Lexapro sexual side effects: can they last?

Creator: Morten Skov
Published: 2026-09-17T00:00:00+00:00
Keywords: PSSD Support, Patient Support

Lexapro (escitalopram) commonly lowers sex drive and delays orgasm. The UK leaflet warns this has sometimes continued after stopping. That is called PSSD.

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By Morten SkovPublished 17 September 2026Updated 14 October 2026

Headline: Lexapro sexual side effects: can they last? Below, the UK Cipralex leaflet’s answer in large pink type, “In some cases, these symptoms have continued after stopping treatment”, and the line: Patients call it PSSD.

Lexapro (escitalopram) commonly lowers sex drive and makes orgasm harder to reach. The UK leaflet warns that these problems have sometimes continued after stopping: a condition called post-SSRI sexual dysfunction, or PSSD.

The NHS page on escitalopram doesn’t mention that warning, so you could start the tablets without ever hearing it. If your sex life hasn’t come back since you stopped, the leaflet line is something you can show a doctor.

The story in 3 lines

Sexual problems, such as a low sex drive, are a common side effect of escitalopram (NHS).
The UK leaflet warns they have sometimes continued after stopping (leaflet).
No reliable figure exists for how often. Patients call it PSSD (Healy and Mangin, 2024).

Press: contact@sidefxhub.com

Victoria was a student when she was prescribed Lexapro for stress and sleepless nights. She says she asked more than once whether it was safe, and was told it was.

Victoria, interviewed by Moral Medicine, August 2026, 35 minutes. Read Victoria's story.

She took it for about three months and felt fairly normal, even while coming off it slowly. It was after she stopped, she says, that her desire faded and her genitals went numb.

What are the sexual side effects of Lexapro?

The leaflet for Cipralex, the UK name for Lexapro, lists a lower sex drive, delayed ejaculation and erection problems among the common side effects.

Two trials asked everyone directly about their sex life. At week 8, about 3 in 10 people on escitalopram had problems with orgasm, against about 1 in 10 on a dummy tablet (Clayton and colleagues).

Some people on the dummy tablet had problems too, and the leaflet notes that many side effects may also be symptoms of the illness. The trials stopped at week 8. They say nothing about life after the last tablet.

Can Lexapro sexual side effects last after stopping?

They can. The UK leaflet warns that in some cases these symptoms “have continued after stopping treatment”. The UK prescribing information for doctors mentions reports of “long-lasting sexual dysfunction”.

For some people it has lasted years after stopping. Nobody knows yet who will be affected, or whether it will ease.

Rosie was president of the PSSD Network when Moral Medicine interviewed her in 2024. She’d been prescribed Lexapro, and her symptoms had lasted about four years. In the interview, she talks about how hard it was to get doctors to acknowledge them.

Rosie, interviewed by Moral Medicine, July 2024, 33 minutes. Read Rosie's story.

How common is PSSD after Lexapro?

No reliable figure exists for how often it happens after Lexapro. Stories like Rosie’s and Victoria’s show what it can be like. They can’t show how often.

Counting it is hard, say two researchers who study PSSD (Healy and Mangin). Some people feel embarrassed raising sex with a doctor. Others never link their symptoms to a medicine they’ve already stopped.

That’s why reports matter. In 2019 the EU medicines regulator weighed side-effect reports alongside published research. Then it asked for a warning on ten SSRI and SNRI antidepressants, escitalopram among them (EMA).

What can I do?

These medicines help many people. If you have side effects, that’s a decision for you and your prescriber. Don’t stop suddenly.

If the changes haven’t lifted since you stopped, tell your doctor. Take the leaflet line and notes like these:

Your medicine: “Escitalopram 10 mg from March 2023, last tablet January 2024.”
What changed: “Touch feels numb”, “orgasm with no pleasure”.
When it started: before, while taking it, or after stopping.
How it was before: “No problems before 2023.”
What else they’ll ask about: other medicines, contraception, alcohol, diabetes, the menopause.

