Lexapro sexual side effects

[John]

Jim LeFluer wrote:

Either I'm apparently one in a million, or they were giving me sugar pills the whole time I was on it (10mg, for about 4 years). Either that, or I have a superhuman sex drive. MOST all the time I was on it (and now for that matter) I remained almost perpetually "horny." Sure, there were still some bad days where I had little interest in sex. But not many...
In fact, at one point I was wondering if INCREASED sex drive was what they meant by "sexual side effects!"
-oops, just saw Kay's post. TWO in a million...

Hmmm... I've been on lexapro for about a month and experienced problems achieving orgasm for the first 3 or 3 weeks. The last week, however, my libido has come charging back. One thing i have noticed is that the afterglow is more pleasurable - I just drift away on scented clouds of inner calm, feeling the remnants of the orgasm still for half an hour - lovely! Anyone else noticed this?

[bookmdano]

I am a 44 year old male.I had never been on any medication in my life until recently.I had been expieriencing a very stressful and depressing time in my life and I went to a doctor and was put on 5mg of Lexapro.I started feeling better in a couple of days,but noticed a almost complete lack of libido.I realize that the stress was also comtributing to this problem but after two weeks I could not take it any longer and stopped completly.Its been a full month since I stopped and still have not regained my libido.strangely enough before I get a full erection,I not have an immediate urge to ejaculate.I am now very depressed ,because this ended a recent relationship that had brought me much happiness.I wonder when, if ever I will get back to normal!

[Dennis]

19 year old male here.

I was on 20 miligrams of Lexapro for quite some time (six months or so) and did fine. No sexual side-effects. However, when I bumped it up to the thirty, it slowly started to eat away at my sexual functionality. By six weeks in, my libido was nuked. Then it seemed my libido reappeared (at least in a very...erm.... mechanical sense), but I had really bad impotence. I knocked my dose back to 20mg and haven't had the additional 10mg for 48 hours. No withdrawal symptoms, but if I'm any more able to get an erection, the improvements are marginal.

How long will it take to get back to normal? Any estimates?

[Dennis]

Scratch that. It's happening faster than I originally thought. Nevermind.

[Sam]

The first time I went on Lexapro (10mg.) I did not experience a total loss of libido. I did notice a decrease in libido, but it came back about a month into the treatment, but then unfortunately gradually decreased again. I weened myself off the drug by reducing dosage over a period of time like they say to do. Got back to normal. Have started the drug again after anxiety and depression symptons returned. This time (after 1-1/2 months) it was a disaster -- no sex drive and impotence. I am weening myself off the drug again but am already noticing a change in my mental state for the worse. I am 58 years old and have always been very active sexually. This is a disaster for me and my wife and I would recommend that anyone contemplating taking one of these drugs think long and hard, especially if you have a spouse or are in a relationship. You may be feeling better and willing to accept the side effects, but it is not good to force them on your partner. I will now try some L-carnitine and 5-HTP. Just by way of note, I did experience an increase in my sexual feelings when I tried HGH in the past and may try that again.

[John]

Sam wrote:

I will now try some L-carnitine and 5-HTP. Just by way of note, I did experience an increase in my sexual feelings when I tried HGH in the past and may try that again.

Hi - what are these?(L-carnitine, 5-HTP and HGH).

I am about four months into Lexapro now and find I can have good sex, albeit with somewhat delayed orgasm, but only if I abstain for a few days. Still, better than nothing, I suppose, and it does encourage me to be, er *creative* on the other occasions...

[Dennis]

Thought I might as well give an update:

About the time my sexual functionality returned, I also started to feel some significant mood change for the worse (withdrawal symptoms, I would gather). I was either really sad or really anxious and a little distractable unless I was busy doing something like playing a videogame or excercising. After about 24 hours of that anguish, though, it seems my mood is returning to normal. So, being on 30mg for 6 weeks and switching to 20mg, it probably takes one about 96 hours (maybe a bit more, as I have some reason to be happy today) to get back to normal. Not bad, but it certainly doesn't make me excited about ditching lexapro completely when the time comes.

