Posted by ItsJustMe on March 29, 2001, at 22:09:55
In reply to Newbie with question about sexual side effects, posted by Jennie W. on March 29, 2001, at 20:41:05
hi - its hard for me to remember what prozac and wellbutrin did to my sex drive, but when i was on effexor xr, i had absolutely NO desire - the weird thing is that i dont even wake up with the ol' morning "wood" anymore *deep in thought* hmmmm...
anyway, since im not in a relationship, i guess i consider myself to be lucky (i dont have to feel like im going without sex), but since you are married, im sorry that you are having these side effects
anyway, i dont really know what to tell you, other than you are not alone
dave
> Hi all! Gee, I am really glad I found this site!! I have been browsing through the archives for a few days now, and you all have been really helpful and you don't even know me yet!! Thanks!! I think I'll just jump right in here, because I sure could use some support from people who have been where I am now...
>
> I have been dealing with sexual side effects for three years now (on Prozac, on Celexa, on Celexa with wellbutrin and/or buspar added on, on Serzone, and now on Wellbutrin alone). I went to my psychdoc yesterday, armed to the hilt with printouts of info on various drug options that I had heard about in your archives here. My psychdoc's attending, however, came in and said basically that my lack of sex drive was caused because of something in my relationship with my husband; that he would not take me off Wellbutrin because it was helping the depression; and that I should exercise. And then to shut me up, I think, because I was objecting loudly, he told my doc to put me on Periactin.
>
> Needless to say, I was crushed, and I left the doctor's office in tears. It must have been so easy for him to blame the patient instead of simply admitting he didn't know how to help me. I'm still crushed now, but mostly I'm mad for having allowed myself to be brushed off like that.
>
> Now, I am a newlywed of 1 1/2 years. And there IS something wrong with our relationship - WE AREN'T HAVING SEX!!! But now it's eating at me, and I must admit I've wondered before, could this be my physiological reaction to something inherently wrong with our relationship? I discussed it just this week with my therapist (because how can you NOT think this at some point, right?) and we concluded that given the way I feel - never think about sex, could care less if my husband touches me, grossed out by the whole act in general, rarely achieve orgasm - that it is indeed a side effect of meds. But I was wondering if any of you have ever had the same thought and how did you deal with it? The lack of sex is hurting our relationship enough - I don't want to add to it by thinking that deep down I don't love my husband. I am so embarassed and ashamed of myself for even thinking it! I hate this attending for his attitude!!
>
> One other thing, though. I started the Wellbutrin at Christmas, and about six weeks into it I had two GREAT weeks - my libido was back, I enjoyed being with my husband, could achieve orgasm - I haven't felt like that for 3 years!! And then it went away. We raised the dose from 300 to 400, but that feeling hasn't come back yet. We've now lowered the dosage of Wellbutrin back to 300 and added the Periactin in hopes of recapturing those two weeks. Any thoughts? (Incidentally, this particular occurrence is what makes me really believe that what I feel are indeed side effects.)
>
> Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for your thoughts.
>
> Jennie W.
poster:ItsJustMe
thread:57998
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010327/msgs/58006.html