Report it: it helps everyone

A doctor's note helps you. A report to the medicines regulator helps everyone else: it is how patterns get noticed.

No proof needed. A suspicion is enough, even years after stopping.
Where: the Yellow Card scheme in the UK, MedWatch in the US.
Use the right words. If symptoms continued after stopping, write Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (MedDRA 10086208).

Our reporting guide walks you through it

What else do people ask?

Does Lexapro affect women’s sex life too? Yes. The UK leaflet says women may find it harder to reach orgasm, and a lower sex drive can affect anyone. Victoria and Rosie are both women. PSSD in women has its own page.

How is PSSD different from the usual side effects? The usual side effects happen while you take the tablets. PSSD is when your sex life doesn’t return to how it was after you stop. Researchers say it most often means genital numbness and orgasms that feel weak or bring no pleasure (Healy and Mangin).

What if my doctor doesn’t believe me? Many people say it took time to be taken seriously. Bring the leaflet line. You can report it without a doctor agreeing. How PSSD is diagnosed explains what to take with you.

Victoria asked more than once whether Lexapro was safe, and says she was never told the symptoms could last after stopping. If you’re about to start it, you can ask your prescriber about the leaflet line, and about PSSD, before your first tablet.

Sources

Cipralex 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg film-coated tablets, patient information leaflet, section 2 (warnings and precautions) and section 4 (possible side effects), last revised May 2025. Electronic Medicines Compendium.
Cipralex film-coated tablets, summary of product characteristics, section 4.4 (sexual dysfunction), text revised May 2025. Electronic Medicines Compendium.
NHS, Escitalopram, common side effects, page last reviewed 18 June 2026.
European Medicines Agency, Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee, recommendations on signals adopted at the 13-16 May 2019 meeting, EMA/PRAC/265212/2019, section 1.3: persistent sexual dysfunction after drug withdrawal. The wording is for ten medicines: citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, milnacipran and venlafaxine. Evidence weighed: EudraVigilance reports, the literature, social media and the companies’ cumulative reviews.
Clayton AH, Croft HA, Horrigan JP and colleagues. Bupropion extended release compared with escitalopram: effects on sexual functioning and antidepressant efficacy in 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. J Clin Psychiatry 2006;67(5):736-46. Adults with depression and normal sexual function at the start; pooled data at week 8: orgasm problems in 30% on escitalopram and 9% on placebo (281 and 273 people randomised).
Healy D, Mangin D. Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction: barriers to quantifying incidence and prevalence. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci 2024;33:e40.
Videos: Moral Medicine, She Took Lexapro for 3 Months. Then Everything Changed | Victoria’s PSSD Story, 10 August 2026, and Interview with PSSD Network President Rosie: Share Your Story to Raise Awareness!, 9 July 2024.

This information does not replace medical advice. Talk to your doctor before you make any decision about your treatment.

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Escitalopram: what the official texts say, country by country

For the SSRI antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex), the product information we read in the United Kingdom says there have been reports of long-lasting sexual dysfunction where symptoms continued after SSRIs or SNRIs were stopped. This is known as post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD). The EU medicines regulator set the wording of this warning in 2019 for ten medicines, escitalopram among them, and a government answer in Parliament says UK product information for all SSRIs was updated in 2019 to carry it.

This is a record of what each text says and of the date it prints. A text is quoted in its own words, or summarised where the row says so. It is not a comparison of countries. All medicines and countries

