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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by robinjla on December 27, 2006, at 22:45:25
The short story: I have been on and off Effexor XR, with a side of Ritalin for almost 9 years. When I am on it, I am great, when I attempt to go off of it, I become depressed again. Back then, the "sexual side effects", as the doctor explained, really had no effect on me. Now, well, it's becoming a real source of frustration!
Has anyone found a supplemental addition to taking this drug that alleviates this problem?
Posted by Simcha on December 27, 2006, at 23:22:55
In reply to Battling the Abnormal Orgasm Side Effect, posted by robinjla on December 27, 2006, at 22:45:25
> The short story: I have been on and off Effexor XR, with a side of Ritalin for almost 9 years. When I am on it, I am great, when I attempt to go off of it, I become depressed again. Back then, the "sexual side effects", ... Now, well, it's becoming a real source of frustration!
> Has anyone found a supplemental addition to taking this drug that alleviates this problem?I wish I could be of more help to you. I can relate to EffexorXR having been very good for my depression, but really bad for my sex life.
I'm male and had the entire list of sexual side effects while on EffesorXR.
Back then, my pdoc changed me to Wellbutrin SR and Celexa. My ability to function sexually as a male came back and it seemed to be more intense with the Wellbutrin. I know other men on this board who have mentioned that Wellbutrin has brought back their ability to function sexually.
I don't know if you can take EffexorXR and Wellbutrin at the same time since I was switched off of EffexorXR completely.
I know I tried Ginko Biloba since other men on this board said that it worked for them. It didn't work for me.
Now, I'm giving a trial run on Cymbalta which does similar things as EffexorXR. I cannot attest to what sexual side effects it has on me because I've been on it only for two weeks, and I seem functional still. Then again, I also take 300mg WellbutrinXL per day too currently.
Definitely keep talking to your pdoc about it and if the current pdoc can't come up with something that works for you, get a second opinion. For me, as a man, not being able to function sexually was depressing even with how well EffexorXR worked on the clinical depression.
Many Blessings,
Simcha
Posted by Phillipa on December 28, 2006, at 11:25:35
In reply to Re: Battling the Abnormal Orgasm Side Effect » robinjla, posted by Simcha on December 27, 2006, at 23:22:55
I know how frustrating this can be for a lot of you but I'd give anything just to be able to function and not be homebound so sex for me isn't a priority. I wish it were. Love phillipa
Posted by bipolarspectrum on December 28, 2006, at 17:07:09
In reply to Battling the Abnormal Orgasm Side Effect, posted by robinjla on December 27, 2006, at 22:45:25
One word:
Viagara
A recent study was released demonstrating its benefits for ssri-induced sexual problems...
I've tried it personally and it works! (expensive though)
bps
ps. heres the study:
Posted by blueberry1 on December 28, 2006, at 17:29:28
In reply to Battling the Abnormal Orgasm Side Effect, posted by robinjla on December 27, 2006, at 22:45:25
Viagra can work for the ability part of it. If it is real bad, a 100mg dose instead of the more common 50mg dose would be needed. If it didn't work as well as hoped, then try Levitra and Cialis. One may work better than the other for any particular person.
For the desire part of it, a quick jolt of dopamine can work. Something like as-needed ritalin, or my favorite...tyrosine. One tyrosine supplement a few hours before sex picks up the desire.
For the anorgasmia part, that's a tough one. If someone could figure that out they would be on the way to becoming a millionare. Common things that sometimes work and sometimes don't are addition of buspar, remeron, wellbutrin. Trazadone or zyprexa can work too, by blocking the serotonin receptors that are guilty. Even with wellbutrin, there have been people here complaining they have sexual side effects from it, and it sometimes doesn't work on their depression like they want. In clinical studies it did ok at helping sexual side effects in some people.
You might do some indepth research on google by searching things like 'anorgasmia herbs' or 'impotence herbal' or 'sexual side effects herbs', stuff like that. No matter what you discover though, it is trial and error.
I told my partner that for me to get well I will probably have to take something that will totally kill my sexual desire and my seuxal ability. I was told they were willing to sacrifice sex just to have me back.
