Depression is suffered by millions
Losing your desire for sex is one of the many symptoms of this condition, which also include an inability to feel pleasure and to get adequate sleep, low self-esteem, feeling worthless, a lack of appetite, lowered concentration levels and feelings of despair.
Effects of anti-depressants
Most anti-depressants reduce libido, though your doctor may not warn you of this when prescribing them. Anti-depressants raise the levels of some neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers in the brain and in doing so, alter some of the body’s basic functions.
One of the most successful treatments for depression is a class of drugs called SSRIs, or selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, which were brought on the market in the late 1980s and have proved highly popular. Examples of SSRIs are Prozac, Seroxat, Faverin, Cipramil, Lustral and Ciparex.
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SSRIs affect libido the most
Unfortunately, while these are the most commonly prescribed drugs in many countries, they are also the worst offenders for reducing one’s sex drive. Research shows that around 40-70% of women on SSRIs suffer from low libido, an inability to become or stay aroused, numbness of the vagina and/or clitoris, and have difficulty orgasming.
The reason SSRIs are favoured is that other non-sexual side effects (such as constipation and drowsiness) that plague alternative anti-depressants are not as severe when taking SSRIs. But if your levels of desire and arousal are important to you, as they are to most people, an alternative can and should be found. |
It is good to remember that if you suffer from situational depression, SSRIs can be taken on a short-term basis just to help you get through the worst patches. However, if you are chronically depressed and suffering from reduced arousal or desire due to medication, it would not be wise to go off SSRIs as the benefits overshadow the potential side effects.
Many people find that as their depression lifts due to the medication, their libido is enhanced, so the sexual side effects are to some extent counteracted by the benefits. Also, you may find that the negative side effects diminish with time once your body has got used to being on an SSRI, and you may then begin to feel more sexual.
What to do if your libido is affected
Yet if you are on anti-depressants and you find this has affected your sex drive, you don’t have to accept this. Talk to your doctor about alternative solutions. For instance, you could try reducing your dosage or changing drugs. You may find that changing to another SSRI may be all you need as the side effects vary from person to person, and your body may respond differently to various SSRIs.
An anti-depressant that boosts libido
One increasingly popular alternative is the anti-depressant Bupropion (also known as Zyban or Wellbutrin), an effective anti-depressant that is a norepinephrine
and dopamine re-uptake inhibitor (NDRI) rather than an SSRI. While many anti-depressants typically cause sexual dysfunction and weight gain, Bupropion does not and in fact, it may even boost your sex drive.
It appears that small doses of this medication in combination with SSRIs may counteract the low libido side effect. Viagra, for both women and men, is another possible solution as it works by causing blood vessels to dilate and fill up with blood, and so it affects arousal.
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Discuss alternatives with your doctor
Bear in mind that whatever sexual side effects you or your partner suffer when on SSRIs, you should not abruptly stop taking them as you are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms. Always discuss things with your doctor first.
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