Do SRRI Drugs Interfere with Romance and Love?
By : Victoria Anisman-Reiner
SSRI drugs have known sexual side effects. Researchers believe they harm not only your sex life but the possibility of finding and sustaining love, romance, and marriage.
It's well-known that SSRI drugs can destroy sexual interest and lower libido. What many people taking antidepressants don't realize is that these effects can last long after a person stops using an SSRI, and the impact can be more than just sexual dysfunction and low libido: the long-term effects from these drugs may hinder the ability to reach an emotional connection with another person and to have a lasting relationship.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Sexual Dysfunction
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or "SSRI"s are a class of drug that is often prescribed for bipolar disorder, depression, manic or psychotic behavior, and even unexplained sadness or anxiety. These drugs work by altering the way nerve synapses uptake brain chemicals, specifically serotonin.
As a result, SSRIs are known to produce a slew of undesirable side effects, one of which is sexual dysfunction. SSRIs can lessen arousal and cause loss of libido, delayed orgasm, dulled sensitivity, and in many people a loss of interest in sex altogether.
Initial drug tests suggested that sexual dysfunction would be a side effect for roughly 10% of patients who use SSRIs. In fact, research indicates that loss of libido and some form of sexual side effects are prevalent in 60-70% of people taking SSRI drugs.
The Connection Between Lust, Attraction and Attachment
But that's just sex, right? It's possible to feel romance and even to have a fulfilling relationship without physical arousal, isn't it? Maybe so, and maybe not.
According to Rutgers university anthropologist, author, and sex expert Helen Fisher, the neural circuits that process lust, sexual interest, or arousal are the same ones that handle romantic attraction to another person and the attachment of falling in love.
Three brain systems operate simultaneously to feel lust, attraction and attachment – and changing the chemical way one of these systems operates with SSRI drugs can alter the others as well. "When you cripple a person's sexual desire and arousal," says Fisher, "you're also jeopardizing their ability to fall in love and to stay in love."
MRI scans indicate that the neural pathways that are used in romantic bonding and attachment can't function when serotonin levels are high – as they must be when SSRI drugs being used.
These pathways – and the development of romantic attachment – seem to require dopamine, a neurotransmitter whose levels are lowered by SSRIs.
How SSRIs Can Damage Relationships
SSRI drugs are known to cause something called "emotional blunting" – the sense of being distanced from emotions or of having them numbed to the point where they can't be felt clearly. Between this effect and the sexual side effects, SSRIs can have a serious impact on anyone hoping to begin or continue a long term relationship - and the effects can last long after discontinuing use of the drug.
"Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction" is the proper name for SSRI side effects that continue after drug use has ended. It's considered a sub-type of "SSRI discontinuation syndrome" – the violent physical and emotional effects of withdrawal. The sexual dysfunction part of SSRI withdrawal has been known to last months, years, or indefinitely.
Many SSRI users report distancing from their emotions, a loss of motivation, and less interest in reaching out to other people or in renewing friendships. Some even say they went on antidepressants and immediately lost the spark that connected them with a long-term love or the person they've been married to for years. These side effects are damaging not only to a person's sex life and reproductive health, but potentially to the ability to have a healthy, fulfilling relationship.
Source : depressiongrief.suite101.com
It's well-known that SSRI drugs can destroy sexual interest and lower libido. What many people taking antidepressants don't realize is that these effects can last long after a person stops using an SSRI, and the impact can be more than just sexual dysfunction and low libido: the long-term effects from these drugs may hinder the ability to reach an emotional connection with another person and to have a lasting relationship.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Sexual Dysfunction
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or "SSRI"s are a class of drug that is often prescribed for bipolar disorder, depression, manic or psychotic behavior, and even unexplained sadness or anxiety. These drugs work by altering the way nerve synapses uptake brain chemicals, specifically serotonin.
As a result, SSRIs are known to produce a slew of undesirable side effects, one of which is sexual dysfunction. SSRIs can lessen arousal and cause loss of libido, delayed orgasm, dulled sensitivity, and in many people a loss of interest in sex altogether.
Initial drug tests suggested that sexual dysfunction would be a side effect for roughly 10% of patients who use SSRIs. In fact, research indicates that loss of libido and some form of sexual side effects are prevalent in 60-70% of people taking SSRI drugs.
The Connection Between Lust, Attraction and Attachment
But that's just sex, right? It's possible to feel romance and even to have a fulfilling relationship without physical arousal, isn't it? Maybe so, and maybe not.
According to Rutgers university anthropologist, author, and sex expert Helen Fisher, the neural circuits that process lust, sexual interest, or arousal are the same ones that handle romantic attraction to another person and the attachment of falling in love.
Three brain systems operate simultaneously to feel lust, attraction and attachment – and changing the chemical way one of these systems operates with SSRI drugs can alter the others as well. "When you cripple a person's sexual desire and arousal," says Fisher, "you're also jeopardizing their ability to fall in love and to stay in love."
MRI scans indicate that the neural pathways that are used in romantic bonding and attachment can't function when serotonin levels are high – as they must be when SSRI drugs being used.
These pathways – and the development of romantic attachment – seem to require dopamine, a neurotransmitter whose levels are lowered by SSRIs.
How SSRIs Can Damage Relationships
SSRI drugs are known to cause something called "emotional blunting" – the sense of being distanced from emotions or of having them numbed to the point where they can't be felt clearly. Between this effect and the sexual side effects, SSRIs can have a serious impact on anyone hoping to begin or continue a long term relationship - and the effects can last long after discontinuing use of the drug.
"Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction" is the proper name for SSRI side effects that continue after drug use has ended. It's considered a sub-type of "SSRI discontinuation syndrome" – the violent physical and emotional effects of withdrawal. The sexual dysfunction part of SSRI withdrawal has been known to last months, years, or indefinitely.
Many SSRI users report distancing from their emotions, a loss of motivation, and less interest in reaching out to other people or in renewing friendships. Some even say they went on antidepressants and immediately lost the spark that connected them with a long-term love or the person they've been married to for years. These side effects are damaging not only to a person's sex life and reproductive health, but potentially to the ability to have a healthy, fulfilling relationship.
Source : depressiongrief.suite101.com
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