![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jerrypharmstudent on December 18, 2008, at 21:56:21
HI all- I haven't written on the board in a while - but I thought I'd seek your advice for an issue I'm dealing with.
I'm having a tough time with sexual disfunction- particularly maintaining erection. I'm taking Adderall, Lexapro, Abilify, Klonopin, Cogentin and Ambien. My doc says it's the klonopin, but I've been on the Klonopin for years and years and it never caused sexual problems. I think it's the SSRI+Abilify. The issue is that I'm liking the meds I'm on and doing pretty well ( knock on wood) so I don't want to fool with them - but I also want to be able to have sex.
He said to ask my doctor for Viagra - however I do not believe my current insurance would pay for it so I'm at a loss.
Any ideas???
Thanks
Jerry
Posted by Racer on December 19, 2008, at 9:39:24
In reply to Sexual problems, posted by jerrypharmstudent on December 18, 2008, at 21:56:21
If it's the SSRI/Abilify, cyproheptidine might help. It's as benign as a medication can be, dirt cheap, lasts a short length of time, and is only taken PRN. If it works, it's easy, no muss, no fuss.
And if it doesn't work, at least you've got something that can help with sleep, or allergies, or photic headshaking, or appetite stimulation, or whatever...
Best luck, and congratulations on finding a good combo. (Nice to see your name -- how's the studenting going?)
Posted by desolationrower on December 19, 2008, at 13:25:30
In reply to Cyproheptidine? » jerrypharmstudent, posted by Racer on December 19, 2008, at 9:39:24
The anticholinergic med can cause problems too - does abilify give you eps?
Icariin is a herbal pde5i, not too pricy
if your dose of the aripiprazole is high enough, its probably already antagonizing 5ht2a, so cypro might not help too much
-d/r
Posted by jerrypharmstudent on December 19, 2008, at 14:00:55
In reply to Re: Cyproheptidine?, posted by desolationrower on December 19, 2008, at 13:25:30
> The anticholinergic med can cause problems too - does abilify give you eps?
>
> Icariin is a herbal pde5i, not too pricy
>
> if your dose of the aripiprazole is high enough, its probably already antagonizing 5ht2a, so cypro might not help too much
>
> -d/rThe Abilify gives me restless legs so my doc added Cogentin. I take 1 at night. Not sure if it helps tho. I'm also taking 15mg of Abilify.
Posted by jms600 on December 19, 2008, at 18:01:40
In reply to Re: Cyproheptidine? » desolationrower, posted by jerrypharmstudent on December 19, 2008, at 14:00:55
I think it's the Lexapro - I took it for a few months and it affected my sex drive, although I was also taking Propecia at the same time.
I don't want this to sound too harsh, but if the Lexapro is working isn't it worth sticking with it? I know what I'd sooner have - a low sex drive and no depression/anxiety rather than a normal sex drive and deep depression and racing panic.
Sorry to sound a bit 'brutal'!
Posted by jerrypharmstudent on December 19, 2008, at 19:02:13
In reply to Re: Cyproheptidine?, posted by jms600 on December 19, 2008, at 18:01:40
> I think it's the Lexapro - I took it for a few months and it affected my sex drive, although I was also taking Propecia at the same time.
>
> I don't want this to sound too harsh, but if the Lexapro is working isn't it worth sticking with it? I know what I'd sooner have - a low sex drive and no depression/anxiety rather than a normal sex drive and deep depression and racing panic.
>
> Sorry to sound a bit 'brutal'!You didn't sound brutal at all - no worries. But your'e right - why continue the Lexapro if it isnt working or if it's causing the sex side effects.....? good question. Like you said - I'd rather be with a low sex drive and not depressed than the other way around. The weird thing is I've been on Lexapro for years and I don't know what I'd switch to.
So, I don't know what is causing my problems but they are frustrating.
Posted by bleauberry on December 19, 2008, at 19:40:09
In reply to Sexual problems, posted by jerrypharmstudent on December 18, 2008, at 21:56:21
Insurance probably will not cover viagra, unless you could get your doctor to prescribe it for some other reason than ED.
Patent laws do not apply in all countries. Cheap generic viagra is available by mailorder all over the globe.
Posted by Tony P on December 22, 2008, at 3:47:02
In reply to Re: Cyproheptidine? » jms600, posted by jerrypharmstudent on December 19, 2008, at 19:02:13
I have similar problems. I agree the Lexapro is probably the med affecting you the most. Many herbal/supplement remedies can help: yohimbe/yohimbine, DHEA, Muira Puama & even Salvia Divinorum (caution: very effective, but weird side effects!).
These are all available on the internet & some in health stores, but their availability & legality varies a lot from country to country. I am fortunate in my GP, who has made a specialty of regimes for sexual dysfunction of all sorts.
If you want to discuss these in more detail, we should probably move the thread to Psychobabble Alternative. Or feel free to send me a babblechat.
Tony P
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.