Do you just live with sexual side effects?

I've been on meds for 20 years and nearly been on all of them trying to find the best, or best combination for me. There is no going off them for me.

I've settled on Zoloft as the med with the least number of side effects that also lets me function at work/home. The ONE side effect is sexual disfunction, no pleasure or feeling down there, also no sex drive. Had the same issues with Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil. Can not tolerate Wellbutrin, give me raging anxiety. Tried taking Wellbutrin to augment an SSRI, still got raging anxiety.

Did you overcome sexual side effects with some med combo, or do you just live with it. How do you cope. Thank you

in antidepressantsby No_Cauliflower4053

92%

16d

One-Marzipan-9652

15d

I quit them the wrong way and now I still live with them long term. It is horrible they don't warn us about earlier. In fact, PSSD is worse than side effects on the medications.

I'm amazed some people don't get them at all.

breiterbach

15d

It's a super frequent side effect unfortunately, Lexapro may as well be called Nosexpro lol.

Is weed legal where you are and maybe it's an option? It doesn't take much - you can microdose and it will still feel better and more enjoyable. It does temporarily give me back my desire, pleasure and feeling down there. It doesn't take forever to climax too and an orgasm actually feels good again for me.

84849493

Moderator

16d

Have you tried buspirone? Sometimes that can help counteract sexual side effects.

Have you only tried SSRIs and Wellbutrin?

Anamadness

15d

I've been medicated for about 20 years and currently feel about half functional. And about half that time was experimenting with different combos of meds, therapy, and lifestyle to find something that works. But I find the benefits of the medication outweigh the negatives. And I'm not gonna be having sex if I'm having an unmedicated episode anyway. It can be frustrating sometimes but it's taken adjusting expectations about what we consider satisfying sex and/or finding new ways to get eachother off. There was also a process of acceptance that sometimes, my body just doesn't work, either from the medication or getting old.

StatusMaterial322

15d

Unfortunately due to having a bad reaction to antidepressants I'm unable to try other medications to see if I can find a cure. Trust me I really dont want to be like this. I was on Sertraline for 10 years it's destroyed me at this rate I may as well be asexual hell I might as well be a nun. It has stopped me from feeling physical attraction I haven't even thought about being in a relationship due to Sertraline. Not sure if I will recover 9 or 10 months free from that med. Hopefully I will recover, I pray no one will go through this.

I'm not against antidepressants as its such a personal choice and I am aware so many people has benefited from antidepressants lucky sods lol. It's a shame I wasn't informed about the risks. As many are living with a list of symptoms. It's a gamble with those meds, any drug has its risks nothing is safe. Mirtazapine is a different class ppl say it can cause weight gain and some say it doesn't affect your libido but we all respond differently. Since Mirtazapine can be taken alongside with vortioxetine I assume it may be ok taken with an SSRI. Don't quote me on that. Definitely speak to your psychiatrist please proceed with caution.

MiddleMix1280

15d

Try gingko biloba supplements. They helped me. Dr recommended early on in my journey when I complained of that side effect. It will take a few weeks but you should notice a difference…

One-Marzipan-9652

15d

I like your doctor. I wish I had those.

MiddleMix1280

15d

It’s an over the counter natures supplement you can get it a lot of places. I always try to find a good brand that’s standardized.

usheroine

Zoloft

16d

I just live with it. I personally don't know any option besides Wellbutrin and I didn't see any valuable recommendations besides it in the textbooks

aperyu-1

16d

Some experts argue that it’s ineffective and, of all the evidence, is probably best for female sexual arousal/interest at doses of 300 mg/day or more. But it’s definitely worth a shot for some due to tolerability and the potential to greatly increase quality of life.

Tyler3781

15d

Saffron

howdylu

16d

yup, and it sucks

Xhesika1993

15d

i haven't had sex sinxe february 😭 i have 0 desire 🤷🤷🤷🤷🤷

helixpowered

15d

I 42m, started taking Cialis a month ago. I take Pristiq 25mg daily and usually end up “pushing rope” regardless of how “into it” I am. Cialis has kept “solider at attention”. I just have to keep a watch on my BP. From the psychological perspective, I remind myself that this is the antidepressants causing the ED and not my body betraying me. Of course that day may come but science had my back. Talk to your doctors.

Bleachtheeyes

15d

It's unfortunate but sometimes it subsides on its own . I recently stopped taking paroxetine but I was on it for about a year , and my libido was back after 3 months on it or so . I gained weight though and no amount of working out was helping ( physical activity improved my mood a lot though lol ) . I have history with an Ed so the fact this was the side effect that stuck was hard to deal with but I decided to choose my battles and be functional over being two sizes smaller. Personally, my doctor prescribed it hoping it would assist with therapy so I knew I don't have to take it forever and that helped me ignore the downsides and just tackle my mental health step by step .

therealmofbarbelo

15d

Yup

That-Group-7347

Moderator

15d

There are some medications that are known to have less sexual side effects. You could try some of these and it might improve the sexual side effects. Remember when changing from a medication that was causing sexual side effects it can take up to a few months for things to return to normal. The meds are nefazodone, mirtazapine, trintellix, viibryd, and Auvelity.

