5 Commonly Used Medications That Could Be Killing Your S*x Drive
A large number of people believe that your sex drive declines when you reach certain age but contrary to this popular belief, your sex drive doesn’t just go south once you hit the big 4-0. If you’re losing your libido in your 40s, 50s, or even 60s, your medicine cabinet—not age—may be to blame, says NYC reproductive endocrinologist Jaime Knopman, MD, co-founder of Truly, MD.
5 Commonly Used Medications That Could Be Killing Your S*x Drive
Here’s a look at 5 commonly Used Medications That
Could Be Killing Your S*x Drive:
Birth
control pills
Many women go on the Pill during perimenopause to help relieve symptoms such as hot flashes and headaches. But about a third of those taking oral contraceptives report problems with sexual functioning, including trouble orgasming, decreased desire, and pain during sex, according to a 2010 German study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. (Sex shouldn’t be painful. Here’s what can help, from Prevention Premium.) Oral contraceptives “increase levels of sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), which drops the amount of testosterone that’s circulating freely in your bloodstream,” explains Knopman. (Read more on the effects of birth control pills)
You could try a patch or vaginal ring instead; since
these bypass your liver, you’re less likely to experience sexual side effects,
says Knopman. Or you could try another pill, preferably one with levonorgestrel
in it (like Levora), a form of progestin that acts like testosterone.
Antihistamines
If you lose that loving feeling during seasonal
allergy season, you may assume it’s simply because of your sneezing and
stuffed-up nose. But the truth is that OTC or prescription antihistamines might
be the real culprit.
These meds dry you out everywhere, including your
vagina, says Knopman. They also make you feel sleepy, so you’re less likely to
be in the mood for sex.
The solution is actually surprisingly easy: Just
take these meds in the AM when you wake up (instead of at bedtime), and if you
need a second daily dose wait until after you’ve gotten busy to take it.
Anti-seizure
meds
Anticonvulsants like phenytoin (Dilantin) or
carbamazepine (Tegretol) are great treatments for epilepsy, but not so great
for your love life. They increase levels of a hormone called prolactin—your
body also pumps it out when you’re nursing to stimulate milk production—which
in turn reduces sex drive.
These meds also appear to lower levels of another
hormone called DHEA, which impacts libido, too.
If you think your seizure medications are really
causing a problem in the bedroom, ask your doctor if it’s safe to switch.
Valproate (Depacon) has one of the lowest risks for sexual side effects, since
it doesn’t effect prolactin or DHEA levels, according to a review published in
the journal Pharmacy Times.
Related: Possible Ways To Cure Epilepsy
Prescription
pain medications
Almost 10% of women age 45 to 64 take an opioid pain
medication like hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin), or
oxycodone hydrochloride (Percocet) for over six months, according to a study
published in the American Journal of Public Health.
Besides carrying a threat for drug addiction and
overdose (read more about the nation’s opioid problem from Prevention Premium),
these meds can derail your libido by lowering testosterone levels, explains
Knopman. Your best bet is to avoid using them, period.
If you need relief for long-term pain, talk to your
doctor about other options such as physical therapy, non-opioid medications, or
even surgery.
ALSO: How To Make Natural Viagra Using Only 2 Ingredients
The most popular antidepressant options—medications
like citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), and sertraline (Zoloft)—are part
of a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
These drugs help fight depression by raising levels of a feel-good brain
hormone, serotonin. But they can also have the effect of lowering libido levels
and making it harder for you to orgasm, explains Knopman.
While you may be tempted to ditch your meds
entirely, it’s not usually a good idea: Depression itself is another known
libido squasher, says Knopman (here are 7 things that happen when you stop
taking antidepressants). But you may want to talk to your doctor about trying
an antidepressant that’s not an SSRI, such as bupropion (Wellbutrin) or
vilazodone (Viibryd). If you’d rather not switch up your mood meds, try hitting
the gym before you hit the sheets.
Women who exercise before enjoying some nooky report
higher sex drive and better orgasms than those who stay sedentary, according to
a 2014 study published in the journal Depression Anxiety (Prevention’s Fit in
10 DVD offers super-effective, 10-minute workouts that are perfect for
squeezing in before you hit the sheets).
HOW DO I BOOST MY LIBIODO NATURALLY
Health
is a choice not by chance. Kindly do your best to avoid or limit these
medications in order to enjoy long lasting health.
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SOURCE: https://goo.gl/uePJlj