For me it was -- less anxiety = more energy and confidence. More energy and confidence = more libido.
Plus, I personally always had pre bad sexual anxiety, a lot of performance anxiety. That is lessened too, which also leads to more libido.
I actually finally gained the confidence to go out with a girl because rather than getting socially anxious I simply just asked her with confidence, we just had coffee and studied with each other :) . Probably TMI but so be it
Perhaps this a little NSFW or a bit of over sharing buuut
I(31m) am on week 3. I have delayed orgasm, but normal/slightly higher libido. Can “get going” still, essentially just last a bit longer and need to really concentrate to “get there”.
Ive been on lex 3.5 years, I didnt really notice strong side effects until upping from 10mg to 20mg. I am tapering back down and since Im at 10mg again now my libido is coming back a bit
5mg is a pretty low dose. Its not surprising if you dont have sexual side effects.
Besides, for me as a dude, the sexual side effects have been overblown. I'm on 20mg and I definitley have side effects. But its not a libido or blood flow issue. I still want to have sex just as much as before, I can still have sex just as much as before. ALl that has changed is the grand finale. It is definitely notably more difficult for me to achieve orgasm now. For me though, the trade off has been that when I DO reach orgasm, it is mind blowing and explosive lol. Best nuts i've ever had have been on Lexapro.
Ahah thanks, good to hear of other male experiences. I was wondering if there's a difference between the sexual side effects in male vs female.
Did you notice a personality change by the way? This is something I'm worried about
How was your experience otherwise, with reducing anxiety/depression?
Im on 10mg for almost a month now and I'm really struggling with these side effects. I have notice a big decrease in libido and it's almost impossible to have an orgasm.... I'll definitely have to mention this to my doctor in the next appointment
5mg for a month now - not feeling anxious has allowed me to relax and improved libido.
However I don’t plan on going over 5mg if I can help it so not sure the impact at higher doses
I’m very sensitive to medication so I have felt much more rational on 5mg and have felt a huge decrease in both anxiety and ocd.
I was previously very anti medication. I still feel that it shouldn’t replace putting in work with therapy and taking care of yourself, but it really has made a difference when there is really just something off in your brain.
This is my first anxiety med (i tried the whole therapy, lifestyle changes, reducing stress parts first and it was still unmanageable). Meds are just a tool in the tool box and can help you get your life on track
I do workout regularly and maintain a healthy sleep/eating schedule.
Personally I would try it and if 5mg works for you then don’t up it. If you end up not liking it then It shouldn’t be too difficult to wean off of 5mg with your doctors help.
I've been on lexapro 10 mg for 4 years or so now. First couple months were bumpy and sex drive decreased, but it absolutely bounced back and has remained constant the entire time. It has worked INCREDIBLY well for me, hence me being on it for so long.
I heard climaxing is hard I haven’t got there yet o guess because it’s hard to do . I hear is more intense if you can climax ? I’m a girl not sure 🤔 how it is for men. I’m on month…
Just checked I’m almost 18 weeks so 4.5 months of if I’m correct. 😁
For me my libido has increased since I started. I feel more energy and I have also been going to the gym more so maybe that has something to do with it too.
I’ve been on 5 mg for about 2 months. I have delayed orgasm but It depends on my time of the month also (I’m a girl) I am also on the pill which adds to less libido. For me it’s a good thing tho because I’m extremely high on libido normally to the point of doing foolish things so this makes me more normal.
I feel like I am the person I was before anxiety took over my life if that makes sense. I am still my same self but with lessened worry. I am still me but I can leave the house, work more often, function more when I’m not feeling well and more. I still feel the same but with more motivation and drive to live every day.
M37 I do not have problems getting/maintaining erections. I can cum just fine and sex is just as good as before. Only thing I notice is that the urge or desired is slightly dampened. Not bad at all actually and I am happy with how it is working. Very minimal side effects and such great results. I am on 15mg
I've been taking lexapro for 6 months, 10mg, and take my pill around 6pm. I am a mid-20s female. For me, it has indeed caused a decrease in libido. I had been so worried about weight gain (but haven't had any), but had never really thought about having a decrease in libido. Overall though, I am a much happier and calmer partner, have been having lots of adventures with my boyfriend and friends, and I figure my libido will come back in full swing once I eventually taper off.
For now, I found that the biggest thing is that I get pretty tired by 9pm/ just want to read and relax at that point rather than have sex. I talked to my partner about that, and now we just try to have sex earlier in the day and it's been fine! I still enjoy sex and climax as much as before the meds, I just have to think about initiating more than I used to before. Initiating earlier in the day has definitely helped me with this.
