Spoiler alert โ no, you shouldn’t.
The modern approach to solving sexual problems is aimed at understanding and improving life. We talked about the difference between orientation and gender. Another problem familiar to many Ukrainians is the effect of antidepressants on libido.
For many patients, this is a reason to stop taking medications or not start taking them at all. Let’s try to dot the “I” in this question. This was described in detail by James M. Greenblatt, MD, for Psychology Today.
Depression and sexual discontent
Depression and decreased desire often come “bundled” even without the side effects of drugs. For example, there is a study that involved more than 27,000 men and women. It showed that participants with sexual dysfunction were more likely to report depressive symptoms.
And anti-depression medications, i.e. antidepressants, often have sexual dysfunction as a side effect. The numbers are as follows: it develops in six out of ten people taking this medicine. Another “bonus” that patients face is anorgasmia, that is, the inability to achieve orgasm. This “set” includes low libido, decreased or delayed orgasm, erectile dysfunction, and painful ejaculation.
And a very common side effect of these side effects is that patients may stop taking antidepressants. In fact, sexual dysfunction is the most popular reason why people stop therapy.
Why do Antidepressants Cause Sexual Dysfunction
The doctor talks about the alleged mechanism of action. Most antidepressants, especially SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), increase serotonin levels in the brain during their action. It improves your mood.
Antidepressants cause sexual dysfunction
Not all medications for depression are the same.
However, serotonin can suppress dopamine. It is this neurotransmitter that is most closely associated with sexual desire, arousal, and orgasm. That is, it can weaken the brain’s sexual reward system.
How to Improve Sex without Stopping Treating Depression
Not all medications for depression are the same when it comes to sexual side effects. You cannot adjust them yourself, but you can contact the doctor who prescribed them. Together, you can choose another drug or fix the effect of the drug on libido in another way.
As a conclusion, we can say that the side effects associated with sexual desire are common, but they can be controlled. This topic should be raised with your psychiatrist โ together you can find an effective solution.
Treatment of depression is designed to improve the quality of life, not to reduce pleasure, the expert notes. We also talked about the biggest male difficulties in sex.