Hope that helps someone.

[Sam]

For John and anyone else:
L-Carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid which plays a vital role in the metabolism of fat. It functions as a transporter of fatty acids into the mitochondria, the metabolic furnace of the cell. If you are deficient in it, and you would not be unless you eat little meat or dairy products, it could affect your energy levels and your perception of your mental health state.
5-Hydroxytryptophan or 5-HTP is a naturally occurring amino acid, a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin and an intermediate in tryptophan metabolism. It is marketed in the United States and other countries as a dietary supplement for use as an antidepressant, appetite suppressant, and sleep aid.
HGH is Human Growth Hormone, a natural hormone produced in the pituitary gland of the brain. HGH is considered "the key" hormone because it controls so many functions. It's responsible for youth, vitality, energy and all of the health benefits we associate with youth. HGH is sometimes called the "master hormone" controlling many organs and body functions and is directly responsible for stimulating tissue repair, cell replacement, brain functions, and enzyme function. It’s human growth hormone that grows the cells, bones, muscles, and organs, and it is the decreasing level of human growth hormone after age 30 that slowly robs us of our "youth." Nothing beats strength training for creating human growth hormone, but there's another factor that's just as important: adequate sleep. Studies show that growth hormone is produced during the later stages of nightly sleep, and if you cut your sleep short (five or six hours instead of seven or eight), you short-change your HGH production. I would presume that most of us suffered from lack of sleep before starting to take Lexapro.
Lack of stress is also critical for proper human growth hormone balance -- a body that's under constant stress will experience a decline in HGH production.(That's due to the interaction of stress hormones like adrenaline.) So, in a very real sense, staying relaxed and stress-free will make you live longer. That's what we are all seeking on this thread -- a better stress free life -- through chemistry I guess. Hope that this helps everyone.

[John]

Thanks Sam.

[Robin]

I have been on 10 mg lexapro for about 5 weeks now. I am already noticing a slight weight gain, tiredness and lack of sexual gratification. I can not orgasm with or with out my husband!! I am taking this to reduce the chemical that causes to much acid in the stomach. It has helped my acid reflux, I am only having to take my zegerid once or twice a week now. I am contemplating on cutting back to 5 mg or all together and start taking the zegerid full time again.

[Dennis]

Still a little down, and I often feel a bit nauseous after a meal (but only very briefly). My doctor thinks the feeling should go away by tomorrow. We'll see. If not, he says I should go back up on my dose or switch meds.

[james]

I'm a 24 year old man. I've been taking 20mg of Lexapro for 6 months now. At first it was a struggle to achieve an orgasm at all. It's gotten easier for me to do it through masturbation, but I still only orgasm about 1/4 of the time with my partner. I feel pretty numb down there still and my arousal has to be rigorously up kept through mental focus. I feel like I'm gonna get an aneurysm. I've been looking it up on the web and I'm thinking of switching to buspirone or bupropion (Wellbutrin).

[rob]

When I was on the lexapro 10mg then 5mg my libido was non-exsistent and my orgasm was next to impossible. I have been off of lexapro for one month and it is starting to come back to normal for me. I started a blog lexapronomore.blogspot.com for people on lexapro and for people who are coming off and having a hard time. I would love the input. thanks.

[South Fla]

Jim LeFluer wrote:

Either I'm apparently one in a million, or they were giving me sugar pills the whole time I was on it (10mg, for about 4 years). Either that, or I have a superhuman sex drive. MOST all the time I was on it (and now for that matter) I remained almost perpetually "horny." Sure, there were still some bad days where I had little interest in sex. But not many...
In fact, at one point I was wondering if INCREASED sex drive was what they meant by "sexual side effects!"
-oops, just saw Kay's post. TWO in a million...

Make that 3 in a million because I too have noticed an increase.

