Citalopram Users

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aimsinpreston
joined 20 Dec 2006
1 posts

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Posted by aimsinpreston, 16:38 20 December 2006

I suffer from Panic Attacks and have been on Citalopram for two years next May. I have noticed in the last six months that I have no sex drive. This is becoming a strain on my relationship, has anyone else experienced this? I am trying to come of Citalopram now, does anyone have any advice?

Linda
joined 15 Dec 2004
997 posts

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Posted by Linda, 20:18 20 December 2006

I took citalopram too.

Please see the topic I have been maintaining here called Antidepressant Info for what drugs like this do to the body, and what you can do to discontinue them and improve your health.

Regards,
Linda.

korndolly
joined 3 Sep 2006
51 posts

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Posted by korndolly, 15:01 29 December 2006

yep yep... the major reason i didnt wanna take any antid's this year was i was sick of losing my sex drive!! obviously it goes a little when youre so damn tired anyhoo but i found antid's made me feel like a dummy in a shop window (ie no genitals lol!!)
i agree with linda.. there is an alternative...

PurpleIvy
joined 16 Mar 2005
952 posts

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Posted by PurpleIvy, 18:22 2 January 2007

It seems to be widely acknowledged that taking many antidepressants will affect your sex drive. I find this is more of a problem for my dh than for me. Roll on the spring!

Linda
joined 15 Dec 2004
997 posts

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Posted by Linda, 19:09 2 January 2007

My genitals went numb with one pill of sertraline. I complained to my doctor, got put on citalopram, and had the same problem.

8 months after coming off the drug and not taking any others, I still have genital numbness, and the ginkgo I used to take no longer helps. I've just joined a discussion group for people with this problem, which is called post-SSRI sexual dysfunction.

I think a lot of people experience sexual dysfunction with these drugs, and the problem is vastly under-reported and unaknowledged.

Minnie
joined 26 Oct 2006
42 posts

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Posted by Minnie, 01:05 3 January 2007

It's not a problem I have

korndolly
joined 3 Sep 2006
51 posts

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Posted by korndolly, 12:14 3 January 2007

hiya linda
have you tried other suppliments to help with this problem? i find yohimbe helps greatly, i'm not sure how good it is for you, but frankly hey ho!! :D .
yohimbe, ginseng and DHEA do work wonders and are pretty affordable from ebay (i know, hoo - hiss!!) and, no, i'm not here to promote ebay dont worry!!
its absolutely horrendous that this problem still persists, but sadly i can well believe it.. i love to read youre posts cuz youre also trying to deal with it in a different way, ie more holistically, and no youre not a nutcase (read it in another post :lol: ) youre very knowledgable. i changed my diet 3 months ago, ok, not as drastically as you have, but have cut out dairy,sugar, wheat as much as, yeast for the most part and am trying to limit gluten. i feel much better for it and my pmt has all but gone, i also get far far less headaches..
thanx linda
minnie - youre so lucky!! :shock:

korndolly
joined 3 Sep 2006
51 posts

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Posted by korndolly, 12:22 3 January 2007

oh also yeh it is very underacknowledged... my doctor seemed very blase about it whenever i mentioned it.. like it was taken as read! i'v tried sertraline, prozac, zispin - which made me so incredably fat there was no way i was gonna feel like sex!, venlafaxine - which wasnt too bad, cipramil, and another from the cipramil family (guessing my doc has some 'interest' in that brand as he doles them out to all and sundry - dont shoot me down in flames i know it goes on!!) and pretty much they all killed my sex drive dead. i didnt have a relationship for about 6 years cuz of this. it took all my confidence and made me feel like a freak. more so than usual!!

Linda
joined 15 Dec 2004
997 posts

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Posted by Linda, 15:54 4 January 2007

Hey Korndolly, well done for changing your diet. I wish I'd known to do it a long time ago, it would have saved a lot of grief.

Thanks for the info about the herbs. I'd be wary of yohimbe though, it increases noradrenaline and has been linked with high blood pressure.

