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Re: Brintellix 20mg: Fairly strong sexual side effect » Beckett

Posted by Chris O on April 28, 2014, at 17:35:55

In reply to Re: Brintellix 20mg: Fairly strong sexual side effect » Chris O, posted by Beckett on April 27, 2014, at 16:47:49

Beckett:

Hey, thanks for checking in on me. You ask how have things been going? Eh, it's okay. I've been taking 30mg of Brintellix (up from 20mg for 2-3 weeks) for a couple of weeks now. I can't really say the effect on the "opening up" part of my anxiety/depression is any better. I know that it's taking the edge off the physicalized symptoms of my anxiety, but it's not complete enough, even at 30mg. It also makes me quite tired and fatigued (however, I also suffer from a fairly bad case of sleep apnea too--which is being so-so treated with CPAP--so it's hard to tell the definite origin of that "side effect.")

In terms of the blunting, yes, it's fairly strong and I would say Brintellix has dampened my ability to feel pleasure across the board. That's a very good way of putting it--"across the board." I just feel very "flat." Sexual feeling is the best way to metaphorically describe it: I have almost zero sexual desire, and very little pleasure the two times I have "tested it out" via masturbation. Blunted orgasm. Almost non-existent. (But also less fatigue after orgasm. Normally, I feel terrible fatigue after orgasm.) It's all very frustrating. In a way, what's happening with Brintellix in terms of dampening sexual feeling is good because my anxiety-disordered sex drive seems to get me nowhere as well. My "normal" anxiety-disordered sex drive seems very desperate and turn off-y to women. Brintellix takes the edge off that, but it's also, like, the opposite extreme. With Brintellix, I have no sex drive.

Anyway, I guess if I had to summarize, I would say Brintellix is giving me like a 4-ish (on a scale of 10) in terms of relief from some of my symptoms, but it's not enough to get me functioning in the world. I still have a "boxed in" feeling (though less than off Brintellix) that makes me hesitant to speak, act, make decisions, and live my life.

I appreciate the information about Emsam. My psychiatrist suggested that over two years ago. He thought it was weaker than Nardil though (in his experience with other patients), and suggested that the lower dosing that eliminates the food restrictions may have something to do with this. I am still totally open to it. What were your specific symptoms and how did Emsam treat them? How did it compare to other drugs you took? How long did you take it?

Hey, thanks again for checking in. This board is a godsend.

Chris


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poster:Chris O thread:1064210
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140419/msgs/1064905.html