Answer:

Many people have approached their depression with the belief that it is lifelong for them. They begin taking an antidepressant and find their sexual desire and sometimes functioning make a change for the worse. That's when I recommend that people not think of dealing with their depression by medication only and that they work toward getting off the antidepressant.

So far, fairly good results have been found for treating depression when antidepressants are combined with cognitive behavioral therapy. I recommend that you consider that approach.

Right now, sexual side effects are found with most antidepressant medications. If you have the patience and the fortitude to do a trial of several different ones to see if you can be on one that does not affect you that way, that would be another approach.

Published Jan. 26, 2004.