I currently take Wellbutrin and Citalopram to combat my depression. In the past I have tried Effexor and Prozac. All but the Wellbutrin have left me unable to orgasm and decreased my libido. The Wellbutrin didn't seem to have this effect, but it also didn't successfully deal with my depression. I am at a loss here and getting more depressed with every Drs visit. Has anyone else had this experience? Any suggestions?
Antidepressants
06/16/2011
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I don't think I can offer any advice, but I can say that effexor did decrease my libido as well. Talk to your doctor about it specifically and maybe try another doctor if the one you're seeing isn't helping?
06/21/2011
I suffer from depression as well. And though I have tried just about every anti-depressant out there(I've been on and off medication for over twenty years now), I have never found one whose beneficial effects outweighed the negative side-effects. Sorry. Of course everyone is different and you may have better luck than I've had.
I can say that finding a good therapist has helped. You may have to try a number of different therapists in order to find a good one, but it's worth the search.
I wish that I could be more help. If you ever just want to ask me questions or anything, feel free to message me.
I can say that finding a good therapist has helped. You may have to try a number of different therapists in order to find a good one, but it's worth the search.
I wish that I could be more help. If you ever just want to ask me questions or anything, feel free to message me.
06/21/2011
I was going to ask if you've been to any type of therapy. That MIGHT help. I'm in a similar position. Talk with your partner about it too, that might help so that they can understand and try to be a positive in this situation for you. Get well!
06/21/2011
i take wellbutrin for depression to because i had problems with decreased libido on others but it is actually helping me :S
06/21/2011
I tried wellbutrin prozac and cymbalta and none of them had the results I expected and the side effects weren't worth it. I occasionally got heartburn from wellbutrin and that alone was bad enough. Therapy would probably help. It's worth a try.
06/21/2011
I have dysthymia (lifelong depression) and no amount of talk-therapy will help it. I need the meds (Zoloft). I tried to live without them recently due to being unable to orgasm while on them ... sure, I can now climax just from THINKING about sex, but I've been in a horrific walking nightmare of anger and self-destruction for the past month. The trade-off isn't worth it. I'm going back on them at the end of the week when I get my prescription filled.
06/21/2011
I've tried several anti depressants and they never really affected my sex drive, but then again there was nothing to affect. I haven't had a healthy libido or real desire for sex of any kind since I was around 18. I'm 25 now and get horny maybe once a year.
06/21/2011
Quote:
Therapy can't "cure" you and if you feel you need the meds, then you should definitely take them. But therapy can at least give you some help. I, too, suffer from lifelong depression, and no, the therapy has not cured me. But it has helped to keep me going through some pretty rough times.
Originally posted by
Chilipepper
I have dysthymia (lifelong depression) and no amount of talk-therapy will help it. I need the meds (Zoloft). I tried to live without them recently due to being unable to orgasm while on them ... sure, I can now climax just from THINKING about sex,
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I have dysthymia (lifelong depression) and no amount of talk-therapy will help it. I need the meds (Zoloft). I tried to live without them recently due to being unable to orgasm while on them ... sure, I can now climax just from THINKING about sex, but I've been in a horrific walking nightmare of anger and self-destruction for the past month. The trade-off isn't worth it. I'm going back on them at the end of the week when I get my prescription filled.
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If your insurance will cover it, or if you can afford it on your own, I still highly recommend finding a GOOD therapist in addition to taking the meds. Not all therapists are created equal, so just because one(or two or three) therapist(s) was/were unable to help you, doesn't mean that another one might not be useful.
I think I went through 5 or 6 different therapists before finding the one I'm with now. I've been with her for 10 years, and she is definitely a help. Though I am still depressed/anxious and always will be.
06/24/2011
Quote:
I prefer to have the therapist along with the meds - I'm just pointing out that in some cases 'just talking about it' won't help; it needs to be in tandem with meds.
Originally posted by
Ivy Wilde
Therapy can't "cure" you and if you feel you need the meds, then you should definitely take them. But therapy can at least give you some help. I, too, suffer from lifelong depression, and no, the therapy has not cured me. But it has
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more
Therapy can't "cure" you and if you feel you need the meds, then you should definitely take them. But therapy can at least give you some help. I, too, suffer from lifelong depression, and no, the therapy has not cured me. But it has helped to keep me going through some pretty rough times.
If your insurance will cover it, or if you can afford it on your own, I still highly recommend finding a GOOD therapist in addition to taking the meds. Not all therapists are created equal, so just because one(or two or three) therapist(s) was/were unable to help you, doesn't mean that another one might not be useful.
