The Effect of Drugs on Your Sex Life and What to Do About It
Would you rather get an erection at the right time or be sure you won’t have a panic attack in the middle of your work presentation? Orgasm or being able to get out of bed tomorrow morning?
Some of the most important life-saving drugs can also have a moderating effect on your sex life, which is why these are the decisions millions of Americans are forced to make every day.
Read a guide on how medications affect your sex life and what you can do about it.
An important caveat: I am not a doctor. I am a sex therapist. Since many of my clients are struggling with sexual side effects, I have done a lot of research on this topic, including talking to Anita Batra, MD, Assistant Clinical Trainer in Internal Medicine, UCLA Health. All of the following information should not be taken as medical advice; it is designed so that you can talk to your doctor.
Anxiety medications / antidepressants
These classes of drugs are notorious for causing sexual side effects. They are also the hardest to deal with as mental health can obviously be a life or death issue for so many people.
This group includes SSRIs, the most common class of antidepressants. About SSRIs, Dr. Batra says, “These drugs are known to cause decreased libido, decreased lubrication and inability to orgasm in women, and erectile dysfunction and delayed ejaculation in men. To complicate matters, depression itself can cause many of these symptoms. ”
Medicines: Ativan, Celexa, Tsimbalta, Effexor, Klonopin, Lexapro, Pristik, Prozac, Paxil, Valium, Wellbutrin, Xanax, Zoloft.
Possible side effects:
- Decreased sex drive
- Decrease or dullness of sensations
- Decreased vaginal lubrication
- Erectile difficulties
- Difficulty with orgasm
- Less pleasant orgasms
What to talk to your doctor about:
Your body’s response to a given drug can vary greatly, so it’s important to keep in touch with your doctor. Dr. Batra says, “Your options include waiting to see if the side effects improve over the next few weeks as you continue to take the drug, switch to another SSRI, or try a non-SSRI drug.”
Wellbutrin generally has the lowest incidence of sexual side effects and can be combined with other medications. But this, of course, is not a panacea.
Aside from medications, the best thing you can do is exercise regularly. Vigorous exercise has been shown to help combat the sex -related side effects of these drugs. It’s also great for your overall mental health. I know it’s always difficult to start training, but it’s a damn powerful motivation.
In terms of sensory concerns, you can change the way you have sex. It may take a longer period of time to reach orgasm. You can also focus on adding extra stimulation through sex toys (try Hitachi’s high-intensity magic wand ), porn, self-observation in the mirror, dirty talk, fantasies, or masturbation. Adding lubricant can also increase sensation and reduce discomfort.
There is a limited amount of research that shows supplements such as maca andginkgo biloba can combat sexual side effects. Talk to your doctor about adding these to your regimen.
Antihistamines
Most people don’t realize that antihistamines can cause sexual side effects. Surprise they can !
Medicines: Allegra, Benadryl, Claritin, Seroquel, Zyrtec.
Possible side effects:
- Decreased sex drive
- Decreased vaginal lubrication
- Erectile difficulties
- Difficulty with orgasm
What to talk to your doctor about:
Many antihistamines cleanse your body within 4 to 8 hours, so you can adjust the dosage to minimize conflicts with your sex life. If you usually wear it at night, try taking an antihistamine in the morning.
Use a lubricant to combat dryness.
Blood pressure medications
Blood pressure medications are another annoying category to deal with because blood pressure can be a very serious medical condition. Dr. Batra notes that many of these medications can also be life-saving in treating heart disease and stroke.
Medications: Beta blockers such as Betaloc, Kardikor, Emkor, Inderal, Lopresor, Nebilet and Tenormin. Diuretics such as loop diuretics, osmotic diuretics, potassium-sparing diuretics, and thiazides.
Possible side effects:
- Decreased sex drive
- Erectile difficulties
- Difficulty with orgasm
What to talk to your doctor about:
It is extremely important to draw up a game plan with your doctor. Dr. Batra notes: “… beta-blockers play a critical role in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, and sometimes they should not be completely stopped.” This does not mean that you have no options. Your specific response to blood pressure medication may differ. Dr. Batra says, “I recommend discussing with your doctor if the dose can be reduced to improve the side effect profile, or if a different beta blocker can be tried instead.” You can also ask your doctor about the different classes of drugs , such as ARBs, ACE inhibitors, or calcium channel blockers.
Hair Loss Medications
This is an interesting category. Propecia, a popular hair loss medicine, has a number of sexual side effects. Unfortunately, some studies have shown that the effects can last long after you stop taking Propecia. It is worth considering the possible side effects before even deciding to start taking the medication.
