The spice saffron may not only work as well as SSRI antidepressant drugs like Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft without the side effects, but it may even be able to treat the adverse sexual side effects that occur in up to 70 percent of people taking the drugs.
Best Food for Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction
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Below is an approximation of this video’s audio content. To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video.
What’s the latest on treating depression with the spice saffron? Years ago, I covered this head-to-head comparison of saffron versus Prozac for the treatment of depression; it seemed to work just as well. In the years since, there’s been five other studies that found that saffron beat out placebo or rivaled antidepressant medications.
It may be the red pigment in the spice, called crocin, since it alone beat out placebo as an adjunct treatment, significantly decreasing symptoms of depression, symptoms of anxiety, and general psychological distress—perhaps in its antioxidant role “preventing free radical-induced damage in the brain.” The amount of crocin they used was equivalent to about a half-teaspoon of saffron a day.
If the spice works as well as the drugs, one could argue that the spice wins, since it doesn’t cause sexual dysfunction in the majority of men and women, like most prescribed antidepressants do—with drugs like Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft causing “adverse sexual side effects” in about 70% of people taking them. Physicians not only significantly underestimate the occurrence of side effects; they “tend…to underrate” how much they impact the lives of their patients.
Not only is this not a problem with saffron, the spice may even be able to treat it. “In folk medicine, there’s a widely held belief that saffron might have aphrodisiac effects.” So, men with Prozac-induced sexual impairment were randomized to saffron or placebo for a month. And, by week four, saffron resulted in significantly “greater improvement in erectile function…and intercourse satisfaction.” More than half of the men in the saffron group regained normal function. They conclude that “[s]affron is…[an] efficacious treatment for [Prozac]-related erectile dysfunction”—and, female sexual dysfunction as well.
Female sexual function increased by week four, “improv[ing] some of the [Prozac]-induced sexual problems, but not others. So better, perhaps, to try saffron in the first place for the depression, and avoid developing these problems, since sometimes they can persist even after stopping the drugs, potentially worsening one’s long-term depression prognosis.
This includes unusual side effects such as “genital anaesthesia”—where you literally lose sensation. It can happen in men and women. More rarely, antidepressants can induce a condition called restless genital syndrome. You’ve heard of restless legs syndrome? Well, this is restless between-the-legs syndrome. These PSSDs, these Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunctions—meaning dysfunctions that appear or persist after stopping taking these antidepressants—can be so serious that “[p]rescribing physicians should mention the…danger of,” for example, the risk of genital…anesthesia [for] every patient prior to [starting them on the drugs].” If you’re on one of these drugs, did your doctor warn you about that?
All hope is not lost, though. Evidently, “[p]enile anesthesia…responds to low-power laser irradiation.” After 20 laser treatments to his penis, one man who lost his penile sensation thanks to the drug Paxil partially regained his “touch and temperature sensation.” However, he still couldn’t perform to his girlfriend’s satisfaction, and she ended up evidently leaving him over it, which probably didn’t help his mood any. But, before you feel too bad for him, compare a little penile light therapy to clitoridectomy—clitoris removal surgery—or another Paxil-related case, where a woman’s symptoms only improved after six courses of electroshock therapy.
Please consider volunteering to help out on the site.
- Talaei A, Hassanpour Moghadam M, Sajadi Tabassi SA, Mohajeri SA. Crocin, the main active saffron constituent, as an adjunctive treatment in major depressive disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot clinical trial. J Affect Disord. 2015 Mar 15;174:51-6.
- Modabbernia A, Sohrabi H, Nasehi AA, Raisi F, Saroukhani S, Jamshidi A, Tabrizi M, Ashrafi M, Akhondzadeh S. Effect of saffron on fluoxetine-induced sexual impairment in men: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2012 Oct;223(4):381-8.
- Kashani L, Raisi F, Saroukhani S, Sohrabi H, Modabbernia A, Nasehi AA, Jamshidi A, Ashrafi M, Mansouri P, Ghaeli P, Akhondzadeh S. Saffron for treatment of fluoxetine-induced sexual dysfunction in women: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2013 Jan;28(1):54-60.
- Lopresti AL, Drummond PD. Saffron (Crocus sativus) for depression: a systematic review of clinical studies and examination of underlying antidepressant mechanisms of action. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2014 Nov;29(6):517-27.
- Waldinger MD, van Coevorden RS, Schweitzer DH, Georgiadis J. Penile anesthesia in Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) responds to low-power laser irradiation: a case study and hypothesis about the role of transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels. Eur J Pharmacol. 2015 Apr 15;753:263-8.
