As you adjust to your new medicine, the sexual side effects may go away.

This tactic will work occasionally, but carries the risk of a relapse of the depression or disorder. Never change your dosage without checking with your doctor first.

Since the medical response to SSRIs can vary among people, your doctor will consider the severity of your depression or disorder, as well as your response to the drug before switching to another medicine. When switching is appropriate, some options include:

• Bupropion (Wellbutrin) —This antidepressant medicine does not affect serotonin. It is less likely than the commonly used SSRIs to cause sexual dysfunction and may actually have prosexual effects. Bupropion is used to treat a number of conditions, such as major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder. It is not recommended for people with eating disorders or seizure disorders.
• Nefazodone (Serzone)—This drug does affect serotonin, but not in the same way as SSRIs. It can be used to treat depression and cause fewer sexual side effects. One of its more troublesome adverse effects is sedation.
• Mirtazapine (Remeron)—This drug is similar to nefazodone in its effect on depression and sexual function. It can also cause sedation.

This involves maintaining your current level of paroxetine, while adding a second medicine to offset the sexual side effects. This option is generally less desirable since antidotes frequently have their own side effects and may adversely interact with the primary medicine you are taking. However, certain options do exist.

Sildenafil (Viagra) and related drugs may be helpful for men with sexual side effects of SSRIs. Bupropion also has been shown to benefit men with sexual dysfunction due to taking SSRIs. Amantadine has been used, but studies have not proven that it is beneficial.

This involves taking your usual Thursday morning dose and then nothing again until noon on Sunday, when you resume your previous schedule.

There is a risk with this technique that you may feel well enough during the short drug holiday to discontinue your medicine all together, which can lead to a relapse. Furthermore, short-acting SSRIs like Paxil can produce severe withdrawal symptoms in some people unless they are slowly tapered. Again, discuss this option with your doctor before trying it.

The efficacy of herbal supplements to treat the sexual side effects of SSRIs is not clear. Care should also be taken with herbal products because they are not strictly regulated, as drugs are. One herb commonly used to resolve the sexual dysfunction associated with SSRIs is yohimbine. More studies are needed to determine the effectiveness and safety of this remedy. Be sure that you talk to your doctor before taking any herbs or supplements. They could react with medicines that you are currently taking.