Sexual side effects

Posted by forrestj @forrestj, Jun 4, 2023

I have been dealing with anxiety and depression for years off and on and was prescribed Zoloft years ago. The Zoloft caused erectile problems and delayed ejaculation problems so I weaned myself off of it and no more anxiety meds for me. It came to a point a few months ago where I couldn't deal with it anymore and asked my doctor for a script. He prescribed Lexapro. I took the Lexapro for a little while and of course the sexual side effects came back so I stopped taking the Lexapro and haven't addressed it with my doctor at all. My question is there anything on here that knows of a medication that doesn't cause "those" side effects? Is anyone aware of any natural alternative anti anxiety course? Thanks for listening. It's kind of an embarrassing topic..

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

Off the top of my head, three approaches to addressing anxiety come to mind: exercise (even light exercise), magnesium (in low doses and through diet), and making sure your vitamin D levels are where they should be. Are you already getting those?

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@forrestj
Here is an article from Mayo Clinic.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/expert-answers/antidepressants/faq-20058104#:~:text=Antidepressants%20with%20the%20lowest%20rate,Vilazodone%20(Viibryd)
I have peripheral neuropathy which along with two seizure drugs are believed to have caused my ED. Both seizure drugs reduce my levels of free testosterone so I use an injection medication called Trimix since the ED pills didn’t work. Did your doctor ever suggest any of these medications?
Take care,
Jake

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@jakedduck1

@forrestj
Here is an article from Mayo Clinic.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/expert-answers/antidepressants/faq-20058104#:~:text=Antidepressants%20with%20the%20lowest%20rate,Vilazodone%20(Viibryd)
I have peripheral neuropathy which along with two seizure drugs are believed to have caused my ED. Both seizure drugs reduce my levels of free testosterone so I use an injection medication called Trimix since the ED pills didn’t work. Did your doctor ever suggest any of these medications?
Take care,
Jake

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Have not had that conversation with my doctor yet but probably will soon. Can't hurt to ask right?

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@scolio

Off the top of my head, three approaches to addressing anxiety come to mind: exercise (even light exercise), magnesium (in low doses and through diet), and making sure your vitamin D levels are where they should be. Are you already getting those?

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I exercise every day. Not much but enough to get the blood moving. Never heard of magnesium being used for this purpose. I'll look into it and my PCP prescribed a course of vitamin d for me past two months.

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@forrestj

I exercise every day. Not much but enough to get the blood moving. Never heard of magnesium being used for this purpose. I'll look into it and my PCP prescribed a course of vitamin d for me past two months.

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It will be interesting to see if you can get your vitamin D to normal range. I know of at least one person who told me that the prescription vitamin D they got wasn't budging their levels, and that some people will do better with a different form of vitamin D. So if a retest doesn't show enough change you may want to look into an OTC in a different form. I believe I've also heard that it's best to take the vitamin D with some kind of food with some oil or other fats in it, since the D is fat-soluble.

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Hardly embarrassing simply a fact of life.

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@scolio

It will be interesting to see if you can get your vitamin D to normal range. I know of at least one person who told me that the prescription vitamin D they got wasn't budging their levels, and that some people will do better with a different form of vitamin D. So if a retest doesn't show enough change you may want to look into an OTC in a different form. I believe I've also heard that it's best to take the vitamin D with some kind of food with some oil or other fats in it, since the D is fat-soluble.

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Agree, but make sure the form of vitamin D is D3! OTC is o.k.
Good luck! Hope this helps, Pat!

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I have no interest in sexual intimacy and I am a female. I suffer from chronic depression and anxiety. I have been on Welbutrin XL for several years, over ten. I really noticed not having any interest in sex but decided to ignore it. Months ago, I decided to ween off Welbutrin XL and instead used a holistic substitute. After over a month, the depression and anxiety returned. I have weeks ago resumed taking Welbutrin XL and will take a low dosage of Lexapro. Turns out that not only my antidepressants but also, my high blood pressure medicines and statins are also the culprits for my disinterest. I am unable to not take many of my meds so guess I am going to have to deal with the effects of not having any interest in intimacy.

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@aissa2

I have no interest in sexual intimacy and I am a female. I suffer from chronic depression and anxiety. I have been on Welbutrin XL for several years, over ten. I really noticed not having any interest in sex but decided to ignore it. Months ago, I decided to ween off Welbutrin XL and instead used a holistic substitute. After over a month, the depression and anxiety returned. I have weeks ago resumed taking Welbutrin XL and will take a low dosage of Lexapro. Turns out that not only my antidepressants but also, my high blood pressure medicines and statins are also the culprits for my disinterest. I am unable to not take many of my meds so guess I am going to have to deal with the effects of not having any interest in intimacy.

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I'm sorry to hear that you have no interest in sexual intimacy. It's extremely important to me. Maybe because of my gender I don't know. I've made the decision to deal with the clinical depression and anxiety by just suffering through it. A very almost childish approach rather than dealing with the issue. I'm at an age now where I don't have much else going for me than the ability to achieve sexual gratification. Maybe I'm being selfish. I don't know. I have a script for Lexapro that my doctor gave me and I took it for a few days and the delayed ejaculation started as well as the ED. I just want to experience pleasure in my life before it's too late. Am I being silly?

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@forrestj

I'm sorry to hear that you have no interest in sexual intimacy. It's extremely important to me. Maybe because of my gender I don't know. I've made the decision to deal with the clinical depression and anxiety by just suffering through it. A very almost childish approach rather than dealing with the issue. I'm at an age now where I don't have much else going for me than the ability to achieve sexual gratification. Maybe I'm being selfish. I don't know. I have a script for Lexapro that my doctor gave me and I took it for a few days and the delayed ejaculation started as well as the ED. I just want to experience pleasure in my life before it's too late. Am I being silly?

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Certainly not silly at all. It would be more important to me also, but I have a history of abuse, including sexual so I believe that is why for many years I ignored the fact that I did not need or require intimacy. My epiphany comes by way of my encounter and works with a therapist and my final wanting to take back control of that area that I feel makes me also a woman. It is not silly at all. I also have to weigh my mental health. Recently I have resumed taking Welbutrin XL and have been prescribed Lexapro 5mg to go along with it. I am still weighing it all, but since I take other meds that also are the villains I am still at a place that I will probably have to sacrifice or find a way to deal with that part of me. No, you are not being silly and I do agree with you on seeking pleasure before it is too late.

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