Escitalopram: what each text says about sexual side effects, and about side effects that continue after stopping.
Country or region	What the text says	Document	Dates
United Kingdom	Sexual side effects that continue after stopping4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use · Sexual dysfunctionSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)/serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) may cause symptoms of sexual dysfunction (see section 4.8). There have been reports of long-lasting sexual dysfunction where the symptoms have continued despite discontinuation of SSRIs/SNRI.On record since 2019, according to a government answer in parliament, 13 May 2025. That document is about the whole class of medicines. It does not name escitalopram. Sexual side effects, as listed4.8 Undesirable effects · Psychiatric disorders · CommonAnxiety, restlessness, abnormal dreams libido decreased Female: anorgasmia Sexual side effects, as listed4.8 Undesirable effects · Reproductive system and breast disorders · CommonMale: ejaculation disorder, impotence Sexual side effects, as listed4.8 Undesirable effects · Reproductive system and breast disorders · Not knownGalactorrhoea Male: priapism Postpartum haemorrhage3 The same text also says4.8 Undesirable effectsAdverse reactions are most frequent during the first or second week of treatment and usually decrease in intensity and frequency with continued treatment. A table cell or list line is shown whole, as the text prints it. Some of them also name side effects that are not sexual.	Text for professionals Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC): Cipralex 10 mg film-coated tabletsCipralex 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg film-coated tablets, Lundbeck Limited · Read in a compendium of product information: emcAlso on record: patients' leaflet, with such a sentence; related document, with such a sentence	Text revisedMay 2025Checked14 Oct 2026
European Union	Sexual side effects that continue after stopping3. Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRI); selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) – Persistent sexual dysfunction after drug withdrawal (EPITT no 19277) · Summary of product characteristics · 4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use · Sexual dysfunctionThere have been reports of long-lasting sexual dysfunction where the symptoms have continued despite discontinuation of SSRIs/SNRI.On record since 2019, according to EMA, 11 June 2019. Sexual side effects that continue after stopping3. Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRI); selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) – Persistent sexual dysfunction after drug withdrawal (EPITT no 19277) · Package leaflet · 2. What you need to know before you take [Invented name] · Warnings and precautionsIn some cases, these symptoms have continued after stopping treatment.On record since 2019, according to EMA, 11 June 2019. The wording is for ten medicines: citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, milnacipran and venlafaxine. This is wording for national product texts. There is no single EU product text for this medicine.	Document from the regulator New product information wording – Extracts from PRAC recommendations on signals. Adopted at the 13-16 May 2019 PRACRead on the regulator's site: European Medicines AgencyAlso on record: 1 more related document, with such a sentence	Published11 Jun 2019Checked14 Oct 2026
United States	Sexual side effects, as listed5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS · 5.11 Sexual DysfunctionUse of SSRIs, including Lexapro, may cause symptoms of sexual dysfunction [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)]. In male patients, SSRI use may result in ejaculatory delay or failure, decreased libido, and erectile dysfunction. In female patients, SSRI use may result in decreased libido and delayed or absent orgasm. The same text also says5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS · 5.11 Sexual DysfunctionWhen evaluating changes in sexual function, obtaining a detailed history (including timing of symptom onset) is important because sexual symptoms may have other causes, including the underlying psychiatric disorder. This text has no sentence about sexual side effects continuing after the medicine is stopped. This text names sexual side effects in several places that this row does not show. Together those passages are too long to reproduce here. The document link in this row opens the text. That they are not shown says nothing about how common these side effects are. On 14 October 2026 we searched the labels in openFDA, the FDA's open database. A sentence about sexual dysfunction continuing after stopping stood on none of the 332 labels in that database that name escitalopram.	Text for professionals Lexapro® (escitalopram) tablets, for oral use; Lexapro® (escitalopram) oral solution: Full Prescribing InformationLexapro film-coated tablets 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg, and oral solution 1 mg per mL, Allergan, Inc. · Read in the government's medicines database: DailyMedAlso on record: patients' leaflet, with no such sentence	Text revisedOct 2023Checked14 Oct 2026
