Antidepressants and loss of libido

[francesrivis]

Hi, I posted about this a year or so ago but am doing so again in case anyone has any fresh ideas. Basically this problem is putting at risk what is otherwise a good relationship and I am desperate to do something about it. I am on dothiepin long term and it suits me well in other ways but I find the loss of libido very upsetting and so obviously does my partner. Any advice gratefully received

Dothiepin (Dosulepin) is a tricyclic AD. I know it sounds obvious but have you tried another one within the same class?

There are LOADS of different tricylcic ADs:

• Amitriptyline (Elavil, Tryptizol, Laroxyl)
• Amitriptylinoxide (Amioxid, Ambivalon, Equilibrin)
• Butriptyline (Evadyne)
• Clomipramine (Anafranil)
• Demexiptiline (Deparon, Tinoran)
• Desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane)
• Dibenzepin (Noveril, Victoril)
• Dimetacrine (Istonil, Istonyl, Miroistonil)
• Dosulepin/Dothiepin (Prothiaden)
• Doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan)
• Imipramine (Tofranil, Janimine, Praminil)
• Imipraminoxide (Imiprex, Elepsin)
• Lofepramine (Lomont, Gamanil)
• Melitracen (Deanxit, Dixeran, Melixeran, Trausabun)
• Metapramine (Timaxel)
• Nitroxazepine (Sintamil)
• Nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl)
• Noxiptiline (Agedal, Elronon, Nogedal)
• Pipofezine (Azafen/Azaphen)
• Propizepine (Depressin, Vagran)
• Protriptyline (Vivactil)
• Quinupramine (Kevopril, Kinupril, Adeprim, Quinuprine)

I was on lofepramine for a while and never had any loss of libido (not enough that I'd noticed anyway)

There must be another that would suit you. Yes, it will be a pain weaning off dotheipin and starting another, but it is a short term inconvenience surely? You do not have to suffer like that.

Sex isn't all there is to a relationship, so it would be very sad indeed if it had to end for that reason alone. However, I do understand it must be very difficult for you and also frustrating for your partner.

Please do ask if you can try another and get advice over which one to try.

It's a pity reboxetine is so weak in unipolar depression because it has a dramatic positive effect on libido for lots of women - not a tricyclic though

Thanks for responses - I had no idea there were so many tricyclics! I have taken lofepramine in the past but found it caused constipation which I would rather avoid. Also I need one which is towards the more sedating end of the spectrum as I tend to get very anxious with my depression. Any ideas what might fit the bill?

I found Imipramine pretty sedating, but if you are on Dothiepin you might not - I couldn't take it as I fell asleep on it all the time.

It's not a TCA, but mirtazapine is sedating - I take it and it helps me sleep.

I think it's what they call a tetra-cyclic anti-depressant !!!

Many thanks - do mirtazepine and imipramine affect libido and/or orgasm?

hi frances, I take mirtazapine and have no problems in that area. I don't know about imipramine....

Many thanks. Anyone else have any experience of mirtazapine or any others that don't affect libido?

bump

Mirtazapine don't affect anything much except the depression(& give very vivid dreams - not hot dreams!). No destruction of sexual relationships although doesn't give you a burst of energy but doesn't destroy it either though that is on 45mg max dose. Citalipran a year ago (not being discussed here) was awful - zombielike half catatonic with monster diarrhoia. Stopped life as we know it except buying bleach - was terrified even to go to work because of public transport let alone anything intimate. So did without for a year til went on mirtazipine.

I'm on dosulepin like the OP and have noticed I don't have any libido. However I'm not sure if I had any when my depression was bad anyway.

I have also taken citalapram but didn't get on with it as I suffered badly with side effects. I was also unable to have an orgasm whilst I was taking it. I haven't had this problem with dosulepin though, so for me it's the better drug of the two.