Sex and anxiety meds

[earWIG]

So my wife has been on several different types of anti-anxiety and anti-depression meds for a few years now. The doctors (she's been to several) all seem to have their personal favorite prescriptions. My problem is that the wife is practically completely without a sex drive these days. Don't wanna cheat, sick of jerking off, what's guy supposed to do? She told me once that it would be OK if I went and found another girl to have sex with, but Im not THAT stupid. Of course she doesn't want that, and I'm not trying to hurt her, but IM HORNY and somethings got to give. I bet there's a lot of guys in this same boat...any ideas?

[lurkette]

I've been there - I've been on paxil for a year, and for the first few months (and occasionally since then) I was anorgasmic - fucking sucked!

Has she tried buspar? It's supposed to be one of the best anti-anxiety meds in terms of side effects. Other than that, she might want to talk to her OB-GYN about either a prescription that doesn't have such a high risk of sexual side effects, or a counter-med that might up her sex drive.

Good luck!

[~springrain]

i cannot tell you how many different medications i've been on for anxiety and depression...
i had similar experiences as lurkette on Paxil... but i know others' who love it...
the thing is here that everyone reacts differently... and there are some geared toward lowering the sexual side effects...
i would encourage you and your wife to talk to her doctor about it... i know i was embarrassed to talk about my sex life with my doctor... so Willow came with me, and she was totally cool...

i take Effexor for depression and anxiety... and the the sexual side effects are quite low... the Birth Control Pill can also mess around with a women's sex drive... so that's also something to consider...

whatever happens... keep on trying... don't let the doctors tell you it's something you just have to "live with"... there are all sorts of options out there... *warm smile*

[WarWagon]

There are a LOT of alternatives. I'm switching to Effexor now because lorazepam isn't doing its job, and the effexor works for my sister.

[iamnormal]

I'm on Effexor and it has lowered my sexual drive but I don't mind it.
Effexor has some strange sidefx and they have changed over time.
Has anyone on effexor felt the brain shivers? Thats a intresting feeling.

[Mupwah]

Go to the doctor and get somthing different. There are alot of different drugs that affect people differently. You may find one that doesn't have the side affects.

[newsman]

one of many reasons I stopped Prozac was that it killed sex drive. This was not altogether a bad thing, because I tend to become a sex fiend under stress, but I found I could not orgasm during intercourse with my wife .. and tended to drive her nuts bumping and grinding for hours and never getting anywhere. Also developed strange muscle shakes with P. My feeling is that nobody really knows the long term effects of these anti-de's - they simply haven't been around longer - possible tie-in also with memory loss for some anti-d's . . . so maybe a good alternataive to anti d's is really great sex, great novels, meditation, a new job , swim every day, eyc

[powerclown]

Have you looked into Viagra? Supposed to work for women as well. I'd ask my doctor first of course, but it supposedly gets the blood flowing to all the tingly parts as it does for men. Ive read that it makes women VERY horny. Couldnt hurt to try...

[absorbentishe]

My wife is on Effexor now, and it seems like it's ramping up her drive! She was on prozac before and totally killed it. She talked to her OB, and perscribed steroids, the ointment kind. Once she used used that cream, she was totally in the mood again. Have your wife consult her doctor.

[~springrain]

for those of you considering Effexor... it is very effective... but does have some freaky side effects, that can just come out of the blue...
the other thing is ... NEVER got off of it cold turkey... even if you've done it before on others... Effexor is a pretty powerful drug in it's formulation... i had to stop taking it quickly when i found out i was pregnant while taking it... it was HELL. vomiting, shakes, body aches, brain shivers, loss of vision, effects that are hard to describe... that last for like 2 weeks.

i went back on it after my son was born, because it's one of the only medications that actually helps me... but it was pretty scary to have that kind of withdrawl. just make sure you use it wisely.

[Plan9Senior]

Have her switch meds. If they are causing problems that will interfere with your marriage then they aren't worth it period. Many alternatives, have her talk to her doctor about switching.

[omega2K4]

I take Effexor XR, and I haven't noticed any sexual side effects. The only side effects I've noticed is that it is hard for me to piss. It is like I have to go piss, but it just seems like it takes longer than normal for it to come out.

[Aladdin Sane]

I take Zoloft. It doesn't lessen my sex drive at all, but sometimes I don't orgasm. I can have sex for hours. Oh well, as a younger man, I had problems with premature ejaculation. I prefer where I am now. My wife gets all the time she needs to cum, so she doesn't mind either. Has your wife tried Zoloft?