Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Orgasms & Duoluxetine

26 replies

Organical · 10/05/2025 23:27

NC as this is embarrassing to ask anyone in rl.
Currently on duoluxetine and one of the side effects reads as lack of interest in sex and difficulty reaching orgasm. The last point seems to be the case for me. FFS!!!

Anyone else had this experience? If so did it resolve it itself? Or did it only resolve itself once you stopped taking it? I'm only on 30mg so not even the highest dose!

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 11/05/2025 06:11

Unfortunately DH had this problem on antidepressants and it was the end of our sex life, as he’s on the medication for life. He wouldn’t see the GP about it, so that was that.

Original poster
Organical · 11/05/2025 07:50

DustyLee123 · 11/05/2025 06:11

Unfortunately DH had this problem on antidepressants and it was the end of our sex life, as he’s on the medication for life. He wouldn’t see the GP about it, so that was that.

Yes I can understand that and that's awful for you both esp when men can take viagra etc.

I'm a woman and I'm wondering whether I need to mention it to my GP but whilst I'm not usually embarrassed this is one thing I feel uncomfortable bringing up with him. I don't even know what he can do other than take me off the medication. Apparently it has bad withdrawal side effects too.

OP posts:
Original poster
Organical · 11/05/2025 07:51

Anyone? There must be many people on this medication surely?

OP posts:
fedup1212 · 11/05/2025 07:53

Not on this one specifically but I also had the same problem on another antidepressant. Pardon the pun but that in itself was depressing! I didn’t feel like I could approach the GP as I was embarrassed tbh. Silly looking back now.

user1476613140 · 11/05/2025 07:55

I had this with another antidepressant and just spoke with my GP. He said to come off it and it helped.

Ilovelowry · 11/05/2025 08:04

OP I am not on an antidepressant but I had no problem asking for testosterone with my HRT when my libido disappeared in menopause. So I think you are being daft not asking the GP. genuinely they've had every single kind of conversation!

Original poster
Organical · 11/05/2025 08:16

Ilovelowry · 11/05/2025 08:04

OP I am not on an antidepressant but I had no problem asking for testosterone with my HRT when my libido disappeared in menopause. So I think you are being daft not asking the GP. genuinely they've had every single kind of conversation!

I think it's the orgasm part! Maybe I should say it's my libido in general? You're right though.

OP posts:
Original poster
Organical · 11/05/2025 08:19

user1476613140 · 11/05/2025 07:55

I had this with another antidepressant and just spoke with my GP. He said to come off it and it helped.

Sorry to ask but did you just say to him it's lack of libido not orgasms? How long did it take to go back to normal?

OP posts:
Original poster
Organical · 11/05/2025 08:20

fedup1212 · 11/05/2025 07:53

Not on this one specifically but I also had the same problem on another antidepressant. Pardon the pun but that in itself was depressing! I didn’t feel like I could approach the GP as I was embarrassed tbh. Silly looking back now.

Exactly how I feel! Usually not embarrassed at all even with a male doctor.

OP posts:
user1476613140 · 11/05/2025 08:20

Organical · 11/05/2025 08:19

Sorry to ask but did you just say to him it's lack of libido not orgasms? How long did it take to go back to normal?

Show quote history

Took a month or so to get back to normal. I just said the antidepressant was affecting my sex life. He understood without going into further details about it.

Ilovelowry · 11/05/2025 08:21

OP doctors know what orgasms are!!! You'll be absolutely fine. It's a normal part of sexual function.

Worriedsickmostofthetime · 11/05/2025 08:23

Yup unfortunately this is the side effect of many anti-depressants. Ironically it can take away one of the things that bring joy.

I had to intensify other methods of dealing with my depression which again once you’ve perservered you realize are actually better long term coping mechanisms than medication.

GingerLiberalFeminist · 11/05/2025 08:25

I'm on it and have the opposite! I start having orgasms in my sleep when I up a dose. It died off though (phew!)

Sorry, utterly unhelpful!

It's a well known side efrect of all antidepressants and certainly others meant I struggled.

slowraindrop · 11/05/2025 08:27

I also had this on another antidepressant, and I spoke to my GP about it. She suggested taking the dose every other day instead of every day. I didn’t do this, but I did come off it for a couple of days recently and found sex was improved - I then went back on it. I’m on a low dose and thankfully didn’t have any withdrawal symptoms.

