people on SSRIs - can you orgasm?

[fixation]

I've been on effexor (150mg) for about 5 years now, and have also tried zoloft & prozak to no avail. Initially, for the first year or so, effexor did affect my sex drive which in turn affected my ability to climax. In hind sight, I think at least partly, my inability to climax had to do with the fact that I was still in the relationship which caused me to be depressed in the first place. I'm still on the meds for reasons which are irrelevant for this thread... but I no longer have the problem with that O-side effect.
I would highly recommend that you talk to your doctor/psych about this, or if you're uncomfortable doing so, take a check of your life to see if your inability to climax may be symptomatic of other things that are not going right in your life. Although I believe that SSRI can physiologically affect your sex drive, you have to at least consider that the situation/illness that necessitates your going on anti-depressants in the first place may have something to do with it as well.
Just my $0.02. Good luck to you

 

[xtcxtc]

in past i have taken 20mg of prozac + routinely, however much viagra seemed appropriate without anymore than the usual problems
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There is hardly anyone whose sexual life, if it were broadcast, would
not fill the world at large with surprise and horror.
—W. Somerset Maugham -

 

[djmm]

try adding some wellbutrin, gingko, viagra, or yohimbe....
or switch drugs....FWIW I take Nardil (MAOI) and have *no* sexual problems (I did on all the ssri's --regardless of dose)

 

[BeanDreams]

I started taking 20 mg Paxil about a month ago and for the first 3 weeks I had a real hard time getting off but for some reason it has been alot easier for the past week or two. I'm glad cause I was going to stop taking them because of that bad side effect.

 

[drCipher]

Talk with your GP. He/She will work with you. Add the Wellbutrin or change your medication. I was on Paxil for migraine prevention and had sexual side-effects, so I discontinued use. Then I tried Serzone. Didn't work for the migraines, but I had no sexual side-effects. I stopped those and I am taking Trazodone which is a depression medication and use it only at night when I have problems sleeping, but have not experienced any sexual side-effects, unless to much time passes after taking it, then I pass out, but that's the point. If the Prozac is working for you... I would try adding Wellbutrin to your regimen.

 

[fairnymph]

Ok, so some updates;
-I never was able to come on prozac, and it made me feel damn weird in general anyways, so I went off it.
-I've been taking Effexor now for the past 3-4 months, and while it isn't as effective as prozac in treating my symptoms, it does have fewer side effects. With the prozac, I realized that not only was I unable to orgasm -- I also had a very low sex drive and generally didn't want to have sex veyr often. At least with the Effexor, my sex drive has been as strong as ever -- but I STILL can't come. It's unfortunate, because I don't have any other side effects and I really like Effexor -- but I just can't handle not being able to orgasm, so I am going off it. I guess I'll try being medicine-free...

 

[BayRollerSF]

Hey All you SSRIers...
I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV.

I've been told that the reason for diminished sex drive and inability to have an orgasm on most SSRIs (SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS) is that SOME of them significantly affect what are called beta-androgenic receptors on parts of the brain. These receptors need to produce a peptide sequence that the brain produces which is transmitted down the spinal column and which is necessary to trigger an orgasm.(This is what I have heard...it ain't gospel...yet, but i'm sure someone will pick it up as proven fact...LOL)
A few years back, I realized the need for some chemical intervention because of 2 sudden deaths in my family but I still wanted to have a sex drive and orgasms. I heard about problems with Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil etc so I researched the PDR and discovered SERZONE which was brand new and less problematic in terms of sexual dysfunction.
I talked it over with my doctor (PLEASE DO THIS!) and he agreed. After a fight with the HMO to get it approved (new and more expensive), it worked...I had mood elevation and a sex drive, but I took a suboptimal dose (100-150 mg 2x/day) and the recommended dose is 150 to 250 2x/day.
The drawback is that not every SSRI works for every person and you may need to try different meds and doseages to find what works for you. For example, Prozac is considered a "stronger SSRI" than Serzone because one of its metabolites has a half life greater than 30 hours. The half life of Serzone is only a few hours, so its gentler and there may be tradeoffs.
It worked for me but I know others (ex-boyfriend) who needed something stronger (PAXIL)...He intially took a full dose, experienced no sex drive, and then cut the dose in half with fewer problems.
Another option is Wellbutrin which, unlike most of the SSRIs, primarily works on reuptake of dopamine and to a much lesser degree serotonin. It has little effect for most people in terms of sexual dysfunction and is considered by some doctors to be one of the drugs of choice for recovering meth addicts since meth destroys(permanently) many of the dopamine producing regions of the brain.
The bottom line is that there's "no one size fits all" when it comes to treating depression...but there are options which should be explored; If one drug doesn't work for you, talk with your doctor, try something else. adjust the dose...etc...And to be honest, I'd trade a lower sex drive or no sex drive in an instant for the assistance that an SSRI provided for me during a difficult period of life.
Oh yeah...if you're prone to depression, lay low and don't roll at all or too often since chronic use of X depletes serotonin bigtime.
Good Luck...Hope this helps!
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Sometimes you can see THE LIGHT.
In the strangest of places.
If you look at it RIGHT

 

[A_ShinyRollinStar]

WOw what a difference...my life is so much better WITHOUT prozac. after i stoped taking it, i was able to reach multiple orgasms while when i was on it, i didn't have A single ONE! oh by the way, do you roll?
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*~I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.
Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living~*

 

[Guesticle]

Hrrmmmm, on 40 mg of paxil I've gone from five minutes of unbelievable pleasure to half an hour of unbelievable pleasure [duhhh, not sure which is better

]
Patience my child, for with persistance the coming of the ages draws closer...