How do psychotropic drugs cause sexual dysfunctions?
In order to understand this, we may all need a post-graduate degree in biochemistry. Generally speaking, sexual response relies on a complex interplay between the body’s hormones (such as prolactin) and the brain’s neurotransmitters (such as serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine). While less is known about the role of hormones, the effect of neurotransmitters in sexual function is “well established.” Many antipsychotic drugs are dopamine-blockers, meaning they inhibit the circulation of dopamine throughout the brain. The problem is that dopamine-blocking drugs-characteristic of most antipsychotic drugs-increase the body’s prolactin levels, which can wreck havoc on sexual functioning.
