"No sex please, I'm on antidepressants!"

"No sex please, I'm on antidepressants!"

6 years ago

Many people erroneously believe that being treated for depression means sacrificing a normal sex life. It is true that some antidepressants could impair libido and orgasmic phase of sexual activity. There are ways however to manage this side effect. Some points to consider to address this problem:

Staying on the lowest effective dose of antidepressants especially the more serotoninergic ones.

-Augmenting the therapy with the addition of an agent that boosts dopamine levels

-Considering mini drug holidays for a day or two per week

-Switching to antidepressants with low or no serotonin reuptake inhibition properties.

-Allowing adequate time to adjust to each dose escalation.

ALL THESE POINTS NEED TO BE CONSIDERED IN CONSULTATION WITH OF YOUR DOCTOR. My point is that just because you are treated for your depression you don't have to give up a normal and satisfying sexual life. In fact most people have increased interest in sexual activity as their depression symptoms resolve.

Shut up and give me my meds!
Shut up and give me my meds!
6 years ago

Recently a patient whom I had not seen for almost a year showed up in my office demanding that her antidepressant prescriptions be filled for another year. She made it clear that she had no interes...

Detrimental effects of THC on ADHD
Detrimental effects of THC on ADHD
2 years ago

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana. Studies have shown that THC can have detrimental effects on individuals with attention-def...

ADHD and anger, strategies for management
ADHD and anger, strategies for management
6 years ago

Low frustration tolerance is a hallmark of the ADHD sufferers. The scenario goes something like this: You are trying to focus on completing your expense report, and the guy from the next cubicle in...