![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on April 20, 2012, at 13:10:17
I have suffered from EXTREMELY LOW libido/sex drive problems since my late twenties, after a hydrocelectomy (surgery on my testicles). Severe depression and cognitive decline came with it. I later was diagnosed with low testosterone and sleep apnea, in addition to major depression and some anxiety problems.
So, I was reading a Dr. Stephen Stahl, MD psychopharmacology book recently. In the chapter dealing with "hyposexuality," Stahl mentions the current theory is male hyposexuality, or low libido is oftentimes associated with low testosterone and low dopamine levels in the MESOLIMBIC pathway of the brain.
Then I read in the schizophrenia/psychosis chapter of that book that in schizophrenia, normally dopamine levels are elevated in the MESOLIMBIC pathway.
Anybody else read anything about this?
Hypogonadism/hyposexuality=low dopamine levels in mesolimbic?
I have basically no libido whatsoever. If I increase my antidepressant, it improves just a little tiny bit for a few weeks. If I take amphetamines it improves some. If I use testosterone it improves. If I decrease my klopopin my libido improves a little.
But by and large, without getting too detailed, I have ZILCH libido or sex drive.
Eric
Posted by phidippus on April 20, 2012, at 18:21:59
In reply to Extremely low libido = low dopamine in mesolimbic?, posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on April 20, 2012, at 13:10:17
Marijuana can be a very strong aphrodisiac. There's also a lot in the literature about Yohimbe. Wellbutrin is sometimes prescribed for libido problems, as are the dopamine agonists Ropinorole and Mirapex.
The really strong sex-enhancement drugs tend to be illegal, such as Cocaine, Ecstasy and GBH.
Hope this helps
Eric
Posted by bleauberry on April 22, 2012, at 8:34:24
In reply to Extremely low libido = low dopamine in mesolimbic?, posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on April 20, 2012, at 13:10:17
We all do armchair quarterbacking, trying to make some sense and order out of what meds do, how a certain chemistry relates to a certain symptom, etc. Honestly, it just aint that simple. To view low libido as a dopamine/mesolimbic issue I think is overly simplified and could even be totally off base. Sex involves multiple complicated pathways of various biochemistries all acting in concert. I mean, sure, the dopamine/mesolimbic thing sounds logical and makes sense. But that doesn't matter because we still can't predict anything from it and it is still just an idea not a fact we can duplicate or prove.
The most important thing is to try stuff. There are at least half a dozen world class herbs with libido as their target. Singularly or in combination, they should be explored and experimented with. If you wanted to rule in or rule out the theory of dopamine/mesolimbic, fine, sounds good, choose a med that can do that and do it. See what happens. Might work out and might not. Ritalin might be a quick easy test. A single day on low dose amisulpride would also be a really close direct test of that theory. Which I can already tell you the results of....yes, it does that mechanism and yes libido goes way up....for a day that is until its prolactin lowering mechanism starts to overshadow. As an as-needed approach, maybe once a week sort of thing, amisulpride could do that. I think the herbs are the best place to be looking though.
In States where it is legal for medical use, probably the single best on-demand libido booster I am aware of is a cannabis.
Posted by creepy on April 26, 2012, at 9:59:54
In reply to Extremely low libido = low dopamine in mesolimbic?, posted by LostBoyinNCReturns on April 20, 2012, at 13:10:17
Unfortunately it seems like dopamine is something you raise and you quickly develop tolerance.
Dopamine agonists can come with some nasty side effects, but they might be an option. especially if you are deficient in dopamine and testosterone.
Did your endo check your prolactin levels?
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.