antidepressants and your penis.

iluvmen

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Paxil erased my libido. But it was effective on my depression. Discontinuing it was a shrieking bitch though. Libido returned once Paxil fully cleared my system.
Used Cipram (citalopram, 20 mg) for 6 months. Completely off for a week now. But libido and erections did not turn back :(

How long did it take in your case?
 

iluvmen

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From what I know about them a common side effect is erectile dysfunction but varies from medication and person. Let your doctor know if that side effect is a grave concern of yours. He or she may give trial runs of different medications and see which one is most effective yet doesn't come with certain unwanted side effects such as loss of libido and ED. Not every man experiences those side effects and it may take some time for you and your doctor to figure out the right medication for you.

Otherwise search for alternative methods to help with your depression other than medications.
Oh, Bryan, did u ever go through such an episode in your life?

Bcoz, I'm very curious what those drugs would do to your penis and libido.
 
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iluvmen

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I was on Cipram (citalopram 20 mg) for 6 months. Tapered off in 3 weeks, and off it now for a week.

My penis went numb from the beginning. I could not get hard. Besides, I did not have any libido left. I was happy and impotent LOL That calmness and happiness were much needed at the time. But I no longer wanna be a young man with erectile dysfunction.

However, even after a week off the drug, I still did not turn back to normal. Do you think it takes time? Does anyone have any advice based on personal experience?
 

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Used Cipram (citalopram, 20 mg) for 6 months. Completely off for a week now. But libido and erections did not turn back :(

How long did it take in your case?
It took a few weeks for it to completely clear my system. I started to get my libido back after a couple weeks.
 
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BryanHD

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Oh, Bryan, did u ever go through such an episode in your life?

Bcoz, I'm very curious what those drugs would do to your penis and libido.
No experience with medications, but I've gone through depression in my life just like any other person. So that alone has put the big guy out of commission during that period so I've dealt with similar symptoms and can empathize.

Having experience in medicine, I'm aware of their possible side effects so I looked towards other methods to heal my depression which led to be successful.

I'd speak to a doctor and get some blood work done if your issues persist. It could easily be something physical from the medication or perhaps even psychological.
 

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I was on Cipram (citalopram 20 mg) for 6 months. Tapered off in 3 weeks, and off it now for a week.

My penis went numb from the beginning. I could not get hard. Besides, I did not have any libido left. I was happy and impotent LOL That calmness and happiness were much needed at the time. But I no longer wanna be a young man with erectile dysfunction.

However, even after a week off the drug, I still did not turn back to normal. Do you think it takes time? Does anyone have any advice based on personal experience?
Your looking at 6 weeks (but I'm not doctor) to see the real effects. Just like when you started on it - it took a bit. But more important is to monitor yourself over the next few weeks. There's a reason you went on it. Make sure your well being is stable during this transition back. :)
 
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At this moment, I am taking antidepressants. The one I take is a new generation pill with less side effects. It doesn't affect my libido or my erections.

Antidepressants from other generations, like one I took 10 years ago killed my desire and my erections. I stopped taking it and everything went back to normal.

I have talked this issues with my psychiatrist and I think you should too. I am not a doctor either.

Hope your problem solves. Vitamins of the B complex are helpful to get harder erections. And wood morning erections. I am not aware if in all places vitamins are products off the counter. I have tried B complex vitamins and gave me that great effect. A doctor prescribed them to me. Ask your doctor.

You'll be back to your normal!
 
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iluvmen

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At this moment, I am taking antidepressants. The one I take is a new generation pill with less side effects. It doesn't affect my libido or my erections.

Antidepressants from other generations, like one I took 10 years ago killed my desire and my erections. I stopped taking it and everything went back to normal.

I have talked this issues with my psychiatrist and I think you should too. I am not a doctor either.

Hope your problem solves. Vitamins of the B complex are helpful to get harder erections. And wood morning erections. I am not aware if in all places vitamins are products off the counter. I have tried B complex vitamins and gave me that great effect. A doctor prescribed them to me. Ask your doctor.

You'll be back to your normal!
Thanks for the reply, mate!

Well, mine was also a new generation pill. Citalopram has really very few side effects. But the most common is the loss of libido and erections.

I hope things will get better.
 
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Thanks for the reply, mate!

Well, mine was also a new generation pill. Citalopram has really very few side effects. But the most common is the loss of libido and erections.

I hope things will get better.
Oh! I am sorry to hear that is the effect you have.

I hope you get better soon and the medicine gets out of your system.

Vitamins are a good shot you might try.

Anything you want to talk about antidepressants I am here to share without any shame of my side.

My best for you to get better soon!
 
