Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1111607

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Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality

Posted by NKP on August 8, 2020, at 8:41:44

I've seen some articles that suggest that various psychotropic medicines may affect sperm parameters.

If a father were taking psychotropic medicines, would this lead to an increased risk of birth defects in a baby, or merely increased difficulty to conceive?

 

Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality

Posted by linkadge on August 8, 2020, at 9:32:19

In reply to Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality, posted by NKP on August 8, 2020, at 8:41:44

It could lead to an increased risk of birth defects (IMO). Although, I don't know if the issue has been studied directly in humans. Of course too, if an effect were observed, it could be pawned off as being due to stresses associated with mental illness itself. To be completely honest. If it were me, I would come off meds for a period of time before trying to conceive. That being said too, if I were female I would NEVER take an antidepressant during pregnancy. I hear mothers say "well I don't want to go through withdrawal !!" (waah wahh). I hope they know the baby goes through withdrawal from the drug (and all the potential alterations in brain development due to prenatal exposure to the drug). Real altruism there.

Sorry, I'm a bit jaded about this issue. I see too often, many people put their temporary well being ahead of the entire life of their offspring. I have chosen not to have children because I don't want to pass on my f'd up genes to them. But, that is a personal decision based on my disease course / sevarity.

To be fair, I would get other opinions.

Linkadge

 

Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality

Posted by NKP on August 11, 2020, at 10:05:23

In reply to Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality, posted by linkadge on August 8, 2020, at 9:32:19

> It could lead to an increased risk of birth defects (IMO). Although, I don't know if the issue has been studied directly in humans. Of course too, if an effect were observed, it could be pawned off as being due to stresses associated with mental illness itself. To be completely honest. If it were me, I would come off meds for a period of time before trying to conceive. That being said too, if I were female I would NEVER take an antidepressant during pregnancy. I hear mothers say "well I don't want to go through withdrawal !!" (waah wahh). I hope they know the baby goes through withdrawal from the drug (and all the potential alterations in brain development due to prenatal exposure to the drug). Real altruism there.
>
> Sorry, I'm a bit jaded about this issue. I see too often, many people put their temporary well being ahead of the entire life of their offspring. I have chosen not to have children because I don't want to pass on my f'd up genes to them. But, that is a personal decision based on my disease course / sevarity.
>
> To be fair, I would get other opinions.
>
> Linkadge
>
>
>
>
>
>

For how long should a man stop using psychotropic medicines for his sperm to recover, do you reckon?

 

Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality

Posted by linkadge on August 11, 2020, at 16:54:55

In reply to Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality, posted by NKP on August 11, 2020, at 10:05:23

That's a question that's a bit out of my arena. I would think a month or two, but really I have no idea. Might be worth discussing with your doctor. Depending on your age too, it might be something worth pursuing (age can also increase the likelihood of defects).

Linkadge

 

Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality

Posted by NKP on August 12, 2020, at 16:16:28

In reply to Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality, posted by linkadge on August 11, 2020, at 16:54:55

I've read some articles which suggest that sperm take about three months to mature. So I'm thinking that six months off medication should be safe.

 

Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality

Posted by linkadge on August 13, 2020, at 7:49:09

In reply to Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality, posted by NKP on August 12, 2020, at 16:16:28

That sounds like a safe bet. Do you have any seasonality to your mood? If so, you might try to time coming off meds. There may be some supplements too that may help keep things at bay. If I had to come off all meds, I think EPA + vitamin D would help me to some degree.

Keep an eye on your moods however. If you are going through severe stress because of coming off meds, this by itself may have some impact on the mentioned items.

Linkadge

 

Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality

Posted by Lamdage22 on August 13, 2020, at 23:46:08

In reply to Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality, posted by linkadge on August 13, 2020, at 7:49:09

Yeah, the question "genetics or nurture"...

 

Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality » linkadge

Posted by linkadge on August 14, 2020, at 6:22:14

In reply to Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality, posted by linkadge on August 13, 2020, at 7:49:09

Well, SSRIS are linked to cardiac malformations (especially paroxetine) in babies. That's not a nature-nurture situation. It's the drug. For women, SSRIs do pass through the placenta. SSRI withdrawal in babies is well known (search pubmed). The babies often cry more than usual and are difficult to console. The serotonergic neurons are literally developing in the presence of the drug (~80% inhibition of the serotonin transporter) and then BAM it's gone. That's a pretty sh*tty way to enter the world. The baby can't exactly go online to the paxil withdrawal survivors newsgroup for consolation. Sorry I'm just tired of selfish people putting their mental health ahead of their children's.

Linkadge

 

Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality

Posted by Lamdage22 on August 14, 2020, at 11:41:48

In reply to Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality » linkadge, posted by linkadge on August 14, 2020, at 6:22:14

I was just referring to your comment about your sh*tty genes.

 

Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality

Posted by Lamdage22 on August 14, 2020, at 11:42:58

In reply to Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality, posted by Lamdage22 on August 14, 2020, at 11:41:48

That was supposed to be in quotation marks.

 

Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality

Posted by linkadge on August 14, 2020, at 14:39:13

In reply to Re: Effects of psychotropic medicines on sperm quality, posted by Lamdage22 on August 14, 2020, at 11:42:58

Fair enough :)


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