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Effexor Sexual Side Effects

For people who are taking Effexor, sexual side effects can potentially occur. However, if a person does develop sexual side effects while taking Effexor, it can be difficult to know whether the person's symptoms are caused by the medicine itself or depression, since sexual side effects are commonly reported in people who have depression. Some examples of sexual side effects that can potentially occur with the use of Effexor include ejaculation problems, impotence, and a decreased sex drive.

 

Effexor Sexual Side Effects: An Overview

Effexor® (venlafaxine hydrochloride), like a lot of medicine used to treat depression, is known to cause certain sexual side effects. Effexor sexual side effects may include:
 
  • Ejaculation problems
  • Impotence (also known as erectile dysfunction or ED)
  • A decreased sex drive
  • Priapism (which is a painful erection of the penis that does not go away).

 

Effexor Side Effects: Ejaculation Problems

Effexor is known to cause ejaculatory problems, such as delayed ejaculation or an inability to ejaculate. In clinical studies documenting the side effects of Effexor, ejaculation problems occurred in up to 12.5 percent of men who took higher doses of Effexor. Ejaculation problems were less common with lower Effexor doses.
 

Effexor Sexual Side Effects: Impotence

Effexor is known to cause impotence in men.
 Impotence is often defined as a total inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections. Ultimately, impotence is the repeated inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse.
 
In clinical studies documenting the side effects of Effexor, impotence occurred in up to 6 percent of patients.
 
(Effexor Sexual Side Effects Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;