Men being treated for depression sometimes face a double-whammy when it comes to their sex lives. Depression itself can lead to ED, and certain medications used to treat depression can make matters even worse. What’s a man to do?
Priority number one should always be treating your symptoms of depression, and your family doctor or psychiatrist can decide which course of treatment is best suited for your particular circumstances. However, it is possible to enjoy relatively normal erectile function while still treating your underlying depression.
Not all antidepressants are the same. While some are more erection-friendly than others, the vast majority of this class of medications tend to dampen sexual desire, according to MayoClinic.org.
Biggest Offenders
Antidepressants known to cause sexual side effects are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants. SSRIs are the most widely prescribed class of antidepressants and include such well-known brand names as Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft. SNRIs include brand names Cymbalta and Effexor.
If you suspect the antidepressant your doctor prescribed is causing symptoms of ED, see if he or she can adjust the dose downward or substitute an antidepressant less likely to interfere with erectile function. Among the drugs with little, if any, negative effect on erectile function are bupropion (brand names Aplenzin, Forfivo XL, and Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), vilazodone (Viibryd), and vortioxetine (Trintellix).
If the doctor feels a substitute drug is inadvisable for you and you continue to suffer symptoms of impotence, Viagra or one of the other oral ED medications should be able to temporarily restore erectile function. However, whatever you do, follow your doctor’s orders and continue to take the antidepressant medication you’ve been prescribed.
If the idea of ordering your Viagra online appeals to you, eDrugstore.com has got you covered. To learn more about ED, its causes, and the medications available to treat it, as well as all that eDrugstore has to offer, visit its Erectile Dysfunction page.
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