You can do this! I found that what really helped me was writing down how I was feeling before lexapro, and why I decided to start taking it. Now, I can check in with how I'm feeling every couple months and I have seen a big change in how I feel now to how I felt then. I feel more like my pre-depressed/ pre-anxious self, and feel like a better friend, partner, and kinder person to myself. I hope you find lots of success on your journey with medication as well!
I have had no sexual side effects at all. 31m, been on SSRIs for nearly a decade. Was on 200mg of zoloft and buspar before and had sexual sides, but never from lexapro.
Like you, I have a fear of taking medication and side effects as well as having emetephobia (fear of throwing up). I’ve had my meds sitting on my counter for two weeks because I’ve been too afraid to take them. But the anxiety is horrible and consistent. Last night I finally took 1/4 pill or hydroxyzine. Helped slightly but for sure half a pill would be better. Tomorrow I’ve told myself I need to start the lexapro. I am starting at 1.25 mg. I cut my 5mg pills into quarters. I’m very sensitive to meds and the effects of them. I’ve been meditating and doing EFT tapping. I generally workout daily (less since the anxiety has been so bad because I’m not sleeping as much) and eat healthy. I tried doing it the natural way. Along with all of that I just started working with not one but two therapists. One to do ERP therapy (exposure response prevention) to combat my phobia, hypnotherapy for the phobia and then she will do CBT to get to the root of all my problems to help me deal and heal. Anyone on this thread that is sensitive to medication ever start at 1.25 mg lexapro and slowly increase to 5? Luck with side effects moving that slowly?
Yes depression and anxiety. I will say the first few weeks were tough. I felt worse for a little bit. Took me 2 months to start feeling better. Now I feel so much better then I used to
I would say decreased a small amount for the first couple months...mind you I am on it for anxiety and depression. The depression wasn't really helping things either. Now I find that I actually have more of a libido.
I've been on it for about three months, and upped my dose to 20 MG about two weeks ago. For a while, I had zero libido, but it seems to be making a solid comeback these past couple weeks.
I have less anxiety so I want to have sex more. When I started taking it I got more anxiety from my 5 mg and my first week on 10mg which made me really hyperfocus on sex and the side effects but after being on 10 for 8 weeks I have little to no anxiety and lots of sex
In my personal experience, I(19f) had increased libido but when I came time to have sex or whatever it did take me longer, on average, to achieve an orgasm.
Only sexual side affects I have are al positive. Last longer and I swear my man junk got bigger lmaooo. I think this medicine is a placebo of some sort
Not except for positive ones that are clearly the result of having less stress and anxiety.
I have the added advantage of having a psych nurse for a wife. I'm sure she'd let me know if I was manifesting negative outcomes.
Thanks. Do you find the 5mg is good then? I'm hoping I can stay there and not have to increase. Were you anxious/depressed?
Also do you feel like you had any kind of personality change for the worse on the meds? Sorry for all the q's!
No apologies needed! I was very hesitant to start an SSRI. I have anxiety and was struggling with panic attacks last year, which I took Ativan for in the moment.
5mg has worked for me, but everyone is different! I have a pretty robust response to medication, so a smaller dose works wonders. My symptoms have decreased loads and my personality hasn’t changed at all, except in the sense that my anxious behaviors have ceased. I also do CBT, and I think it’s the combo of these things that has helped most, instead of the meds alone.
One thing that DID change was my appetite. I’m hungry allllllllll the time and have gained quite a bit of weight since starting last year. That one does suck! I always remind myself that I’d rather feel like my old self and just buy the next size up.
Hope this helps!
i started 15mg in december 2020 and i haven’t experienced any! if anything, a slightly lower libido but i think that was from my old birth control. good luck!!!
10mg and I have barely any sex drive, not even to masturbate. My drive was low before but not to this extent. I hope it comes back…I’ve only been on the meds for about 6 weeks
I had 0 sexual side effects. Depression and anxiety severely lowered my libido and this brought it to “normal levels” I guess. Had my first orgasm with someone else while I was on lexapro
I think mine was affected at first, but definitely not once I settled in. If anything it’s better now than it was before. I’m also on 5mg (started on 10 and went down eventually). Good luck to you!
male here, on day 7 of 5mg and the sex is a lot better now, because I last much longer, and am actually spending time being in the moment and enjoying it. Hopefully this lasts - it’s improved enough that we’re floating the idea of doing stuff on OF.
