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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sdb on March 20, 2005, at 13:05:39
I have never used Klonopin for longterm. But during stressfull weeks this drug is really helpfull. But I have a loss of libido and difficulty to have erectjon with Klonopin.
Would this bad sideeffect go away with time, if I would take it regularely? Do you also have this problems is it common?- Or does somebody have good results with comedication for example trazodone, buspirone, wellbutrin and perhaps mirtazapine? I have myself good results with trazodone alone in libido but it does delay ejaculation and it does not help with bp and sp. Buspirone alone does nothing for libido and it does nothing for bp and sp.
Posted by sdb on March 20, 2005, at 14:26:03
In reply to Klonopin (clonazepam) - sexual disfunction, posted by sdb on March 20, 2005, at 13:05:39
Sorry my mistakes in the text above, I give the point to the low dosage of trazodone :-)
Posted by cache-monkey on March 20, 2005, at 16:41:04
In reply to Klonopin (clonazepam) - sexual disfunction, posted by sdb on March 20, 2005, at 13:05:39
I noticed a marked decrease in libido and erectile function on Klonopin, but only after being on it for a little while. I've reduced my dose (from 1.5 mg to 1.0 mg per day) and it's gotten much better.
I don't know if, after a while at the higher dose, the problems would further diminish, but among the benzos Klonopin seems to be a particularly egregious offender in the sexual domain: see the abstract below.
I'm actually going to switch to Xanax XR, as I never experienced any difficulties when using the short-acting version...
Hope this helps somewhat.
Best,
cache-monkey================================
Fossey MD, Hamner MB. "Clonazepam-related sexual dysfunction in male veterans with PTSD." Anxiety, 1994-95, 1(5):233-6.Abstract
Medication-induced sexual dysfunction can significantly interfere with patients' quality of life and lead to poor compliance. This retrospective study examined the records of 100 male veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) selected in alphabetical order from an active treatment file of 230 patients. Forty-two patients had received clonazepam (mean maximum dose: 3.4 +/- 1.6 mg/day) at some point during their treatment. Of these, 18 (42.9%) complained of significant sexual dysfunction (primarily erectile dysfunction). Eighty-four patients received diazepam (mean maximum dose: 52.1 +/- 29.7 mg/day), nine received alprazolam (mean maximum dose: 5.2 +/- 2.8 mg/day) and eight received lorazepam (mean maximum dose: 3.8 +/- 2.4 mg/day). None of these patients complained of sexual dysfunction during treatment with these three other benzodiazepines. Our findings suggest that benzodiazepines, particularly clonazepam in the current study, can be a cause of sexual dysfunction in many male patients. Prospective studies comparing the overall clinical utility of various benzodiazepines are indicated in this and other clinic populations.
================================
> I have never used Klonopin for longterm. But during stressfull weeks this drug is really helpfull. But I have a loss of libido and difficulty to have erectjon with Klonopin.
>
> Would this bad sideeffect go away with time, if I would take it regularely? Do you also have this problems is it common?- Or does somebody have good results with comedication for example trazodone, buspirone, wellbutrin and perhaps mirtazapine? I have myself good results with trazodone alone in libido but it does delay ejaculation and it does not help with bp and sp. Buspirone alone does nothing for libido and it does nothing for bp and sp.
Posted by anodyne on March 20, 2005, at 19:40:32
In reply to Re: Klonopin (clonazepam) - sexual disfunction » sdb, posted by cache-monkey on March 20, 2005, at 16:41:04
Good to know that I am not the only one. Klonopin killed my libido and was the source of much tension in my marriage. It led me to start trying the other meds that I have been lately. Maybe Xanax XR is the cure. The only benzo I have taken for extended periods has been Klonopin, I just assumed all benzos were the same when it came to S.D.
Great article!
Posted by sdb on March 21, 2005, at 13:03:29
In reply to Re: Klonopin (clonazepam) - sexual disfunction » sdb, posted by cache-monkey on March 20, 2005, at 16:41:04
Thank you very much for your answers. I would be very interested, cache-monkey, for your coming experiences with the xanax xr. I would like to hear trough this forum.
Many thanks.
Posted by cache-monkey on March 21, 2005, at 22:51:04
In reply to Re: Klonopin (clonazepam) - sexual disfunction, posted by sdb on March 21, 2005, at 13:03:29
> Thank you very much for your answers. I would be very interested, cache-monkey, for your coming experiences with the xanax xr. I would like to hear trough this forum.
>
> Many thanks.
>I just got my script for Xanax XR. Again, at my lower dose of Klonopin, I've not been experiencing significant sexual dysfunction. But I will keep you (and others) posted about the XR experience.
Best,
cache-monkey
Posted by cache-monkey on March 21, 2005, at 22:56:29
In reply to Re: Klonopin (clonazepam) - sexual disfunction, posted by anodyne on March 20, 2005, at 19:40:32
Hey Dan,
A popular theory is that clonazepam messes with the serotonin system more than the other benzos. (I'm not sure if the others do at all). Anyway, this could lead to sexual side effects as observed with, e.g., the SSRIs. It might be more complex than that, but yeah it looks like Klonopin is the one to avoid for SD.
Out of curiousity, has your situation improved on Xanax?
Best,
cache-monkey> Good to know that I am not the only one. Klonopin killed my libido and was the source of much tension in my marriage. It led me to start trying the other meds that I have been lately. Maybe Xanax XR is the cure. The only benzo I have taken for extended periods has been Klonopin, I just assumed all benzos were the same when it came to S.D.
>
> Great article!
Posted by sukarno on April 11, 2005, at 21:28:47
In reply to Re: Klonopin (clonazepam) - sexual disfunction » anodyne, posted by cache-monkey on March 21, 2005, at 22:56:29
I have been on benzodiazepines since 1990 for panic disorder (Tranxene from 1990 to 2001 and Valium from 2001 - late 2002).
In late 2002, I switched to Xanax 1mg 4x/day.I don't know if it is coincidence or not, but since being on Xanax, my interest in sex has decreased. I'm 33, male, otherwise healthy. I have no problems with ED (impotence).. just decreased desire/libido.
It is affecting my marriage, but this is nowhere near as bad as it was when I tried Prozac. Prozac completely killed off my libido until I quit it.
I've also been a strict vegetarian (no animal/meat products) since I've been on Xanax.
I'm not sure which is the cause, but since reading that abstract about Klonopin, it really makes me wonder if the drug is doing it.
Even if I look at a porn site (lol), I don't feel interested. Before Xanax though, I never had any problem.. but Xanax is _excellent_ for my panic attacks.. That's the only reason I keep taking it.
Paul
This is the end of the thread.
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