Sexual Dysfunction? Try a Different Antidepressant

(September 15, 2006) -- Close to 20 million Americans suffer from some form of clinical depression, and many of them have multiple episodes of depression during their lifetime.

This high prevalence of depression heightens the need for effective treatments. There are currently more than two dozen FDA-approved antidepressants on the market right now, all of which have some degree of proven efficacy.

Unfortunately, one major side effect of most antidepressant medications is sexual dysfunction, with reported rates as high as 70 percent in some studies.

This presents an extremely problematic situation, not only because of the distress and discomfort associated with sexual dysfunction, but also because evidence suggests that more than half of all patients will stop taking their antidepressants because of this side effect.

At a recent scientific meeting, I heard about a study comparing two relatively new antidepressants: Lexapro (escitalopram, one of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs) with Cymbalta(duloxetine, one of the class of drugs known as serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors or SNRIs).

Rates of sexual dysfunction in hundreds of patients taking one of these two drugs were compared with rates observed in patients taking placebo.

To summarize a series of complex comparisons, in a head-to-head comparison Cymbalta demonstrated substantially lower levels of sexual side effects than did Lexapro. At four weeks and eight weeks of treatment, the Lexapro group demonstrated significantly higher rates of sexual dysfunction than the placebo group, whereas rates for the Cymbalta group were never significantly different than the placebo group.

If you are currently taking an antidepressant and are suffering sexual dysfunction as a result, ask your doctor whether another antidepressant that may have fewer sexual side effects might be suitable for you.

Dr. DeRogatis is a clinical psychologist. He directs the Johns Hopkins Center for Sexual Health and Medicine.

Last updated: 09/06

Related Information:

• Antidepressants and Sexual Desire
• Guidelines for Treating Antidepressant Induced Sexual Dysfunction
• Many Doctors Don't Take Treating the Side Effects of Antidepressants Seriously Enough
• Managing Antidepressant Induced Sexual Dysfunction
• Viagra and Antidepressant Induced Sexual Dysfunction
• Low Sexual Desire: It's the Biggest Sex Problem Americans Face
• How Sex Problems Can Destroy A Relationship
• Things That Can Affect Female Sexual Function
• Medicines That Cause Low Sexual Desire
• Treating and Preventing Low Sexual Desire in Women
• Living With A Low Libido Can Be Perfectly Normal
• Treatments and Alternative Treatments for Sexual Arousal Disorder
• Intimacy After Female Sexual Dysfunction
• Orgasms: What It Is and What If You're Not Having One?
• Looking For Better Sex? Try Talking
• Female Viagra Trial? O Yes!
• What Men Need To Know About Women and Sex
• Impact of Stress and Depression on Overall Sexual Function

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