Many of my clients who are on antidepressants complain of sexual side effects including decreased sex drive, difficulty with arousal, and difficulty reaching orgasm. It's enough to make some people ditch the pills and opt for depression instead. But the problem there is that depression itself torpedoes the sex drive - which leaves the depressed person between a rock and a hard place.
Rather than ditching the pills, it's important to talk to your doctor about solutions. One solution may be substituting one antidepressant for another with a lower risk of sexual problems. Sometimes Wellbutrin is prescribed in addition to your regular antidepressant to help counteract sexual side effects. You can also ask your doctor about the possibility of taking brief drug holidays. People sometimes benefit by taking their last dose for the week on Thursday morning and resuming at noon on Sunday. There can be a significant improvement in sexual functioning during the drug-free period without causing the depression to worsen.
Bottom line, depression is a desire-killer and so are some of the medications used for treating it. If you need an antidepressant, don't let the fear of sexual side effects keep you from getting the help that you need. You may not experience any side effects at all. If you do, speak up - loudly - to your doctor and insist that your concerns be taken seriously. Don't let your antidepressant make you sexless and depressed!
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