Antidepressants - Surprsing Causes Behind Male Menopause & Mid-Life Crisis

A 35 year old man suffers from male menopause as a result of taking antidepressants for several years.

Case #: 397

Concern：

I am a 35 year old male who has been taking antidepressants for several years. Although the medicine has helped improve my mood, they are causing problems with my sex life. My desire for sex has almost disappeared and am unable to maintain an erection or control my ejaculation. It is causing problems with my partner. I cannot stop taking the antidepressants, but I cannot continue to watch my sex life deteriorate. What can I do?

Discussion：

You are suffering from male menopause caused by antidepressants. Antidepressants can lower certain hormones in the body. As these hormones are reduced, men can experience symptoms of male menopause such as impotence, premature ejaculation and a low sex drive.

About Antidepressants

Antidepressants are helpful when it comes to leveling your moods and bringing you out of depression. Most antidepressants contain Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRI’s which block the absorption of serotonin, which is believed to be the cause of depression and other mood disorders.

The problem with SSRI’s is that they also block acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter that helps send signals to the parasympathetic system that is responsible for sexual functions. SSRI’s can also lower testosterone and DHEA production which can lead to sexual performance problems such as impotence and premature ejaculation.

Reducing SSRI Intake

By reducing your SSRI intake, you will give your body a change to restore hormone levels and allow your parasympathetic system to function properly. Antidepressants are extremely addictive, so you should never stop taking your antidepressants without talking to your doctor first.

Your doctor may be able to change your prescription to an antidepressant that has lower amounts of SSRI’s or does not contain any at all. If you are choosing to stop taking antidepressants all together, your doctor will be able to help you safely wean yourself off of them without experiencing withdrawal symptoms or sever mood swings.

Treating Male Menopause

Male menopause can be a scary and frustrating problem and often associated with mid-life crisis experiences. When you experience impotence for the first time, you may not know what to do.

You are not alone, over half of all men who take antidepressants will or have experienced premature ejaculation or impotence as a result of male menopause brought on by their medication. The best way to recover from male menopause is to focus on your hormones.

A healthy diet can help improve your blood pressure and help your sexual organs function better. Living a stress-free life can also help improve your mood and libido. There are also herbal remedies that can help treat your male menopause by improving erectile tissue function, strengthening nerves, restoring vitality, increasing the production of semen and relieving sexual fatigue.