All sexologists agree that a huge part of having a healthy relationship, is having a healthy sex life. Sexual intercourse plays a very important role in building intimacy between a couple. An important factor in maintaining a healthy sex life is your libido, or your intensity of interest in having sex. There are a variety of factors that influence your libido, from stress levels to your age, as you may already know. Not being able to satisfy your partner’s sexual needs or to be satisfied may not seem important if each is emotionally invested, but this is a problem that may snowball into a larger issue that may not be resolved later on. Therefore, it’s a good idea to try and workout your sexual needs as individuals in a relationship, and confront any problems that may arise in that aspect of it.
Many people do not realise it, and some do not find it worrisome, but many prescription medications have potential side-effects that include a reduction in libido. If you think one of these might be reducing your sex drive, we recommend you look into a sexologist in Islamabad, if it is convenient for you. That reduction in libido could inevitably lead to mental stress, and instability in your relationship. The best way to deal with a situation like this is to be open with your partner, as well as your physician.
So, now that we have emphasised the importance of your libido, let’s get to what might be the culprit in its reduction.
Which Drugs Reduce Libido?
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs are common medications used to treat depression and anxiety, which may themselves contribute to low libido. However, they are now known to reduce libido even further. SSRIs essentially ensure that serotonin remains in the junction where it signals neurons to give the sensation of pleasure, prolonging that signal. This may also result in a reduced response to the molecule.
However, not all SSRIs have been shown to do this, and there are a few alternatives that can serve the same primary function without the side-effects.
Birth Control Pills
Apart from the myriad other potential side-effects, birth control pills, or oral contraceptives, can reduce sex hormone levels (like testosterone), and hence libido, in an individual. However, in some cases it may also increase one’s sex drive.
Antiepileptics
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that is characterised by recurring seizures, or a sudden change in behaviour due to faulty signals in the nervous system. Depending on where the rapid, disorderly signals arise, the seizure presents differently. In order to control the symptoms of the disorder, one may choose to use antiepileptics like phenytoin and carbamazepine. Unfortunately, these may also result in reduced libido, as well as erectile dysfunction and infertility.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are very commonly used to treat mild allergies, and you can be forgiven for not suspecting this class of medication of negatively impacting your sex drive. Fortunately, antihistamines only remain in the body for about 24 hours before they are no longer active. Hence, you can take antihistamines as you did before, but you just have to be wary of when you take them. Timing is everything, and scheduling can go a long way to ensuring both you and your partner have the best experience you can.
There are many more kinds of medications that could hurt your libido, and consulting your physician can help you identify those that are actually doing so. If you want to consult a professional in Lahore, check out these Best Sexologist in Lahore.
