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Mental health

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Flip

Original poster

SSRIs and sexual side effects

11 replies

tulilp · 19/09/2018 19:39

Hi, have been taking Prozac for a while now for severe anxiety - seems to be having some effect now but with the usual sexual side effect. I have seen psychiatrist about this today but she was totally unhelpful - said this is not a common side effect (which is untrue) and beyond her area of expertise (??? she's a consultant psychiatrist and doesn't know about AD side effects???). Only thing she could come up with was a change to sertraline or escitalopram - as far as I can see these are equally likely to cause sexual problems but have a shorter half life, so there's the possibility of a 'drug holiday' from time to time to see if this helps. Just wondering if anyone has experience either of these drugs for anxiety or of the 'drug holiday' strategy for sexual side effects?

TIA

OP posts:

didyouseetheflaresinthesky · 20/09/2018 09:38

They all do it, all SSRIs. I've drug hopped through about 6 and it's been the same on all of them. Tricyclic ADs don't seem to though, perhaps worth trying one of them.

Original poster

tulilp · 20/09/2018 19:16

Thanks - have taken tricyclics in past but they don't seem to work as well for the anxiety as SSRIs

OP posts:

Veganfortheanimals · 20/09/2018 19:43

Same here ,I only have to take one ,and that's my sex life ruined.ive tried so many as well.

GeorgeTheHippo · 20/09/2018 19:46

What about SNRIs, venlafaxine and so on. Are they the same?

Haireverywhere · 20/09/2018 19:49

Hi OP. Some psychiatrists are uncomfortable talking about sexual side effects, others are just less knowledgeable and some are compassionate and useful.

I recommend you speak to the Trust lead pharmacist for mental health or practice pharmacist for some advice ahead of your next outpatient appointment to discuss again.

Original poster

tulilp · 21/09/2018 07:29

Thanks, that's a good idea - do you know how I would get in contact with the lead pharmacist?

George - I haven't tried SNRIs but looks from the internet as though they have similar sexual side effects

OP posts:

Rainbowturkey · 21/09/2018 07:32

SSRIs and SNRIs kill my libido, even when I stop taking them it takes ages to come back. I last stopped taking them 6 months ago and I still don’t feel like my libido is anywhere near back to normal.

Itsmeaga1n · 21/09/2018 23:49

Have you tried Mirtazapine? It doesn't seem to have the same effect but does make you feel like a zombie at least at first and makes you hungry.

MarcieBluebell · 21/09/2018 23:53

Op what's a drug holiday?

I had a high libido on them but couldn't reach climax. It was awful! I'd be so horny but numb below!

pheasant1 · 22/09/2018 11:57

I was previously taking escitalopram, the only sexual side effect I found was that I required lube when I'd previously never needed it.

Original poster

tulilp · 23/09/2018 11:35

Marcie - drug holiday is when you don't take for 1-2 days - apparently for drugs with short half life this could give you a day or so when you are back to normal. I think this is the route I'm going to go down - a bit nervous about how this will affect my anxiety though.

OP posts:

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