Anti-depressants Affect Personal and Sexual Relations: Study

Study finds anti-depressant medications can impact love life and rapport with partners.

Anti-depressants prescribed to patients suffering from mental health issues like anxiety and severe depression have vast side effects on their physical and emotional well-being. Experts at the University of California- San Diego, found taking drugs like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and tricyclic antidepressants affect emotions and love life, reports the Business Standard.

Their research thoroughly examined the love and sex life of 192 people who were aged 41 on average and used either type of anti-depressant medicines.

It was observed people who were on SSRI drug experienced difficulty in confiding their deepest feelings and emotions to their partners and spouses. This group of participants most comprised of men. In addition, the study noted women who took tricyclic to combat frequent bouts of depression reportedly had problems in their sex life compared to men who were prescribed the same drug.

"Drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which work mainly through the serotonin system, were found to be affecting men's feelings while drugs called tricyclic antidepressants seem to affect women's feelings. The loss of sexual desire and sexual feelings are common manifestations of depressive illness itself," said  Hagop S. Akiskal study author and researcher at the University of California, reports the Health Site.

The authors urge psychiatrists and mental health experts to assess the negative effects of anti-depressants on patients' personal life and sexual relations. These findings suggest potential damage to emotional and mental health many depressed patients are exposed to despite seeking professional help to deal with their problems.

More information is available online in the journal of Affective disorders.