Sexual side-effects of zoloft

I hope it's ok to post this here. I just feel more comfortable doing so than on the meds board.

I've been taking Zoloft for about a month and have noticed some sexual side-effects. If anything my libido is improved but I can't seem able to become aroused anymore. Well, I become slightly aroused and that's it. I can't achieve orgasm. I've never had this problem before and it's definitely correlated with starting the zoloft. The ironic thing is that prior to this, I just wasn't interested in sex - low libido. Now, I have this problem I feel sexually frustrated. It's like smelling a delicious cake and feeling hungry but when biting into it it tastes of charcoal! Grrrr! In a way I feel relieved to feel 'sexual' again although I can't 'perform'.

The other problem is that this is the first AD I've taken that seems to be helping me in terms of my anxiety and depression. I took Celexa for a long while, highest dose, and it did absolutely nothing. The same for prozac.

Should I just put up with this? Should I talk to my pdoc about it (male pdoc - that's going to be embarrassing)? I see my T tomorrow (again male) and might try discussing it with him - I feel relatively comfortable with him.

Has anyone else experienced this side-effect - what were the options?

Thanks,
Onzi

It's a very common side effect. It doesn't happen to me (for me, I've found my sex drive increases with antidepressants and orgasms are easier) but that doesn't mean I don't know about it. There are a couple things I've heard about, adding wellbutrin might help, changing dosages or switching to another antidepressant. Definitely talk to your doctor though, ya, it is embarassing because he's a doctor after all, but he is a doctor and probably heard a lot worse from other people.

Of course, since you've only been on it a month, I'm wondering if maybe it's still a residual depression/anxiety effect, I mean, it's not working to it's full potential right? So if you're still depresed and anxious enough, it might be affecting not your sex drive, but your ability to achieve orgasm. Especially for women, it's not that easy to do, you've got to be relaxed and really into it and what not.

You know yourself best, but a little chat with the doc might not be a bad thing.

Thanks Dearyou,

It's reassuring to read that this isn't uncommon. I'm quite positive the problems I'm now having are directly caused by starting the zoloft as I've never had this problem before now. I know many woman have difficulties achieving orgasm but that's never been a problem for me.

I see a relationship between depression and lack of libido (in my case) but never any effects on my ability to become aroused.

Anyway, I'll discuss it with my pdoc.

Thanks for the advice

Onzi

I had the same problem with zoloft. It made me very aroused yet I could'nt reach orgasm and if I did it was'nt a very strong one at all. If zoloft helops your anxiety then i would stick it out. It's probably a side affect that goes away after you've been on it a while.

my husband was on zoloft when we first got together 12 yrs ago. he couldn't reach orgasm alot of times. I think it must be pretty common.