years ago

  A 39 yo friend is in a similar boat as a result of medications she has taken since breast cancer treatment 5 years ago. She can't quite fall over the edge so to speak. Another friend is suffering with Dysautonomia, and is progressively losing sensation and says she feels a compulsion to start her day with a climax to re connect to her nervous system that she describes as 'slipping away'. DG

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  RHP User

  11 years ago

  This is exactly why I abandoned the meds after a few months getting through a bad situation. I had no sex drive at all which made me not feel like me. I didn't even feel like feeling me, which is very unusual. My typically reactive body became numb. I will never take that medication again, unless I absolutely HAVE to and will do it with the knowledge that I'm sacrificing my sexual health for my mental health. Talk to your doctor about this, I should have. There may be alternatives.

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  RHP User

  11 years ago

  I was taking fluoxetine for 2 years post my marriage breakup.... Since then....it's very rare that I get aroused by a person at all even 3 years after throwing them down the toilet :). Obviously after a weaning off period :) But I'll be following this thread with interest :) - Posted from rhpmobile

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  RHP User

  11 years ago

  SSRI's and SNRI's can and do cause sexual disfunction. The clinical advice would probably be to go back to your doctor and discuss options. IMHO it would depend on several variables such as the extent of the mental health issue, the mental health benefits of the SSRI and the impact of antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. All of these would differ in each case. If this negative impact is substantial and negatively affects quality of life, self-esteem, mood, and relationships then it largely offsets/negates the benefits of the SSRI. Changes in dosage and type of SSRI can help, I really think a good long talk with your doc is in order. Exercise and other lifestyle changes can assist with naturalmseratonin production which may allow you to cope with a lower SSRI dose which may alleviate the issue but I am no doctor, I just like to play doctors and nurses sometimes.... Good luck and dont give up...plenty of us have been through similar things. Up4

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  RHP User

  11 years ago

  There has been interesting recent research on the use of exercise to alleviate sexual function side effects in women, which has basically found that those who had a regular exercise routine all had improved orgasm function, and in particular those who did 30 minutes of exercise just prior to intercourse experienced significant overall improvements in sexual functioning. This is due to the fact that antidepressants - SSRIs in particular - have been shown to depress the sympathetic nervous system (part of our autonomic nervous system) which facilitates blood flow to the genital region, and moderately intense exercise activates the SNS, facilitating blood flow to the genital region. If you want to read more about this, just google 'antidepressants sexual exercise' and lots of results will come up. Exercise is also regarded as a great treatment in general for depression and other mental health conditions - releasing endorphins and other feel-good chemicals - so it's great to incorporate some regular exercise into your routine anyway, and there is a good chance it will help alleviate the sexual side effects of your meds.

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  RHP User

  11 years ago

  Just to clarify because I didn't word it very well...the sympathetic nervous system facilitates blood flow to the genital region, which is important in arousal and orgasm. Antidepressants can depress SNS functioning and result in reduced blood flow, and hence reduced arousal (although this isn't the only reason for sexual side effects, there are many other ways that antidepressants can affect sexual functioning). Also, as I mentioned SSRIs have been found to have a greater effect on the SNS when compared to SNRIs...so OP I don't know whether a switch of meds is a possibility for you but it may be worth having a talk to your doctor about it, to weigh up the pros and cons.

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  RHP User

  11 years ago

  very grateful for your advice and the time spent putting these answers together. off to see the doc in a week and hopefully it will get better. will update :)

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  RHP User

  11 years ago

  Is it just me or is there something seriously wrong with this world that we would prescribe a drug for people who are showing some depression signs or serious depression signs a drug that numbs us to the point we have no sex drive. Gee wonder how bad my depression will get when I have lost connection with those I love and my partner has either left me or is about too due to the lack of sex.................I'm no rocket scientist........ Really doesn't sound like a good idea, surely there is something better then that to help. Let's not even start on how many people are on antidepressants or are depressed

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  RHP User

  11 years ago

  Oddly enough my sex drive itself wasn't affected when I started taking SSRIs - in fact to be honest the effect was relatively good for me as the only thing it did was take longer for me to climax. Which is a bit irritating for self-love, but when you're having fun with a partner being able to go the distance is very useful :D

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  RHP User

  11 years ago

  Is it's two fold, you take this medication to make you feel good yet that takes away the best feel good feeling in the world. To add salt to the wound , we don't perform as well as we should then performance anxiety starts to creep in. ? So now we have another problem on top of the other 2. Surely' if they can make a medication to alleviate depression they can delve a little deeper and correct its side effects BUT ' would they ? We all know theres big big money in the anti depression market.. In fact billions ? So the pharmaceutical companies would have no reason to invest in something that would threatened such a profitable market and neither as would the government, both prosper on the health or lack of it of others.. So the only real thing we can do is find a good GP capable of tackling the issue. Exercise everyday. Find the cause of what it is that put you in that space in the first place and deal with it.

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  RHP User

  11 years ago

  Try not to read Rores and Jay_Me's posts - they're not helpful. There's a trade-off between weight gain and sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine and fluvoxamine are two that have very little sexual side effects, though people on them have a tendency to put on a bit of weight. The weight neutral ones tend to be the worst for sexual symptoms. You'll only put on weight if you eat more, though (the tabs themselves aren't loaded with calories).Talk to your doc about either of those and see how you go. I have other suggestions you can PM me about (I'm a doc).

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  RHP User

  11 years ago

  back again we seem to have cracked it, I need to be very hydrated and not stress about it. Well that seemed to work last night anyway :) thanks again all

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  MissSarahCurious

  11 years ago

  A change to or from the name brand rather than a change in dosage or drug can do the trick. Xx Sarah

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  RHP User

  11 years ago

  I have that so can't take some drugs. To get that sex drive going ,yes exercise would help, but I have perminant vertigo so that makes it funny as he'll for anyone watching me on a treadmill. I can't even get out of the water at the beach without help. So my seexdrive has left the building. However I am working on getting my mojo back and taken up work doing phone sex It stimulates my brain I love the sound if an aroused male so I can feel the pussy twitch and some guys I even wank for as they get me going. The mind can compensate and learn ways to deal with the many problems we humans face. Real life , we anyone here a necromancer

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  RHP User

  11 years ago

  Some posts are not doing people any good. Medications help millions of people. Both my grandmother's and two of my aunties killed themselves. My sister tried. It's not as simple as go exercise or some theory about drug companies. We live in a complex fast paced and often selfish environment. The too much off everything too soon too fast and too artificial. Look at this site and the unrealistic expectations we have of each other. The Lonely and the frustrated, the delusion ed and yes the very damaged that gather here to find one tinny tread off human connection,even if it's only through our pink bits.unless you a qualified doctor or mental heath professional, tread very very carefully on this tread.have your thoughts but no advice.

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  RHP User

  11 years ago

  Quoting 'LadyTuscan'unless you a qualified doctor or mental heath professional, tread very very carefully on this tread.have your thoughts but no advice. My thoughts exactly. And I'd like to add that comments like "find out what caused it and fix that" are not helpful. Depression is not necessarily caused by something going wrong in your life.

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