If you're feeling less than interested in having sex, the culprit might be in your medicine cabinet. If you suspect your low libido might be related to your medication, talk to your doctor. (Don't just stop taking a potential lifesaver.) He or she will probably be able to suggest an alternative, Fox News reports.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Depression is a well known libido killer, but so are some antidepressants. Prozac, Zoloft, and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) improve mood by raising serotonin. Unfortunately, that can also lower libido, says Dr. Irwin Goldstein, director of sexual medicine at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego. You have options. Wellbutrin and Viibryd are two SSRIs that don't have this side effect. Or try exercise. A recent study suggests that women taking antidepressants who do cardio and strength training before sex may see improvements in the bedroom.
Tricyclic antidepressants
Since the SSRIs came out in the 1990s, tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil aren't used as often. But some doctors do still prescribe them to treat not only depression, but also nerve pain such as that associated with shingles. But these, too, can decrease libido.
Birth control pills
Oral contraceptives can lower levels of sex hormones, including testosterone, and therefore may also affect libido. Non-hormonal contraceptives, such as an IUD, are good alternatives, Goldstein said. Less popular are condoms and diaphragms.
Proscar
Proscar is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, better known as an enlarged prostate. It's a problem most men will encounter as they age. The active ingredient in the drug is finasteride, which prevents testosterone from converting into its active form. An alternative treatment for BPH is a procedure known as a transurethral resection of the prostate. This widely performed one-hour operation involves slipping a tube up the urethra and removing a portion of the prostate.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines, especially diphendyramine (Benadryl) and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), may alleviate your allergies, but temporarily affect your love life.
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