Posted by crabwalk on May 7, 2006, at 21:28:11
In reply to Re: tongkat ali for ssri-induced sexual dysfunction?, posted by blueberry on May 7, 2006, at 13:53:48
Interesting theory, but I had all these problems while on paxil and prozac, not just after. It's as if I'm still taking ssris and getting the side effects but none of the antidepressant effect. I don't think it's really a prolonged withdrawal, which is what you described, but more of a rearranging that the drug induced that reverses in most people, but doesn't with some unlucky ones. Serotonin generally inhibits dopamine, which is why Parkinson's patients can't take ssris. I got restless leg on prozac, which is a dopamine dependent side effect. If ssris have any reuptake effect on dopamine, it's probably wiped out by serotonin's inhibitory effect on it.
It seems for some people psych drugs in general can have some nasty, long-term side effects. It's happened twice to me, first with ssris and complete loss of sexual feeling, and then I tried buspar, which gave me akathisia and a hand tremor. The tremor hasn't gone away now 4 months after quitting.
St. John's Wort can also cause sexual side effects. I know of a guy who has the same problem I do, but it was caused by SJW, not ssris. Glad it worked for you, but I don't think it's an option for me. I am on emsam now anyway, but still waiting for sexual functioning to come back.
> Sorry to hear about the probs. That stinks.
>
> One thing prozac does is boost norepineprine levels and dopamine levels in the brain, in addition to the serotonin reuptake. The serotonin reuptake kind of over rides the increased dopamine and norepinephrine, but still the brain was accustomed to that norepinephrine and dopamine from the prozac. Now they aren't there and the brain is acting differently.
>
> Have you tried a stimulant like ritalin or adderall? They can boost sex drive on an as-needed basis. Viagra will take care of the erection problems.
>
> I think if you typed "libido" and "natural" into a google search you would come up with a thousand things. You might just visit the health food store and see what they have. Sadly, you'll have to try each on its own to see. They will all have downfalls or side effects you don't like.
>
> A natural for depression that enhanced my sex drive was st johns wort. It would also get those norepineprhine and dopamine levels back up. It also lowers prolactin levels, which is good for sex drive.
poster:crabwalk
thread:640346
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20060428/msgs/641143.html