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Zoloft Sexual Side Effects

In the case of Zoloft, sexual side effects associated with the drug include such things as decreased sex drive, ejaculation failure, and impotence. A decreased sex drive was most often seen in people taking Zoloft for obsessive-compulsive disorder or premenstrual dysphoric disorder, while ejaculation failure occurred most frequently in people taking Zoloft for panic disorder. Other Zoloft sexual side effects may involve prolonged and painful erections.

 

Zoloft Sexual Side Effects: An Overview

Zoloft® (sertraline hydrochloride), like all selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), is known to cause certain sexual side effects. Zoloft sexual side effects may include:
 

Sexual Side Effects of Zoloft: Decreased Sex Drive

Zoloft is known to cause a decrease in sex drive (libido). In clinical studies where side effects of Zoloft were documented, a decreased sex drive occurred in up to 11 percent of people taking Zoloft. A decreased sex drive with Zoloft was most common in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) -- 11 percent. It is least common in people taking Zoloft for depression -- 1 percent.
 

Zoloft Sexual Side Effects: Ejaculation Failure

Zoloft is also known to cause ejaculatory problems, such as ejaculation failure (the inability to ejaculate).
 In clinical studies where side effects of Zoloft were documented, ejaculation failure occurred in up to 19 percent of people taking Zoloft. The highest incidence occurred in those people with panic disorder, while those with depression experienced a lower incidence of this Zoloft sexual side effect (7 percent).
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;