Are your Anti-Depressant Pills ruining your Sexual life?

An antidepressant is a psychiatric medication used to mitigate mood disorders such as depression and dysthymia and various anxiety disorders. Antidepressants which are more commonly used are referred as SSRIs(Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), SNRIs(Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, Tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants and Monoamine oxidase inhibitors. These drugs are known to be very effective in treating depression, but these antidepressants are also known to have serious complication in the sexual life of the individual. Sexual side effects are common with antidepressants in both men and women and the percentage is as high as 50%. Among all the antidepressants SSRIs (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are believed to be affecting the sexual life of the people. Many people taking SSRIs are not aware about these side effects affecting their body due to lack of knowledge and guidance by their medical practitioners. The three major side effects caused by antidepressants are • Erectile Dysfunction(ED) • Decreased Sexual interest(libido) • Delayed or absent orgasm Erectile Dysfunction(ED) is known to be affecting the highest number of patients who are under SSRIs. A large population of patients complained about poor erection or no-erection. One needs to understand as to why these drugs cause sexual disorders? A majority of Antidepressants works to elevate levels of neurotransmitter serotonin and this rise in serotonin levels leads to a negative impact upon the desire and arousal phase of our sexual response cycle. Serotonin is all about feeling good but one need to understand that there are other factors as well who come into play. Increased levels of serotonin take the wind out of the sails of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. And these are the two most key players in our sexual response cycle. It was seen that serotonin negatively impacts the sexual organs as well. These drugs tend to affect the muscle tissue and blood vessels which supports in adequate blood supply to the sexual organs of the human body. But these antidepressants also have reversible effect and these side effects can last for months or years after the drug has been withdrawn. This condition is known as Post SSRIs Sexual dysfunction. But depending upon a case to case basis certain remedies can always be worked out to effectively manage the sexual side effects caused by these antidepressants. Certain strategies need to be followed and which certainly helps. If Antidepressant causes sexual side effects, one should wait for certain weeks to see whether the side effects get better. If Erectile Dysfunction occurs after the intake of antidepressant then one should start the practice of having sex before the intake of the medicine, but provided it is once a day. The patient can also consult the Doctor to see whether he can prescribe some other antidepressants which cause lesser side effects or if the dosage can be reduced after a certain point of time of the treatment. But one of the effective and reliable option is to treat Erectile Dysfunction with Generic Viagra(Sildenafil Citrate). Though Generic Viagra is usually meant to treat Sexual Dysfunction in men but certain studies suggest that it may also improve sexual problems caused by antidepressants in some women. Some men who take antidepressants pill tend to stop taking their medication once they suffer sexual problems but this should not be done, rather they should work with their doctors to find an effective treatment which can keep their depression in control and reduce their sexual problems as well. In fact it is believed that poor sexual performance can further increase the depression of an individual, so don’t let sex be a cause for more depression and learn to effectively manage the side effects and with option like Generic Viagra, Kamagra, Cialis and their easy availability online will certainly help you to maintain the confidence and have a satisfactory sex life.