Is there an antidepressant that doesn't wipe out your sex drive?

[zerolibido]

I have been taking citalopram for depression for 2 months and find i have absolutely no interest in sex whatsoever. Short term i think my dh is ok with this, not delighted obviously but can put up with it as drugs are helping depression but if it continues i think it will cause problems for us. has anyone else experienced this? & do you know if there are other drogs which dont have this effect?

[MitchyInge]

reboxetine increases my libido and the intensity and frequency of my orgasms - I don't know if this is a common side-effect or not though

[zerolibido]

Sounds fab Mitchy! But does it lift depression as well?

[Sakladdie]

OMG zero, my dh has put up with this for about 4 years now and i thought it was just me because of having dd and postnatal

[MitchyInge]

I take a very small amount, in case I get depressed in which case it can be increased up to a therapeutic level (I have bipolar and also take meds to stop my mood getting too high) but it works for me - however it doesn't have any serotonin type action, it only works on noradrenaline so it probably depends upon what sort of depression you experience? It couldn't hurt to ask your GP about it anyway.

reboxetine wikipedia entry

[Stayingsunnygirl]

Sakladdie and zero - you aren't the only ones. I have no libido either, and it is a real source of stress between dh and me. He is getting better about not making me feel pressurised, but he still wants to have deep and meaningful talks about it. I think he thinks that if he says the 'right' thing, all of a sudden I'll transform into the sex kitten he wants - and what with the depression, the tiredness, the antidepressants and my weight, I don't see this happening any time soon.

[MuffinBaker]

IME it will get better

[MuffinBaker]

Sorry, posted without reading all the thread.

I wasn't meaning to be flippant. Was just trying to give you hope.

[MitchyInge]

there are LOTS of different antidepressants, you don't have to stick with the first one that has begun to lift your mood if you find the side effects intolerable

[AutumnMists]

I wonder if the level of citalopram makes a difference? I was on 20mg last year and my sex drive dissappeared to the extent that dh was very unhappy about the thought I would have to go back on them

However I am back on 40mg and if anything it is better than for a long time (now the tiredness has mainly gone)

Not sure if that means anything or if I am just weird

[jeminthecity]

When I took 20 mg citralopram I just couldn't orgasm.

I had a friend who went onto 40 mg and her #sex drive' cam back, but I havn't asked whether she can orgasm or not.

I went back to the GPs and told them I couldn't orgasm, which was a bit difficult, but worth it.

Changed my meds.

[zerolibido]

Was wondering abot the dosage - I am on 20mg but mainly because i still felt sick after the first month my gp didnt want to up the dose too soon. nausea has settled now though so wonder if its worth trying the higher dose? Thanks for your replies - I'm so glad it's not just me

[zerolibido]

jemin - what did you change to?

[jeminthecity]

zerolib- back on Flouxetine, which I don't find as good, but it means that the libido thing isn't a prob.

My friend is much better on 40mg, although whether it is a dosage thing, or body taking time to adjust, I'm not sure.

Will you go back to the docs?

[zerolibido]

Have to go back every 4 weeks as that's all he'll give me at a time. Think I'll ask him to up the dose & see how i get on.