“Spouse on antidepressants?”
Hello, my name is Brian, my wife and I have been together for 5 years. She's currently taking Zoloft and has been for about 12 years. She's 36 and I'm 32 years old. But it seems like she lacks the desire and feeling for sex. But it's not just the sex, the spark that we use to have is fading and she's always short and on edge. Is this the side effects of long-term Zoloft treatment? And what can I do? I feel alone at times.
Female | 36 years old
Complaint duration: 15years
Medications: Zoloft, welbutrin, Xanax,
Conditions: Hearing impermanent
4 Answers
Zoloft and all SSRI’s can decrease libido (sex drive,) but these meds mostly block or delay orgasm. Wellbutrin increases brain norepinephrine & some dopamine, but not serotonin (which SSRI’s do.) It’s been my experience that most people with chronic depression are low in thyroid, but most Dr’s don’t know how best to diagnose and treat it. TSH levels are assumed to be the best diagnostic test, but it should be a clinical diagnosis, and the best red flag is that the temperatures are low (> half below 98.2*F) I’m an MD, but I would suggest that you’re more likely to get better diagnosis and treatment from an ND (naturopath) You & your wife will also be helped, I strongly suspect, with some good marital therapy
I think sometimes you need to increase the dosage and better reconsider the diagnosis. 12 years is too long on Zoloft. Maybe a consult with another psychiatrist is in order and maybe try another antidepressant.
See this link, especially tab dealing with side effects...
https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-35/zoloft-oral/details.
Since she is experiencing these side effects get her to discuss this with her medical team to modify/change medication.
https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-35/zoloft-oral/details.
Since she is experiencing these side effects get her to discuss this with her medical team to modify/change medication.
Yes, this is a significant side effect of Zoloft. She needs to be tapered off the medication. There is a myth that these medications are protecting the person from depression. The problem is that they are addictive and need to be reduced very gradually.
Tony Stanton, MD
Tony Stanton, MD
