Antidepressants and Sex Drive??

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Sep 5, 2005

Wellbutrin is suposed to be one you can take that does not affect your sex drive.

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 5, 2005

Recently I started on Lexapro, 10mg. It seemed to work for about a week but then I really didn't notice anything "spectacular" and overall have been disspointed with its effectiveness. My doc told me to go up to 20 mg. but if it made me really tired then to switch to Prozac. Well.........suprise!........it made me really tired, much like when I started on 10mg. Also, my sex drive has suffered.
Is Prozac going to be the same? Honestly, if these drugs are not going to do much I don't think this experimenting is worth the side effects. I thought you were really supposed to notice something with taking these meds, a BIG change. What gives?
If I take the Prozac I risk totally killing off the sex drive. I don't know what I want more right now, sex drive or a better mood. Being in nursing school I feel now that stress is inevitable and maybe I am fighting somewhat of a losing battle??? Right now, I feel that my stress is as high as ever, but I started with the meds at the same time I started school. So, could be that w/o the meds I could be in panic attack mode?? LOL. I just don't feel these meds are worth the side effects. I have been on the Lexapro for about six weeks now and no miracles....And if Prozac is going to make me even MORE tired, well I don't want it. I have to be alert and productive after all..
Thanks for any input..
Janice

Believe me, I can empathize with the way you are feeling, but, you need to follow-up with your physician and let him/her know of your hesitations and/or symptoms.

Good luck.

rn/writer, RN · Sep 5, 2005

I had the same response with Lexapro. I might have asked about switching to Wellbutrin but my mood was mostly situational and I could see improvement on the way.

The wierd thing about the Lexapro was that it took me a ridiculously long time to figure out why I was never in the mood. Not only did sex not sound like fun, it wasn't. I don't recall anyone telling me that this was a possible side effect (they figure you already know since you're a nurse) so I just kept feeling lousy. I even thought it might be "the change" and wondered if this was the end of a good thing. Sheesh. Finally, I'm not sure what clicked, but I Googled Lexapro and, sure enough, there was my side effect, bold as brass.

Doc dc'd the med and within about ten days, I felt like my old self, much to my and my husband's relief.

If I ever need an anti-depressant again, I'm going to ask for Wellbutrin.

Good luck to you,

indigosoul329 · Sep 5, 2005

If I ever need an anti-depressant again, I'm going to ask for Wellbutrin.
Good luck to you,

greetings all! this is my first post on the allnurses forums although i've been reading for weeks.

i just wanted to briefly state that wellbutrin is not necessarily a good option for everyone despite the fact that it doesnt crush your libido...i found it to be very jittery-feeling, clumsy, nervous almost. too much energy or something. everyone's different, of course, but just remember to really research this stuff and talk to your prescriber about it before taking the plunge!

peace,

nicole

an RN for just over a year now :)

Curious1alwys, BSN, RN · Sep 5, 2005

Thank you all. I did see my doctor and she won't give me Wellbutrin.......says that it will not help my anxiety. Seems she feels my only option is the more "sedating" SSRI's.

I feel like I need to stop the medication just to see if it was helping!:chuckle I guess I expected a much more noticeable response. I didn't mind waiting out the side effects for four weeks, but another four weeks, for another med?? Uggghh. :uhoh3: AND she wants me to take both the Lexapro AND the Prozac for 5 days. So.........those five days are almost assured to be like the walking dead. Real excited about that!:rotfl: :crying2:

Oh well. Guess there is nothing I can do....thanks anyways..

live4today, RN · Sep 5, 2005

I've been on Celexa for the better part of five years, and it has not harmed my sex drive at all. Ask your doc about Celexa. I started out on 20 mg., and in the past year had lots of increased stressful situations enter my life :uhoh3: so I'm now taking 40 mg daily. Still no effect on the sex drive, but then that's just me. You may have to try several different types of antidepressants before you find one that works best for you. And remember.......they don't work overnight or within one week. They take several weeks to get into your system good before you start to feel a difference. :)

Princess74 · Sep 5, 2005

I take Zoloft and I have had no sexual side effects from it. I'n fact I have not had any side effects from taking it.