I think we got a few peeks of sun today, which is more than can be said for the past month or so I think. You don't have to have SAD to feel low from a string of dark days. I'm in Wigston, whereabouts are you?

Linda.

mayqueen
joined 13 Dec 2006
18 posts

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Posted by mayqueen, 18:00 4 January 2007

Hi korndolly, how much has changing your diet improved your SAD, I am not wanting to go on antid's and am looking for diet advice. (using lightbox)
Janet

korndolly
joined 3 Sep 2006
51 posts

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Posted by korndolly, 07:15 5 January 2007

hiya janet,

thats cool to hear... i'v managed so far to stay with SJW and 5-htp this winter, i think tho the change in diet has definately helped. i'm also trying to keep up a bit of light exercise too (mainly yoga or running round the block with my dogs!), and of course my trusty lightbox. changing my diet has made me feel a bit more stable and positive, i still dont wanna go out much or do a great deal, but i managed to take my daughter to the clothes show in dec, which was quite amazing for me! i'v also cut out a great deal of caffiene and any other stimulants (ok, apart from yohimbe :wink: ) and i feel less podgy round my waist, which is a bonus! oh and my spots have gone!! but i think linda is the person to go to for advice on this subject tho, she knows much more than i do...

oh i kinda gathered that it would mess with blood pressure linda!! :( but i figure if i stay kinda healthy i can get away with it for now!! lol...
yeh it has been an incredibly grey and windy all month here, hasnt it? i'm over in the humberstone area, on a very dodgy estate! its no wonder i never want to leave my house!!

julie

Dawn
joined 26 Jan 2008
13 posts

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Posted by Dawn, 17:00 16 April 2008

Him Aiminpreston, i have suffered in silence with panic n anxiety attaks since 1983. I didnt take anything until the doc put me on citalopram 20mg last june. I have now cut myself back to 10mg on my own accord. Boy is my marriage suffering. I am just not bothered in any sex or love. I feel numb, Hope my feelings come back when im off them completely.Dawn.

expiali
joined 5 Sep 2008
2 posts

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Posted by expiali, 11:44 5 September 2008

hi, im on citalopram at the moment and have been for 17 months. My sex drive didnt suffer at first, but i have noticed recently that it has become non existent...and it is difficult...its putting a strain on my realtionship too...as im only 20.
I have not found a way round this yet, as i cantr come off them or reduce the amount at the moment...
so let me know if u have!

Hadrian
joined 11 Sep 2007
150 posts

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Posted by Hadrian, 12:08 5 September 2008

I found that Seroxat completely cancelled out any sexual feelings,but fluoxetine actually increased libido!
I've been off meds now since April and I intend to stay off!(I've come to the conclusion that if you can stay off meds-It's better for you in the longterm.)Although I do understand that AD's can be beneficial in SAD.

Malcolm
joined 14 Jul 2009
2 posts

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Posted by Malcolm, 03:31 14 July 2009

I've been on Citalopram for around six months and have no sex drive at all. It's having a big negative effect on my relationship and is actually making me feel depressed and lonely. Catch 22.

Kirk_England
joined 16 Jul 2007
37 posts

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Posted by Kirk_England, 22:38 14 July 2009

SSRI's are known to have sexual side effects although everyone is different. I have heard a lot of talk about using Wellbutrin which as far as I know is as good as an SSRI but is meant to have no sexual side effects. It has got great feedback in the other forum I post in. As for me Citalopram had no effect on sex drive but Sertraline, and Effexor did.

Please note side effects with these drugs are very weird, I could not use my hands properly on the drugs I was using, which went off after four months or so. I was that desperate to get back into the living world and it was a gamble I took and I won.

Ask your doctor for Wellbutrin or if there's anything else you can do to help with sex drive. It can't help to ask.

sr21shine
joined 16 Aug 2009
1 posts

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Posted by sr21shine, 19:13 16 August 2009

Thanks for the info! I have only been on Citalopram for few days and cannot have an orgasm. I went from having a great libido to having none at all. Does this last or will it go away? I need the meds but at what cost to my relationship?!

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