SSRI antidepressants are prescribed to millions of Americans to treat a range of depressive disorders. a new study suggests that most prescriptions for these drugs are having little or no effect on people with minor cases of depression, but are likely having some side effects.
Sexual dysfunction is considered one of the most common side effects of taking SSRI drugs. According to DoctorDirectory, only about 20 percent of healthcare professionals routinely ask patients taking drugs like Effexor, Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, and Zyban if they’re experiencing any form of sexual dysfunction, such as decreased libido or erectile dysfunction.
Based on the results of DoctorDirectory’s survey, certain antidepressant drugs were more likely to affect sexual function in patients. They took these results and ranked, from 1 to 15, the antidepressants most likely to adversely impact sexual function in patients. Among those drugs ranking in the top 10 as those more likely to cause sexual function impairment were Wellbutin (number 1 on the list), Prestiq, Cymbalta, Effexor, and Lexapro.
DoctorDirectory surveyed more than 250 doctors in several fields for its research, including psychiatrists, family doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.