Sexual dysfunction associated with antidepressants may be more prevalent than previously believed, according to researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
The American Psychiatric Association reports that depression, a serious mental health problem affecting more than 17 million Americans, is a highly treatable condition. Unfortunately, many of the medications used to provide relief from symptoms are linked to orgasm dysfunction (the absence or delay of orgasm).
This study, published in the journal “Clinical Therapeutics,” reveals that sexual dysfunction caused by antidepressants affects more people than previously expected, and the problem may be more common in patients taking certain types of drugs than others. In this placebo-controlled comparison of sertraline (Zoloft) and bupropion SR (Wellbutrin SR) in 355 patients with moderate to severe clinical depression, investigators found that orgasm dysfunction was more prominent in patients taking sertraline than in those taking bupropion SR or placebo.
In fact, after only one week of treatment, more patients taking sertraline reported orgasm dysfunction compared with bupropion SR or placebo. By the end of the study, 41 percent of patients taking sertraline reported orgasm problems. There was no significant difference in orgasm dysfunction between bupropion SR (15 percent) and placebo (eight percent).
Sertraline is a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRIs). Previous research has identified an association between SSRIs and sexual problems, including lack of orgasm, impaired erection, and delayed ejaculation. Researchers suggest that the serotonin effect of SSRIs might account for the negative effects on sexual function. Unlike sertraline, bupropion SR is not an SSRI and has no appreciable effect on serotonin.
The authors assert that depression itself can take a toll on relationships, and sexual dysfunction caused by some antidepressant treatments may further affect intimate relationships and adversely influence recovery. They suggest that the under-reporting of adverse sexual side effects may be due to shame or lack of knowledge on the part of patients, as well as reluctance by health-care providers to broach the subject. They stress that side effects should be acknowledged, and that open communication about any adverse medication effects is critical to successfully treating depression.