Canada	Sexual side effects that continue after stopping7 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS · Reproductive Health: Female and Male Potential · FunctionSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may cause symptoms of sexual dysfunction. Patients should be informed that there have been reports of long-lasting sexual dysfunction where the symptoms have continued despite discontinuation of SSRIs. Sexual side effects that continue after stopping8 ADVERSE REACTIONS · 8.2 Clinical Trial Adverse Reactions · Male and Female Sexual Dysfunction with SSRIsFurthermore, there have been reports of long-lasting sexual dysfunction where these symptoms have continued despite discontinuation of SSRIs. The same text also says8 ADVERSE REACTIONS · 8.2 Clinical Trial Adverse Reactions · Male and Female Sexual Dysfunction with SSRIsThis is a difficult area to study because patients may not spontaneously report symptoms of this nature, and therefore, it is thought that sexual side effects with SSRIs may be underestimated. This text names sexual side effects in several places that this row does not show. Together those passages are too long to reproduce here. The document link in this row opens the text. That they are not shown says nothing about how common these side effects are.	Text for professionals PRODUCT MONOGRAPH INCLUDING PATIENT MEDICATION INFORMATION: CIPRALEX, escitalopram oxalate (as escitalopram), TabletsCipralex tablets 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg escitalopram (base), Lundbeck Canada Inc. · Read in the regulator's own database: Drug Product DatabaseAlso on record: patients' leaflet, with such a sentence; 2 related documents, with such a sentence	Text revised1 Sept 2023Checked14 Oct 2026
Australia	Sexual side effects that continue after stoppingSection 4.4 · Sexual DysfunctionSection 4.4 of Australia's product information for Lexapro has a warning headed sexual dysfunction. It says there are reports of sexual dysfunction that lasted a long time, with symptoms going on after SSRIs or SNRIs were stopped.Summarised, not quoted, because of the TGA's access terms.In this product's text since 2023, according to the text for professionals, 23 August 2023. The regulator's site asks readers to accept its terms before it shows this text.	Text for professionals AUSTRALIAN PRODUCT INFORMATION – LEXAPRO (ESCITALOPRAM OXALATE) FILM-COATED TABLETS AND ORAL SOLUTIONLEXAPRO, Lundbeck Australia Pty Ltd · Read in the regulator's own database: TGA eBSAlso on record: patients' leaflet, with such a sentence	Text revised23 Aug 2023Checked14 Oct 2026
New Zealand	Sexual side effects that continue after stopping4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use · Warnings · Sexual dysfunctionSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)/serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) may cause symptoms of sexual dysfunction (see Section 4.8 Undesirable effects). There have been reports of long-lasting sexual dysfunction where the symptoms have continued despite discontinuation of SSRIs/SNRI. This text names sexual side effects in several places that this row does not show. Together those passages are too long to reproduce here. The document link in this row opens the text. That they are not shown says nothing about how common these side effects are.	Text for professionals New Zealand Data Sheet, LexaproLexapro 10 mg and 20 mg film-coated tablets, Pharmacy Retailing t/a Healthcare Logistics · Read in the regulator's own database: MedsafeAlso on record: patients' leaflet, with such a sentence; 2 related documents, with such a sentence	Text revised8 Aug 2024Checked14 Oct 2026
Germany	Sexual side effects that continue after stopping2. Was sollten Sie vor der Einnahme von Cipralex beachten? · Warnhinweise und VorsichtsmaßnahmenIn bestimmten Fällen blieben diese Symptome nach Beendigung der Behandlung bestehen.Original text: German. Our translation:In certain cases these symptoms continued after treatment was ended. Sexual side effects, as listed4. Welche Nebenwirkungen sind möglich? · Häufig (kann bis zu 1 von 10 Behandelten betreffen):Störungen der Sexualfunktion (verzögerte Ejakulation, Erektionsstörungen, Minderung des sexuellen Interesses und bei Frauen Orgasmusstörungen)Original text: German. Our translation:Disorders of sexual function (delayed ejaculation, erection problems, reduced sexual interest and, in women, orgasm problems) Sexual side effects, as listed4. Welche Nebenwirkungen sind möglich? · Nicht bekannt (Häufigkeit auf Grundlage der verfügbaren Daten nicht abschätzbar):Schmerzhafte Erektionen (Priapismus)Original text: German. Our translation:Painful erections (priapism) The same text also says4. Welche Nebenwirkungen sind möglich?Die Nebenwirkungen klingen gewöhnlich nach wenigen Behandlungswochen ab. Sie sollten auch wissen, dass viele dieser Symptome auch auf Ihre Krankheit zurückzuführen sein können und daher abklingen, wenn Sie beginnen, sich besser zu fühlen.Original text: German. Our translation:The side effects usually wear off after a few weeks of treatment. You should also know that many of these symptoms can also be due to your illness and so wear off when you begin to feel better. This is the copy in a compendium of product information. The regulator's database asks visitors to accept its terms first, which we did not do.	