I’m currently on Xanax XR and Zoloft for anxiety and depression respectively. They both work pretty well. However I notice 2 issues. One, I have sort of a decreased sex drive. My girlfriend and I used to do it at least a few times a week, but now it’s more like once a week. Secondly, I have a hard time reaching orgasm, although I can stay hard just fine. The last two times we had sex, I could not come.
I had this issue when I first started taking the Zoloft, and I was told that it was normal. Within a few weeks it went away and my sex life was going pretty well. But about a week and a half ago I went from 75 milligrams to 100 milligrams, and I feel that same problem starting to creep back up.
What can I do about this? Try to wait it out?
For what it’s worth, I have an easier time reaching orgasm if I am, well, jacking off, than if I’m having sex. This has always been true in general for me, but more so since I started taking the medications.
I know that a lot of people take these pills so maybe someone here can give me some advice, if you don’t mind speaking candidly. Thanks in advance for the help.
My vote, from experience is to wait it out. Your experience sounds identical to my own experiences on Zoloft. It was just a matter of letting my body adjust. Of course, there was a significant period of time where I would not be able to finish just like you said above.
I take 40mg of Celexa and occassionally have one of the same problems you do (unable to orgasm during intercourse). Two things I found that work are to try different positions, as with some it was still possible to finish. A much more effective method for me, however, was to skip a day or two of the medication. I do that and I’m like the Energizer bunny… but yeah, talk to your doctor before you take my second piece of advice.
Oh, and I’d recommend against drinking more than a few servings also.
Talk to your doctor about either switching to or augmenting the zoloft with wellbutrin (bupropion). It’s a different type of antidepressant, and has little to no sexual side effects (anecdotally, it made a couple people I know even MORE horny than usual). It has actually been used to counter some side effects of SSRIs, and may allow for a lower dose of the zoloft.
I had a problem achieving an orgasm in 2001(ish). I had no problem getting or keeping an erection. But the orgasm was difficult for me to achieve.
My doc actually recommended Viagra. I explained that I no problem getting erect, but he seemed to think that perhaps I wasn’t getting “all the way erect.”
I don’t think it helped me.
We achieved more from her going on the pill and dispensing with rubbers.
I also think that getting into better physical shape helped me. (I’m not implying that you are overweight, nor as overweight as I was at the time.)
