Title
Sexual side effects of antidepressants
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Psychiatry
Publication Date
2000-08-05
Document Type
Article
Subjects
Adult; Antidepressive Agents; Comorbidity; Depressive Disorder; Female; Fluoxetine; Humans; Incidence; Male; Patient Compliance; Quality of Life; Recurrence; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors; Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological; induced
Disciplines
Psychiatry
Abstract
Patients with depressive disorders frequently have concurrent sexual problems. The sexual dysfunction is often masked by the mood disorder, and many patients have difficulty discussing these problems openly. Thus, sexual dysfunction often is detectable only by careful inquiry. The relationship between sexual dysfunction and depressive disorders is further complicated by antidepressant therapy, which itself may cause sexual dysfunction, increasing the risk of noncompliance and relapse. This article reviews studies indicating that antidepressants may cause 30% to 40% of patients who take them to develop some degree of sexual dysfunction. Management strategies for alleviating sexual dysfunction as a complication of antidepressant treatment are discussed in terms of supporting research studies as well as practicality. Spontaneous resolution of antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunctions rarely occurs, and dose reductions may jeopardize the antidepressant effect. Antidotes, drug holidays, and timing sexual relations with respect to antidepressant dose are effective for some patients, but only a few of these strategies have been studied with double-blind paradigms. Switching to antidepressants that cause sexual dysfunction at lower rates and data comparing rates of sexual dysfunction among antidepressants are discussed.
Source
J Clin Psychiatry. 2000;61 Suppl 11:28-36.
Journal/Book/Conference Title
The Journal of clinical psychiatry
Related Resources
PubMed ID
10926052
Repository Citation
Rothschild AJ. (2000). Sexual side effects of antidepressants. Psychiatry Publications. Retrieved from https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/psych_pp/55