Luvox and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say

• anx...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 14, 2018

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "It's a miracle, is what it is. This med allows me to function. Tried so many things, and this is the only med to help with OCD. Took away a bunch of compulsions and anxiety associated with them. I find it easier to push away thoughts. Side effects - night sweats, sexual dysfunction, tiredness. Doesn't work on depression, it seems though it's an SSRI. Still, with these side effects, it's a miracle drug. Saved me. Been on 300mg for years. I should say going on it is hell, constant anxiety and panic, and then one day it just drops, and you feel better. It gets worse before it gets better. If you take this and feel terribly anxious, it's working. Push through."

• Aus...
• August 2, 2013

For Anxiety and Stress "An excellent medicine for me for controlling thoughts and anxiety. I use 50mg at 8 pm. I can't describe what a difference it has made to my life. I'm happy to take it for the rest of my life. I tried going without it for about a year because I was feeling good, but I will never do that again because of how horrible it was without it. When I've gone on Luvox, I feel the effect almost overnight. It is really important that you take it at the same time every day and that you follow a good sleeping schedule and not go to bed very late (i.e., after 11 pm) for best results. There is only one downside for me and that is more difficult to reach orgasm and libido is reduced. If it was not for this I would give it a 10."

• Aus...
• August 2, 2013

For Anxiety and Stress "An excellent medicine for me for controlling thoughts and anxiety. I use 50mg at 8 pm. I can't describe what a difference it has made to my life. I'm happy to take it for the rest of my life. I tried going without it for about a year because I was feeling good, but I will never do that again because of how horrible it was without it. When I've gone on Luvox, I feel the effect almost overnight. It is really important that you take it at the same time every day and that you follow a good sleeping schedule and not go to bed very late (i.e., after 11 pm) for best results. There is only one downside for me and that is more difficult to reach orgasm and libido is reduced. If it was not for this I would give it a 10."

• TLB...
• May 25, 2017

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I was first put on this med in 1995 to deal with my OCD, which manifests itself in compulsive negative thoughts and an inability to overcome negativity, as well as occasional wishing I would die, and suicidal thoughts (never acted upon). Due to frequent professionally-caused moves around the world, periodically Luvox was unavailable to me, so I was placed on alternatives such as Zoloft and others, all of which had heavy side effects. The best thing for me about Luvox was my ability to cope, no sexual side effects, and also the ability to still feel, all of which other drugs (especially Zoloft) prevented, leaving me feeling like a zombie. Luvox let me be me without my OCD and generally with it, I am a happier, more positive, and creative person."

• SVe...
• February 27, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "I have been on Luvox for many years. It has normalized my emotions and anxiety levels. I have gone off it once or twice, but depression and anxiety have once again flared to the unbearable. I sometimes feel tired, but I also have fibromyalgia, so that could be causing it. I often have a dry mouth and experience low libido, but nothing as bad as the hopelessness I felt when not on it. Luvox has improved the quality of my life."

• Aus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2014

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I finally got the courage to talk to my GP about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and all the other issues it was creating. I was first OCD when 14 (Now 33). I was given some samples of Aropax back then and it seemed to eliminate the symptoms immediately, but over time and no planning for continued dosage, my condition worsened and led me to Luvox. I was really down and out. The Luvox initially made me very tired, diminished Sex Drive, and loss of appetite. The enhanced depression was getting to me. The initial 50mg dose was increased (I'm 6'5 115kgs) to 100mg. After 4-5 weeks, this started getting better. The sleepiness became the opposite (hard to sleep). Take them at the same time every day and keep a journal of your improvement."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 2, 2013

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "The day that I'm writing this review, I was switched to Prozac by my doctor. Luvox for around 8 months worked wonders for my OCD. I was basically symptom-free during that time with very little anxiety and worry. After the 8-month mark, it slowly started losing its effectiveness. My doctor bumped it from 150 mg to 200 mg, but that made everything worse. I wasn't falling asleep until 7 am, I had no energy during the day, and my OCD symptoms were basically completely back. I was also on Zoloft for around a year, and the same thing happened there. Everybody is different, though. If you have OCD and haven't tried Luvox, give it a try. When everything was going well, I still experienced sexual side effects like low libido and delayed ejaculation."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 2, 2013

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "The day that I'm writing this review, I was switched to Prozac by my doctor. Luvox for around 8 months worked wonders for my OCD. I was basically symptom-free during that time with very little anxiety and worry. After the 8-month mark, it slowly started losing its effectiveness. My doctor bumped it from 150 mg to 200 mg, but that made everything worse. I wasn't falling asleep until 7 am, I had no energy during the day, and my OCD symptoms were basically completely back. I was also on Zoloft for around a year, and the same thing happened there. Everybody is different, though. If you have OCD and haven't tried Luvox, give it a try. When everything was going well, I still experienced sexual side effects like low libido and delayed ejaculation."