Medicine: Propecia
Possible side effects:
- Decreased sex drive
- Erectile difficulties
- Difficulty with orgasm
What to talk to your doctor about:
Rogaine is sold over the counter and does not cause any sexual side effects.
High cholesterol medications
Statins are the main class of cholesterol drugs. They appear to cause more sexual problems in men than in women, mainly due to their potential interactions with testosterone levels . Interestingly, statins can both cause and alleviate erectile problems.
Medicines: Crestor, Lescol, Lipitor, Zocor.
Possible side effects:
- Decreased sex drive
- Erectile difficulties
- Difficulty with orgasm
What to talk to your doctor about:
Talk to your doctor about testing hormone levels. Your doctor may prescribe testosterone therapy if he thinks a statin is affecting your testosterone levels.
Hormonal birth control
The side effects of contraception for sex is a controversial and complex topic. Unfortunately, it is not as often studied as it should be given how many women are taking hormonal contraception. Contraceptives work by altering hormone levels in the body. These same hormones play a role in your sex drive. Many women report that using contraception decreases their sex drive. On the other hand, knowing that you are taking an effective step towards preventing pregnancy can increase your sex drive.
Medicine: There are hundreds of different hormonal contraceptives out there. Available forms include patch, pill, ring, and injection.
Possible side effects:
- Decreased sex drive
- Decreased vaginal lubrication
What to talk to your doctor about:
Dr. Batra recommends talking to your doctor about other types of contraception. Options include non-hormonal birth control such as condoms or diaphragms. Or talk to your doctor about Paragard, a non-hormonal IUD.
Use a dry lubricant.
Pain relievers
Pain relievers, especially opioids, can wreak havoc on your sex life (and in general, the rest of your life). The lucky few only need to take pain relievers for a short period of time for a specific injury. But people with chronic pain may have to deal with side effects for much longer. Dr. Batra says: “Chronic opioid use is associated with decreased levels of sex hormones, which leads to decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, infertility and mood problems.”
Medicines: OxyContin, Percoset, Vicodin.
Possible side effects:
Decreased sex drive
Erectile difficulties
Difficulty with orgasm
What to talk to your doctor about:
You and your doctor need a special pain management plan. Dr. Batra says: “These side effects usually improve when the dose is reduced or the opioid drug is stopped. Talk with your doctor about trying additional pain treatments that may work for you, including non-opioid medications, physical therapy, low-intensity exercise, acupuncture, massage, and meditation. ”
Men are better off than women in this regard. If you are a man, your doctor may prescribe testosterone therapy to combat the sexual side effects of opioids.
General Tips
Take sexual side effects seriously. I know it can be difficult to focus on your sex life when you have more pressing health needs. But you deserve a healthy and fulfilling sex life, if you will. Allow yourself time and effort to acknowledge and eliminate sexual side effects.
To take care. We all know what we need to do to be healthy – exercise, eat right, sleep, relieve stress. Avoiding self-care is all too easy, but extremely important. Things like exercise and healthy eating can combat many of the sexual side effects, and they’re just good for you.
Talk to your doctor. I keep repeating that when it comes to sexual side effects, it is extremely important to have a doctor by your side. Dr. Batra says, “Your doctor definitely wants to know about any side effects you may have.” Don’t be afraid to speak up!
Protect yourself. Doctors are human too, and not all of them are as open to talking about sex as Dr. Batra. They make you not take sexual side effects seriously or may seem embarrassed or uncomfortable talking about a dry vagina or a loose erection. It may seem awkward to talk about your sex life at first, but keep reminding yourself that you value your sex life. Change your doctor if necessary. If you are in a relationship, your partner may come to your appointment for support.
Don’t mess with your medications yourself. Period.
It takes time. Noticing a sexual side effect can be very frustrating, but as Dr. Batra pointed out, it’s important to give your body time to adapt to new drugs, combinations or dosages. You may find that your side effects decrease or even disappear. Keep talking to your doctor throughout this process.
Tell us about your expectations. If you are in a relationship, keep your lines of communication open. Talk about what you want and want from your sex life and how to get around sexual side effects. You may not be able to eliminate the side effects, but a sense of command can go a long way in making you feel better about your situation.
Change your gender definition. Sex may not look the same as it used to, but that’s okay. The silver lining of sexual side effects is that they can make you be more creative and unbiased about how you define sex, both in your individual sex life and in your relationships.