indigosoul329 · Sep 5, 2005

I've been on Celexa for the better part of five years, and it has not harmed my sex drive at all. Ask your doc about Celexa. I started out on 20 mg., and in the past year had lots of increased stressful situations enter my life so I'm now taking 40 mg daily. Still no effect on the sex drive, but then that's just me. You may have to try several different types of antidepressants before you find one that works best for you. And remember.......they don't work overnight or within one week. They take several weeks to get into your system good before you start to feel a difference. :)

hey, another option also is starting out at a very, very small dose...my prescriber is an NP and when i was taking meds for anxiety/smoking cessation, we started with what's normally considered a "sub therapeutic" dose of celexa and found that it was all that i needed.

good luck!

StuPer · Sep 5, 2005

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents worth, you talk about expecting a BIG change on antidepressant meds, well I have to say in my experience that such a change is rare. Antidepressants are not normally so effective that the patient notices a huge change, normally I tell patients to expect a slight increase in their ability to cope with the stressors of day to day living, nothing more. Also it is very common to have to swap a number of different antidepressants till you find one which works for you. This is simply the nature of managing an illness whose symptoms are subjectively felt by the sufferer, but is very difficult to measure clinically. On top of this there are so many factors that can impact on mental wellbeing, that you may start to feel better but not be able to identify any single cause.

It maybe irritating having to try different drugs, and the side-effects can be annoying, you have to measure the potential impact of the drugs negatively against the possible benefits to your mood, but if you have expectations of a wonder cure, Im worried you maybe dissappointed.

regards StuPer

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Sep 5, 2005

Good discussion on antidepressants...with a lot of good feedback. A very common reason why folks may choose not to continue a med is the experience of side effects...this includes sexual side effects if they should occur. Not only is this true for psychotropic medications, but also for other med classes as well. Antihypertensive medications come to mind. Each person is different. In saying that...each person's response to a particular med can be different too. This is why there may be various positive AND negative responses for many people who are even on the same medication! Many psychotropic meds can cause sedation or fatigue until the body adjusts to them. Some may have a side effect profile that is more fatiguing, or more energetic, or more decreased libido, or whatever. The key is often waiting it out until this trial period has completed. So, try not to be discouraged. Somethings just take time...even medication. However, if any side effect becomes distressing that compliance becomes an issue, it needs to be discussed openly with your medical provider. The great thing about antidepressant medication is that there are some real choices and options available. So, please discuss them with your provider. Lastly, it is important to remember that antidepressant meds are NOT happy pills, nor will they make one's troubles go away...you are still responsible for that...even during recovery. So, along with medication, what is JUST as important is what one is doing or not doing to make improvements. Stress makes depression worse...in fact, they are highly correlated from a physiological standpoint. School is stressful. Work can be stressful. Life at home can often be stressful. Stress impacts depression greatly. So, what changes can one put into place that can reduce stress and improve one's coping?...Hmmm, think about it? Will these changes improve the response from my medication? Hmmm, quite possibly. And lastly, depression, stress, medication, etc can ALL negatively impact one's sexual interest, response, and energy. What I'm trying to bring to the table is that I hear you and that there may be some need to look at the big picture, including medication. Depression doesn't occur overnite, nor its resolution. Medication is only one part towards one's recovery. Discuss this also with your doctor...the areas of stress and consider the provider's suggestions. Maybe, some changes are in order that will improve your response.

Lastly, no one on this board should tell you to change your medication regime....that is medical advice...nor should you seek this from here. That is a discussion between you and your prescriber only. However, asking about medication side effects, what other's have experienced, and what options may be available to you IS appropriate since this is an information board. I hope poster feedback was helpful in making your decision in what could be discussed with your provider.

Wish you the best in your recovery and in school.

Wolfie

Psychaprn · Nov 4, 2005

Some People Take An SSRI( Lexapro Etc.)and Wellbutrin To Increase Sex Drive. Consider A Second Opinion. HEY DOES ANYONE KNOW WHY IT SAYS WARN 0% UNDER MY NAME WHEN I POST?