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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 satsumas on May 18, 2008, at 18:49:29
Hi. I am a 28 year old male. Is it possible for the libido side effects of an SSRI/SNRI to occur if one is still able to have an orgasm and have an erection? What i'm getting at is that...libido seems to be more than just the physical reaction. It's about desire, pursuit of a girl (in my case), the butterflies in your stomach when you meet someone, the obsessive thoughts in a new relationship, it's the thing that overcomes the fear and anxiety of a first kiss, etc.
I have come to the stunning realization recently that the reason I haven't dated, or haven't felt attraction to a girl to a significant enough degree for me to actively "pursue" her is because of the fact that i've been on Cymbalta or Effexor for the past two years. I never considered myself to have the libido side effect because I could always have an orgasm and could have erections. But after a weird non-relationship relationship I just had, where I basically was in love with this girl "intellectually" but never felt enough of the "spark" or dopamine rush to overcome the anxieties about whether she was the right girl for me, and any other reasons I came up with for why I didn't want her, may have been just been rationalizations of a major side effect I didn't see.
Does that make sense? Or, if one is able to have an erection and orgasm, does that mean that the "rest" of libido is OK, and in fact there is some other reason for why I don't feel anything or have that fire in my belly desire to date or pursue a relationship.
Would love comments or other people's opinions.
Posted by Racer on May 18, 2008, at 19:33:40
In reply to SSRI/SNRI and loss of libido and MORE, posted by satsumas on May 18, 2008, at 18:49:29
Libido is much more than the physical ability to achieve orgasm.
So, just because you are physically capable of erection, orgasm, etc, doesn't mean that the medications have not had an effect on your sexual functioning.
For some people, any serotonin reuptake inhibitor will cause some level of apathy -- and that can include the part where it just doesn't seem to matter about sexual relationships... It may also be that residual depressive symptoms are involved. That's worth discussing with your doctor.
Good luck.
Posted by 4WD on May 18, 2008, at 21:07:59
In reply to SSRI/SNRI and loss of libido and MORE, posted by satsumas on May 18, 2008, at 18:49:29
Hi.
I haven't had a libido for years now. I have been on SSRIs and SNRIs. Now I am on Nardil and can't even have an orgasm. I have absolutely no sexual desire and haven't had for years. I miss it very much. I can still enjoy sex with my husband but I am NEVER in the mood and never would even think about initiated sex unless I think he is feeling neglected sexually.
To basically answer your question, SSRIs and SNRIs take away libido for me completely. They didn't take away the ability to have an orgasm or to kind of enjoy sex once we get started but they sure took away any sexual desire on my part.
Marsha
> Hi. I am a 28 year old male. Is it possible for the libido side effects of an SSRI/SNRI to occur if one is still able to have an orgasm and have an erection? What i'm getting at is that...libido seems to be more than just the physical reaction. It's about desire, pursuit of a girl (in my case), the butterflies in your stomach when you meet someone, the obsessive thoughts in a new relationship, it's the thing that overcomes the fear and anxiety of a first kiss, etc.
>
> I have come to the stunning realization recently that the reason I haven't dated, or haven't felt attraction to a girl to a significant enough degree for me to actively "pursue" her is because of the fact that i've been on Cymbalta or Effexor for the past two years. I never considered myself to have the libido side effect because I could always have an orgasm and could have erections. But after a weird non-relationship relationship I just had, where I basically was in love with this girl "intellectually" but never felt enough of the "spark" or dopamine rush to overcome the anxieties about whether she was the right girl for me, and any other reasons I came up with for why I didn't want her, may have been just been rationalizations of a major side effect I didn't see.
>
> Does that make sense? Or, if one is able to have an erection and orgasm, does that mean that the "rest" of libido is OK, and in fact there is some other reason for why I don't feel anything or have that fire in my belly desire to date or pursue a relationship.
>
> Would love comments or other people's opinions.
Posted by bulldog2 on May 19, 2008, at 15:35:29
In reply to SSRI/SNRI and loss of libido and MORE, posted by satsumas on May 18, 2008, at 18:49:29
> Hi. I am a 28 year old male. Is it possible for the libido side effects of an SSRI/SNRI to occur if one is still able to have an orgasm and have an erection? What i'm getting at is that...libido seems to be more than just the physical reaction. It's about desire, pursuit of a girl (in my case), the butterflies in your stomach when you meet someone, the obsessive thoughts in a new relationship, it's the thing that overcomes the fear and anxiety of a first kiss, etc.
>
> I have come to the stunning realization recently that the reason I haven't dated, or haven't felt attraction to a girl to a significant enough degree for me to actively "pursue" her is because of the fact that i've been on Cymbalta or Effexor for the past two years. I never considered myself to have the libido side effect because I could always have an orgasm and could have erections. But after a weird non-relationship relationship I just had, where I basically was in love with this girl "intellectually" but never felt enough of the "spark" or dopamine rush to overcome the anxieties about whether she was the right girl for me, and any other reasons I came up with for why I didn't want her, may have been just been rationalizations of a major side effect I didn't see.
>
> Does that make sense? Or, if one is able to have an erection and orgasm, does that mean that the "rest" of libido is OK, and in fact there is some other reason for why I don't feel anything or have that fire in my belly desire to date or pursue a relationship.
>
> Would love comments or other people's opinions.I think dopamine is the chemical of pleasure. ssri and snris lower dopamine.I've heard some have been able to get that feeling back with a dopamine agonist.
Posted by Trotten on May 22, 2008, at 0:30:54
In reply to Re: SSRI/SNRI and loss of libido and MORE, posted by bulldog2 on May 19, 2008, at 15:35:29
I am in Cymbalta and Abilify and my libido is ZERO! As I said in other post, I am using ropinirole 2mg/day, but one week already and had no increase in libido.
I would like to see more opinions on it too.
Posted by Tee3 on May 27, 2008, at 21:13:21
In reply to Re: SSRI/SNRI and loss of libido and MORE, posted by Trotten on May 22, 2008, at 0:30:54
> I am in Cymbalta and Abilify and my libido is ZERO! As I said in other post, I am using ropinirole 2mg/day, but one week already and had no increase in libido.
> I would like to see more opinions on it too.Dunno if this would help you or not, but a small daily dose of testosterone greatly improved my libido. Takes forever to orgasm, but desire is okay. G'luck.
This is the end of the thread.
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