Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 9133

Shown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Sexual "gotcha!" from one drug but bot another?

Posted by Rick on July 23, 1999, at 2:00:15

Here's one for those that are experienced with multiple AD's:

I've only used one AD, Nardil, and it killed my ability to have orgasms until four weeks after I discontinued use. Does this mean that I will be prone to the negative sexual repercussions of *any* AD that has them as potential side effects? If -- as I hope -- the answer is *not* a global "yes", does the situation vary by class of AD (e.g., does the Nardil experience predict only my sexual response to MAOI's but not to SSRI's?). Or can I have varying response *within* class among drugs that are known for possible sexual inhibitiion (e.g., unable to climax with Paxil but O.K. with Celexa?)

Thanks in advance for any insight!

 

Re: Sexual "gotcha!" from one drug but bot another?

Posted by Elizabeth on July 23, 1999, at 11:24:39

In reply to Sexual "gotcha!" from one drug but bot another?, posted by Rick on July 23, 1999, at 2:00:15

No, it doesn't. Plenty of people will have sex problems on one drug of a certain class but not with another. Nardil seems worse than Parnate in this area, is my impression. But I've also heard of people who had sexual side effects on one SSRI but not on a different one (or they were milder on the second SSRI, though not completely absent). So even with very similar drugs, you may get the side effect on one but not another.

Good luck with it.

 

Re: Sexual "gotcha!" from one drug but bot another?

Posted by JohnL on July 23, 1999, at 19:42:01

In reply to Sexual "gotcha!" from one drug but bot another?, posted by Rick on July 23, 1999, at 2:00:15

Hi Rick. The good news is that, yes, drugs within the same class can have drastically different sexual side effects. The bad news is you don't know which is OK for you until you try it. There's no way to predict. Serzone and/or Wellbutrin are favored for a good sex life, though not with everyone. (no guarnatee any particular med will work on your depression either)

For example Zoloft, Paxil, and Celexa were totally incapacitating to my sex life. Prozac is in the same family and is well known for its undesirable sexual side effects. But I'm having great sex with Prozac! Go figure. It does take longer, but she likes that anyway. Check out the post above, "Anafranil Good for Sex?", to see how the same drug can have the opposite effect from one person to the next. You just don't know.

I sometimes wonder if it's the way I dose. There is a theory that a steady state of the drug in your system is where the sexual side effects come from. Prozac, unlike the others, has such a long half-life (about a week) that it can be dosed once, twice, or three times a week instead of daily, thus avoiding a daily dosed steady state. I take 40mg once every two days, instead of 20mg a day. So far so good. (knock on wood! fingers crossed! :) )

Yes, drugs are very different, both within and outside the same class. And so different from one person to another. Stay in touch and let us know how things develop for you. JohnL.

 

Re: Sexual "gotcha!" from one drug but bot another?

Posted by Bob on November 24, 1999, at 23:54:27

In reply to Re: Sexual "gotcha!" from one drug but bot another?, posted by JohnL on July 23, 1999, at 19:42:01

> Hi Rick. The good news is that, yes, drugs within the same class can have drastically different sexual side effects. The bad news is you don't know which is OK for you until you try it. There's no way to predict. Serzone and/or Wellbutrin are favored for a good sex life, though not with everyone. (no guarnatee any particular med will work on your depression either)
>
> For example Zoloft, Paxil, and Celexa were totally incapacitating to my sex life. Prozac is in the same family and is well known for its undesirable sexual side effects. But I'm having great sex with Prozac! Go figure. It does take longer, but she likes that anyway. Check out the post above, "Anafranil Good for Sex?", to see how the same drug can have the opposite effect from one person to the next. You just don't know.
>
> I sometimes wonder if it's the way I dose. There is a theory that a steady state of the drug in your system is where the sexual side effects come from. Prozac, unlike the others, has such a long half-life (about a week) that it can be dosed once, twice, or three times a week instead of daily, thus avoiding a daily dosed steady state. I take 40mg once every two days, instead of 20mg a day. So far so good. (knock on wood! fingers crossed! :) )
>
> Yes, drugs are very different, both within and outside the same class. And so different from one person to another. Stay in touch and let us know how things develop for you. JohnL.


Nardil almost totally killed my ability to have an orgasm. However not one of the SSRI's did that. Unfortunatly, Nardil was the only one that worked. good luck to you, Bob

 

Re: Sexual "gotcha!" from one drug but bot another?

Posted by Jane on November 25, 1999, at 0:33:49

In reply to Re: Sexual "gotcha!" from one drug but bot another?, posted by Bob on November 24, 1999, at 23:54:27

the SSRIs are well known (now at least) to cause sexual dysfunction and weight gain. the sexual dysfunction is in both men and women although it would be more "noticeable" in men :-p i was on prozac and the second week i noticed a complete change in my sexual function in terms of lack of drive and also just decreased sensation to the point of almost numbness. the antidepressants that are not known to cause sexual dysfunction (due to a different mechanism of action from the SSRIs) include Serzone and Wellbutrin. Serzone is best for depression with anxiety symptoms especially if insomnia is present. I don't know wellbutrin enough (other than brief personal experience) to comment on what patient type wellbutrin is best for... it is an "activating" medication so if you're prone to the jitters it may not be ideal - again though, everyone is different!
jane

 

Re: Sexual "gotcha!" from one drug but bot another?

Posted by Cindy on November 27, 1999, at 19:09:47

In reply to Re: Sexual "gotcha!" from one drug but bot another?, posted by Jane on November 25, 1999, at 0:33:49

> the SSRIs are well known (now at least) to cause sexual dysfunction and weight gain. the sexual dysfunction is in both men and women although it would be more "noticeable" in men :-p i was on prozac and the second week i noticed a complete change in my sexual function in terms of lack of drive and also just decreased sensation to the point of almost numbness. the antidepressants that are not known to cause sexual dysfunction (due to a different mechanism of action from the SSRIs) include Serzone and Wellbutrin. Serzone is best for depression with anxiety symptoms especially if insomnia is present. I don't know wellbutrin enough (other than brief personal experience) to comment on what patient type wellbutrin is best for... it is an "activating" medication so if you're prone to the jitters it may not be ideal - again though, everyone is different!
> jane
So far, I've tried Prozac, Serzone, Luvox, Zoloft, and now Effexor. The SSRI's all interfered with sexual desire, arousal, and ability to climax, for me. Serzone didn't interfere at all but unfortunately although it decreased my depression didn't take care of OCD symptoms. Effexor so far hasn't interfered with sex. Although I'm still not yet on a therapeutic dose, I feel less depressed and the obsessions have been toned down....maybe there's hope.--Cindy


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