Why do some drugs affect sex drive?

[oogie292 (imported)]

I have been on two anti depressents at different times, celexa (citalopram) and desipramine and they have both affected mny sex drive, ejaculate and quality of erections. So....why? Do they affect testosterone? Could they have a feminiazing affect?

[nullorchis (imported)]

All prescription drugs come with disclosure information that should answer your question. In the case of citalopram a quick search on the internet indicates that it can alter your sex drive. (among other things). Check with your doctor.

From the web:

Citalopram may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

* nausea

* diarrhea

* vomiting

* stomach pain

* drowsiness

* excessive tiredness

* uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body

* excitement

* nervousness

* muscle or joint pain

* dry mouth

* excessive sweating

* changes in sex drive or ability

* loss of appetite

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience either of the following symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

*seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist (hallucinating)

*fever, sweating, confusion, fast or irregular heartbeat, and severe muscle stiffness

seizures

Citalopram may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

[SplitDik (imported)]

I have been on two anti depressents at different times, celexa (citalopram) and desipramine and they have both affected mny sex drive, ejaculate and quality of erections. So....why? Do they affect testosterone? Could they have a feminiazing affect?

No, SSRIs do not affect testosterone levels.

However, sex drive requires a bunch of things in order to operate, some of which are:

Low dopamine level

Low prolactin level

Low seratonin level

Some testosterone

The interesting thing about the first three is it is basically saying that the less "happy" your brain is, the more you will crave sex. If you make yourself happy by increasing your seratonin, dopamine or prolactin levels your libido will go down substantially.

Interestingly, prolactin and dopamine levels will also affect testosterone levels. But seratonin doesn't have any significant effect.

The reason we have these brain chemical aspects to sex drive is that we need some method to stop us from being constantly sexual. So when we orgasm then there is a release of prolactin and that causes the "refactory period" which is the time afterwards where it is difficult to get aroused or additional orgasm. Even if you are multi-orgasmic, eventually you will get to a point when you have no desire or ability to continue.

So it is sort of a safety mechanism. Anyway, my point is that brain chemicals can affect sex drive as well as sex hormones.

[Joel9146 (imported)]

I take a high dose of Prozac daily and it most defiantly has a GIANT impact on sexual ability, desire and function.

[morganster (imported)]

I take a high dose of Prozac daily and it most defiantly has a GIANT impact on sexual ability, desire and function.

What impact? increase or decrease?

[fhunter]

What impact? increase or decrease?

Decrease.

But that does not mean that you should take it without prescription and doctor supervision. As far as I remember, most antidepressants can have nasty side effects and will get you problems in case of sudden discontinuation.

My experience with antidepressants is lacking (never used them), so can not give any specifics.

[Caith721 (imported)]

I took Prozac (fluoxetine, the original SSRI anti-depressant, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) for many years. After the initial anti-depressant effects, I began to notice it took longer and was more difficult to reach orgasm. It took many weeks, but through sheer strength of will and thought I was able to overcome this side-effect. I'm currently taking Cymbalta (duloxetine, closely related SSRI, and in an SR sustained-release form) for my depression, and it never caused such a side-effect.

I suspect it is the sustained-release nature of the newer drug that avoids rapid swings in serotonin levels, also avoiding the sexual side-effect.