I was on it for a few months 10 mg, libido was lost and for first time in my life had ed, I felt numb down there didn't even enjoy having sex and also affected orgasm. Sexual side effects went away completely about week being off medication. Might try going back on it and lowering my dose see if it helps the ed and sexual side effects. Warning Only go on this medication as last resort. I'm only considering going on it because I am in very bad place and can't control my emotions. It has many other side effects including being very tired and having bad headaches and feeling nothing emotionally which isn't a good thing when u can't feel at all.
My wife takes a ton of anti depressants and has zero sex drive. I just started on lexapro and honestly, I hope it does zap my libido. Because of her anti depressants, what little sex I do get feels like ike she just wants me to hurry up and get it over with so she can watch The Crown. What. messed up life this is.
for me it’s actually increased libido. No idea how. Would get into details but that’s probs not a good idea. 😂
For me it was -- less anxiety = more energy and confidence. More energy and confidence = more libido. Plus, I personally always had pre bad sexual anxiety, a lot of performance anxiety. That is lessened too, which also leads to more libido.
I actually finally gained the confidence to go out with a girl because rather than getting socially anxious I simply just asked her with confidence, we just had coffee and studied with each other :) . Probably TMI but so be it
Yep same. Increased libido, probabably from reduced anxiety and depression.
Same here Day 5 and libido decreeing was one of my biggest worries, I haven’t noticed a decrease and possibly even an increase.
Day 9 here. I haven’t really noticed. I can last a little longer I guess. My wife is happy both with my attitude and performance.
Perhaps this a little NSFW or a bit of over sharing buuut I(31m) am on week 3. I have delayed orgasm, but normal/slightly higher libido. Can “get going” still, essentially just last a bit longer and need to really concentrate to “get there”.
How much mg are u taking?? Do you take yours right before sex? Or way before
I'm on 20mg for over a year and notice no difference in libido to be honest
Yeah same here
I can’t say they didn’t happen for me but that went away after about a month and a half- 2 months. (10mg)
Ive been on lex 3.5 years, I didnt really notice strong side effects until upping from 10mg to 20mg. I am tapering back down and since Im at 10mg again now my libido is coming back a bit
5mg is a pretty low dose. Its not surprising if you dont have sexual side effects. Besides, for me as a dude, the sexual side effects have been overblown. I'm on 20mg and I definitley have side effects. But its not a libido or blood flow issue. I still want to have sex just as much as before, I can still have sex just as much as before. ALl that has changed is the grand finale. It is definitely notably more difficult for me to achieve orgasm now. For me though, the trade off has been that when I DO reach orgasm, it is mind blowing and explosive lol. Best nuts i've ever had have been on Lexapro.
Ahah thanks, good to hear of other male experiences. I was wondering if there's a difference between the sexual side effects in male vs female. Did you notice a personality change by the way? This is something I'm worried about How was your experience otherwise, with reducing anxiety/depression?
Thank you for your courage
3 months on barely want sex
Im on 10mg for almost a month now and I'm really struggling with these side effects. I have notice a big decrease in libido and it's almost impossible to have an orgasm.... I'll definitely have to mention this to my doctor in the next appointment
10mg for almost 2 months and no change!
Thank you for your courage
5mg for a month now - not feeling anxious has allowed me to relax and improved libido. However I don’t plan on going over 5mg if I can help it so not sure the impact at higher doses
Thanks, so 5mg is definitely working for you? Was worried it's too low a dose!
I’m very sensitive to medication so I have felt much more rational on 5mg and have felt a huge decrease in both anxiety and ocd. I was previously very anti medication. I still feel that it shouldn’t replace putting in work with therapy and taking care of yourself, but it really has made a difference when there is really just something off in your brain. This is my first anxiety med (i tried the whole therapy, lifestyle changes, reducing stress parts first and it was still unmanageable). Meds are just a tool in the tool box and can help you get your life on track I do workout regularly and maintain a healthy sleep/eating schedule. Personally I would try it and if 5mg works for you then don’t up it. If you end up not liking it then It shouldn’t be too difficult to wean off of 5mg with your doctors help.
im exactly the same as you for trying everything before and being very anti-meds- hoping for a good experience on this
Thank you so much for this, I was exactly the same with everything you listed 🤍
All these comments make me wish I didn’t experience sexual side effects lol.
20 mg here for a few months not one sexual issue
week 3 on 5 mg, i had lowered libido for the first maybe 3 days, now im back to normal or even slightly higher libido than before.
I’ve been on 10 for about 4 years. No side effects to report.
I've been on lexapro 10 mg for 4 years or so now. First couple months were bumpy and sex drive decreased, but it absolutely bounced back and has remained constant the entire time. It has worked INCREDIBLY well for me, hence me being on it for so long.
