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Can Citalopram Affect Sex Life?
Question: Hello i am a 37 year old woman. I use to have low libido. However now that i am taking antidepressant ( citalopam 20 mg) its worst. I am not able to have an orgasm but before even with my low libido i was able to. My husband has lost interest in making love to me and this is making me desperate and frustrated. Please advice what i can do to make this better. Thank you
Brief Answer:
Citalopram can affect sex life
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX,
Thanks for writing to us. I can understand your concern.
You were already suffering from low libido and after taking citalopram it has worsened.
Citalopram is an SSRI group of drug. It may cause sexual side effects, more side effects in males. In female it may cause anorgasmia (inability to reach orgasm) in 1 to 5 % of the patients taking treatment.
There are many causes of low libido and anorgasmia:
Physical causes:medical diseases ( diabetes and neurological diseases), gynecologic issues, medications ( blood pressure medications, antihistamines and antidepressants), alcohol and smoking.
Psychological causes: mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression, stress, guilt about enjoying sexual experiences, past sexual or emotional abuse, relationship issues.
In your case reason for low libido is likely depression. And for anorgasmia citalopram is responsible.
So treatment of depression is needed and bupropion or desvenlafaxine are the drugs almost without sexual side effects. You can discuss with your treating doctor for the same.
For a while you can take 5- PDE inhibitor group of medicines like sildenafil or tadalafil. It is proven drug for male erectile dysfunction and some reports of success in female also.vOne of them should be used 2 hours prior to sex. They cause headache, stuffy nose nausea and gastric discomfort like common side effects. Proper physical check-up of cardiac system should be done by a doctor before starting the same. These are prescription medicines and you need to consult doctor/psychiatrist/sexologist for the prescription.
Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Citalopram can affect sex life
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX,
Thanks for writing to us. I can understand your concern.
You were already suffering from low libido and after taking citalopram it has worsened.
Citalopram is an SSRI group of drug. It may cause sexual side effects, more side effects in males. In female it may cause anorgasmia (inability to reach orgasm) in 1 to 5 % of the patients taking treatment.
There are many causes of low libido and anorgasmia:
Physical causes:medical diseases ( diabetes and neurological diseases), gynecologic issues, medications ( blood pressure medications, antihistamines and antidepressants), alcohol and smoking.
Psychological causes: mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression, stress, guilt about enjoying sexual experiences, past sexual or emotional abuse, relationship issues.
In your case reason for low libido is likely depression. And for anorgasmia citalopram is responsible.
So treatment of depression is needed and bupropion or desvenlafaxine are the drugs almost without sexual side effects. You can discuss with your treating doctor for the same.
For a while you can take 5- PDE inhibitor group of medicines like sildenafil or tadalafil. It is proven drug for male erectile dysfunction and some reports of success in female also.vOne of them should be used 2 hours prior to sex. They cause headache, stuffy nose nausea and gastric discomfort like common side effects. Proper physical check-up of cardiac system should be done by a doctor before starting the same. These are prescription medicines and you need to consult doctor/psychiatrist/sexologist for the prescription.
Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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