Which Antidepressants Can Cause ED?

September 7, 2024

In an ideal world, medications would instantly treat our ailments and illnesses with little to no side effects. Actually, in a perfect world, we’d probably have no ailments and anything our heart desires without consequences — like drinking with no hangover.

Unfortunately, while many of today’s medications are effective, they aren’t without a few trade-offs. Case in point: antidepressants.

As one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the U.S. — almost 9 percent of men took an antidepressant between 2011 and 2014 — antidepressants are a proven treatment for relief from mental health conditions like anxiety and major depressive disorder (MDD). However, some of the more common antidepressant side effects include intimate side effects like (ED).

But are certain antidepressants more likely to cause dysfunction than others? Can the generic version of an antidepressant, like venlafaxine, cause ED? Can you take Viagra with antidepressants?

We’ll answer these questions below, explaining the connection between antidepressants and ED and what you can do if you get antidepressant-induced ED.

The Link Between Antidepressants and ED

A not-so-fun fact: Intimate dysfunction often occurs as a side effect of antidepressants.

In men, the side effects of antidepressants result in reduced drive (low libido) or lowered desire, delayed climax, and difficulties with developing and maintaining arousal.

Of course, antidepressants aren’t the only medications that cause ED. But as the first-line treatment for mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, there’s a good chance many men take this type of medication.

It’s also likely that men experience dysfunction while on antidepressants. After all, almost 42 percent stopped taking psychiatric drugs because of side effects.

And although not everyone develops intimate side effects from antidepressants, many people do. In a review published in Annals of Pharmacotherapy, researchers noted that 30 to 60 percent of those prescribed SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) experience some adverse effects.

How Do Antidepressants Affect Intimate Function in Men?

Experts aren’t entirely clear on the link between ED and antidepressants, but there are several theories.

One is that antidepressants cause intimate issues as a byproduct of their effect on serotonin. By inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, antidepressants — such as SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) — increase levels of serotonin in the body and reduce the severity of depression and anxiety symptoms.

Researchers believe this may affect neurotransmitters (chemicals that communicate throughout the brain and body), including some involved in intimate excitement and function.

For instance, increased levels of serotonin are thought to affect testosterone and dopamine. Testosterone is a male hormone responsible for libido and intimate function, and dopamine is a “feel-good” chemical involved in achieving climax.

Some antidepressants are also linked to increased levels of prolactin — a hormone that can cause low libido and climax dysfunction in men.

It’s important to point out that not all intimate dysfunction occurring with antidepressants can be attributed directly to antidepressants.

Intimate performance issues are known symptoms of depression, with ED and delayed climax both being common issues. Many men may also have performance anxiety — feeling nervous or anxious about having intimacy.

There are several other psychological causes of ED, including relationship problems, low self-esteem, feeling guilty about intimacy or adult video use.

Antidepressants That Can Cause ED

Are there specific antidepressants that cause ED, or is it any medication you take for depression or anxiety? For example, is citalopram ED more likely to happen than Prozac intimate dysfunction?

Intimate side effects like ED are known to occur with many antidepressants, including the following common medications:

Citalopram (generic for Celexa)
Sertraline (Zoloft)
Fluoxetine (Prozac)
Paroxetine (Paxil)
Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
Escitalopram (Lexapro)

While many antidepressants can cause ED and other intimate dysfunction, some may be more likely than others.

SSRIs and SNRIs — two of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants — cause intimate dysfunction in 25 to 73 percent and 58 to 70 percent of users, respectively.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), meanwhile, only cause ED and other intimate dysfunction issues in 30 percent of patients.

Intimate side effects as a result of these medications are often referred to as antidepressant-induced intimate dysfunction or SSRI-induced intimate dysfunction.

What to Do If You Get Antidepressant-Induced ED

If you have bothersome ED or other side effects from an antidepressant, don’t abruptly stop taking it.

Abruptly stopping your medication can result in flu-like symptoms, such as nausea, headache, fatigue and other effects relating to antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.

Instead, talking with your healthcare provider about your side effects is best. They may suggest one or several of the following approaches to deal with side effects and treat ED:

Switching to a different antidepressant. Some antidepressants have a lower risk of causing intimate issues than others. For example, research suggests that intimate issues are significantly more common with SSRIs than with bupropion. If you take an antidepressant known for causing intimate health problems, your healthcare provider may suggest switching to a different medication.
Adjusting your dosage. Sometimes, dosage rather than the drug itself results in side effects. Instead of changing your medication, your healthcare provider might adjust your dosage to reduce your risk of experiencing issues that affect your intimate life.
Going on a drug holiday. In some cases, your healthcare provider may recommend going on a “drug holiday.” This might mean not taking your antidepressant for a while or reducing your dosage on days you plan to have intimate. Drug holidays are considered a “high-risk” treatment option. As such, your provider may request you keep them informed about any side effects or symptoms of depression occurring on medication-free days.
Waiting for the issues to disappear. If you’re only prescribed antidepressants for the short term, your healthcare provider might simply suggest waiting until you’re done with treatment to have intimacy regularly. In some cases, antidepressant side effects improve over time. With the “wait and see” approach, you can see if intimate performance improves on its own as your body gets used to the effects of your medication.
Using ED medication. Suppose you need to keep using your antidepressant. Your healthcare provider may recommend taking ED medication — like sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra), tadalafil (generic for Cialis) or Stendra (avanafil) — at the same time. These medications are available as oral pills or convenient chewable ED hard mints.

But since the cause of ED can also be mental, you may also want to determine if anxiety or depression is contributing to ED. If this is the case, talking to a licensed mental health professional in person or via online therapy can help you determine the root cause of your intimate anxiety.

Can You Take Viagra With Antidepressants?

Another question that might have popped up while reading this: Can you take Viagra with antidepressants? Is it safe? Don’t worry — we’re here to answer all your burning questions.

Simply put, yes. Brand-name Viagra, generic sildenafil and other ED medications can be prescribed to treat ED caused by antidepressants.

Other medications for ED include tadalafil (the active ingredient in Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra) and avanafil (Stendra).

One small study of 14 people found that even a mild 25-milligram (mg) dose of sildenafil taken before intimacy produced measurable improvements for men prescribed SSRIs.

These medications, called PDE5 inhibitors, make it easier for blood to flow to your privates. They typically start working in 30 to 60 minutes and can be taken shortly before intimacy to prevent ED during the act.

Climaxes are partly about healthy blood flow. Explore more ways to increase blood flow to your privates for healthy intimate function.

Antidepressants and ED: The Bottom Line

If you’re taking antidepressants and experiencing ED, it may seem like a catch-22. On the one hand, your mental health might be improving, but on the other hand, your intimate life could be declining in quality.

So what can be done? Here’s what to keep in mind about antidepressant-induced ED:

Often used to treat mental health conditions like major depression and anxiety, antidepressants are a common type of medication.
Like other prescription drugs, antidepressants can come with side effects — a very common one being ED.
While intimate problems can happen with any antidepressant drug, certain ones may be more likely to cause ED. This includes citalopram, sertraline, fluoxetine, paroxetine and escitalopram.
If you’re experiencing ED or other intimate side effects of antidepressants, talk to your healthcare provider. They may recommend taking an ED medication, switching to a different antidepressant, changing your dosage or waiting to see if your side effects go away on their own.

You don’t have to deal with ED alone — or keep it a secret. Many men experience this condition, and fortunately, plenty of ED medications and other treatment options are available.

This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.