FAQ: Sexy Drugs List: drugs to mitigate the sexual side-effects of antidepressants
Drac Wightman
This is a reminder posted bimonthly to the newsgroups
alt.support.depression, soc.support.depression,
soc.support.depression.treatment, alt.support.anxiety,
and alt.support.survivors.prozac.
The Sexy Drugs List is a miniFAQ covering drugs which can be used to
mitigate the negative sexual side effects of antidepressants.
The List is located at http://www.whn.com/~patrick/sexy-drugs.html.
Patrick Charles Hayes
dr...@iserv.net
http://www.iserv.net/~drac/
Carol J. Klotz
I came across a really interesting study at
http://www.newswire.ca/releases/May1996/08/c1210.html
This study is entitled "Better Sexual Function with Antidepressant
Serzone". The subject line reads: "Two landmark studies show
significantly less sexual dysfunction for Serzone(tm) compared to
Zoloft(r), a Prozac like antidepressant.
According to the study, Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, and Luvox, the most
frequently prescribed antidepressants, have been shown to be effective
and well tolerated. However, these same drugs cause sexual dysfunction
in close to half of patients taking them, and since many patients feel
there is a stigma associated with discussing this problem with their
doctors, the incidence of sexual dysfunction in patients treated with
antidepressants could be even higher.
In this study, Zoloft was compared with Serzone with respect to
comparing he impact of antidepressant therapy on sexual function.
Please read the actual report for specific details of the results. I
will only say here that Zoloft was detrimental to sexual functioning in
about half of the people taking it, even though it helped their
depression in all cases. The numbers differ somewhat for men vs. women.
Serzone was noted to improve sexual functioning in many of the people
who previously experienced sexual problems while taking another
antidepressant. Zoloft was found to be associated with sexual
dysfunction in three and one-half times as many men as was Serzone.
My point here is, rather than seeking a "sexy drug", maybe people need
to change antidepressants, since there is now research available
identifying which drugs are likely to cause sexual dysfunction and
which are not.
I personally had taken nortriptyline for two and one-half years. I
recently started Serzone and have already noticed an improvement
in my relationship with my husband.
Carol K.
Patrick Charles Hayes
>This study is entitled "Better Sexual Function with Antidepressant
>Serzone". The subject line reads: "Two landmark studies show
>significantly less sexual dysfunction for Serzone(tm) compared to
>Zoloft(r), a Prozac like antidepressant.
This has become the core of the marketing efforts. For some reason I'm
always suspicious of them for it, though on the other hand, I'm glad a
company is actually taking the problem seriously.
> My point here is, rather than seeking a "sexy drug", maybe people need
> to change antidepressants, since there is now research available
> identifying which drugs are likely to cause sexual dysfunction and
> which are not.
A definite option. Other "traditional" antidepressants unlikely to
cause sexual side effects are Wellbutrin and deprenyl. Some
"nontraditional" ones would include the psychostimulants and
anablic-androgenic steroids. They're all mentioned in the List for
that reason along with exercise, lowering your dosage, and just plain
waiting to see if the dysfunction decreases by an acceptable amount
after a few months.
PCH
mrsva...@aol.com
I'm one of the 50% who suffered sexual dysfunction as a result of 8 years
on Zoloft. Until I read about Sexy Drugs List and read about this
phenomenon (sexual dysfunction on SSRUI's) in another news group, I had no
idea there might be a solution to the problem. I consulted with a
psychiatrist, who immediately prescribed "BuSpar" to be taken in
conjunction with the Zoloft initially. Then if I tolerate the BuSpar
(also an antidepressant, but without the above-mentioned side effect), he
wants to take me off Zoloft and continue on with BuSpar only. So far, I'm
doing well and am much relieved that there are ways to resolve this
problem!