Personally I find oral sex gets me there in the end, and I also bought a new vibrator that sometimes I use during sex.

Wheech · 11/05/2025 08:27

I came off Sertraline about 15 years ago for this reason. It didn't bother me until I got into a new relationship and then I hated the complete inability to orgasm. When I mentioned it to the GP she seemed surprised and said she'd never heard of it before but I think it's much more widely recognised now. I believe there are other ADs that don't carry this side effect so worth asking about.

Victoriawould24 · 11/05/2025 08:31

I have recently been prescribed a low dose for nerve pain but am reluctant to take it because of this , can I ask have you noticed any positive benefits @Organical
Also definitely talk to the GP, that’s their job and they deal with it all the time.

Original poster
Organical · 11/05/2025 09:29

Victoriawould24 · 11/05/2025 08:31

I have recently been prescribed a low dose for nerve pain but am reluctant to take it because of this , can I ask have you noticed any positive benefits @Organical
Also definitely talk to the GP, that’s their job and they deal with it all the time.

Anxiety levels have decreased but at first it made me feel worse but that's normal with these type of drugs. That was only for a couple of days though. Also slight blurriness but not so bad that it affected the safety of things I was doing.

OP posts:
Original poster
Organical · 11/05/2025 09:31

Ilovelowry · 11/05/2025 08:21

OP doctors know what orgasms are!!! You'll be absolutely fine. It's a normal part of sexual function.

I know! I don't know why I'm struggling with this. Think it's because he'll realise it's during me time if you get what I mean!😂

OP posts:
AlicePottery · 12/05/2025 06:48

Hi OP, I have this exact issue with duloxetine (I've been taking it for 6 weeks for long covid pain, the anti depressant is a bonus!). I spoke to my GP about it, nothing to be embarrassed about, thankfully he said it should pass. Good luck 👍🏻

Victoriawould24 · 23/05/2025 08:03

@AlicePotteryHi, have you stuck with it and has it passed and improved pain ? I’ve been prescribed 20mg for pain, which from what I can tell is a very low dose but I’m a bit scared to start it.

Hamsterfan · 23/05/2025 08:10

DustyLee123 · 11/05/2025 06:11

Unfortunately DH had this problem on antidepressants and it was the end of our sex life, as he’s on the medication for life. He wouldn’t see the GP about it, so that was that.

Exactly my experience too. His GP never mentioned that this was a side effect. TBH when we first realised I was just so glad his mood had at least stabilised that I wasn’t too concerned. Now however I am devastated that he is not bothered at the loss and won’t ask if he could cautiously reduce the dose to see if anything changes.

@Organical if you are bothered by the issue then please seek advice on alternatives. I believe not all the medications have this issue or at least not to the same extent.

AlicePottery · 23/05/2025 09:39

Victoriawould24 · 23/05/2025 08:03

@AlicePotteryHi, have you stuck with it and has it passed and improved pain ? I’ve been prescribed 20mg for pain, which from what I can tell is a very low dose but I’m a bit scared to start it.

It's been brilliant for the pain (only setback here is that the pain was my alarm to slow down so now I keep accidentally crashing by doing more than I should due to having very little pain). As for the orgasms It's still a bit hit and miss, definitely more difficult than before, I've found it's also dependent on where I am in my cycle (and DH 'helping' works better than me on my own).
I'm on 30mg, I did try stopping after the first month and the withdrawal symptoms were awful so I went back on it. GP has said I can take it long term (I'm on lifetime medication for other things too so I figure I'm not too bothered about taking one more pill every morning).

Victoriawould24 · 23/05/2025 09:53

@AlicePotteryThankyou I appreciate that, it sounds hopeful and definitely worth doing so I will start it 😊

Touty · 23/05/2025 10:06

I’ve had this problem for years on antidepressants, I’ve tried coming off them but I just can’t cope without them.

Sprookjesbos · 23/05/2025 10:12

I had this problem on both sertraline and lexapro. I've tried a couple of times. It started as soon as I took the first tablet and I find it resolves as soon as I stop, within a day or two. It is very frustrating, for me it doesn't affect libido, just ability to orgasm - I'd actually not mind as much if it affected libido as well, that might be less frustrating!

I have been told if you push through and keep taking it it can go away, but I persevered for two months and it didn't resolve.