SSRIs and my biggest issue

[QueenElsa]

Hi! I'm new and this is incredibly embarrassing to talk about. :) Apologies in advance if this post is a little TMI.

Little background: I'm a 21 year old female with panic disorder and major depressive disorder. As a result, my psychiatrists in past have liked to put me on SSRIs. Now, one of the most commonly reported side effects of SSRIs I'm sure you all know is sexual dysfunction. I've had varying degrees of sexual dysfunction with all the medications I've been on in the past, along with other side effects.

Zoloft- first SSRI I've ever been on. I loved it. I used to call it my "little blue happy pill". It was great when I was single and not in a relationship. Then I met an amazing boy, fell in love, and have been dating him for a year and a half now. I've been sexually active for quite sometime now and I like to think I know my body well. While I still had a high libido on Zoloft, it destroyed my ability to climax. :( Took awhile for my ability to do so to come back too.

Lexapro- hated it. Felt it completely robbed me of my emotions, both good and bad. Wanted to cry, couldn't cry. Wanted to laugh, couldn't laugh. Felt like a robot. It was awful. It helped with my panic attacks, not so much my depression. Low libido, completely numbed everything between the legs, and orgasm? Forget about it. Would not happen. Was not happening. Sex sucked. Everything sucked about this medicine for me.

I had no issues with Klonopin, which makes sense since it's a benzo and not an SSRI which I seem to have issues with. Helped a ton with panic attacks, not so much depression for obvious reasons. Sex was back to being awesome though. It's the only benzo I've been on though so I don't have much to go by.

Now I'm on Viibryd, which I haven't seen anyone really discuss around here. :( It's helped with my anxiety, but my sex drive is non existent. Which is not normal for me. The reason my psychiatrist prescribed it in the first place is that it supposedly doesn't give as many sexual side effects. While sexual activity is still enjoyable and doesn't numb me like Lexapro did, I can't climax.

When I saw him after taking it for two weeks (was on 20 mg), I told him that it was giving me sexual side effects but did help with my panic and depression. He completely shut me down and said that it wasn't the medicine causing it my SD. Which, you know, made me feel pretty awful. The day after my boyfriend and I had shitty sex again (which is totally not his fault, he does everything right. Poor guy). I called and scheduled an appointment with my doctor to tell him I want off this medicine.

Quite basically, I'm pretty fed up with SSRIs. I was on Zoloft for months, Lexapro for a good two months. Perhaps I'm not giving Viibryd a long enough chance. Which is why I agreed to stay on it longer.

Now for questions:
1) Does anyone here have any experience with Viibryd/Vilazodone?
2) SSRI SD advice in general
3) Other medicine that his helpful for anxiety/depression with less chance of SD?

I'm a 21 year old girl who just wants a happy sex life while getting help for her panic disorder and MDD. :( Help?

[acetone]

Perhaps ask your doc to add Wellbutrin(Bupropion) to the mix. It is sometimes prescribed off label to treat SSRI induced sexual dysfunction. Be wary Wellbutrin can increase anxiety and panic. Personally I consider SD a small price to pay for elevated mood and lessened anxiety.

[QueenElsa]

Thank you for your response. My doctor had suggested Wellbutrin very off offhandedly and said he didn't want to prescribe it because he also mentioned it can increase anxiety and panic. I was thinking maybe I can take it in conjunction to Klonopin to help counteract the anxiety. Even though my doctor is seemed to be opposed to the idea of me being on more than one medication.

If I weren't in a relationship, I would as well. But having poor intimacy with my boyfriend only stresses me out more and it's really miserable. I've lived with anxiety my whole life. SD I have not. It makes the anxiety worse.
:(

[jessed03]

If I had to do anything, I'd do what acetone suggested, just because it's not everyday you find a med that really helps things.

It's probably gonna be easier to add Wellbutrin then stop if you don't like it, than it would be to withdraw from your current med, go on another med with less side effects, then change back if it's not as effective.

Sexual side effects can often reduce over time, but often it can take upto 6 months if that's to happen.

It's a really tough one, as a lot of antidepressants do come with sexual side effects as part of the package.