I have always been a sex positive woman. My husband and I had sex everyday (sometimes multiple times per day) for twenty years. There was hardly a time when I didn’t have a fulfilling orgasm (or multiple). I am 40 and I had a total hysterectomy three years ago. This tanked my sex drive. However, I limped along and managed to have sex less frequently, but it still happened and sometimes it wasn’t a chore to orgasm. Then, after years of avoiding mental health care out of denial and prior bad therapist experiences, I summoned the courage to see a psychologist. He prescribed Lexapro for anxiety and depression. I feel like a part of me has died. I’m distraught over the loss of our bonding/relaxing sexy times that had strengthened and enhanced our relationship. That anxiety doesn’t make this any easier. My clitoris doesn’t get as aroused or engorged as it used to, and there is significant vaginal dryness. Touch even seems less stimulating. My mind wants to do it. I think about sex often. I cannot convince my body to cooperate.
I am 5’9”, weigh 200lb (I’m working on it and I have dropped 20 lbs in the past two months.) I have slightly elevated triglycerides and cholesterol, normal blood pressure, no heart, liver, or lung disease. I do not smoke. I do take estrogen 2mg/day po for HRT. Increasing my hormones from 1mg to 2 mg a day helped slightly. I tried quitting Lexapro cold turkey (Against medical advice) and after 5 days of noncompliance, I was horny and had a terrific orgasm, however; I was struggling with depression and unmanaged anxiety. Does this drug have any likelihood of working to improve libido in a patient such as myself? Do you have other suggestions that I could research? Thank you for the help.
Buspirone - Is BuSpar able to restore libido in post menopausal women?
Question posted by SileSkelly on 23 Nov 2019
Last updated on 23 November 2019 by WildcatVet
Answers
Hi, SileSkelly!
Both bupropion (brand name was Wellbutrin in the U.S.) and buspirone (brand name was BuSpar in the U.S.) have been used with some success in treating HSDD in clinical trials. Buspirone has been seen to reduce low libido in some patients taking SSRI class antidepressant/anxiolytics and bupropion is an atypical antidepressant which can improve low libido, but both are prescribed off-label and are not FDA approved for this purpose.
I am Bipolar with co-morbid anxiety disorders. I can't take SSRI or SSNRI antidepressant/anxiolytics because they throw me into manic episodes so I'm taking bupropion for depression and buspirone for anxiety which works very well. As a side benefit my libido has happily benefited from this combination also.
"Bupropion is a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression. Bupropion has been studied for its effect on sexual function and HSDD with results showing improved sexual desire in depressed patients as well as improved desire in patients with serotonin specific reuptake inhibitor induced HSDD.23,33,34 These results have led to its off-label use in the treatment of HSDD."
"Buspirone is an azapirone, a class of drugs commonly used as anti-anxiety agents. It is an FDA approved drug for the treatment of general anxiety and binds to both serotonin and dopamine receptors in the brain. It has been studied for its potential to affect sexual function and possible off-label use in HSDD with some promise.36–38"
These two medications may warrant a discussion with your doctor who may or may not be sympathetic, but most are willing to prescribe off label. Also, try Googling treatments for HSDD (Hypoactive Sexual Desire disorder).
Best regards and good luck!
Related topics
buspar, anxiety, buspirone, sexual dysfunction, ssri induced, sex, orgasm, libido
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