[#1]

Hello,
It's been a long while since my last post (2007) but thoughts I'd visit for support.
Ok... I am a bloke but I'm sure that's not an issue. I am now 45 and I have found over a long period of time that my sex drive had seriously diminished. Needless to say this has caused some issues with my wife as we are both trying to start a family. We've not had any success to date but frankly this was maybe due to medical factors (...wife recently had an operation on her parathyroid and has been struggling with weight loss). Times have been stressful and with the turmoils of everyday life it has effected us - in particular me!
I felt rather distressed, depressed and anxious. Tired and lacked energy. Sexually I was more 'up for it' in the mornings as as the day progressed tiredness kicked in. Those morning desires became less frequent and I found I needed help taking Viagra.
Now... Viagra helps the erection and the libido to an extent but it doesn't do anything for the desire. Frankly sex doesn't interest me. I don't masturbate anymore. It's just all so boring. It's like my libido has been physically switched off.
I went to my GP and insisted he gives me a blood test checking my glucose and my testosterone levels. Both came back good and typical for a man of my age. So... Where has my libido gone?
Having spoken to my GP who evaluated my symptoms he said I suffered from anxiety and depression and prescribed me Sertraline 50mg. I took my 1st tablet last night.
I must say some 12 hours on I feel surprisingly mellow and a bit clumsy feeling bit nothing horrible. Indeed I'm surprised I feel like this already. However the label says it may result in erectile dysfunction. Ok... Things ain't great now, indeed it's all rubbish, so this is a small problem.
But will my libido come back once all this has mellowed out?!? Any body had this stuff with similar results?!?

Thanks in advance.

Fishy

[#2]

Hello,
It's been a long while since my last post (2007) but thoughts I'd visit for support.
Ok... I am a bloke but I'm sure that's not an issue. I am now 45 and I have found over a long period of time that my sex drive had seriously diminished. Needless to say this has caused some issues with my wife as we are both trying to start a family. We've not had any success to date but frankly this was maybe due to medical factors (...wife recently had an operation on her parathyroid and has been struggling with weight loss). Times have been stressful and with the turmoils of everyday life it has effected us - in particular me!
I felt rather distressed, depressed and anxious. Tired and lacked energy. Sexually I was more 'up for it' in the mornings as as the day progressed tiredness kicked in. Those morning desires became less frequent and I found I needed help taking Viagra.
Now... Viagra helps the erection and the libido to an extent but it doesn't do anything for the desire. Frankly sex doesn't interest me. I don't masturbate anymore. It's just all so boring. It's like my libido has been physically switched off.
I went to my GP and insisted he gives me a blood test checking my glucose and my testosterone levels. Both came back good and typical for a man of my age. So... Where has my libido gone?
Having spoken to my GP who evaluated my symptoms he said I suffered from anxiety and depression and prescribed me Sertraline 50mg. I took my 1st tablet last night.
I must say some 12 hours on I feel surprisingly mellow and a bit clumsy feeling bit nothing horrible. Indeed I'm surprised I feel like this already. However the label says it may result in erectile dysfunction. Ok... Things ain't great now, indeed it's all rubbish, so this is a small problem.
But will my libido come back once all this has mellowed out?!? Any body had this stuff with similar results?!?

Thanks in advance.

Fishy

[#3]

Hi Fishy, 

I think you will find the libido loss stems from the lowering of the chemical serotonin in the body which gets used when someone is stressed. Antidepressants slow down the rate at which we use up serotonin and this causes the level to rise and as it does our depression lifts. 

Serotonin is partly responsible for feelings of enjoyment, our mood and our sex drive. 

As well as antidepressants it is possible to increase our serotonin level by eating foods rich in tryptophan as the body converts this to serotonin. 

Stress also depletes our level of magnesium so taking this can help as well. 

It isn't possible to control our serotonin level by willpower so the depression and subsequent loss of libido are not conscious decisions. 

Alcohol is a depressant so if you are drinking any large amount it will work against what you are trying to achieve. 

Owly x

[#4]

Just wanted to add that in the US they have an antidepressant called Welbutrin which has been known to increase libido. Over here in the UK it is called Zyban and used in medications for stopping smoking. 

Maybe you could do some googling and see what you can find out. 

Owly x

[#5]

Thank...

There's good hope that things may get back to some normality if/when these pills kick in then? All is not doom and gloom...

[#6]

Hi Fishy,

Yes absolutely. Depression is like a heavy wet blanket but you're still there underneath. It's been said on here that depression is not a sign of weakness, it's a sign that you've been strong for too long.

It can take a few weeks to feel the benefit of antidepressants (although this time frame is getting shorter with new developments). They will be doing their job behind the scenes so keep taking them iif you possibly can.

I was on Prozac and I had indigestion for a time at the start but this wore off. I was on them for twelve months but I had felt better for some time before this. I read that you're supposed to complete the minimum course which is either six months or a year and can be 18 months. The reason for remaining on them after you feel better is to prevent a relapse.

After that it's a question of managing yourself and making sure you reduce your stress if at all possible or counterbalancing it with periods of absolute relaxation so that you don't overload your system too much. Don't keep pushing yourself harder to get yourself back to how you were , the trick is not to push yourself at all. Ease off and chill out.

Good luck. Call in on us anytime you want to offload or ask something.

Owly x