Iam 28 and went to see my doctor for a physical yesterday.?

Question

He said everything was fine. I told him me energy level and s*x drive has been decreasing. He told me it was probably stress (got married 3 weeks ago, just bought a house and begin school fulltime in 3 weeks). He said if it doesnt get any better to call him and he will put me on lexapro. Why lexapro, isnt one of the side affects decreased libido. Could someone with some knowledge please explain this?

Answer 1

Very low doses of serotonin reuptake inhibitors are often used to increase s*x drive. They can also be used at these doses for, migraines, sleep, and pain. They are indicated for anxiety and depression at higher doses. But, usually, tricyclic anti-depressants are favoured for off-label purposes, such as to increase libido. I don't know why your doc would choose Lexapro. He doesn't think you are "clinically depressed", does he?

Just an anecdote about the tricyclics: I used nortriptyline, for a short time, to assist in sleep (10 mg) and my s*x drive went through the roof. It made me feel, otherwise, really weird, so had to stop it. I think a "paradoxical effect".