Sex Drive Side Effects
Q: I recently got an ADHD diagnosis from my doctor and he gave me a prescription for Vyvanse. It’s made a huge difference in my work and home life. I can finally focus, and I’m a way better friend, partner, roommate, etc. to my boyfriend of 3 years. There’s just one problem: It has absolutely destroyed my sex drive.
Maybe I’m thinking too deep about it, but it did curb some impulsive behaviors, and I wonder if sex was one of them for me. I looked into it, and if anything, other people have reported increased sex drive. It’s helped me a lot, but I still want to have a sex drive, so I’m torn. Any advice?
A: Unfortunately, one of the potential side effects of Vyvanse is in fact a decrease in sex drive (although not everyone who takes it will experience this side effect). This happens because the medication affects dopamine levels in the brain which are involved in regulating mood, motivation and even sexual desire. You need to talk to your prescribing doctor and see if your medication can be adjusted or changed to another stimulant (or non-stimulant ADHD drug) that may have fewer sexual side effects for you.
Celibacy Journey
Q: I have been celibate for about five years now. It all began when I started getting sober. I have been alcohol-free for basically the same amount of time that I’ve been celibate. Prior to quitting drinking, I only ever had sex while blackout drunk. When I first got sober, I tried to meet up with some old hookups, but they had trouble getting hard.
Since then, I basically gave up on sex. It reminded me too much of bad times. I’m feeling quite confident in my sobriety lately and I was thinking of trying to date again, but I just feel so frigid and isolated, for lack of a better term. How do I convince myself—and my body—to enjoy physical contact and sex again after so long, and so many negative connotations?
A: I think the first step is therapy to help you understand why you needed to disconnect (using alcohol) in order to have sex. A therapist will do a thorough evaluation and will delve into your sexual history, including past traumas. When getting back into dating and developing intimacy, you will have to go slow, and start slowly. This means getting to know someone before jumping into bed with them. Ultimately, you will need to feel safe with the person, and this may take some time. Communicate this with any potential partner. If they don’t seem to understand or they pressure you to engage in sexual activity before you are ready to, then they are not for you. I would also start with learning about your own body through self-stimulation. This will help you feel in control of your own body and will help you rediscover pleasure. This is a good place to start to begin experiencing sexual feelings in a positive way.