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Original poster

If you have taken an antidepressant and had sexual side effects, how long did they last?

8 replies

ChiquititaCat · 19/05/2025 13:20

I am currently taking escitalopram, which is actually helping my anxiety. However I have accidentally read absolute horror stories about permanent sexual dysfunction! I am currently having some sexual side effects (mostly taking longer to finish), but I'm not sure if I should keep taking them if there is a high chance of becoming permanently damaged!

What are your experiences? Did everything go back to normal after stopping the drug/getting used to it?

OP posts:
Waitingfordoggo · 19/05/2025 13:25

This won’t be the answer you want to hear but my libido died permanently when I took Sertraline. Having said that, I did go into perimenopause not long after that so it might just be that. But I have heard similar from at least one other friend who took Sertraline. I realise this is a different drug but I don’t know how different they are.

On the upside: I needed the SSRIs at the time. They made a huge difference, and if I were in the same situation again, I would take them again.

I can still orgasm and it’s just as good as it always was. So I do still have and enjoy sex- I just never get a lustful urge out of the blue as I used to. So now I have to plan sex a bit and get myself into the headspace for it- it isn’t ever a spontaneous thing for me anymore.

Original poster
ChiquititaCat · 19/05/2025 13:33

Waitingfordoggo · 19/05/2025 13:25

This won’t be the answer you want to hear but my libido died permanently when I took Sertraline. Having said that, I did go into perimenopause not long after that so it might just be that. But I have heard similar from at least one other friend who took Sertraline. I realise this is a different drug but I don’t know how different they are.

On the upside: I needed the SSRIs at the time. They made a huge difference, and if I were in the same situation again, I would take them again.

I can still orgasm and it’s just as good as it always was. So I do still have and enjoy sex- I just never get a lustful urge out of the blue as I used to. So now I have to plan sex a bit and get myself into the headspace for it- it isn’t ever a spontaneous thing for me anymore.

Ahh im in my 20s so thats really scary!

OP posts:
glassof · 19/05/2025 13:41

I took sertraline for a few years. Whilst on it my sex drive was still there but I could not orgasm. At all. 1 week after coming off it, orgasms were back! 18m off now and no long term problems

Original poster
ChiquititaCat · 19/05/2025 13:49

glassof · 19/05/2025 13:41

I took sertraline for a few years. Whilst on it my sex drive was still there but I could not orgasm. At all. 1 week after coming off it, orgasms were back! 18m off now and no long term problems

That is encouraging! May I ask if you are male or female?

OP posts:
musicismath · 20/05/2025 11:20

I couldn’t orgasm on Prozac, but things went back to normal when I stopped it.

Crole · 20/05/2025 11:26

I took sertaline for 3 years years ago and lost my libido entirely and couldn't orgasm. It took a while to come back, half a year maybe, but now it's fine.

glassof · 20/05/2025 15:34

Female

Musicaltheatremum · 20/05/2025 16:12

I was on sertraline then citalopram got years. Stopped citalopram and my libido came back with a vengeance. So much so I'm remarried!!! Sex is amazing

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