Posted by Thrud on August 28, 2001, at 6:38:42
In reply to Re: Rick: alt.panic(Caution: REAL babbling within), posted by Rick on August 28, 2001, at 1:03:44
Hi Rick
> Did you try searching at http://groups.google.com/ ?
Yes. Now I feel like a total retard since it was so obvious! (I think I'll blame it on the Xanax)
> I spent a few minutes nosing around like that myself and did find some people who complained of sexual dysfunction with Xanax. But frankly, the responses were usually along the lines of "Xanax never causes that, must be related to something else."Yes. That is exactly what I found out too. Problem is that very few used Xanax as monotherapy and those who did used it at low, PRN doses. Makes the culprit difficult to determine.
>The latter part of that statement is sometimes true, of course (something alluded to in gibert's last post), even if Xanax *can* cause SD for some, esp at high doses. Why don't you just try to wait it out a at least a few weeks more, and do see if maybe you could cut back a little with your doc's approval.
>
> (I know, easier said than done!)My pdoc said that he typically has PAD patients on initially high doses to first eliminate the panic and any other anxiety then over 18 months to 2 years the dose is slowly tapered down to very low or nothing. However, he acknowledges that my condition is chronic and very powerful, very likely requiring lifelong medication at an unknown final, "stable" dose. Will it be high enough to effect Mr Willy? Who knows.
BTW I am sticking it out until my pdoc says otherwise. The SD is very depressing, but in other respects the side effects of Xanax are simply bliss compared to ADs.
> If that or some of the other ideas don't work, I'd still look into low-dose stimulant augmentation. If you do, there have been so many experiences in Babble-Land alone of sexual stimulation from selegiline that I really think you should consider it.I see my pdoc in three weeks. Just today I mailed him a letter with some literature I pulled off the net asking him to consider selegine augmentation (at less than 10mg per day). Should be an interesting session. I also sent him information on inositol.
> BTW, I looked for sexual dysfunction in the RXlist monograph for selegiline, too. It made me wonder if you and I were looking at the same site, given that you say you saw sexual dysfunction plastered all over the place.
My apologies. I checked it again and I must have been looking at a different drug. "transient anorgasmia" and "lack of penile sensation" was reported by an unknown number of people out of a sample >900 and *only* at doses >10mg/day. Again, I will blame my oversight on Xanax (lovely scapegoat)
>
> Hey, didja ever notice that the side-effects list for antidepressants always include depression?Yes! And anxiety for anxiolytics! The way my body seems to work, if I were in a trial for aphrodisiacs they would probably have to note impotence as a potential side effect!
>
> If you live in a large metro, I wonder if you could find a psych who specializes in sexual disorders (even if your reaction IS all or mainly drug-induced). Not to *replace* your current guy, who sounds like a good one, but just to see if they might have any ideas for putting a grin back on Mr. Happy's face.In my letter I did ask him to consult his "peers" on their clinical experience with Xanax and SD.
>Or maybe an endocrinologist? I believe certain hormonal/endocrine profiles could make one more susceptible.
Possibly. The problem is that when I am not on medication I am actually *hypersexual*! (but full blown "status panicus" as well!) Nevertheless, I will bring up this point with him. My thyroid tests were normal but this is the only set of hormones I have had tested.
>(As you can see, I'm just tossing out ideas at this point, some of which may or may not make sense.)
Please continue. You have been extremely helpful.
>If you're overweight or out of shape, maybe diet and exercise could help as well, either directly, or indirectly through anti-anxiety benefits that allow you to get by on less Xanax. (I'm certainly not implyng that that very-fit people aren't prone to sexual side effects, too.)
I play rugby regularly and am pretty fit. There is no doubting that *rigorous* excercise is an excellent antidepressant/relaxant. Unfortunately, my underlying condition is way too severe to use fitness alone.
From my discussions with you and Elizabeth and Gil I think the potential combo of Xanax plus a stimulant like selegiline could be a very promising one.
Stimulant plus depressant: Sort of like Dr Dolittle's fictitious two-headed beast, the "pushme-pullyou"! I hope it doesn't rip my brain apart. It will be discussed at my next pdoc session. In the meantime, if you feel like downloading any further info, please do.Thrud
poster:Thrud
thread:76063
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/76691.html