- Csoka AB, Shipko S. Persistent sexual side effects after SSRI discontinuation. Psychother Psychosom. 2006;75(3):187-8.
- Bolton JM, Sareen J, Reiss JP. Genital anaesthesia persisting six years after sertraline discontinuation. J Sex Marital Ther. 2006 Jul-Sep;32(4):327-30.
- Higgins A, Nash M, Lynch AM. Antidepressant-associated sexual dysfunction: impact, effects, and treatment. Drug Healthc Patient Saf. 2010;2:141-50.
- Korda JB, Pfaus JG, Kellner CH, Goldstein I. Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD): case report of long-term symptomatic management with electroconvulsive therapy. J Sex Med. 2009 Oct;6(10):2901-9.
- Hu XH, Bull SA, Hunkeler EM, Ming E, Lee JY, Fireman B, Markson LE. Incidence and duration of side effects and those rated as bothersome with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment for depression: patient report versus physician estimate. J Clin Psychiatry. 2004 Jul;65(7):959-65.
- Noorbala AA, Akhondzadeh S, Tahmacebi-Pour N, Jamshidi AH. Hydro-alcoholic extract of Crocus sativus L. versus fluoxetine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized pilot trial. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Feb 28;97(2):281-4.
- Waldinger MD, Venema PL, van Gils AP, Schutter EM, Schweitzer DH. Restless genital syndrome before and after clitoridectomy for spontaneous orgasms: a case report. J Sex Med. 2010 Feb;7(2 Pt 2):1029-34.
Icons created by Yazmin Alanis from the Noun Project.
Image credit: ulleo / PIXNIO
Motion graphics by Avocado Video.
Below is an approximation of this video’s audio content. To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video.
What’s the latest on treating depression with the spice saffron? Years ago, I covered this head-to-head comparison of saffron versus Prozac for the treatment of depression; it seemed to work just as well. In the years since, there’s been five other studies that found that saffron beat out placebo or rivaled antidepressant medications.
It may be the red pigment in the spice, called crocin, since it alone beat out placebo as an adjunct treatment, significantly decreasing symptoms of depression, symptoms of anxiety, and general psychological distress—perhaps in its antioxidant role “preventing free radical-induced damage in the brain.” The amount of crocin they used was equivalent to about a half-teaspoon of saffron a day.
If the spice works as well as the drugs, one could argue that the spice wins, since it doesn’t cause sexual dysfunction in the majority of men and women, like most prescribed antidepressants do—with drugs like Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft causing “adverse sexual side effects” in about 70% of people taking them. Physicians not only significantly underestimate the occurrence of side effects; they “tend…to underrate” how much they impact the lives of their patients.
Not only is this not a problem with saffron, the spice may even be able to treat it. “In folk medicine, there’s a widely held belief that saffron might have aphrodisiac effects.” So, men with Prozac-induced sexual impairment were randomized to saffron or placebo for a month. And, by week four, saffron resulted in significantly “greater improvement in erectile function…and intercourse satisfaction.” More than half of the men in the saffron group regained normal function. They conclude that “[s]affron is…[an] efficacious treatment for [Prozac]-related erectile dysfunction”—and, female sexual dysfunction as well.
Female sexual function increased by week four, “improv[ing] some of the [Prozac]-induced sexual problems, but not others. So better, perhaps, to try saffron in the first place for the depression, and avoid developing these problems, since sometimes they can persist even after stopping the drugs, potentially worsening one’s long-term depression prognosis.
This includes unusual side effects such as “genital anaesthesia”—where you literally lose sensation. It can happen in men and women. More rarely, antidepressants can induce a condition called restless genital syndrome. You’ve heard of restless legs syndrome? Well, this is restless between-the-legs syndrome. These PSSDs, these Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunctions—meaning dysfunctions that appear or persist after stopping taking these antidepressants—can be so serious that “[p]rescribing physicians should mention the…danger of,” for example, the risk of genital…anesthesia [for] every patient prior to [starting them on the drugs].” If you’re on one of these drugs, did your doctor warn you about that?
All hope is not lost, though. Evidently, “[p]enile anesthesia…responds to low-power laser irradiation.” After 20 laser treatments to his penis, one man who lost his penile sensation thanks to the drug Paxil partially regained his “touch and temperature sensation.” However, he still couldn’t perform to his girlfriend’s satisfaction, and she ended up evidently leaving him over it, which probably didn’t help his mood any. But, before you feel too bad for him, compare a little penile light therapy to clitoridectomy—clitoris removal surgery—or another Paxil-related case, where a woman’s symptoms only improved after six courses of electroshock therapy.
