Posted by ItsHowdyDudyTime on December 15, 2002, at 10:39:03
In reply to Re: On lexapro and no errection for a month » ItsHowdyDudyTime, posted by HIBA on December 14, 2002, at 23:01:18
> Hi Lawrence,
>
> Haven't you noticed other threads in this forum ? SSRIs are notorious for destroying human sexuality. Desire phase, orgasmic phase, and ejaculation all can be impaired and worst of all these damage seem to be very long lasting, even after you quit them entirely. I am an unfortunate victim of SSRI experiment. Still on prozac, because of a psychological dependence (or call it recurrent depression)I am suffering a significant loss of libido and penile tumescence. Erection is very soft and orgasm is quite pleasureless. I have used over ten different antidepressants in my life, and nothing made my sexuality more worse like the one I am still taking. The best advise I can give you is quit the drug you are taking now before it causes any serious damage and try a quite different antidepressant(even those old faithful tricyclics worth a try in this case). I should be very cautious over this advise because, the new psychiatric strategy is "If a drug is proven effective to a patient, Don't change it at all". But at the cost of sexuality, a drug doesn't worth a try. So take care ,
> HIBA
HIBA, Im sorry Im going to have to majorly disagree with you here. I dont believe that SSRI sexual dysfunction "lasts" long after you stop taking SSRIs. Frankly, that is bull. SSRIs do cause sexual dysfunction in many, that is true. They also can cause decreased libido, particularly at higher dosages. However saying that these changes last long after stopping the drug is ludicrous.I think what you are doing is confusing the fact that depression in itself causes lack of libido and sexual dysfunction. Before I got on meds, when my depression was very severe I literally couldnt get it up anymore. I was on NO DRUGS. Also, my libido totally took a hike. I even had dry orgasms ...no semen would come out during the weak, halfassed orgasms I would have during that period.
If thats not a physical symptom of severe depression, I dont know what is. Of course, these sexual changes went along with other major physical changes such as severe insomnia (and I mean SEVERE insomnia here to the point of not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep). And loss of appetitute with loss of weight without trying.
Remeron restored many of these problems, including sexual dysfunction and libido. I think you could be more careful saying things like "SSRIs cause permanent sexual changes" cause its just not true.
Also, to be honest there are some cases of depression that are so severe and debilitating, that living with some SSRI sexual dysfunction maybe totally necessary in order to be able to sleep, keep one's weight up and generally be able to function and not die from a catatonic stupor.
Most of these SSRI sexual problems can be overcome with well known and easy to carry out psychopharmacology "tricks" like adding Remeron or Wellbutrin SR to the SSRI. Viagra also would help many.
Howdy Doody
poster:ItsHowdyDudyTime
thread:131641
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021210/msgs/131901.html