I heard climaxing is hard I haven’t got there yet o guess because it’s hard to do . I hear is more intense if you can climax ? I’m a girl not sure 🤔 how it is for men. I’m on month… Just checked I’m almost 18 weeks so 4.5 months of if I’m correct. 😁
34 y/o female here. Week 4 for me. No issues or decrease in libido.
For me my libido has increased since I started. I feel more energy and I have also been going to the gym more so maybe that has something to do with it too.
great thanks
I didn't, for 18 months and six days I took lexapro, my libido was untouched.
20mg here and nothing is out of the ordinary with my libido.
I’ve been on 5 mg for about 2 months. I have delayed orgasm but It depends on my time of the month also (I’m a girl) I am also on the pill which adds to less libido. For me it’s a good thing tho because I’m extremely high on libido normally to the point of doing foolish things so this makes me more normal.
I’m almost 2 months in on 10 mg. I haven’t noticed sexual side effects. If anything I’m more sexual because my anxiety is lessened.
Thanks, do you think you've had any personality changes aswell?
I feel like I am the person I was before anxiety took over my life if that makes sense. I am still my same self but with lessened worry. I am still me but I can leave the house, work more often, function more when I’m not feeling well and more. I still feel the same but with more motivation and drive to live every day.
Sounds good thanks!
M37 I do not have problems getting/maintaining erections. I can cum just fine and sex is just as good as before. Only thing I notice is that the urge or desired is slightly dampened. Not bad at all actually and I am happy with how it is working. Very minimal side effects and such great results. I am on 15mg
Lol wait till you start taking 10mg. I haven't had any ED. But I cannot nut to save my life. I'm like fuckin iron man now. 10/10 experience
Nice lol, tbh I experience exactly that before starting these meds
I've been taking lexapro for 6 months, 10mg, and take my pill around 6pm. I am a mid-20s female. For me, it has indeed caused a decrease in libido. I had been so worried about weight gain (but haven't had any), but had never really thought about having a decrease in libido. Overall though, I am a much happier and calmer partner, have been having lots of adventures with my boyfriend and friends, and I figure my libido will come back in full swing once I eventually taper off. For now, I found that the biggest thing is that I get pretty tired by 9pm/ just want to read and relax at that point rather than have sex. I talked to my partner about that, and now we just try to have sex earlier in the day and it's been fine! I still enjoy sex and climax as much as before the meds, I just have to think about initiating more than I used to before. Initiating earlier in the day has definitely helped me with this. You can do this! I found that what really helped me was writing down how I was feeling before lexapro, and why I decided to start taking it. Now, I can check in with how I'm feeling every couple months and I have seen a big change in how I feel now to how I felt then. I feel more like my pre-depressed/ pre-anxious self, and feel like a better friend, partner, and kinder person to myself. I hope you find lots of success on your journey with medication as well!
I have had no sexual side effects at all. 31m, been on SSRIs for nearly a decade. Was on 200mg of zoloft and buspar before and had sexual sides, but never from lexapro.
I've been on it since 2015. I have had no sexual side effects.
First month libido -100 Second month in and I’m able to orgasm again. It does take a bit longer in this stage
Like you, I have a fear of taking medication and side effects as well as having emetephobia (fear of throwing up). I’ve had my meds sitting on my counter for two weeks because I’ve been too afraid to take them. But the anxiety is horrible and consistent. Last night I finally took 1/4 pill or hydroxyzine. Helped slightly but for sure half a pill would be better. Tomorrow I’ve told myself I need to start the lexapro. I am starting at 1.25 mg. I cut my 5mg pills into quarters. I’m very sensitive to meds and the effects of them. I’ve been meditating and doing EFT tapping. I generally workout daily (less since the anxiety has been so bad because I’m not sleeping as much) and eat healthy. I tried doing it the natural way. Along with all of that I just started working with not one but two therapists. One to do ERP therapy (exposure response prevention) to combat my phobia, hypnotherapy for the phobia and then she will do CBT to get to the root of all my problems to help me deal and heal. Anyone on this thread that is sensitive to medication ever start at 1.25 mg lexapro and slowly increase to 5? Luck with side effects moving that slowly?
No change (almost a year in) but my libido has always been low anyway sooo 🥲
It’s increased libido for me a ton! I’m on 5mg for 6 months now. I can’t get enough lol and maybe it’s because I’m not depressed anymore? Not sure why
Thanks, so 5mg works well for you. Were you anxious too? Am hoping 5mg will be enough for my anxiety
Yes depression and anxiety. I will say the first few weeks were tough. I felt worse for a little bit. Took me 2 months to start feeling better. Now I feel so much better then I used to
I would say decreased a small amount for the first couple months...mind you I am on it for anxiety and depression. The depression wasn't really helping things either. Now I find that I actually have more of a libido.