Sea_Dust_1484

15d

I quit clonazepam a month ago. I just don't have desire for sex. No mental arousal. I think clonazepam messed my hormone and did something with testosterone

That-Group-7347

Moderator

15d

As far as I know benzos don't do that. You very easily could be in withdrawal which can definitely effect libido.

Sea_Dust_1484

15d

I already suffer from sexual dysfunction caused by prozac two years ago but I had somewhat little bit libido which is completely gone after clonazepam

That-Group-7347

Moderator

15d

Ok, that makes more sense. I think once you get past the wd from the benzo you can get back to having some ibido. Benzo wd is tough. There was an actual study with saffron and it was successful helping with desire. If you want I can look for the link to the study.

Sea_Dust_1484

15d

Normally how much time benzo withdrawal lasts ? I heard benzos have very short half life.

That-Group-7347

Moderator

15d

It depends on how long you were on it and did you taper off of it. There really isn't a set time frame.

Sea_Dust_1484

15d

I used to take clonazepam 0.5mg occasionally whenever needed. One week I took 4 days consecutively, on the 5th day I took half of 0.5mg since then my condition is messed. I don't get aroused. No libido either.

That-Group-7347

Moderator

15d

You weren't taking it regularly so the wd shouldn't be that bad. Obviously you have anxiety. Has the anxiety been worse since the libido vanished? Not the whole cause, but could be contributing. My only other thought is since you went off prozac have you had your hormone levels checked.

Sea_Dust_1484

15d

I have never checked my hormones. I had issues since prozac but now became worse after clonazepam. Which blood tests are suitable to go through now?

Continue thread...

Tyler3781

15d

I’ve been on Lexapro for 15 years and have zero side effects! Guess I’m lucky!

Tyler3781

15d

Have you tried saffron? Look at augmenting Saffron to your SSRI

One-Marzipan-9652

You are lucky. I want to study your body to figure out how I can overcome the detrimental effects.

Tyler3781

I actually have zero side effects from it. Guess Im lucky

EternalDroid

15d

I come off and all the sexual side effects reversed relatively quickly and it was enjoyable again, not to mention I was no longerb a numb, hollow empty shell of myself, I got excitement and enjoyment back in life. I would never touch them again. Started to try taper but got impatient took time off work and went cold turkey. On day 6 of that hell I took LSD on a hill and focused my mind on my depression and it's contributory factors. I had my mind set on healing and introspection and I spent 12 hours working on myself, I processed the trip and it's inherent lessons and made the required changes and since then no longer need to pump myself with SSRI or SNRIs or deal with their life altering negative side effects that can become permanent with long term use.

Once every two or three months now I will take a day to myself take 200-400ug of LSD and re-evaluate my life, where I am at, where I am trying to go and find acceptance with the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

LSD was a game changer for me. It allowed me to find a way in which I can repair the root causes of what is causing my depression. You'll get a few people who won't or don't want to believe it and those who will treat you with disdain because it's an illegal drug, but it's got a better safety profile than the pharmaceutical drugs and it's effectiveness at allowing you to treat the root cause and lack of serious negative side effects and other health issues mean I couldn't care less about what they think. I got my life back, I got myself back.

MDMA, Ketamine and LSD are all being studied for help with mental health conditions currently. They are all effective. However most will probably need a therapist to talk through stuff with whilst on it and for guidance especially if you do not have a rich inner dialogue, have poor self awareness and/or are not a highly logical and rational person naturally. If you're an emotional person best to only attempt with a professional.

a-lonely-panda

15d

Yeah, I welcome it actually. I'm asexual and don't want any libido (which is different from sexual attraction). I know that's not most people though haha, sorry I don't have advice

MidnightMarauder1186

14d

I have been on Wellbutrin xl 150 mg and so far so good for side effects. No sexual side effects. I was on Trintellix but it made me irritable no matter the dosage and caused sexual side effects.

Aggressive_Pilot6746

14d

Wellbutrin!

drjuss06

15d

Honestly, no. I would rather feel like shit depressed than to not be able to have sex or reach climax. I could not for the life of me climax when I was on zoloft. Now im on wellbutrin and it works fine, definitely calms down my suicidal ideations a bit which is my main issue.

Like you I was first prescribed antidepressants 20 years ago and I completely hate it.

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