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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dr. Bob on June 30, 2004, at 21:57:12
In reply to sex and antidepressants, posted by tampagirl70 on June 30, 2004, at 14:51:50
Posted by tampagirl70 on June 30, 2004, at 14:51:50
> ever since i started taking ad's 6 years ago, my sex drive has decreased. what can i take or do to increase it/make it better? i'm taking celexa and wellbutrin, 2 of the meds with supposedly the least amount of sexual side effects.
Posted by Tony C. on June 30, 2004, at 23:36:38
In reply to sex and antidepressants « tampagirl70, posted by Dr. Bob on June 30, 2004, at 21:57:12
I am in the same boat Honey in my early 30's male WEAK sex drive last 7 years of Serzone/Nefazodone
Let me know some advice
Sincerely - Tony C.
Posted by ghost on July 1, 2004, at 7:38:24
In reply to sex and antidepressants « tampagirl70, posted by Dr. Bob on June 30, 2004, at 21:57:12
when i started taking paxil, it decreased my sex drive gradually until i was disgusted with the very thought of it and was asexual for a year. then i figured if i was going to be stuck on this rock, i was going to enjoy it.
Posted by Bill LL on July 1, 2004, at 9:05:05
In reply to sex and antidepressants « tampagirl70, posted by Dr. Bob on June 30, 2004, at 21:57:12
It's true that Wellbutrin has a low risk of sexual side effects. It's almost certain that the problem is caused by the Celexa.
For men, there is Viagra and the other ED drugs. For women, it's a more difficult problem.
There are some herbal remedies that show mixed results. I personally take Lexapro which is similar to Celexa. I take American ginseng to help with sexual side effects and it does help although it's not a total cure.
You might want to try American ginseng. It takes about a month to work. Take a standardized type. My brand in Solgar.
Another option would be to switch to Lexapro which might have a lower degree of sexual side effects.
AnIt's true that Wellbutrin has a low risk of sexual side effects. It's almost certain that the problem is caused by the Celexa.
For men, there is Viagra and the other ED drugs. For women, it's a more difficult problem.
There are some herbal remedies that show mixed results. I personally take Lexapro which is similar to Celexa. I take American ginseng to help with sexual side effects and it does help although it's not a total cure.
You might want to try American ginseng. It takes about a month to work. Take a standardized type. My brand in Solgar.
Another option would be to switch to Lexapro which might have a lower degree of sexual side effects.
Another herbal option is Arginmax:
A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study on ArginMax, a Nutritional Supplement for Enhancement of Female Sexual Function
Anurag K. Das MD FACS1, Thomas Y. Ito MD2, Aileen S. Trant PhD3,
Mary Lake Polan MD PhD41 Associate Professor of Urology, Albany Medical College
2 Assistant Professor of Urology, Univ. of Hawaii School of Medicine
3 The Daily Wellness Company
4 Professor and Chair, Dept. of Gyn-Ob, Stanford Univ. School of MedicineCorrespondence: Mary Lake Polan, MD, PhD. Professor & Chair, Dept of Gyn/Ob, Stanford Univ. School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Dr., Stanford, CA, 94305.
INTRODUCTION
This pilot study explores the role of nutritional supplementation in female sexual function. The scientific literature indicates that certain botanical extracts, vitamins, or amino acids may play a role in sexual function, including:L-Arginine
· Precursor to nitric oxide (NO).
· NO may modulate vaginal blood supply and smooth muscle relaxation.
· Supplementation impacts NO production.
· May reduce cell-mediated breakdown of cGMP.Korean Ginseng (Panax Ginseng):
· Ginsenosides may up-regulate NOS activity, hence enhance the conversion of L-Arginine to NO.
· Ginsenosides shown to increase NO production in endothelial cells.Ginkgo Biloba:
· Facilitates microvascular circulation.Damiana:
· Helps promote a relaxed state of mind.
· Phyto-progestin receptor binding activity.ArginMax (www.arginmax.com, The Daily Wellness Company), is a daily nutritional supplement consisting of highly standardized:
· L-arginine
· Korean ginseng (Panax Ginseng-30% ginsenosides)
· Ginkgo biloba (24% flavone glycosides, 6% terpene lactones)
· Damiana (Turnera Aphrodisiaca)
· 14 vitamins and minerals including vitamins A,C,E, B6, B12, folate, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid, zinc, calcium, and iron.This study examines a systematically designed combinatorial nutritional supplement for the enhancement of female sexual function using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), a validated assessment instrument.
