Problems with "the big o" now I'm on citalopram

Hi guys.

I'm on a very low dose of citalopram to help with my anxiety, and I have felt so much better since starting to take it. My anxiety is much more manageable and I feel generally a lot happier. I'm just having one side effect...

...When I have sex with my SO I'm struggling to orgasm. I noticed this the first time I took them too. I would really really struggle to reach it. It's not like I'm not aroused at all cause I am, but i dont think i am as aroused as before. I just can't seem to orgasm. It takes forever to get there and usually I have to be in a specific position and it's still a struggle!

The weird thing is when I'm alone I can, it's still not easy but I think it's because I can get into the position I like and such, this position isn't really possible in sex as I like to be flat on my belly and the angle is just awkward

I wouldn't mind so much but my other half (bless him!) tends to hold his own O off until I've had mine! This means that he's often waiting too long and then not having one himself at all. I tell him to just go for it and not hold it but I think he's worried I'm not enjoying it I can have one after sex though and quite happy to as it's easier for me now I'm on the tablets.

I don't know why this is happening but it's only started since the pills (again!) I've never had such an issue before them, even when on the mini pill i had a high sex drive and always found it easy!

I'm not willing to come off citalopram as I'm 100% happier than I was, but am wondering if anyone has had the same? Or if anyone has any tips to help the O come along quicker... ??

Thanks! And sorry for all the info

I’ve never taken citalopram, but I’ve taken other ADs that inhibited the O. Now I take Cymbalta and it does not block it.

I've never heard of cymbalta! Is it an SSRI do you know?

It’s an anti depressant that my rheumatologist prescribed for pain (arthritis).

Ah ok! Thank you I might mention the O problem to my doctor when I next go maybe I could try a different tablet

I had the same exact problem but was on some other type of med, not the one that you're on. I told my p-doc and she switched me to Wellbutrin which does not have that side effect. Maybe try another drug, til you find one that works and does not have a sexual side effect.

In the meantime ask hubby to get his O out of the way earlier so he can pay all his attention to you, slowly

btw when I was on Citalopram it didn't stop me getting orgasms but it did make it harder, however I found the quality of the orgasms I did get changed, they felt much more drawn out and more 'buzzy'. I quite enjoyed that.

Didn't really do much for my mood though except to make me more nervy and hyper.

Thank you! I didn't think about maybe trying a different kind of pill. I've only been taking it for a few weeks so I might give it a tad longer and see if it settles! I'm sure last time there was a slight improvement as time went by but can't remember for sure!

Hahaha maybe I will have a chat with him about this later or maybe need more prior stuff so that I'm almost there by the time the deed comes around

The other thing is I'm a real fan of the tantric approach where the emphasis is less on the end of the road and more on the journey.

Sometimes when one is focussed on getting there it makes the journey seem to take forever, when we focus on enjoying the ride we may actually arrive without even having to work at it.

Ooh ! Yes I do feel that there is a big focus on the O as opposed to enjoying the whole thing!

It is sometimes quite nice to have a bit of a delay as my o's used to arrive quite quickly which was actually quite annoying sometimes!

It was so strange today. This morning I was really struggling again. In fact I ended up O less despite trying for a while after sex. I just gave up in the end. Luckily my SO didn't hold off this time!

This afternoon I was feeling a little frisky and round 2 was much better and easier. I had no problems at all. I dunno if it was because I was already feeling it. Just doesn't seem to make sense! Why sometimes I struggle and others I don't...

Maybe because you weren't trying but doing

Sometimes when we try to do something - eg relax, it moves it further away.

Possibly !! I was much more in the mood as well and it was totally unexpected so maybe that's why!

Yes so you were more in the zone and less trying to push it