Here is My Cymbalta, Where is My Libido? « What Winners Do

Here is My Cymbalta, Where is My Libido?

Posted on May 14, 2010

Cymbalta has effected my libido...negatively effected my libido. I had previously talked about the fact that I thought my Cymbalta for depression wasn't cutting it for me. I have discovered that I am having a negative side effect from Cymbalta: sexual dysfunction, low libido, lack of sex drive. Whatever you want to call it, I have it.

As you can imagine, having a low libido doesn't really work out when you are in a relationship with someone that has a healthy libido. I have been taking Cymbalta for some time now and towards the end of my drug use this side effect was improving...big surprise there. I guess being messed up all the time made me oblivious to the fact that I wasn't really into sex.

What is really weird about the whole thing is that if I didn't have someone around me with a health libido (my husband) I don't think I would have even noticed the problem. The only reason that it seems like a problem to me is the tension and fighting that it is causing between me and my husband.

I have to say even though I feel that Cymbalta isn't working for my depression and now it is causing a low libido I am scared to switch antidepressants. I'm nervous that the next one won't work either and the negative effects will be worse than the Cymbalta. Right now I am allowing myself to live in the land of the what if's.

Even though I am nervous about it, I do have an appointment set up with someone who can adjust my medication. I'm going to try and stay positive that the next prescription will be the winner. My ideal antidepressant wouldn't make me tired, wouldn't make me gain weight and wouldn't have a negative effect on my libido.

Am I looking, once again, to be able to take a pill and have everything be perfect? It may seem that way but I don't think so. I have been told that I have depression. Since I have depression and have to take an antidepressant I just want one that I would get the most benefit from.

I think that if I stay honest with myself about what symptoms of depression I have, I won't get caught in that "take a pill and everything will be great" way of thinking. In addition to taking medication I am also trying to make improvements in my life and to steer clear of things that are conducive to depression.

So, to my libido I say "olly olly oxen fried". I'll find you sucker.

Filed under: depression Leave a comment

Comments (9) Trackbacks (0) ( subscribe to comments on this post )

Daniele T
May 3rd, 2007 - 07:43

I had a similar problem with a 7 year man in my life. The drinking and partying 3 days per weekend wore us down physically but in the bed he was an animal still. All inhibitions thrown out when we we plastered.

It’s not until I realized that he went outside the relationship to get his “fix” that I realized I wasn’t reciprocating the passion and I failed. It’s hard to step out of yourself and do a self-assessment but easy to look back and see.

Chin up hun. Makes thing better on yourself and we’ll be ok together.

( REPLY )
alicia
October 5th, 2007 - 17:00

It’s hard to step out of yourself and do a self-assessment but easy to look back and see.

That is an excellent point, and very well-put.

( REPLY )
jason
March 4th, 2008 - 02:06

i had this same problem… it was so bad it helped me make the decision to get off anti depressants all together… not only did my sex drive completely disappear (im a 25 year old male, not the most opportune time for that) every “drive” disappeared. i was “numb” as everyone so often called it and that was making my actual depression worse. i was still depressed but it was like all my feelings went away as well, though that is a contradiction thats the best way i can describe it. i just stopped my cymbalta a week ago, withdrawals suck (check out the other site) but i think its for the best. i too had to try out several medications and finally i started doubling up on medications cuz not any one was cutting it… it is hard to find the right one out there, i honestly believe after all the meds and combos ive tried that there are some people that there havent been the right medications made for yet. everyone’s chemistry is different. i can tell you along with my 2 anti depressants (that i hope to get off in the next month all together) i am taking KLONOPIN. this does seem to stabilize me somewhat. It seems some of the depressive symptoms i was feelings were actually part of mini anxiety attacks… no doctor has told me that but ive been able to come to that conclusion myself. if you havent tried an anti anxiety (ONLY, not an antidepressant that helps anxiety) i suggest researching it.

( REPLY )
stefan
November 21st, 2008 - 10:12

me too, 34 years old and have been on Cymbalta 60Mg daily for more than 12 months after being on Cipralex (cant remember the dosage) for almost 2 years. Cipralex was absolute rubbish, but at least I had a sex drive. with the cymbalta i have been completely sexless for 13 months. No libido, no interest nothing. Now this does not really bother me, because i dont have to do something that i dont feel like doing, but i know my wife feels neglected. If it wasnt for her, i would gladly stay on cymbalta for the rest of my life and be happy (it has done some good things for me)and never shag, but i have a responsibility towards my marriage and dont know what to do.

( REPLY )
Kate
February 18th, 2009 - 15:42

Like Stefan, my doctor also put me on Cipralex, and just like Stephan said, Cipralex IS garbage. My depression was temporarily subsiding after a few months of use. But it only took about 5 months altogether until anxiety and depression began to overwhelm me again.

Now, I am also on Cymbalta (60mg daily). It’s been about 7 months on Cymbalta. It’s been alright… but like everyone else here, I too have lost my sex drive, feel incredibly tired by the afternoon, and I get anxiety attacks at unpredictable times weekly. This is a problem for me also since I am in a long-term relationship. Also, I can’t find myself settling at any job long-term because of my exhaustion and anxiety.

And the WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS? They’re HORRIBLE. I don’t even know how I am supposed to switch to a new pill knowing what those are like.

I’m not even a fan of antidepressants, but I know they’re doing something alright. Like everyone else, I ask myself… when do I get the cocktail right? *sigh*

( REPLY )
Leah
March 6th, 2009 - 15:44

I have only been on cymbalta for 3 months but I am tired by the afternoon and absolutely no sex drive. It really sucks since I have to keep up with my one year old daughter. My husband thinks the cymbalta is working except for the no sex drive, but I still get annoyed a lot and feel like I don’t want to do anything. Just blah. And since I have no sex drive my husband and I fight about it. I don’t know what to do

( REPLY )
Skye
February 4th, 2010 - 01:20

Well I was on 60 mg for a few months. I didnt feel any different than When I was taking 30mg. So I went back. After a few more months I decided to get off them. I too am having what I call nausea in my head, dizziness, I feel off balance and tired. I quit taking it 3 weeks ago and been feeling like this for the past week now! I want it to stop! So I started takin them again. I want the sadness and nausea to stop! I hate this drug!

( REPLY )
Robert Collins
May 1st, 2010 - 10:19

Anxiety and depression is one hell of a nasty disease. even if you have everything but if you have clinical depression, you are still nothing.;:`

( REPLY )
Ethan Jones
July 10th, 2010 - 08:51

anxiety and depression are hard to treat if the patient has not been checked for years.*~`

( REPLY )