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iluvmen

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Your looking at 6 weeks (but I'm not doctor) to see the real effects. Just like when you started on it - it took a bit. But more important is to monitor yourself over the next few weeks. There's a reason you went on it. Make sure your well being is stable during this transition back. :)
Thank you for the advice and the wise words, man.

Well no doubt, I am monitoring myself, as you said. It's gonna be 2 weeks tomorrow, completely off Cipram.

My libido is very low, no erection (unless I manually stimulate my penis). Psychologically, I am okey. No different than before. I tapered slowly in 4 weeks. So, I had just some brain zaps and some anxiety issues.

I'm looking forward to get my hard ons back :(

I will consult my doctor, if it does not get back to normal soon. Then maybe I can see a urologist.
 
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iluvmen

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Oh! I am sorry to hear that is the effect you have.

I hope you get better soon and the medicine gets out of your system.

Vitamins are a good shot you might try.

Anything you want to talk about antidepressants I am here to share without any shame of my side.

My best for you to get better soon!
Thank you very much bro!

It's such a relief to know that I am not alone :)

Please, do feel the same way.
 
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Thank you for the advice and the wise words, man.

Well no doubt, I am monitoring myself, as you said. It's gonna be 2 weeks tomorrow, completely off Cipram.

My libido is very low, no erection (unless I manually stimulate my penis). Psychologically, I am okey. No different than before. I tapered slowly in 4 weeks. So, I had just some brain zaps and some anxiety issues.

I'm looking forward to get my hard ons back :(

I will consult my doctor, if it does not get back to normal soon. Then maybe I can see a urologist.
I think you'll see a big improvement a couple more weeks. It's amazing the effects on our psych these tiny little pills have. And as was mentioned there are others that are less invasive on your libido. A quick Google shows:
Antidepressants with the Least Sexual Side Effects

For me, I had a "normal" libido on my 10mg of excitalopram. But there was still an underlying angst running as well. But I decided to try and become "prescription free" heading into my 60's to see if my clean vegan diet and 5 day week workouts had helped relieve the need for the pills. Well, after tapering off, I started having crazy good erections. But then I had some constant anxiety issues creep back. So my doctor thought I should go to 15mg (where I am today) to see if I could squash the constant minor angst. Well it works for that. But my labido is a little slower. Not to the point of concern but noticeable. I'm going to give it a couple months to work thru it. And it may be we look at other med options.

One thing that is a double edge sword is I stopped working at the beginning of the pandemic. For all the stress of the isolation, my psych was WAY improved by not going to a 50-60 hr wk deadline driven job I was really burned out from. Even on my 10mg dose I was having panic attacks just driving the freeway. So at 62 I guess I "retired". But now has introduced some other stresses both monetarily and family wise that complicate things (private healthcare costs are a stresser...). My doctor hints that I was edging towards PTSD. Hence the inability to quickly diffuse stress before the panic would set in. My next step is therapy of some type for long term results. ;)

Life is a work in progress!
 

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I think you'll see a big improvement a couple more weeks. It's amazing the effects on our psych these tiny little pills have. And as was mentioned there are others that are less invasive on your libido. A quick Google shows:
Antidepressants with the Least Sexual Side Effects

For me, I had a "normal" libido on my 10mg of excitalopram. But there was still an underlying angst running as well. But I decided to try and become "prescription free" heading into my 60's to see if my clean vegan diet and 5 day week workouts had helped relieve the need for the pills. Well, after tapering off, I started having crazy good erections. But then I had some constant anxiety issues creep back. So my doctor thought I should go to 15mg (where I am today) to see if I could squash the constant minor angst. Well it works for that. But my labido is a little slower. Not to the point of concern but noticeable. I'm going to give it a couple months to work thru it. And it may be we look at other med options.

One thing that is a double edge sword is I stopped working at the beginning of the pandemic. For all the stress of the isolation, my psych was WAY improved by not going to a 50-60 hr wk deadline driven job I was really burned out from. Even on my 10mg dose I was having panic attacks just driving the freeway. So at 62 I guess I "retired". But now has introduced some other stresses both monetarily and family wise that complicate things (private healthcare costs are a stresser...). My doctor hints that I was edging towards PTSD. Hence the inability to quickly diffuse stress before the panic would set in. My next step is therapy of some type for long term results. ;)

Life is a work in progress!
I wish you to be prescription-free soon!

And I really appreciate your efforts.

Stress and anxiety issues skyrocketed during the pandemic and the pandemic is not over yet, even though people worldwide behave that way.
 
