Posted by Bill L on October 31, 2000, at 8:08:02
In reply to New to Celexa - side effects, posted by BillD on October 31, 2000, at 7:27:25
Bill - My name is also Bill so I can identify with your problem. I also take Celexa. First of all, all of the antodepressants have the sexual side effects except for Serzone and Wellbutrin (and I think also Remeron doesn't). But once you find a drug that works for depression, it may not be a good idea to switch because the other drugs might not work very well for you.
Ginko does help some people and you are correct in trying it. Another trick that works for some people is a drug holiday. Let's say you usually take Celexa each morning. If you plan on having sex on Saturday morning, don't take Celexa on Friday. Take it after sex on Saturday. If it works, then you can either double the dose on saturday or just skip that one dose. You can discuss it with your doctor.
I think that the most common thing that doctors try for the sexual side effects is to add Wellbutrin to the Celexa. Wellbutrin is also an antidepressant. That approach helps some people but not everyone. Since you just started the Celexa, I wouldn't add Wellbutrin right now. I would wait atleast a month so that you can get a better idea of how the Celexa alone is working. But see what your doctor thinks.
Finally, many docs give Viagra to counter that side effect of antidepressants. I have not gone that route since I have been married for a long time and really don't feel the need. The problem is not that bad for me. But if I were single, or maybe a newly wed, I probably would take Viagra if the side effect persisted.
> I just started taking 20 mg Celexa for moderate depression. I had tried Cognitive therapy for a couple years and while it helped some, I continued to slide. I don't take any medications as a rule but I felt that I had to do something. So last week I went to the doc and he put me on Celexa. The first couple of days were tough. I had nausea, sweats, headaches. I also was unable to ejaculate. It's been a week and I feel much better mentally and all the side effects have gone except for ONE. You can guess what that is! I have read that Ginko Biloba is a possible therapy so I have started taking 120 mg twice a day. A question to the group: What might I expect for the diminishing of the sexual side effect? Are there other possible therapies besides Ginko? I know that all SRRIs have this side effect and I am reluctant to ask for a change so soon since the Celexa does seem to be having an effect (of course it could be just placebo).
> I thank everyone for sharing on this board. It has helped me a lot.
>
> Bill
poster:Bill L
thread:2790
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001022/msgs/47812.html