Dealing with Sexual Side Effects of Cymbalta

Hi! I’ve been taking Cymbalta for over a year now, I started at max dosage and have gone down to half dosage currently because of the sexual side effects. I really enjoyed how focused and driven and non-distracted I was mentally at max dose but physically during sex I couldn’t reach climax AT ALL and basically just felt numbed with little to no sensitivity. Now that I have decreased in dosage I am able to climax if I really get into the mood and have 0 distractions. However this is not always possible for me mentally and I feel there is so much pressure, it in itself is distracting. How have you coped, gotten over, gotten through, overcome, or otherwise dealt with this side effect? It is making me want to seek alternative treatment or even just learn to live with my disorders because my quality of life feels so lacking in that part of my relationship and it hurts me that it might also be affecting my partner. Help please! 🖤

Your answer

Waterlemon

2y ago

I have been on the other side of this. my ex boyfriend used to struggle with that. i don’t think it was medication as much as it was that pressure that you mentioned. as his partner, at first i was a little bit insecure about it, but i realized that it was affecting him much more than me and i started to focus more on making sure he knew i wasn’t upset with him. although it must be frustrating, i made sure to see those intimate moments as just that- intimate moments. nobody says you HAVE to reach a climax, there are no rules. i know i can’t quite relate, but i just wanted to remind you that sex isn’t about the climax all of the time, but about that intimate and close connection between you and your partner. i hope things become easier soon! i know it must be pretty draining to have a hard time focusing. and then that in itself becomes a mental cycle of ‘i shouldn’t be distracted’ and then that exact thought distracting and pressuring you even more. good luck, you got this :)

Dally

2y ago

Does it affect your desire for sex? I'm not on Cymbalta but my antidepressant takes my libido away completely

Crybaby

2y ago

I am on both currently. May do well to just cut back to the Wellbutrin. Thanks for sharing 💕

niceshyguy

2y ago

I apologize too, I meant to also mention I ended up having to change my med, and for me fortunately wellbutrin helped me, and also didn't affect the other issue too.

niceshyguy

2y ago

I was on that myself and on a couple others before it, and had the same problem.... It's frustrating when it helps one issue but creates another. Siiiiiiiiiiigh

Kaleidoscope

2y ago

I feel you. I am on 30mg and can only reach climax maybe half the time whereas it used to be 100%. I don't know what to do about it either 😔

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