Stress Center Peer Support

hello all. I completed the program in 2008 but I have not been on the forum in a really long time. There is a subject that has been bothering me for a really long time and I cannot seem to get any help from it. For the past three years I have been on Zoloft for my anxiety and depression. Before that it was Prozac, and throughout this entire time I have had a VERY low sex drive. I have been with my husband for the past five and a half years and we just got married this past October. So throughout our entire relationship I have not been very sexual. It has caused rifts for us but at the end of the day he understands that I need to take antidepressants to help my disorder, and a big side effect is low libido. I had tried switching my birth control because I thought that might help, but the reality is, its my antidepressants.

I felt that the Zoloft had stopped working so for the past couple of months I have been on Effexor. 300mg and my sex drive is absolutely NONE! My poor husband has tried to be patient and we have intercourse maybe once a month, and I feel horrible because It is not at all pleasurable for me. It hurts and is uncomfortable and I never get into the mood. I have talked about this on here in the past but it is never this bad. I want to enjoy sex, and I feel like some sort of alien. People have suggested switching medications or lowering the dose, but I have such horrible anxiety and depression I really cannot do that. We have tried taking sex slow and setting the mood, but NOTHING has worked. I talked to my psychiatrist but I do not think she grasps the issue that this is a severe problem. PLEASE if anyone is going through the same thing, help me!

Hello,

I can imagine how frustrating that must be for you. Maybe it's time to pull out the program again? Are you seeing a therapist? I think it's best to get to the heart of the anxiety and depression. I realize in some cases that depression is biochemical and people need to be on medication. I'm not sure if this is your case or not. But yes, as you mentioned antidepressants can cause a decrease in sex drive. Could you try another brand of anti depressants? It may take some time before you find one that works for you.

Thank you so much for your replies. Pauly I Burspar like a viagra? I will for sure look into that thank you!

My Doctor also mentioned Busbar for help with this issue. I was taking Paxil and Atenolol at the time so I stopped the atenolol and lowered the Paxil and that really helped. To cope with the lowering of Paxil I went throught the program again and really watch my diet and exercise 4 times a wekk.

Anna,

No, Buspar is not like Viagra! It is actually used for anxiety and depression, sometimes added to an antidepressant medication to increase its effects or help with the libido issues! Sometimes it is used alone, and from what I hear, it has a weak effect as far as helping with the anxiety and depression! Some people do fine on it, like any other medication! I personally take Doxepin, which is an older type tricyclic antidepressant! This was my savior! Helped to cut off panic attacks, lowered my general anxiety about 90%, and it left my libido in check! Very satisfied!

pauly j