METHODS
· 77 women with sexual dysfunction
· Enrolled consecutively
· Two groups randomly assigned active or placebo in a double blind fashion
· Baseline & 4 weeks medical history, physical examination, BP measurement, and assessment using FSFI
· Daily regimen of ArginMax for 4 weeksRESULTS (Based on FSFI assessment):
70.6% improved in sexual desire level
(placebo=41.9%), (p<0.01)
73.5% improved in satisfaction with sex life
(placebo=37.2%), (p<0.01)
61.8% improved in sexual relationship with partner
(placebo=34.9%), (p<0.01)
47.1% improved in frequency of orgasms
(placebo=30.2%), (p<0.07)
52.9% improved in clitoral sensation to stimulation
(placebo=34.9%), (p<0.06)
Side Effects
No significant change in blood pressure. No reports of headaches, nausea, stomach upset, chest pain, dizziness, vision disturbance, or cardiovascular complications.Subject Group Profile
ArginMax
Placebo
Total # of subjects
34
43
Age range, mean
24-71, 44.5
22-68, 41.0
DISCUSSION
Our study evaluated the role of nutritional supplementation in female sexual health. Proposed mechanism is through up-regulation of the nitric oxide (NO) pathway resulting in smooth muscle relaxation, vascular dilatation, and enhancement of peripheral circulation, resulting in improved clitoral engorgement and vaginal lubrication.Role of nutritional supplements for sexual health is an infrequently discussed yet extremely important subject which warrants in-depth research.
CONCLUSION
Based on the findings of this study, there appears to be a clinically important role for nutritional supplementation in sexual health and female sexual function. The expansion of the current study protocol is expected to exceed several hundred patients.
> Posted by tampagirl70 on June 30, 2004, at 14:51:50
>
> > ever since i started taking ad's 6 years ago, my sex drive has decreased. what can i take or do to increase it/make it better? i'm taking celexa and wellbutrin, 2 of the meds with supposedly the least amount of sexual side effects.
>
Posted by King Vultan on July 1, 2004, at 9:54:34
In reply to sex and antidepressants « tampagirl70, posted by Dr. Bob on June 30, 2004, at 21:57:12
> Posted by tampagirl70 on June 30, 2004, at 14:51:50
>
> > ever since i started taking ad's 6 years ago, my sex drive has decreased. what can i take or do to increase it/make it better? i'm taking celexa and wellbutrin, 2 of the meds with supposedly the least amount of sexual side effects.
>I agree with Bill that the Celexa is likely the problem. Wellbutrin may be counteracting the effects somewhat, but SSRIs are very sexually unfriendly. One thing you might want to consider is the use of a dopamine agonist such as bromocriptine or Mirapex, as these drugs do appear to be effective in some instances for treating hypoactive sexual desire. However, they can have significant side effects, particularly somnolence and nausea, and there is much less evidence of their effectiveness for this application than say, taking an antidepressant for depression.
A more drastic step would be to replace the Celexa and Wellbutrin combination with the MAOI Parnate, which has a very minimal degree of sexual dysfunction, similar to taking Wellbutrin by itself. It and Wellbutrin are likely the only two drugs from the antidepressant class that might actually be considered pro-sexual. I believe the Parnate would likely be a more effective AD than your current combo also, but it is clearly far more problematic than the relatively innocuous combo of Celexa + Wellbutrin.
You may also wish to also explore some of the alternative OTC and herbal remedies available. I tend to look askance at packages of stuff being sold in convenience stores, perhaps with condoms nearby, but maybe there is a small chance that this type of thing might prove at least marginally effective in some cases. I have also seen products like this for sale in nutritional stores such as GNC. However, I think I would seek out anecdotes of personal experience with some of these products first, plus research the ingredients as best I could for safety and effectiveness.
Todd
Posted by LastDyingWish on July 3, 2004, at 22:25:53
In reply to Re: sex and antidepressants, posted by King Vultan on July 1, 2004, at 9:54:34
Why not drop the Celexa and try Wellbutrin solo ?
Many females claim Wellbutrin to enhance sex drive. Just a thought
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