I think I went through 5 or 6 different therapists before finding the one I'm with now. I've been with her for 10 years, and she is definitely a help. Though I am still depressed/anxious and always will be. less
If your insurance will cover it, or if you can afford it on your own, I still highly recommend finding a GOOD therapist in addition to taking the meds. Not all therapists are created equal, so just because one(or two or three) therapist(s) was/were unable to help you, doesn't mean that another one might not be useful.
I think I went through 5 or 6 different therapists before finding the one I'm with now. I've been with her for 10 years, and she is definitely a help. Though I am still depressed/anxious and always will be. less
You know how they say you can't see the forest because of the trees? That's exactly what depression is like, and you really do need someone on the outside looking in to tell you what's going on. Especially when you don't have the same frames of reference that it seems everyone else in society 'were born with'.
06/24/2011
I've only taken citalopram and zoloft.
I'm currently taking zoloft, and I've found that the side effects with it (including the decreased libido) are much less dramatic.
Also, it seems to deal with my depression better.
I'm currently taking zoloft, and I've found that the side effects with it (including the decreased libido) are much less dramatic.
Also, it seems to deal with my depression better.
06/25/2011
It took my doctor and I years to hit on a combination of medications that worked for me. And WOW, I'm so glad I kept trying, it was worth all the hell I went through to get there! At the age of twenty I felt normal for the first time in my life.
The big break through for me came when medication for ADD was added to the wellbutrin and celexa I was already taking. In retrospect I don't know how no one ever noticed I have ADD.
Besides helping the ADD, the adderall boosted the other drugs a great deal.
Of course, what worked for me won't be what's right for everyone. Having a good doctor, who listened to how I felt about the medication options and really took the time to explain it all to me was vital in the whole process.
The big break through for me came when medication for ADD was added to the wellbutrin and celexa I was already taking. In retrospect I don't know how no one ever noticed I have ADD.
Besides helping the ADD, the adderall boosted the other drugs a great deal.
Of course, what worked for me won't be what's right for everyone. Having a good doctor, who listened to how I felt about the medication options and really took the time to explain it all to me was vital in the whole process.
07/05/2011
I took Wellbutrin for several years, and it killed my self drive too. I'm finally off of the antidepressants, and my sex drive is back to normal. I wish I could offer some advice, but I really don't have any at all. Good luck!
07/05/2011
never had an issue with sex drive that i can note and i've tried every anti out there. currently on lexapro and it hasnt inhibited me a bit. i thought wellbutrin was more geared towards anxiety though.
i recommend doing research on anxiety. i didnt realize until the past year that i've been afflicted with it nearly my whole life. i thought my anxious thoughts were a normal part of life, or just of depression, but it's different.
i do certainly recommend finding a caring, objective therapist and even though it may be SO hard...
sweetheart, EXERCISE.
it helps so many aspects of our health, you'll be amazed. find a buddy to do some yoga with, go swimming, but make a regimen weekly that you must adhere to, no matter what it takes.
bless your heart. i know depression is the absolute PITS. hang in there.
i recommend doing research on anxiety. i didnt realize until the past year that i've been afflicted with it nearly my whole life. i thought my anxious thoughts were a normal part of life, or just of depression, but it's different.
i do certainly recommend finding a caring, objective therapist and even though it may be SO hard...
sweetheart, EXERCISE.
it helps so many aspects of our health, you'll be amazed. find a buddy to do some yoga with, go swimming, but make a regimen weekly that you must adhere to, no matter what it takes.
bless your heart. i know depression is the absolute PITS. hang in there.
07/06/2011
I have been on both Citalopram and Wellbutrin. Citalopram didn't affect me sexually in any way until I quit taking it and then started it up again-I was unable to orgasm-very frustrating! I wish I could give you some advice.. I've given up on drugs, myself, and am about to start Neurofeedback for my depression and anxiety.
07/09/2011
I've just gotten off zoloft, I couldn't climax, but for a lot of the time I was on it I didn't have any interest in sex, so it wasn't a huge deal at the time.
Personally, I think if you're on meds for mental illness, you should be seeing a qualified therapist of some kind. It's essential to find someone you can trust though - which is super tricky.
Personally, I think if you're on meds for mental illness, you should be seeing a qualified therapist of some kind. It's essential to find someone you can trust though - which is super tricky.
07/09/2011
Total posts: 17
Unique posters: 15