Posted by Bill LL on November 22, 2004, at 9:26:09
In reply to Anyone had success w/ Requip for sexual problems?, posted by PhoenixGirl on November 18, 2004, at 21:22:02
I have never heard of requip. But I did a quick search and came up with this article that I pasted below:
With the SSRI's and SNRI's have a generally favorable side effect profile, their administration can be associated with adverse sexual effects in a third or more of treated patients. Antidepressant-induced sexual side effects can cause marked patient distress and their effective treatment can significantly improve patient compliance.
A variety of strategies include adjunctive sildenafil (Viagra) buspirone, ginkgo biloba as well as dopaminergic agents like bupropion (Wellbutrin) and methylphenidate, have been reported helpful for the treatment of antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. Our group has recently reported positive experience with the use of the dopaminergic agonist ropinirole (Requip) for the treatment of SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction (Worthington, et al 2001).
Treatment was generally initiated at 0.25 mg qd and titrated up by 0.25-0.5 mg q 4-7 days targeting doses of 1-4 mg/d given bid. Improvement was noted in about half the patients on a variety of parameters of sexual functioning including libido, erection and orgasm in both men and women. The agent was generally well tolerated in this dose range with the most common side effects being sedation, dizziness and GI distress. Doses greater than 8 mg/d have been associated with sudden episodes of marked sleepiness requiring caution in those operating motor vehicles. Response generally occurred within the first 2 - 4 weeks of treatment.Ropinirole, as well as a related compound, pramizpexole (Mirapex) are D-2 agonists indicated for the adjunctive treatment of Parkinson's Disease. Although not well studied, these agents have been used in psychiatry to reduce cocaine craving and adjunctively with SSRI's for refractory depression. It appears that they represent another potentially useful addition to the list of agents that may help reverse antidepressant induced sexual dysfunction.
from: http://www.mghmadi.org/curbside/sidesteps_june2002.htm
> My doctor just prescribed this parkinson's drug for my antidepressant-induced sexual side effects.
poster:Bill LL
thread:417705
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041118/msgs/418907.html