i have been suffering from stress and depression?

Question

its been 2 years now and ive had my tablets changed for the 3rd time, im now on (citalopram hydrobromide) i am 36 married with 4 kids and just latley my sex drive has gone right down is this due to the tablets or is it me, im very worried because my sex drive is normaly very strong, and i can see that wife thinks its her fault which its not because i do still love her so much we have been together 22 years now.

Answer 1

Chances are it's the meds. Don't stop taking the meds. Dropping the meds can cause harm to your body. Talk to your doctor. Without knowing more, it seems like it could be the meds.

Here are some other things that can take some control over how you feel(stress and depression) by using some of the strategies listed below:
1. Learn some ways to relax and incorporate them into your daily routine. Even if too much stress and tension aren't the cause of your depression (although they very well might be), they certainly aggravate it.
2. Identify things that are pleasant for you and plan them into your schedule. Research suggests that depressed people have a lack of pleasurable events in their lives and that they actually avoid things that give them pleasure.
3. Increase your activity level. Unfortunately, depressed individuals don't have much energy for exercise, so they tend to remain inactive. Low activity level serves to increase depressed feelings, which then inhibit activity further. To break this cycle, schedule daily exercise that is appropriate for your lifestyle and conditioning level. Take a walk, it's not how fast you walk, it's just the movement - the act of doing it. Remember the turtle and the rabbit. The turtle won the race because he kept on moving at a slow comfortable pace. It's the fact that he finished the race that's important.
4. Identify self-ctitical thoughts and switch to self-rewarding thinking. In other words, get off your back. It is easy to make yourself depressed by being overly harsh and critical.
5. Analyze your social behavior. Many depressed people are lonely and isolated. By learning new social skills and assertive communication, you can often get needed support .
6. Children might avoid the need for presciption antidepressents and if the one of the parents are depressed, getting the parent help can prevent the child from becoming depressed.
7. Listen to soft soothing relaxing music or something with lots of rhythm. Music is to the spirit of mankind like a bandaid is to a cut.
8. Learn way to control your anger ie: a hobby such as karate, tae kwan do, tia chi, yoga or anger management classes.
9. Learn to meditate. Two minutes, 10 minutes and 20 minutes.
10. Research shows that depressed people tend to be deficient in mostly B vitamins. Take a B vitamin complex and 5000 mg of sublingual vitamin B12. (Se vitamin therapy in my list)
11. Drink lots of water add a few drops of apple juice or grape juice to the water to give it a sparkle. Research shows that even a little dehydration can cause us to be depressed.
12. There are support groups locally and online for free

You can contact me [e-mail]

Answer 2

Im on Citalopram too and my sex drive has also gone. I was on them for 15 months then i felt fine so the doctor took me off them and out of the blue the depression came flooding back. Its not your fault, just sit your other half down and explain it to her. Read the leaflet that came with the tablets, it tells you about sex drive. Not sure about you but i also find it hard to express my feelings for my partner since being on the tablets, i know its the tablets cause it all stopped when i stopped taking them. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Answer 3

many people suffer from depressive illness' and part of the illness is lack of sex drive in many cases also the tablets your on citalapram can be very good for some people and do help but they dont come without this side effect aswell. anyone whos feeling low or depressed isnt going to have a high sex drive. im sure talking to your wife might help and do some research on the computer about the illness. if you think your medication is not working see you gp / consultant as htere are many different antidepressants on the market and not everyone will suited to the first few they try id be interested in what dose your on as they come in 5mg tablets i believe. in addtion to medication talking therapies are excellent way of dealing with depression and you can get advice on supports groups through your surgery and also the internet maybe your wife could become involved with helping you look for these groups.

Answer 4

www.pdrhealth.com lists possible side effects as:
Abdominal pain, agitation, anxiety, diarrhea, drowsiness, dry mouth, ejaculation disorders, fatigue, impotence, indigestion, insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea, painful menstruation, respiratory tract infection, sinus or nasal inflammation, sweating, tremor, vomiting

So, yeah, it could very well be the drug. It is one of many aspects of antidepressants that might cause you and your doctor to change drugs or adjust dosage. And that you know it isn't anything about your wife that is effecting your sex drive nails it down - it's the drug.

I'd strongly suggest you be up front with your wife. There's no reason for her to be beating herself up because you're suffering from side effects of a drug that is otherwise helping you.

Love and sex are very much intertwined, and a loss of libido due to relationship issues should lead to sincere talks and/or counseling. But when it is due to medication, it needs disclosure and understanding and flexibility (excuse the term) from both sides.

Are you doing talk therapy with anyone? Ideally, you could find someone who would work with you so that in the future, the anti-depressant wouldn't be needed or at a lesser dosage. Cognitive behaviorists have success in reframing your thoughts and reaction to what you'd rather they be. It takes time and effort, but it also offers hope.

Answer 5

It could well be the tablets, or it could just be your state of mind, I really feel for you, depression isnt understood very well and although i luckily dont suffer my best friend is and i worry about her constantly. Are you receiving counselling? I think you should consider it if not, i have just finished a course on counselling and it can be very beneficial. Show your wife affection in other ways, i love my cuddles and this makes me feel loved and wanted more than sex. My husband does lots of little things for me like running me a bath, bringing me a cuppa in the morning etc all little things but they add up and make me feel appreciated. Spend lots of time together have nice meals, go for walks hand in hand and talk talk talk. You sound like a nice bloke and i bet your wife is worried about you so be as honest as you can with her. 22 years is impressive, i hope my marriage stays as strong as yours has. I hope you start feeling better xxx

Answer 6

Well, they used to put bromide in soldiers' rations to reduce their sex drive and so limit the number of cases of venereal disease among troops, and as your medication has the word 'bromide' in it, I think you can see where I'm going with this. I reckon your best bet is to look this drug up somewhere...I'd do it if my internet search skills weren't pants. There's a totally objective (ahem) central information base for this stuff though - it's a book which lists all pharmaceutical products licensed for use in the UK, and your quack will know the name of it. Sorry - doctor. You'll then be able to either read it in your local library (if they haven't shut it down), or order it through them if they don't have a copy. Good luck, and if I were you I'd just stop taking the pills. :)

Answer 7

First of all, your wife will continue to think that, so encourage her and let her know it's not her fault - it's a medical thing. Chances are it's the prescription that you have - most antidepressants can have side-effects that affect your sex drive. Try talking with a doctor and seeing what you can do to help increase your sex drive.

Answer 8

All I can say is that the Citalopram does mess with your sex drive but don't stop taking it without consulting your doctor. When I was on it at first I had no sex drive left but it came back once my body got more used to it........I know it's easy to say but try and not focus on this one thing....that'll make it worse. Try exercise. Look at the positive side ....you are a father.....you're still young.....you have a wife who loves you.....just don't pressurise yourself. Good luck man!

Answer 9

One of the anti-depressants my husband took dropped his sex drive to nothing, I was a bit like your wife and felt it personally. We went to the doctors and the doctor changed the anti-depressant. After a couple of weeks on the new meds we were back to normal.
It is me that now has the low sex drive but my dad died recently and that has dropped my sex drive to zilch. I am only mentioning this to point out it isn't always the meds.
I would definitely check with the doctor though especially if it only started after taking the new meds or in the first couple of weeks on them.

Answer 10

you first have to realise the cause of the stress usually work related if so consider changing jobs. If you think what is the worst thing that can happen to you the very worst, then dissect in what way that would happen and when you have done that you can put a plan together to avoid it. one more thing try not dwell on any one thing for too long keep in your mind the love and joy your children give you and your wife take care and best of luck