Fluoxetine and libido

[UnderCloud]

Reading the patient information leaflet for Fluoxetine. It mentions as a side effect a loss of interest in sex which can persist after stopping taking the medicine.
For teenagers what does this mean for their development? Is there a risk that the reduced level of attraction contributes to confusion over sexuality, and subsequently to gender dysphoria?
What research is being done to monitor the development of adolescents who take Fluoxetine?

Is there a risk that the reduced level of attraction contributes to confusion over sexuality, and subsequently to gender dysphoria?

This is a very good point.

I have seen lots on X about puberty blockers neutralising a libido for life, and the cynical celebrating of asexuality and I'd also seen plenty on anti-depressants/anti-anxymeds holding a risk of permanent loss of libido. And that the latter risk was greater if someone starts this medication as a child. But for some reason I hadn't joined the dots.

I’d not considered this but you’re right this absolutely could be a factor at play. Not good.

Look at the numbers of young adults, teenagers (and you get children) who are on antidepressants.

That's a useful graph leafstamp.

I appreciate the threshold between 15 and 16 is arbitrary (there isn't a cliff edge change in risk), but my understanding is that the risk of permanent libido loss decreases after 16. There are regulations in the UK where only CAMHS, not GPs, can prescribe these meds to children under 16 within the public system, and that this is driven by the risks. The private system of psychiatry isn't under the same regulations.

Permanent loss of libido obviously isn't the only risk that's being considered re the CAMHS/GP threshold, but it's definitely in the mix. I have had conversations with healthcare professionals in the NHS about it. But, as per my first comment, I really hadn't joined the dots.

Fluoxetine is the only antidepressant ive had that doesn't wreck my libido or ability to orgasm.
I do think that the amount of teenagers on antidepressants and hormonal contraception must be huge, and they wont have the experience to understand what they've lost because they wont know what their norm is

To add, it's a shame that we can't see the cut off that matches the UK regulations, and that age 15 is in the same group as 16.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8194463/

This study raises the question.
It maybe another factor in the mix that contributes to children with poor mental health being overrepresented among those who say they are trans or nonbinary.
Such a taboo subject: if you have never had a crush, how do you know what it feels like?