Patient leaflet Gebrauchsinformation: Information für AnwenderCipralex 10 mg Filmtabletten, H. Lundbeck A/S · Read in a compendium of product information: PatientenInfo-ServiceAlso on record: text for professionals, with such a sentence; text for professionals, could not be opened; related document, with such a sentence	Text revisedJan 2026Checked14 Oct 2026
France	Sexual side effects that continue after stopping4.4. Mises en garde spéciales et précautions d'emploi · Dysfonction sexuelleDes cas de dysfonction sexuelle dont les symptômes se sont prolongés malgré l’arrêt du traitement par des ISRS/IRSN ont été rapportés.Original text: French. Our translation:Cases of sexual dysfunction in which the symptoms continued despite stopping treatment with SSRIs/SNRIs have been reported. Sexual side effects, as listed4.8. Effets indésirables · Affections psychiatriques · FréquentAnxiété, impatiences, rêves anormaux, baisse de la libido Chez la femme : anorgasmieOriginal text: French. Our translation:Anxiety, restlessness, abnormal dreams, decreased libido In women: anorgasmia Sexual side effects, as listed4.8. Effets indésirables · Affections des organes de reproduction et du sein · FréquentChez l’homme : troubles de l’éjaculation, impuissanceOriginal text: French. Our translation:In men: ejaculation disorders, impotence Sexual side effects, as listed4.8. Effets indésirables · Affections des organes de reproduction et du sein · Fréquence indéterminéeGalactorrhée Chez l’homme : priapisme Hémorragie du post-partum3Original text: French. Our translation:Galactorrhoea In men: priapism Postpartum haemorrhage3 The same text also says4.8. Effets indésirablesLes effets indésirables sont surtout notés durant la première ou la seconde semaine du traitement et s'estompent habituellement par la suite en intensité et en fréquence.Original text: French. Our translation:The adverse effects are noted above all during the first or second week of treatment and usually fade afterwards in intensity and frequency. The text itself prints no date of revision. Texts for other products in this country do not all say the same. We searched them for sentences about sexual side effects continuing after stopping and did not read them whole. This row shows the product named, and no other. A table cell or list line is shown whole, as the text prints it. Some of them also name side effects that are not sexual.	Text for professionals Résumé des Caractéristiques du ProduitSEROPLEX 10 mg, comprimé pelliculé sécable, H. LUNDBECK A/S · Read in the government's medicines database: Base de données publique des médicamentsAlso on record: patients' leaflet, with such a sentence	Updated by the regulator15 Jan 2026Checked14 Oct 2026
Italy	Sexual side effects that continue after stopping4.4 Avvertenze speciali e precauzioni di impiego · Disfunzione sessualeSono stati segnalati casi di disfunzione sessuale a lungo termine con persistenza dei sintomi dopo l’interruzione dell’uso di SSRI/SNRI.Original text: Italian. Our translation:Cases of long-term sexual dysfunction have been reported, with the symptoms persisting after the use of SSRIs/SNRIs was stopped. Sexual side effects, as listed4.8 Effetti indesiderati · Disturbi psichiatrici · ComuneAnsia, irrequietezza, sogni anomali, riduzione della libido Donne: anorgasmiaOriginal text: Italian. Our translation:Anxiety, restlessness, abnormal dreams, decreased libido Women: anorgasmia Sexual side effects, as listed4.8 Effetti indesiderati · Patologie del sistema riproduttivo e della mammella · ComuneUomini: disturbi di eiaculazione, impotenzaOriginal text: Italian. Our translation:Men: ejaculation disorders, impotence Sexual side effects, as listed4.8 Effetti indesiderati · Patologie del sistema riproduttivo e della mammella · Non notaGalattorea Uomini: priapismo emorragia postpartum3Original text: Italian. Our translation:Galactorrhoea Men: priapism postpartum haemorrhage3 The same text also says4.8 Effetti indesideratiLe reazioni avverse si manifestano più frequentemente durante la prima o seconda settimana di trattamento, per poi diminuire d’intensità e frequenza con la continuazione del trattamento.Original text: Italian. Our translation:Adverse reactions occur most frequently during the first or second week of treatment and then decrease in intensity and frequency as treatment continues. The text itself prints no date of revision. A table cell or list line is shown whole, as the text prints it. Some of them also name side effects that are not sexual.	Text for professionals Riassunto delle caratteristiche del prodottoCipralex 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg e 20 mg compresse rivestite con film, H. Lundbeck A/S · Read in the regulator's own database: Banca Dati FarmaciAlso on record: patients' leaflet, with such a sentence	Made available by the regulator24 Feb 2026Checked14 Oct 2026