• Sue...
• April 15, 2012

For Anxiety and Stress "I tend to go on and off it when I am well. I hate the sexual side effects, but it works almost immediately for me. I get headaches and trouble sleeping, but when it works, I feel so normal, it is priceless and worth the grief."

• RWi...
• February 1, 2017

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "This may be the most effective drug for OCD (or a close second to clomipramine [ANAFRANIL]). It is inexpensive, and for me, worked within a week to calm down intrusive thoughts and lifted my overall mood. I have been on and off this medication 3-4 times, and it worked each time to save me from crippling depression. That said, like all SSRIs, this medication caused sexual dysfunction (difficulty having an orgasm, delayed ejaculation, erectile dysfunction), which was a deal breaker for me, even with OCD. I will say, however, that in my experience, the sexual dysfunction caused by fluvoxamine was not as bad as the dysfunction caused by paroxetine [PAXIL], sertraline [ZOLOFT], or Anafranil."

• RWi...
• February 1, 2017

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "This may be the most effective drug for OCD (or a close second to clomipramine [ANAFRANIL]). It is inexpensive, and for me, worked within a week to calm down intrusive thoughts and lifted my overall mood. I have been on and off this medication 3-4 times, and it worked each time to save me from crippling depression. That said, like all SSRIs, this medication caused sexual dysfunction (difficulty having an orgasm, delayed ejaculation, erectile dysfunction), which was a deal breaker for me, even with OCD. I will say, however, that in my experience, the sexual dysfunction caused by fluvoxamine was not as bad as the dysfunction caused by paroxetine [PAXIL], sertraline [ZOLOFT], or Anafranil."

• Adr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 1, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "I'm a Brazilian boy, 21 years old, and I suffer from mild depression and GAD. Effexor was the holy grail for my HUGE anxiety, unfortunately, it came along with sexual problems. My doc said Luvox had a lower chance of having these kinds of side effects. It's been a month since I switched to it, and I felt nothing but a 70% return in my anxiety using half of the maximum daily dosage. Still can't ejaculate, neither have the same libido as I used to."

• Emi...
• November 22, 2020

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I have been on Luvox for 4 years now, and it has worked for me very well for OCD. I almost have no anxiety anymore. The downsides are that I have had loss of libido, constipation all the time, and insomnia. I haven’t had any problems with weight gain like other antidepressants."

• mih...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2018

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I switched to Luvox because Effexor was making my cholesterol go through the roof, and now the sexual side effects are back, and I'm more tired than usual. I take 450 mg Wellbutrin with it, along with various supplements. I'm going to give it a few weeks before trying something else."

• Gia...
• March 28, 2021

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I take Anafranil for 32 years now, after a diagnosis of OCD when I was 15 years old; the doctor said I would have to take it for the rest of my life. Two years ago, I asked the psychiatrist to try to switch the medicine because of side effects I have that really disturb me (great hair loss, permanent dry mouth, lack of libido, etc.). Eventually, she prescribed fluvoxamine, so I stopped Anafranil and started it. The experience was AWFUL: immediately I started feeling kind of detached from everything, what it came out to be a profound state of depression. The doctor increased the dose, and things didn't change at all. After two and a half months taking fluvoxamine and feeling completely depressed, emotionally detached from everything, and with a permanent underlying 'dark'/strange feeling, I decided to stop it. Instead, that night I took half of my usual 75 mg Anafranil; the next morning I was just fine, the 'normal', functional me."

• Pal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "I've been on it for 2 months for my anxiety, and it's working pretty fine, but I've decreased libido and low sexual drive, and it's concerning for a young guy to have this sort of side effects. I am gonna consult my doctor about this."

• Lis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "I’m on fluvoxamine for depression. It helped with it and with my bad thoughts, but it gave me severe sexual problems, so I'm forced to switch. It only started to be helpful after a month, and also it can give you sleep problems and anxiety (just at the start, like the first 2 weeks). But the sexual problems are still there even if my depression has been better, but still not cured. So I’m switching now."

• Anonymous
• August 29, 2011

For Depression "I feel normal. No sexual side effects like Lexapro. Less of a fog, too."