Medication and sexual drive

[MichaelB]

Hello

I have been taking medication for anxiety/depression for about 2/3 years now, im at 80% of the max dose per day at the moment.

My brain doctor person that reads your brain told me that she wants me to go to the max dose, but i am scared because as it is i have lost all my abilitys to achieve orgasm. 

I can still "erect" but can not finish no matter what. This is really frustrating even though i am single and it shouldn't really matter, but im worried that it may do harm like by exploding them or somthing inside me 😕 

if i up the dose even more, will i lose even more function down there?

the medication does work, i have more ok days than bad days now, not by much, but they are winning. 
where as i used to have 100% bad days.

So i do not want to stop taking them, but im just worried that maybe  i  wont be able to have a sex life ever again 😕 

[Doolhof]

Hi Michael B,

I am not a guy, so I can't really offer you too much advice. I would just like to suggest that you mention this problem to your Dr. It may be a little embarrassing, but you need to find out the answer.

Maybe look in the phonebook for a Sexual Health phone number, they may be able to advise you or suggest who you could contact if you don't feel able to talk to your Dr about this.

Have you looked up the drug you are taking on the internet and seen if they list your problem as part of a possible side effect?

I don't think you are going to do yourself any harm having an erection but not being able to finish off as you put it. You may feel frustrated by it, but having a "dry run" might just be part of how you are functioning right now.

Check it out with your Dr to be sure.

All the best with that! Cheers from Mrs. Dools

[geoff]

dear Michael, I can only say how sorry this is, as I was once on an (AD) antidepressant and I couldn't even get an erection and for this to happen for a male makes us have no self esteem or confidence so we feel lousy.

It's just as bad if you can have an erection, but we have to realise that it's not what we call a satisfactory erection, but not being able to 'follow through' is disastrous.

So your decision is whether your depression can be handled by this AD and not being able to perform sexually, and an increase in dosage only means that your performance will then become even worse, or whether you want a balance, that is no depression and then be able to have a satisfactory sexual relationship, which may happen down the track.

Personally I would want to change, just as I told my doctor what happened with me, there were no questions no discussion, she pulled me off them straight away and started me on another AD. Geoff.