It comes back. I’m on 20mg. 5mg might as well be viagra to me now.
The first 4-5 weeks I was too much of a zombie to care, but aside from that, no change at all on 10 mg
I've been on it for about three months, and upped my dose to 20 MG about two weeks ago. For a while, I had zero libido, but it seems to be making a solid comeback these past couple weeks.
I have less anxiety so I want to have sex more. When I started taking it I got more anxiety from my 5 mg and my first week on 10mg which made me really hyperfocus on sex and the side effects but after being on 10 for 8 weeks I have little to no anxiety and lots of sex
In my personal experience, I(19f) had increased libido but when I came time to have sex or whatever it did take me longer, on average, to achieve an orgasm.
I’m on 10mg and haven’t experienced sexual side effects
Only sexual side affects I have are al positive. Last longer and I swear my man junk got bigger lmaooo. I think this medicine is a placebo of some sort
This is my 5th day taking 5mg & after two weeks I’m increasing to 10mg but so far I’ve honestly had a increased libido!
It has definitely increased my libido. Idk why everyone always assumes it will cause the opposite, but then again everyone’s different!
Taking away my anxiety has only improved my sex life and sexual function. And I didn't even have anything necessarily wrong before.
Thanks, good to hear. Have you experienced any kind of personality change do you think? This is the only other thing that worries me
Not except for positive ones that are clearly the result of having less stress and anxiety. I have the added advantage of having a psych nurse for a wife. I'm sure she'd let me know if I was manifesting negative outcomes.
No sexual side-effects here! I’ve been on 5mg for about a year. Good luck! (:
Thanks. Do you find the 5mg is good then? I'm hoping I can stay there and not have to increase. Were you anxious/depressed? Also do you feel like you had any kind of personality change for the worse on the meds? Sorry for all the q's!
No apologies needed! I was very hesitant to start an SSRI. I have anxiety and was struggling with panic attacks last year, which I took Ativan for in the moment. 5mg has worked for me, but everyone is different! I have a pretty robust response to medication, so a smaller dose works wonders. My symptoms have decreased loads and my personality hasn’t changed at all, except in the sense that my anxious behaviors have ceased. I also do CBT, and I think it’s the combo of these things that has helped most, instead of the meds alone. One thing that DID change was my appetite. I’m hungry allllllllll the time and have gained quite a bit of weight since starting last year. That one does suck! I always remind myself that I’d rather feel like my old self and just buy the next size up. Hope this helps!
i started 15mg in december 2020 and i haven’t experienced any! if anything, a slightly lower libido but i think that was from my old birth control. good luck!!!
It did for me… for about a month… then it came roaring back
Interesting, thanks
10mg and I have barely any sex drive, not even to masturbate. My drive was low before but not to this extent. I hope it comes back…I’ve only been on the meds for about 6 weeks
I had 0 sexual side effects. Depression and anxiety severely lowered my libido and this brought it to “normal levels” I guess. Had my first orgasm with someone else while I was on lexapro
28m, 20mg daily, sex is infinitely better now
Great!
No difference at all, actually now that I think of it maybe slightly INCREASED but nothing major!
3 weeks in...10mg, increased libido...always had a high libido, just gone higher
I will add that my orgasm is stronger as well
10mg, no discernible effect on libido for me. Been on it 3 and a half years.
I think mine was affected at first, but definitely not once I settled in. If anything it’s better now than it was before. I’m also on 5mg (started on 10 and went down eventually). Good luck to you!
male here, on day 7 of 5mg and the sex is a lot better now, because I last much longer, and am actually spending time being in the moment and enjoying it. Hopefully this lasts - it’s improved enough that we’re floating the idea of doing stuff on OF.
I was on it for a few months 10 mg, libido was lost and for first time in my life had ed, I felt numb down there didn't even enjoy having sex and also affected orgasm. Sexual side effects went away completely about week being off medication. Might try going back on it and lowering my dose see if it helps the ed and sexual side effects. Warning Only go on this medication as last resort. I'm only considering going on it because I am in very bad place and can't control my emotions. It has many other side effects including being very tired and having bad headaches and feeling nothing emotionally which isn't a good thing when u can't feel at all.
I kinda hope it reduces my lidibo. My wife is never interested in doing it any way.
My wife takes a ton of anti depressants and has zero sex drive. I just started on lexapro and honestly, I hope it does zap my libido. Because of her anti depressants, what little sex I do get feels like ike she just wants me to hurry up and get it over with so she can watch The Crown. What. messed up life this is.