Spain	Sexual side effects that continue after stopping4.4. Advertencias y precauciones especiales de empleo · Disfunción sexualSe han notificado casos de disfunción sexual de larga duración en los que los síntomas persisten a pesar de la suspensión del ISRS/IRSN.Original text: Spanish. Our translation:Cases of long-lasting sexual dysfunction have been reported in which the symptoms persist despite the SSRI/SNRI being stopped. Sexual side effects, as listed4.8. Reacciones adversas · Trastornos psiquiátricos · FrecuenteAnsiedad, inquietud, sueños anormales libido disminuida Mujeres: anorgasmiaOriginal text: Spanish. Our translation:Anxiety, restlessness, abnormal dreams decreased libido Women: anorgasmia Sexual side effects, as listed4.8. Reacciones adversas · Trastornos del aparato reproductor y de la mama · FrecuenteHombres: trastorno de la eyaculación, impotenciaOriginal text: Spanish. Our translation:Men: ejaculation disorder, impotence Sexual side effects, as listed4.8. Reacciones adversas · Trastornos del aparato reproductor y de la mama · DesconocidaGalactorrea Hombres: priapismo Hemorragia posparto3Original text: Spanish. Our translation:Galactorrhoea Men: priapism Postpartum haemorrhage3 The same text also says4.8. Reacciones adversasLas reacciones adversas son más frecuentes durante la primera o segunda semana del tratamiento y habitualmente disminuyen en intensidad y frecuencia con el tratamiento continuado.Original text: Spanish. Our translation:Adverse reactions are most frequent during the first or second week of treatment and usually decrease in intensity and frequency with continued treatment. A table cell or list line is shown whole, as the text prints it. Some of them also name side effects that are not sexual.	Text for professionals Ficha técnicaCipralex 10 mg comprimidos recubiertos con película, Lundbeck España, S.A. · Read in the regulator's own database: CIMAAlso on record: patients' leaflet, with such a sentence; related document, with such a sentence	Text revisedNov 2024Checked14 Oct 2026
Brazil	Sexual side effects, as listed9. REAÇÕES ADVERSAS · Distúrbios psiquiátricos · ComumAnsiedade, inquietude, sonhos anormais, diminuição da libido, anorgasmia femininaOriginal text: Portuguese. Our translation:Anxiety, restlessness, abnormal dreams, decreased libido, female anorgasmia Sexual side effects, as listed9. REAÇÕES ADVERSAS · Distúrbios do sistema reprodutor e mama · ComumHomens: distúrbios da ejaculação e impotênciaOriginal text: Portuguese. Our translation:Men: ejaculation disorders and impotence Sexual side effects, as listed9. REAÇÕES ADVERSAS · Distúrbios do sistema reprodutor e mama · DesconhecidoGalactorreia Mulheres: hemorragia pós-parto3 Homens: priapismoOriginal text: Portuguese. Our translation:Galactorrhoea Women: postpartum haemorrhage3 Men: priapism The same text also says9. REAÇÕES ADVERSASAs reações adversas são mais frequentes durante a primeira ou segunda semana de tratamento e, geralmente, diminuem de intensidade e frequência com a continuação do tratamento.Original text: Portuguese. Our translation:Adverse reactions are most frequent during the first or second week of treatment and generally decrease in intensity and frequency as treatment continues. This text has no sentence about sexual side effects continuing after the medicine is stopped. This is the holder's own copy. The regulator's database refused our requests (it blocks by country; we asked from Denmark). The originator product's text could not be opened. This is the text of another product, the one named in this row. A table cell or list line is shown whole, as the text prints it. Some of them also name side effects that are not sexual.	Text for professionals Escena® oxalato de escitalopram: bula para o profissional de saúdeEscena comprimidos revestidos 10 mg e 20 mg, Cristália Produtos Químicos Farmacêuticos Ltda. · Read on the holder's own site: Cristália Produtos Químicos Farmacêuticos Ltda.Also on record: 1 more text for professionals, could not be opened; 2 patients' leaflets, with no such sentence; patients' leaflet, could not be opened	Last change listed11 Jun 2026Checked14 Oct 2026
India	This text has no sentence about sexual side effects continuing after the medicine is stopped. This is the holder's own copy. This regulator publishes no database of such texts. This text names sexual side effects in several places that this row does not show. Together those passages are too long to reproduce here. The document link in this row opens the text. That they are not shown says nothing about how common these side effects are.	Text for professionals S-CITADEP TabletsS-CITADEP tablets, Cipla Ltd. · Read on the holder's own site: Cipla (ciplamed.com)Also on record: 1 more text for professionals, could not be opened	Text revised14 Dec 2021Checked14 Oct 2026

