Antidepressants are crushing Americans' sex drive, survey finds

As many as 70 percent of the millions of Americans that take antidepressants feel the drugs' effects in the bedroom, too. 

A new survey of 1,000 American adults found that between 58 and 70 percent of those taking selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) experience low sex drive or other sexual dysfunction. 

SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed kind of antidepressant, fighting symptoms by keeping more serotonin available in the brain. 

It isn't exactly clear why the drugs have their effect, but some studies suggest that more serotonin means less dopamine, and the latter is crucial to libido.

Sadly, a growing number of men and women alike feel that they can't quit or switch their antidepressants without debilitating consequences because - while the drugs are not addictive - they develop dependency upon their effects.   

Other kinds of antidepressants may have fewer sexual side effects, but, an alarming number of American men and women reported that their doctors never even mentioned that the drugs could affect their sex lives, the Single Care study found. 

As many as 70 percent of people taking antidepressants notice that the drugs lower their sex drives, according to a new survey

As many as 70 percent of people taking antidepressants notice that the drugs lower their sex drives, according to a new survey 

SYMPTOM, TREATMENT OR CAUSE? DEPRESSION AND ANTIDEPRESSANTS CAN BOTH CAUSE LOW LIBIDO

Treated or not, sex drive and depression are intimately connected. 

Their close connection often makes it difficult for doctors patients alike to identify whether the condition or the treatment is causing sexual problems. 

Some 16 million people in the US suffer from depression, and for many - including about 21 percent of women - that comes with low sex drive itself. 

Antidepressants can help to lift or lighten symptoms like fatigue and sadness and, in some cases, low sex drive, but in others it can just worsen that latter. 

According to the new study, most of those who had taken SSRIs and experienced sexual side effects had known going in that that could be the case. 

Just 12.4 percent said they had no idea their medications might alter their sex drives. 

But there may be a bit of bias in the likelihood that people report sexual side effects, considering that nearly half those who did not experience sexual side effects were not aware that the symptoms could exist.

Only a small percentage of people who had sexual side effects said that they were unaware that their antidepressants might have such effects, while nearly half of those who didn't have side effects were unaware that they might

Only a small percentage of people who had sexual side effects said that they were unaware that their antidepressants might have such effects, while nearly half of those who didn't have side effects were unaware that they might  

Women were far more likely to have been told nothing about the sexual side effects of SSRIs

Women were far more likely to have been told nothing about the sexual side effects of SSRIs 

While that might suggest that those who knew the drugs could deplete their libidos were less likely to have low libidos, it's possible, too, that those who didn't know their medications could have such effects might have effects on their sexuality assumed that nothing was abnormal. 

More importantly, awareness that the drugs might do this would increase the likelihood that people speak with their doctors about making changes to their medication regimens and/or lifestyles to help get their sex drive back. 

Nearly half of the women surveyed said their doctors didn't explain anything about the possibility of sexual side effects to them. 

The same was true for nearly 30 percent of men. 

Men were more likely to raise their worries with their doctors than women, and while both sexes reported good response rates, men's doctors were more likely to take their concerns seriously (as 75 percent of men said their physicians did). 

'You should keep your doctor

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