AboutDaniel S. Harrop, M.D. Expertise I am a Psychiatrist (M.D.), Board Certified in Adult, Geriatric and Forensic Psychiatry, member of the faculty at both the Harvard Medical School and the Brown University School of Medicine.Special expertise in psychopharmacology, forensic (legal) work, individual, group and family psychotherapy and counseling, and utilization review and managed care/quality assurance topics.
Question Hi, I am a 33 year old women who was diagnosed with GAD and Panic Diorder. I started taking Lexapro 10mg 10 days ago, with Clonazepam .5mg for when a attack hits. For 3 days now I have tried to no avail to Orgasim during sex with my husband. I can become aroused but not complete the act. I am frustrated cuz I have never had this problem before. Last night when it didn't happen, it threw me into a major panic attack. Is this a side effect that will go away with time? I need the drugs for my GAD, I am becoming Agorafobic, and need to get control of my life, but this is a side effect that I can not handle. I there another drug that I should talk to my DR about that doesn't have this effect, or one I could take with this to counteract this effect? Thanks for the help.
Answer Yes, it's the lexapro, a well known side effect. All the SSRI's (Prozac, Celexa, etc) can cause this problem. Klonopin will not. You could either five the Celexa six to eight weeks to see if the side effects pass, or try changing to another SSRI (but could get the same side effect) or just stick with the Klonopin in regular doses two or three times daily to prevent the attacks.