Brand names

These are the brand names of escitalopram we saw in the official lists, compendia and regulators' pages we opened on or after 14 October 2026. A country may have more.

Lexapro: United States, New Zealand, Brazil
Cipralex: United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain
Seroplex: France
Enalto: United Kingdom
Balansya: Canada
Loxalate: New Zealand
Giachela: Italy
Prameffex: Italy
Gomeisa: Italy
Entact: Italy
Sosecit: Italy
Amasci: Italy
Escertal: Italy
Xipram: Italy
Esertia: Spain
Diprex: Spain
Essential: Spain
Heipram: Spain
Deciprax: Brazil
Esc: Brazil
Esc ODT: Brazil
Escena: Brazil
Escilex: Brazil
Escip: Brazil
Espran: Brazil
Eudok: Brazil
Exodus: Brazil
Felissa: Brazil
Fusor: Brazil
Lexaprass: Brazil
Mind: Brazil
Reconter: Brazil
Reconter ODT: Brazil
Sytoc: Brazil
Unitram: Brazil

What is not known

No reliable figure exists for how often PSSD happens. (source)
One study of health records gives an estimate for men, counted through prescriptions for erection medicines. (source)
It is not known how many people fully recover. (source)
None of the product texts we read says how long the sexual dysfunction can last. (source)

Code and reporting

In a report to a medicines regulator, the term is Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (MedDRA code 10086208). Where to report, country by country

Every row in this table was checked on or after 14 October 2026. To quote this record, name SIDEfxHUB and give this page's address. All medicines and countries · The whole record as a file: JSON · CSV

You may reuse this record under CC BY 4.0 if you credit SIDEfxHUB and give this page's address. The licence covers our compilation, not the texts quoted in it, in the original or in our translation, and not the article above.

Lexapro sexual side effects: can they last?

What are the sexual side effects of Lexapro?

Can Lexapro sexual side effects last after stopping?

How common is PSSD after Lexapro?

What can I do?

What else do people ask?

Sources

610+ people have joined the community.
Join them, then report your side effects.

Read next

How is PSSD diagnosed if there's no test?

Antidepressants and sex: what the rankings miss

PSSD in women: genital numbness that can last

Escitalopram: what the official texts say, country by country

Brand names

What is not known

Code and reporting