Please consider volunteering to help out on the site.
- Talaei A, Hassanpour Moghadam M, Sajadi Tabassi SA, Mohajeri SA. Crocin, the main active saffron constituent, as an adjunctive treatment in major depressive disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot clinical trial. J Affect Disord. 2015 Mar 15;174:51-6.
- Modabbernia A, Sohrabi H, Nasehi AA, Raisi F, Saroukhani S, Jamshidi A, Tabrizi M, Ashrafi M, Akhondzadeh S. Effect of saffron on fluoxetine-induced sexual impairment in men: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2012 Oct;223(4):381-8.
- Kashani L, Raisi F, Saroukhani S, Sohrabi H, Modabbernia A, Nasehi AA, Jamshidi A, Ashrafi M, Mansouri P, Ghaeli P, Akhondzadeh S. Saffron for treatment of fluoxetine-induced sexual dysfunction in women: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2013 Jan;28(1):54-60.
- Lopresti AL, Drummond PD. Saffron (Crocus sativus) for depression: a systematic review of clinical studies and examination of underlying antidepressant mechanisms of action. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2014 Nov;29(6):517-27.
- Waldinger MD, van Coevorden RS, Schweitzer DH, Georgiadis J. Penile anesthesia in Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) responds to low-power laser irradiation: a case study and hypothesis about the role of transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels. Eur J Pharmacol. 2015 Apr 15;753:263-8.
- Csoka AB, Shipko S. Persistent sexual side effects after SSRI discontinuation. Psychother Psychosom. 2006;75(3):187-8.
- Bolton JM, Sareen J, Reiss JP. Genital anaesthesia persisting six years after sertraline discontinuation. J Sex Marital Ther. 2006 Jul-Sep;32(4):327-30.
- Higgins A, Nash M, Lynch AM. Antidepressant-associated sexual dysfunction: impact, effects, and treatment. Drug Healthc Patient Saf. 2010;2:141-50.
- Korda JB, Pfaus JG, Kellner CH, Goldstein I. Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD): case report of long-term symptomatic management with electroconvulsive therapy. J Sex Med. 2009 Oct;6(10):2901-9.
- Hu XH, Bull SA, Hunkeler EM, Ming E, Lee JY, Fireman B, Markson LE. Incidence and duration of side effects and those rated as bothersome with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment for depression: patient report versus physician estimate. J Clin Psychiatry. 2004 Jul;65(7):959-65.
- Noorbala AA, Akhondzadeh S, Tahmacebi-Pour N, Jamshidi AH. Hydro-alcoholic extract of Crocus sativus L. versus fluoxetine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized pilot trial. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Feb 28;97(2):281-4.
- Waldinger MD, Venema PL, van Gils AP, Schutter EM, Schweitzer DH. Restless genital syndrome before and after clitoridectomy for spontaneous orgasms: a case report. J Sex Med. 2010 Feb;7(2 Pt 2):1029-34.
Icons created by Yazmin Alanis from the Noun Project.
Image credit: ulleo / PIXNIO
Motion graphics by Avocado Video.
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Title
Best Food for Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction
LicenseCreative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Content URLDoctor's Note
Pass the paella!
For more on the spice, check out:
- Saffron vs. Prozac
- Saffron for the Treatment of PMS
- Saffron for Erectile Dysfunction
- Saffron vs. Memantine (Namenda) for Alzheimer’s
Those drug side effects sound devastating, but depression is no walk in the park. However, when one balances risk and benefit, one assumes that there are actually benefits to taking them. That’s why the shocking science I explored in Do Antidepressant Drugs Really Work? is so important.
What else may boost mood? A healthy diet and exercise:
- Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Depression
- Plant-Based Diets for Improved Mood and Productivity
- Exercise vs. Drugs for Depression
- Aspartame and the Brain
- Coconut Water and Depression
- Benefits of Blueberries for Mood and Mobility
For more on sexual health generally, see:
- Survival of the Firmest: Erectile Dysfunction and Death
- Do Men Who Have More Sex Live Longer?
- Best Foods to Improve Sexual Function
- Are Apples the Best Food for a Better Sex Life in Women?
- Viagra and Cancer
- Do Cell Phones Lower Sperm Counts?
What else can spices do? Here’s just a taste:
- Benefits of Fenugreek Seeds
- Cayenne Pepper for Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Chronic Indigestion
- Which Spices Fight Inflammation?
- Ginger for Migraines
- Is Ginger Beneficial in a Diabetic Diet?
- Benefits of Turmeric for Arsenic Exposure
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