Antidepressants have side effects for many patients. Some effects disappear when the body adjusts to the medication. Sexual side effects are often a concern for many patients taking antidepressants. MayoClinic.com recommends people wait several weeks to see if the sexual problems subside before switching to another antidepressant that may pose fewer sexual risks. Doctors may prescribe a second antidepressant that can counter the sexual side effects. Adding sexual enhancement medication may also reduce the side effects. Some antidepressants have a lower risk of causing sexual problems.
Bupropion
Bupropion has the fewest sexual side effects of all antidepressants, according to Mayo.Clinic.com. The drug may also suppress appetite and has been used for people trying to quit smoking. A study of 6,297 patients taking antidepressants, published in the April 2002 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry," found bupropion had the lowest rates of sexual dysfunction. A 2001 study by University of Virginia researchers also revealed that bupropion had the lowest rates of sexual dysfunction when compared to other antidepressants, according to Psych Central.
Vilazodone
A new antidepressant, vilazodone, holds promise of having no sexual side effects in clinical trials by Clinical Data Inc., according to 2009 information from Psych Central. The sexual effects of vilazodone were comparable to that of a placebo in the trials. However, research continues to confirm the findings. Vilazodone, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI, may differ from other drugs in the same class. SSRIs usually have the highest rates of sexual side effects, according to MayoClinic.com, even though they have lower side effects overall when compared with other antidepressants.
Mirtazapine
Mirtazapine may have low rates of sexual side effects, MayoClinic.com notes. The drug, which also has a sedative effect, belongs to a category of atypical antidepressants along with bupropion that do not fit into other classes. Atypical antidepressants usually have fewer sexual side effects than other antidepressants. However, the 2002 study reported in the "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry" found mirtazapine and paroxetine with the highest rates of sexual dysfunction. Conflicting research may occur because certain patients respond differently to medications.
Nefazodone
Nefazodone ranked near bupropion in a 2001 University of Virginia study in having low rates of sexual dysfunction, according to Psych Central. Nefazodone, an atypical antidepressant, works effectively at treating depression for many patients. The drug, however, has been linked to dangerous liver problems, notes MayoClinic.com. Doctors may avoid prescribing the medication to patients if there is concern about liver damage.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Antidepressants: Which Cause the Fewest Sexual Side Effects?
- "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry"; Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction Among Newer Antidepressants
- Psych Central: Which Antidepressants Cause the Least Sexual Side Effects?
- Psych Central: New Antidepressant, Vilazodone, Shows Promise, No Sexual Side Effects
- Mayo Clinic: Antidepressants-Selecting One That's Right for You
