Is it true that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Paxil decrease Testosterone?
No. I do not know of any evidence that Paxil or for that matter antidepressants decrease serum testosterone levels. The antidepressants a a class do affect sexual function. Epidemiological studies indicate that sexual dysfunction and erectile dysfunction in particular are common in the general population, but also frequent symptoms of both untreated and treated depression. The term ‘sexual dysfunction’ describes a disturbance in sexual desire and the psychophysiological changes that characterize the normal sexual response cycle, and cause marked personal distress and interpersonal difficulty. The ideal antidepressant would control depression with no adverse effect on sexual function. Sexual side effects may compromise a person’s lifestyle and result in a lack of compliance with the prescribed antidepressant to the detriment of the person’s mental health. Sexual dysfunction (including altered desire, orgasmic dysfunction, erectile and ejaculatory problems) is a relatively common side ef
