Never stop, pause, reduce, or change a prescribed medicine because of anything on this page. Some of the medicines listed here are dangerous to stop suddenly, and the condition being treated does not pause while you experiment. Everything here exists to make your next conversation with a prescriber more specific — not to replace it.
Frequently reportedAntidepressants
Cymbalta and sexual side effects
Cymbalta is a brand name for duloxetine, which belongs to the class this site calls SNRI antidepressants. Everything below describes that class.
This page exists because people search for a medicine by name, not by drug class. Everything below describes the class this medicine belongs to. Nothing here says this particular medicine is better, worse, or different from the others in its class — this site does not rank medicines against each other, and that is a conversation for whoever prescribed it.
How this class affects sex
SNRIs raise serotonin the way SSRIs do, so the orgasm-delay and desire effects look much the same. The additional noradrenaline action can add its own effect on arousal and on erection. Duloxetine is also prescribed for pain and for stress incontinence, so some people meet this class without ever being treated for low mood.
What the rating means: Sexual effects are among the better-documented effects of this class. Frequent does not mean inevitable — plenty of people take these with no change at all.
What is reported
Editorial categories for the class, not percentages, and not a prediction about you. Published rates vary enormously depending on study design and on whether anyone thought to ask the question.
Reaching orgasm needs far more time or stimulation than before. Some people find this a welcome effect and some find it exhausting; both reactions are worth saying out loud.
Wanting sex less often, or losing the spontaneous interest that used to arrive on its own. This is the effect people most often assume is psychological and most often is not only psychological.
Arousal works but orgasm does not arrive. When this starts within weeks of a new medicine and had never happened before, the timing itself is information.
Erections that are slower, softer, or do not hold. Because this depends on blood vessels and nerves, it can also be an early signal of something cardiovascular — which is why it is worth a clinical conversation rather than only a product.
The body responds less, or much more slowly, even when the interest is there. Blood flow, nerve signalling, and hormone levels all feed this, and medicines can act on any of the three.
Less natural lubrication, a tight or raw feeling, or discomfort that arrives during rather than before sex. Medicines cause this either by drying mucous membranes generally or by lowering oestrogen.
When it tends to show up
Typically within the first weeks of starting or of a dose increase. These medicines need a supervised taper when they are eventually stopped, which is one more reason never to experiment alone.
What helps without touching the medicine
A glycerin-free water-based lubricant for dryness, used generously rather than sparingly.
Planning sex for a point in the day when the dose has settled, if the effect feels dose-timed.
Cymbalta is a brand name for duloxetine, which belongs to the class this site calls SNRI antidepressants. Everything below describes that class. Sexual effects are among the better-documented effects of this class. Frequent does not mean inevitable — plenty of people take these with no change at all.
Can snri antidepressants affect your sex life?
Frequently reported for this class. SNRIs raise serotonin the way SSRIs do, so the orgasm-delay and desire effects look much the same. The additional noradrenaline action can add its own effect on arousal and on erection. Duloxetine is also prescribed for pain and for stress incontinence, so some people meet this class without ever being treated for low mood.
Which sexual side effects are most reported with snri antidepressants?
The effects reported most often are orgasm takes much longer than it used to and lower sexual desire. Reported does not mean guaranteed — plenty of people take these medicines with no change at all, and published rates vary widely depending on whether anyone asked the question.
How soon would snri antidepressants cause a change, and does it reverse?
Typically within the first weeks of starting or of a dose increase. These medicines need a supervised taper when they are eventually stopped, which is one more reason never to experiment alone.
What should I do if I notice this while taking snri antidepressants?
No. Never stop, pause, or reduce a prescribed medicine on your own because of a side effect — several medicines on this site are dangerous to stop suddenly, and the condition being treated does not pause while you experiment. Bring the observation to the person who prescribed it; a dose review, a different preparation, or a different approach may all be options, and only they can weigh them against what the medicine is doing for you.
What should I ask about snri antidepressants at my appointment?
A specific question gets a better answer than a general one. For this class: Is this a recognised effect at the dose I am on? Am I taking this for mood, for pain, or for both — and does that change the options? What would a review of this look like, and how long would it take?
The full class page
This page exists so a name is findable. The class page is where the detail lives.
Educational information about categories of medicine only — not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not a statement about your prescription. It does not cover doses, interactions between medicines, or alternatives, and it cannot know what else is going on with your health. Sexual symptoms often have more than one cause at once. Pain, bleeding, or a symptom that is new and unexplained always deserves assessment.