[Vince]

Curt,
I have been off and on Lexapro three different times. Each time I stopped taking it because of the sexual side effects you are experiencing. This last time I cut the dose to 5 mg per day and just like others who have commented, it makes life tolerable while allowing some sexual function to return. Still long to climax and not the greatest erection, but an improvement from nothing on either front at 10 mg. I am 59 years old. I believe that many people are taking way too high a dose of this drug because after two months on 5 mg. I am experiencing the same good benefits as when I was taking the 10 mg. dose. I am going to stay on this dose for longer this time to see if my decreased libido improves like some have said happens.

[Belinda]

I am writing regarding my Husband who has been taking Lexapro for roughly 5 months.

His initial dose was 20mg/day, however, it wasn't effective enough, so was increased to 40mg/day.

He is taking it for depression and the effects of anti-social personality disorder.

This medication has been a miracle in regard to his behaviour and mood. However, it has caused massive problems in regard to any intimacy we used to once share.

He no longer wants sex and won't even partake in any sort of affection (hugging, kissing etc.)

It is driving me around the bend, as I have a very high libido and am a naturally affectionate person.

Prior to the medication he was constantly breaking the law, violent and agressive.

I am grateful that he seems to have left these parts of his life behind, however, am really battling to see where our future lies emotionally.

Does anyone know if there are any similar medications without the loss of libido etc?

Thank you.

[Jeffrey from Virginia]

Curt wrote:

Hello all,
I have been on Lexapro for 3 weeks now. 10 milligrams/day.
I am experiencing extreme difficulty achieving orgasm and also some loss of libido.
The Lexapro website says most side effects will disapear ? Is this one that will go away over time ?
No sex life is depressing in itself. I am not sure if this is worth it. Any advise out there please ?
Any experience to share ? What can I do ?
I am male 45 years old.
Curt

i have been on lexapro now for a week two days ago i could not reach an orgasm with my partner no matter how hard i tried. the next day i tried masturbating and it took me over an hour to ejaculate, and when i did it felt totaly differant than ever before and not in a good way either. as far as i'm concerned i would rather be depressed, so i am quiting it cold turkey.

[Aim]

I have been on 10 mg of Lexapro for 5 months now. I have had one orgasm since taking it. I have difficulty getting aroused. I can masterbate and climax but can't during sex. I feel numb. I think my issue my be in my head. Making myself think i will never get there so i just give up. To you who said that it gets easier over time. How long until you noticed a difference in your ability to orgasm after taking the meds?

[CPJ]

I have been on Lexapro for a year. 20mg when I wake up. I am a male at 56. I have a little sex drive. I have a very hard time achieving an orgasm. I use to think as most men, horny all the time. My new partner which is 10 years older, has a nice sex drive and looks great for her age. She understands this issue. I sometimes masturbate after she has had her orgasm with her, sometimes I get off, mostly I just give up. I am satisfied I gave her normally a couple good ones. The effects of what lexapro has done to my personality is amazing, so I choose to stay with lexapro. I went through several different side effects and they all passed, but the sex part didn't. The longer I have been on the lexapro the better I mentally feel. At my age feeling better mentally out weights the other side effect? I feel great.

[Oh no]

After months of contemplation and trepidation I finally went to see a shrink a few weeks back and he gave me the scrip for Lex. I've held onto it for these few weeks and since my crippling anxiety attacks have continued (over the last year) I couldn't take it anymore. I went to the pharmacy today and got my Lex. Nervously took my first (10m) dose. Felt the stomach upsset and general feeling of being drugged. The doc said there would be only a few rare, minor complications. Sexual disfunction being one of them. Reading these posts I'm thinking of going of Lex now before it's too late. My life has been intolerable with panic attacks, palms sweating, heart racing, feeling like you're losing your mind, not knowing how you're going to get through the day at work. But impotence? I'm afraid of having this numb complacent feeling bandaging the panic/depression followed by no passion, no libido. Definitely splitting my dose to 5m if I even keep going.