Posted on 12/15/2008 6:33:47 AM PST by Fractal Trader
Such sexual symptoms have long been known side effects of the popular Prozac class of antidepressants, but a growing body of research suggests that they are far more common than previously thought, perhaps affecting half or more of patients.
And a handful of recent medical and psychological journal articles document a small number of cases in which sexual problems remain even after a patient goes off the drugs.
"This is such an upsetting issue," said Aline Zoldbrod, a Lexington psychologist and sex therapist. "There are people for whom SSRIs are really life-saving, I think, but the idea that someone would have to choose between getting out of the darkness of depression and having a good sex life is horrible."
Current warnings on the labels of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, cite early studies in which the prevalence of sexual side effects was lower: 4 percent for Prozac, for example, and ranging from 0 to 28 percent for Paxil.
But more recent studies, in which patients were more likely to be asked about specific sexual side effects and thus more likely to report them, suggest that the ballpark range of those affected by SSRIs is between 30 percent and 50 percent, said researchers including Dr. Richard Balon, a psychiatry professor at Wayne State University who studies the symptoms.
That would translate into millions of affected sex lives among the estimated 1 in 8 American adults who have tried these antidepressants in the past decade or so. Some studies have found the range still higher.
In fact, the dampening sexual effects can be so dramatic that in recent years, the antidepressants have become the leading treatment for premature ejaculation, a study last year found, though they are not approved for that use by the FDA.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
So, how is it possible to be in the "darkness of depression" and still have a good sex life?
Get over yourself and start living your life?
“This is such an upsetting issue,” said Aline Zoldbrod, a Lexington psychologist and sex therapist.
too depressed? Take some prozac and find a better job.
Crazy chicks are plentiful at AA meetings. Plus, they need a new addiction since the booze is gone.
:-)
The crazier the woman, the better.
I don’t know why.
It’s just a rule of life.
> but the idea that someone would have to choose between getting out of the darkness of depression and having a good sex life is horrible.”
Actually, if you have Depression, this is a real easy answer. You’re not having a sex life anyway while you’re Depressed, so any advance on that is a bonus. The medication will win over sex every time.
ping
> So, how is it possible to be in the “darkness of depression” and still have a good sex life?
It isn’t.
Yeah, if blind people would only open their eyes...
Unless you are talking about Bipolar Betsy or Manic depressive Maria...
> Unless you are talking about Bipolar Betsy or Manic depressive Maria...
(grin!) Bipolarism is seriously over-rated, I’ve found. And, like ordinary Depression, sex is often the last thing on one’s mind — whether it’s on the hi cycle or the lo cycle or someplace in-between.
And apparently, a crack habit is cheaper then many medicinal programs of the walking zombies in the 80g BMWs... and the homeless are more coherent than many of the comotosed zombie 40 something housewives.. and without the polyester pants and grotesque amounts of perfume, the homeless seem more natural with their crack pipe and 24 Ounce Malt Liquor cans.
This is such an upsetting issue, said Aline Zoldbrod, a Lexington psychologist and sex therapist.”
Have a good life, learn and adjust, the rest will follow (no charge).
It’s Massachusetts and somehow I think that those depressed souls are searching for someone to blame.
Wonder if Zoldbrod has had an increase in clients? (he/she would not be depressed then, would they?)
This must be a left over article from the Glob (in case 0 didn’t win). Or, due to the win, someone’s trying to create some business?
I beg to differ with you but hypersexuality is a classic symptom associated with the manic phase of bi-polarism.
> I beg to differ with you but hypersexuality is a classic symptom associated with the manic phase of bi-polarism.
That’s a fair call.
When manic some people do things that get them into alot trouble, like over-spending, gambling to excess, embarking on strange projects, and yes, sleeping around with multiple partners.
While these are all classic symptoms, not everybody gets them. It would be wrong, for example, to say that all or even most bipolar people are hyper-sexual when manic. I’m certainly not, and neither are any of my bipolar acquaintences.
When I am in the manic phase I stay awake for days on end (I’m in that phase now). Sex would be an unwanted distraction from the million things that I need to get done. If you can imagine “Tigger” on a mission — a very focused “Tigger”, that’s me.
Lithium helps (alot) to smooth out the cycles and an almost normal life is quite achievable.
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