Scientists talk about the connection between antidepressants and sexual disorders

American pharmaceutical scientists studied the connection between the use of antidepressants and sexual disorders in people who had not previously experienced such problems. The study was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports (JADR).

Antidepressants are noted to affect the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain – chemicals that regulate mood and emotions. There are several types of antidepressants. Each of them has a different mechanism of action and may have different side effects.

One of the most common side effects is sexual dysfunction. This condition can negatively affect the patient’s quality of life and exacerbate social problems.

The study involved 900 people aged 18 to 64 years with depressive disorder. Depending on whether they had taken antidepressants in the past year, participants were divided into three groups: those who continued taking them, those who switched medications, and those who stopped taking them.

More than half (56%) said they had no sexual problems before being diagnosed with depression. Of these, 19% noted the appearance of sexual disorders after the start of treatment.

This percentage remained roughly the same among those who continued taking antidepressants and those who switched medications. All of these people attributed their sexual problems to at least one of the antidepressants they were taking.

The researchers noted that sexual dysfunction caused by antidepressants may be a reason to discontinue drug treatment for depression.