Antidepressant Sexual Side Effects: What You Need to Know

When you start taking an antidepressant, a medication used to treat depression and some anxiety disorders by balancing brain chemicals. Also known as antidepressant drugs, they help millions feel better—but for many, they come with a hidden cost: sexual side effects, reduced libido, trouble getting or keeping an erection, or delayed or absent orgasm. These aren’t rare. Up to 70% of people on SSRIs report them, and they’re often the #1 reason people stop taking their meds.

Not all antidepressants hit the same way. SSRIs, a common class of antidepressants including fluoxetine, sertraline, and escitalopram. Also known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, they’re often first-line treatments—but they’re also the most likely to cause sexual problems. Other types like SNRIs (venlafaxine) and tricyclics (amitriptyline) can do it too. But some, like bupropion or mirtazapine, are much less likely to cause these issues. If you’re struggling, it’s not weakness—it’s pharmacology. Your brain’s serotonin levels are being altered, and that directly affects arousal, pleasure, and orgasm pathways.

What makes this worse? Many people don’t talk about it. Doctors rarely bring it up. And when patients do, they’re often told to "just wait it out" or "it’ll get better." But for a lot of people, it doesn’t. And that’s okay—you don’t have to suffer in silence. There are real options: switching meds, lowering the dose, adding a small boost like bupropion, or using on-demand strategies like sildenafil for men. It’s not about giving up your treatment—it’s about making it work better for your whole life.

The posts below cover exactly this: real stories, science-backed fixes, and comparisons between meds that help versus those that hurt your sex life. You’ll find info on how to talk to your doctor, what alternatives actually work, and how to protect your mental health without sacrificing your intimacy. No fluff. No judgment. Just what you need to take back control.