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I think you'll see a big improvement a couple more weeks. It's amazing the effects on our psych these tiny little pills have. And as was mentioned there are others that are less invasive on your libido. A quick Google shows:
Antidepressants with the Least Sexual Side Effects

For me, I had a "normal" libido on my 10mg of excitalopram. But there was still an underlying angst running as well. But I decided to try and become "prescription free" heading into my 60's to see if my clean vegan diet and 5 day week workouts had helped relieve the need for the pills. Well, after tapering off, I started having crazy good erections. But then I had some constant anxiety issues creep back. So my doctor thought I should go to 15mg (where I am today) to see if I could squash the constant minor angst. Well it works for that. But my labido is a little slower. Not to the point of concern but noticeable. I'm going to give it a couple months to work thru it. And it may be we look at other med options.

One thing that is a double edge sword is I stopped working at the beginning of the pandemic. For all the stress of the isolation, my psych was WAY improved by not going to a 50-60 hr wk deadline driven job I was really burned out from. Even on my 10mg dose I was having panic attacks just driving the freeway. So at 62 I guess I "retired". But now has introduced some other stresses both monetarily and family wise that complicate things (private healthcare costs are a stresser...). My doctor hints that I was edging towards PTSD. Hence the inability to quickly diffuse stress before the panic would set in. My next step is therapy of some type for long term results. ;)

Life is a work in progress!
I hope you find your way to a free pill life, which is what I want.

Stress is a hidden trap! Money issues, health care, it's so much complicated.

Your last comment is like that, "life is a work in progress". I hope you feel better soon after all the steps you're taking to improve your mental health.

My best regards!
 
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I’m scared to come off.

I suffer with PE and when I came off last time I had extreme PE which made my anxiety worse.

I want to be pill free but I’m still going through depression and anxiety, considering changes medicines.

However the thoughts of how it’ll impact my sex is concerning.

I still have PE on anti depressants but nowhere near as bad as when I came off for a few months
 
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SSRI (fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, others) and SNRI's (venlafaxine, duloxetine, others) all have side effect of possible sexual dysfunction (includes less sex drive, delayed, infrequent or absent orgasm, ect...), most of the time, providers are instructed to switch over to Wellbutrin or bupropion if there is any sexual complaints from the patient and there's not any other risk with taking bupropion.

SSRIs and SNRIs are usually used first because they're effective and are fairly inexpensive compared to the other drugs. Also they are very effective and just because they have that side effect it does not mean it will happen to you since each person reacts differently to each med.

Its just important to keep that communication with the doctor and also not expect for the medication to work immediately, usually it can take up to 6-8 weeks for them to have their full effect mentally but the side effects of sexual dysfunction will be noticeable before the drug gets the chance to work.

I tried to jump directly to Wellbutrin and was on it for years and honestly helped some but not much. I honestly just thought thats how antidepressants worked and the rest of the feelings were worked out in therapy or you just dealt with them. I switched to Prozac or fluoxetine and my life changed completely . Luckily I didn't get any side effects and my mood did a full 180!

This long post is to say to just have a plan with your doctor and discuss your concerns from the start. Hope it helps anyone that might be in need of any information.
 
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SSRI (fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, others) and SNRI's (venlafaxine, duloxetine, others) all have side effect of possible sexual dysfunction (includes less sex drive, delayed, infrequent or absent orgasm, ect...), most of the time, providers are instructed to switch over to Wellbutrin or bupropion if there is any sexual complaints from the patient and there's not any other risk with taking bupropion.

SSRIs and SNRIs are usually used first because they're effective and are fairly inexpensive compared to the other drugs. Also they are very effective and just because they have that side effect it does not mean it will happen to you since each person reacts differently to each med.

Its just important to keep that communication with the doctor and also not expect for the medication to work immediately, usually it can take up to 6-8 weeks for them to have their full effect mentally but the side effects of sexual dysfunction will be noticeable before the drug gets the chance to work.

I tried to jump directly to Wellbutrin and was on it for years and honestly helped some but not much. I honestly just thought thats how antidepressants worked and the rest of the feelings were worked out in therapy or you just dealt with them. I switched to Prozac or fluoxetine and my life changed completely . Luckily I didn't get any side effects and my mood did a full 180!

This long post is to say to just have a plan with your doctor and discuss your concerns from the start. Hope it helps anyone that might be in need of any information.
Thanks for sharing!

It's like you said, to plan with your doctor.

I hope everything goes well!
 
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I was on Prozac for 11 months and within two weeks of starting it, I could get hard but was difficult to get to orgasm. Soon after, my sex drive was reduced considerably, and I would masturbate about once a month, more as something to do rather than needing to. Within a month or so after tapering off, everything was back to how it was before.
 
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