Cipralex (Lexapro) and libido..

Loss of libido is a common side effect of many SSRI's...in your other post I stated that I became an emotionless drone on Lexapro and when that happens, sex can loose it's appeal.  Both of my sons went off Paxil because their wives did not appreciate their disinterest.  In saying that, don't anticipate that happening to you....it does NOT happen to everyone.   Googling side effects will just put ideas in your head...don't go looking for trouble...LOL!

 

Think about the pros and cons when deciding whether to continue taking the drug...is your anxiety something you can handle without the use of meds?  Can you tolerate the start up symptoms...do you want to be on it forever?

 

And...Just say 'no' to Google!

 

Donna

hi lulu yes loss of libido might happens when you takes ssris, but then again it might go away soon everybody is different. As for googling anything lulu I agree with you it's really bad I tend to do that and I told my dr about it and he said "if you're going to google something make sure it's science related and not just opinions" so I have decrease googling lol. my suggestion don't believe everything that is out here.

um, I always have low sex drive unless I'm ovulating.. so I haven't noticed much of a difference. One thing I have noticed though, and I'm sorry to say this, but, it's really hard to make it to completion, if you know what I mean. You'll be almost there, almost there, and it takes incredible concentration (and time) .. I'm on 20mg though.

That's a good point. The side effects are short-term, while the benefit of being healthier is long-term. And hey... if you still have the desire, but it just takes a bit longer - some people might view that as a positive!

I just started taking Cipralex yesterday. First day of taking it (10mg) kind of felt baked, little headache. Had sex with my girlfriend and I've never ever had such a hard time trying to finish. It felt like I was loser drunk trying to get off. Today I decided not to take it and try to get rid of my anxiety from being more active and living a better lifestyle. I'll see how this goes.
I'm not sure if I will try this again. I don't think I ever should of googled side effects but my doctor didn't really give me any information, just told me to take it for 4 weeks (free sample) and then let him know how it was.

I am on Celexa (Citalopram) which I think (?) is an SSRI, and I noticed a drop in my sex drive after going on it. I'm a female in my early twenties and in a now six-year relationship with an absolutely wonderful guy. And before going on celexa, we were pretty much ALWAYS game. After going on it that changed a bit.

HOWEVER, it didn't ruin my or his sex life, it just changed things a bit. First, for the first few months after going on it my libido died out almost completely. I'd have to really prep myself for sex, and didn't find that I enjoyed it nearly as much. After those first two or three months though, that particular side effect subsided considerably and since then my libido been fairly average (we went from, say, 5 or 6 times a week before the celexa, to 2-3 with it once things levelled out) and I enjoy myself just as much as before. Also, when my anxiety and depression were at their absolute height my libido was completely non-existent -- someone earlier said panic attacks and vomiting aren't very conducive to sex and I couldn't agree more. :P So, in that respect, the celexa was an improvement. Someone also mentioned that they found their SSRI made it harder to reach climax. I've never experienced this particular effect, though everyone responds differently to medications. Moreover, the whole experience of libidinal changes actually brought my partner and I closer and made it easier for us to talk openly about sex -- so in the end, I think it improved our sex life!

So don't discount a medication just because it might cause that. You don't know for certain that it will, and if it does, talk with your prescribing doctor. There's lots of ways of compensating for sex drive lost to medication without going off the medication, and many such side effects even subside with time, as in my case.

I think I may be the only one but since I've been on prozac, I find I want it more!! I don't know if it's because I'm not panicking anymore or if it's the meds

Yes. I've certainly seemed to of lost that loving feeling and it's difficult to cross the finish line. Hopefully it will go away however I'm willing to sacrifice to not feel the way I did when I was constantly panicking.