Would stopping antidepressant medication for a couple of days allow my boyfriend to climax more easily?

  • Q: My boyfriend is on anti-anxiety and antidepressant medication and he has a very hard time ejaculating. If he took an antidepressant "holiday," stopping for a couple of days, would he have an easier time climaxing?
  • A: Many medications used to treat depression and anxiety can interfere with sexual function, but there are a few ways to eliminate or reduce the problem. Sometimes, if the medication has been working well, and life is becoming less stressful, a reduction in dose, may be a possibility. A drug "holiday" is possible in some cases, as one or two days may still keep the drug in the body long enough to avoid withdrawal effects. This is usually true with Prozac (fluoxetine), Paxil (paroxetine), and Zoloft (sertraline), but depend on how the individual person responds/reacts. Another good idea is to wait until after sex to take the medication. That way, the level of drug in the body will be at the lowest level of the day during sex, and may not cause as much trouble. Some medications have been shown to prevent or reduce sexual dysfunction from antidepressants and anxiety medication. They include Symmetrel (amantadine), Wellbutrin (bupropion), Buspar (buspirone), and Periactin (cyproheptadine). Other medications that may help are Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), and Levitra (vardenafil). If these changes do not help, an alternative antidepressant may be a better option. Studies have shown that Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Serzone (nefazodone) have less sexual dysfunction than other common antidepressants. For more specific information, consult with your doctor or pharmacist for guidance based on your health status and current medications, particularly before taking any action. Patti Brown, PharmD
This question was answered on October 15, 2010.


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