Sexual dysfunction as a side effect of psychopharmacology: What to do now?

Abstract

Introduction Sexual dysfunction is a side effect caused by many of the psychiatric drugs commonly used in clinical practice. Both antidepressants and antipsychotics have the potential to cause this side effect, which can lead to therapeutic nonadherence. Considering this problem and their adverse consequences to the patient and the treatment adherence, we can conclude that it is important to better understand this problem and the ways to deal with it. Aims and objectives The objective of this work was to better comprehend this problem, it's consequences and the ways to avoid, minimize and revert it. Methods We reviewed the literature related to this theme through a search for papers indexed in PubMed and Science direct. Results Both antidepressants and antipsychotics have the potential to induce sexual side effects although this potential seems to differ from drug to drug. In order to avoid or minimize this, some management options are described in literature. Nevertheless, this problem still seems to be neglected by doctors and under-reported by patients and, because there is still a lack of knowledge about which is the best management option when the problem appears, the decision about what to do when it appears is still left to the doctors. Conclusions Sexual dysfunction caused by psychiatric drugs is a real problem, still under-reported, and affects in a hazardous way our patients lives and possibly leading to therapeutic nonadherence.