Question. What dose of effexor do you take?
Posted by blueberry1 on December 29, 2006, at 4:33:18
In reply to Battling the Abnormal Orgasm Side Effect, posted by robinjla on December 27, 2006, at 22:45:25
I was reading last night about some guy that has seriously been experimenting every possible sexual enhancer on the planet for years. The top candidates ended up being...
Yohimbine (not the herb yohimbe, it has to be the pharmaceutical pill). It causes severe insomnia so a sleep aid is needed.
Bromocriptine. But causes nausea, and after about 20 times it starts to lose its effect.
Cabergoline. Some nausea. Good because it lowers prolactin levels.
Tonquat Ali (spelling?). An herb.
Posted by jimmygold70 on December 29, 2006, at 9:40:19
In reply to Battling the Abnormal Orgasm Side Effect, posted by robinjla on December 27, 2006, at 22:45:25
I know nothing which works for eveyone. Viagra helps a lot especially for girls. I find Gincgo biloba std. extract 240 mg / day in divided doses very helpful. But it takes weeks to kick in.
> The short story: I have been on and off Effexor XR, with a side of Ritalin for almost 9 years. When I am on it, I am great, when I attempt to go off of it, I become depressed again. Back then, the "sexual side effects", as the doctor explained, really had no effect on me. Now, well, it's becoming a real source of frustration!
> Has anyone found a supplemental addition to taking this drug that alleviates this problem?
Posted by Simcha on December 29, 2006, at 14:25:19
In reply to Re: Battling the Abnormal Orgasm Side Effect » robinjla, posted by blueberry1 on December 29, 2006, at 4:33:18
Watch out for yohimbine. It has bad interactions with many anti-depressants.
Simcha
Posted by blueberry1 on December 29, 2006, at 18:58:34
In reply to Re: Battling the Abnormal Orgasm Side Effect » robinjla, posted by blueberry1 on December 29, 2006, at 4:33:18
I was doing some research at remedyfind.com today to see what other users have had to say. Results with just about anything are spotty trial and error stuff. I saw something new today though. Someone found the herb ashwaganda works pretty good. It minimized the sexual dysfunction of the antidepressant. The user takes it a few times a week to maintain the good results. I got the sense from the user's comments that ashwaganda was mostly working on the ability to feel the desire, feel the sex, and feel the orgasm.
Posted by robinjla on December 29, 2006, at 21:12:46
In reply to Re: Battling the Abnormal Orgasm Side Effect » robinjla, posted by jimmygold70 on December 29, 2006, at 9:40:19
jimmy - thank you for mentioning females!! I finally had a second today at work to read through everything and I realized whoops, there were 2 major things I should have mentioned - (1) that I'm a female and (2) that I'm a female who has ZERO problem with the desire part haha!
So my question is for the people who responded with some remedies - are they gender specific or are they for both men and women?
As for the dosage question, I'm on the 150 path right now and feeling rather dandy!
Posted by kingcolon on January 7, 2007, at 13:33:16
In reply to Re: Battling the Abnormal Orgasm Side Effect, posted by robinjla on December 29, 2006, at 21:12:46
> jimmy - thank you for mentioning females!! I finally had a second today at work to read through everything and I realized whoops, there were 2 major things I should have mentioned - (1) that I'm a female and (2) that I'm a female who has ZERO problem with the desire part haha!
>> So my question is for the people who responded with some remedies - are they gender specific or are they for both men and women?
>
> As for the dosage question, I'm on the 150 path right now and feeling rather dandy!I had similar problems (male) on Cymbalta, and have found Mirapex very helpful in the orgasmic function. I take it chronically as an augmentor for depression, so I don't really know if could be used, say in a low dose becauses it can cause nausea at first, on an as needed basis.
Watch out for bromocriptine and cabergoline as a recent article in the New England J. of Med. found a strong link to valvular heart disease from the ergot dopamine agonists (not Requip or Mirapex).
Here's a link to a study using Requip for sexual dysfunction with AD's:
This is the end of the thread.
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