To start us off, we need to know what antidepressants are. These are prescription drugs that treat or manage the symptoms of depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental and emotional disorders. They mainly work on the nervous system of the patient and alleviate the chemical imbalances. Once the neurotransmitters are in order, then the patient becomes well again.
Doctors are noticing an increase in the number of depression patients in hospitals around the world. Some of the catalysts for the rapid increase are lifestyle changes and the stresses of life. The worse scenario in these cases is that people as young as 12 years are using antidepressant drugs. In grown-ups, the number of females on medication is twice as high as the males. Maybe this counts for the higher number of male suicidal fatalities globally.
Common Side Effects of Antidepressants
Generally, antidepressants are categorized into five types. In all these five types, the side effects are almost homogeneous. Some of the common effects are low blood sugar, nausea, weight loss, sweating, sedation, and agitation. Besides, other patients take longer to respond to medication. In the process, they become suicidal due to a lack of hope for recovery. In the physical aspect, weight gain comes with some drugs.
Antidepressants and Sex
One of the significant challenges that doctors face is the stabilizing of the mood swing of patients. Even after that, most patients suffer withdrawal symptoms due to the slow progress of medication. In the cases that show quick and advance responses to medicine, the effects on their sexual lives are dire. Sexual dysfunction is a huge problem for any couple that is on antidepressant medication.
The effects of diminishing sexual drive differ from one patient to the other. Again, it is different from women and men. But for a while, doctors have observed some common traits in most patients. These traits are minimal sexual desire, lack of sexual arousal, and sensation. In the most extreme, some patients reported persistent genital arousal.
The antidepressant calms the patient from anxiety and emotional imbalances. When the body raises the uptake of serotonin in the brains, the nerves experience calmness. Apparently, the same calmness inhibits any sexually arousing to the genitals. Thus, the patient lacks the emotional drive to perform in the bedroom. The brain fails to record any exciting activity around the genitals.
Types of Antidepressants with Adverse Sexual Effects
In this particular section, we will briefly explore the two major categories of impact, namely mild and severe.
Mild Medication Effects
In this category, you will get SSRIs, Tricyclic antidepressants, 5-HT2 blockers, Monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOIs, and Reversible inhibitor or RIMA. According to doctors’ observations in the US, these types inhibit sex but to a lower effect.
Severe Medication Effects
Like in the mild, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRIs are the significant contributors in this category. The most common are Citalopram, Duloxetine, Escitalopram, Paroxetine, Fluoxetine, and Sertraline.
Sexual Side Effects in Men and Women
Male patients using antidepressants frequently report poor erectile function; and even if an erection comes, to maintain it is difficult. In some cases, there is no ejaculation as the semen does not come.
Female patients have different but almost similar manifestations; they get poor or no vaginal lubrication at all. This makes sex very uncomfortable due to friction during intercourse. Sometimes, when the lubrication comes, there is no orgasm. The woman feels nothing apart from the penetration.
Mitigating the Sexual Side Effects
The first thing is to talk to your doctor. This should happen when they initially prescribe the medication to you. That way, you will be psychologically aware of what to expect.
Adjusting the dosage of the medication comes as second. When the body starts responding well to the anxiety disorder, then the doctor can reduce the dosage. The doctor prescribing the drug is the only one to do it.
If both of you are on medication, synchronizing your dosage time is crucial. Both of you should take medicine after trying to have sex. That way, your bodies will have time to rest and gradually respond to stimulation. If only one is on antidepressants, then talking about the timing of sex is critical.
Exercising is another way of improving your sexual drive. When the body muscles respond to stimulation, the brain receptors calm down. This calmness helps the body to generate natural levels of serotonin. In the end, the neurotransmitters relay sexual messages to the brain at the right time.
Constant foreplay comes in handy in times that sexual drives are low. Foreplay should be a form of seduction. The brain may not respond immediately, but it will help create an environment of sex in the house. In the worst case that nothing happens, at least the two of you are engaging in fondling. That helps in making the bond stronger without actual penetration.
Communication is the key. Constant communication about the medication and the effects should be regular between couples. This helps eradicate mistrust in any situation. It is also a good support base for the patient.
Conclusion
In most cases, patients agree to any medication that comes from doctors. In cases of antidepressants, the effects are long term and can be severely adverse. The effects of the SSRIs are something to discuss with your doctor before you embark on the treatment. If possible, get as many facts as possible on different options available before commencing on the antidepressants, also some supplements such as Male UltraCore can be the solution to this side effect.
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