Citalopram - embarrassing issue

[GreyMary23]

Been on citalopram for anxiety for about three months now. It's working well for me. I had read that one of the side effects could be loss of sex drive. I wouldn't say my libido has gone, and I still enjoy sex but I can't seem to ahem, achieve the end result anymore. My dp isn't doing anything wrong or different and I never had this issue before. It just doesn't seem to happen for me anymore. That's not to say I don't enjoy sex or get in the mood it's just that I can't seem to reach that point.

Is this a common side effect that people have experienced on citalopram? Will it improve? I'm reluctant to come off it or change as otherwise it's making me feel much better.

I had exactly this for a while (can't remember how long though sorry). Have been on it for years now, and all is back to normal

Yes very common I believe and oh so frustrating!

I’ve been on citalopram since 2012 now with gaps for pregnancy. I love the stuff as it takes so much of my brain craziness away!

Good news though... that side effect definitely wears off and I’m back to normal! Don’t ask how long it takes though... I really don’t know!

That's so reassuring to hear!

Very common. Unfortunately!

In my experience it doesn't improve until you stop taking them. Once you do stop taking them, things get back to normal pretty quickly!! I'm now really good at exercise, mindfulness and CBT so I can manage my mental health without citalopram and avoid this effect!! If I ever really needed them I would use them again as they are an extremely effective medication and have saved my mental health on two or three occasions.

Common yes and should wear off, I'm a month in and having the same issue, I've been on and off it for years

Exactly the same thing happened to me.

Very common and known side effect. My OH chose to go off them for this reason. So he lived a miserable anxious life in all spheres of his existence, just so he could ejaculate. It took a huge toll on us all.

DH had same issue - didn't get better until a few months after stopping them. Not great when we were TTC and caused huge issues in our marriage. Also nuked his sperm

Had exactly the same happen to me. Hopefully it will wear off soon!

I had this and it went away but I don't remember how long it took, sorry. Maybe a couple of months?

Yes same happened to me when I started 20mg around September time but has now (thankfully) wore off. What mg are you on? When I was on 40mg a few years ago I found that it never wore off until I stopped taking them

That's why I stopped taking them or after a year. Doctor totally dismissed this concern. Orgasms were the only bright spot in my bloody life and they were taken away! I'd just brain drift before I could get there and there was a fuzzy wall in the way.

It's a common side effect of many antidepressants. I've been trying to reduce mine (not citalopram) for this reason. My psychiatrist was understanding that it is not an unimportant part of life. I hope it wears off for you, but if not please speak to your GP about alternatives.

Sertraline here, and it’s very hit and miss. Sometimes it seems like he just has to look at me for me to ‘enjoy’ myself. Other times he can pull out all his best moves and it’ll be awesome, but nothing will push me over that edge.

Before the tablets, there were no problems.

I'm on 40mg and manage fine. I did initially find problems but it has resolved. I think for me it's because my mental health has improved so I'm more interested, plus we often use a toy which never fails.

Hi @GreyMary23. Sorry to hear about your anxiety but it’s great it is working for you.
I’ve been on citalopram for four years for depression & anxiety. I don’t have this issue but as others have said it is a known side effect.
I just wanted to warn you to please speak to your GP rather than just stopping them yourself. I have forgotten to take them or run out a few times and I genuinely start to feel suicidal after a couple of days. The same thing happened when we tried to reduce the dose too quickly.

I took Escitalopram for a short period (before they finally accepted I wasn't actually depressed in the first place, which was why the Amitriptyline they'd prescribed me for 'pain relief' - ie, being female and with untreated autoimmune disease - hadn't made me feel better).

I was dead from the neck down - not mentally, but physically, I felt absolutely nothing - for a good while afterwards.

Those bastarding pills took the only comforting, pleasurable thing in my life.

Many men experience the same and the side effects, combined with anxiety about performance afterwards can affect them for years.

Yup, it happens with men too. You just can't 'get over the top'. I'm already getting it after about a week on citalopram. Encouraging to hear it might improve over time.

Yep, very normal. It improves with time.

I'm on 20mg. I would probably feel worse about it if I wasn't enjoying sex at all or if my libido has totally disappeared but it's not that, it's just the ability to finish. Very strange. I'm reassured to know it might wear off though.