Furious Seasons

June 12, 2009

Study: Paxil Damages Sperm In 50 Percent Of Men Taking Drug

Here we go again, much like a study last year linking Paxil to sperm damage and significant sexual dysfunction, a new study in Fertility & Sterility reports some grim news (via the Chicago Tribune):

"In a new study, New York researchers report that as many as half of men taking the anti-depressant paroxetine (brand names, Seroxat and Paxil) have higher levels of sperm fragmentation. "The study was published online today by the journal Fertility & Sterility.
"'It’s fairly well known that SSRI anti-depressants negatively impact erectile function and ejaculation. This study goes on step further, demonstrating that they can cause a major increase in genetic damage to sperm,' said Dr. Peter Schlegel, the study’s senior author and professor of reproductive medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.

"'Although this study doesn’t look directly at fertility, we can infer that as many as half of men taking SSRIs have a reduced ability to conceive. These men should talk with their physicians about their treatment options,' he added."

While the study involved but 35 men taking Paxil for five weeks, it's obvious at this point that this and the previous study should be a major wake up call for patients, male and female, and doctors everywhere.

Anyone care to tell me how salubrious Paxil is?

Posted by Philip Dawdy at June 12, 2009 12:05 AM

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Comments

I think this is the same study as 'the previous study'. Both had a sample size of 35 men.

Anyway, here's a link the abstract http://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(09)01007-3/abstract. Although it doesn't say whether sperm fragmentation recovers (and please don't go about giving off scary statistics like it increased 200%, as saying it rose from 12-30% is a much less alarming, and more accurate, statistic.), my guess is it does. Or they didn't bother to check for it.

Posted by: NiroZ at June 12, 2009 01:03 AM

perhaps a clue to the recent increases in ASD?

poor-quality sperm can still impregnate, altho it often ends in miscarriage.

Posted by: BlackOrchid at June 12, 2009 08:45 AM

Peace be with you

To answer your question - no. If it is 50% after five weeks what is it after 10 or 100? The Nazi eugenics wanted forced sterilization, labor, and death, and SSRIs fulfill two of those.

love eternal
tad

Posted by: tad at June 12, 2009 09:31 AM

The decrease in testosterone is an interesting finding...

Posted by: Steve at June 12, 2009 09:56 AM

Ot's not decrease of testosterone.
At the Yahoo group SSRI-sex, a group that is discussing sexual problems caused by SSRI and SRNIs since 2005 there are plenty of men that have their testosterone level normal but cannot have a sexual life.
To be part of the group one has to be off the drug.
Women and mens say that they have no erotic fantasies, no this nor that.
I have already said many times that this group should be visited by all who is interested in sexual problems caused by antidepressants.
Only by these testimonies FDA should do it's work studying the after drug on the market problems.
But we still have psychiatrists that claim:
"Sexual dysfunctions? Never heard about that."
"Sexual problems after being off the SSRI? Never heard about that."
I'm sorry but it's hypocritical claiming that it's not known.
Tryciclics antidepressants also had some sexual problems.
It's not known what has happened to these people.
I would also like to know how salubrious these drugs are.

Posted by: Ana at June 12, 2009 12:00 PM