The influence of bipolar disorder medication on sexual performance

Abstract

Sexual performance is one of the key aspects of good quality of life, both in healthy people and patients suffering from various mental disorders. Besides many reasons causing poor sexual performance, like mental condition itself, medication can alter one's ability to achieve satisfaction in sex. Sexual dysfunction is listed among one of side effects of psychotropic medications. Aim of this work is to determine an influence of pharmacotherapy on sexual function in patients with bipolar disorder. Results: Pharmacotherapy in patients suffering from bipolar disorder can cause a multitude of side effects, including malfunction in sexual performance. Extent of severity in poor sexual life depends on many factors among which are: type of drug taken, whether there are one or more drugs taken at the same time. Seems to be observed that quetiapine shows the least negative effect on sexual performance. Additionally, highest risk of sexual malfunction is observed in patients with polytherapy. Conclusion: Besides topics investigated in the following research, there are additional factors like duration and severity of the disease, gender and age. There are many variables needed to be taken into consideration, but there is potential of choosing proper medication for a patient with least possible side effects and to allow them to perform more successful sex life, which directly corresponds with better quality of life.

Keywords

• sexual funcion
• sexual dysfunction
• lithium
• valproate
• lamotrigine
• quetiapine