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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jaypee on August 7, 1999, at 2:29:11
My wife (aged 31) suffers from Severe Depression - coupled with OCD, Alcoholism (relatively dry for 2 years) and has been on a variety of medications to combat this - However ideally we'd like this to be achieved without a complete loss of Libido! (after all we've only been married 1 year).
When we first met (2.5 years ago) she was taking Zoloft with negligible side-effects - and was very happy - However the efficacy decreased to a point where her doctor recommended a change of medication.
Since then she's tried - Luvox, Prozac, I believe Serzone and lately Anafranil. The latter being so ineffective that she has now admitted herself as an in-patient in order to get back on track.
We are now at the stage where a new medication is to be tried (she's been taking nothing other than sedatives for 10 days) and the curent Doctor is recommending Fluoxetine - which I gather is Prozac tried unsuccessfully previously!
A pharmacist has suggested that Effexor (Venlafaxine) is relatively new (in the Australian marketplace) and has statistically lesser effect on the female libido.
Can anyone confirm or deny this - advise other side effects to be aware of - or suggest an alternative medication?
Posted by Brenn on August 7, 1999, at 10:54:02
In reply to Lack of Libido!!! - Is Effexor the answer?, posted by jaypee on August 7, 1999, at 2:29:11
Effexor didn't lessen my sex drive it just made it harder to reach orgasm. Seemed like it just took a lot of work. Other than that I didn't have trouble taking it and it did help my depression.
Of course we are all different and no one seems to get the same effects good or bad as the next person from meds.
I certainly hope your wife is better soon.
brenn
Posted by Racer on August 7, 1999, at 12:25:25
In reply to Lack of Libido!!! - Is Effexor the answer?, posted by jaypee on August 7, 1999, at 2:29:11
I take Effexor, it's working on my depression quite well, and my libido is all that anyone could ask for. Of course, I can't seem to get to that point of screaming with passion and delight, since anorgasmia is a common side effect, but just this week I've found that cyproheptadine (an antihistamine), taken about two hours in advance, makes the wait well worthwhile!
Good luck to you both, and remember: you're in the most beautiful place in the entire world, one I'd love to move to in a heartbeat, so enjoy the loveliness around you for all of us!
Posted by janey girl on August 8, 1999, at 11:07:42
In reply to Re: Lack of Libido!!! - Is Effexor the answer?, posted by Racer on August 7, 1999, at 12:25:25
jaypee,
When I had "poop-out" on Zoloft several years ago, my doctor
switched me to Effexor. I was amazed at the change
in my libido -- it was significant. I didn't even realize
that I had no libido previously on the Zoloft until
I began taking Effexor. The change was amazing.Yes, it was difficult to reach orgasm, but everything
still felt great, plus it was wonderful to feel passion
and interest in sex again.Good luck on your journey.
janey girl
Posted by Julie on August 9, 1999, at 11:03:45
In reply to Effexor and libido, posted by janey girl on August 8, 1999, at 11:07:42
Like Janey, I had Zoloft "poop-out" and switched to Effexor, and find it much easier to have orgasms. On Zoloft it took a lon, long time- very frustrating, for both my boyfriend and I- and on Effexor it's much easier. It just feel numb "down there" any more!
Posted by Julie on August 9, 1999, at 11:04:53
In reply to Re: Effexor and libido, posted by Julie on August 9, 1999, at 11:03:45
Oops- I meant "it just doesn't feel numb 'down there' any more-"
Posted by Jaypee on August 9, 1999, at 19:40:06
In reply to Re: Effexor and libido, posted by Julie on August 9, 1999, at 11:04:53
Thank you to you all for your advice-
They've agreed to give Effexor a go ...
Now all we need is for the Health System in Australia to perform in a manner that even remotley resembles efficiency - and she may be on the road to recovery!
I won't burden you with the details ...
Posted by Messalina on August 13, 1999, at 19:04:32
In reply to Re: Effexor and libido, posted by Jaypee on August 9, 1999, at 19:40:06
My doctor is prescribing Viagra for both men and women on antidepressents who are having problems, but I think it is still in the early evaluation stage.
Posted by a.w.s. on March 17, 2000, at 7:06:54
In reply to Lack of Libido!!! - Is Effexor the answer?, posted by jaypee on August 7, 1999, at 2:29:11
perhaps you are her problem!
Posted by kevin shapiro on March 18, 2000, at 19:53:17
In reply to Re: Lack of Libido!!! - Is Effexor the answer?, posted by a.w.s. on March 17, 2000, at 7:06:54
I suffer from bipolar disorder, one of my symptoms during a manic phase was hypersexuality. I did many things Im ashamed of and dont want to think about sex any more. During my depression, I first took prozac, which was very effective at supressing my libido. Unfortunately, it didn't cure my depression. My doctor switched me to Effexor. It cured my depression, but it has the side effect of increasing my libido to an intolerable level. I am getting spontaneous erections even while reading boring material, such as papers on colorectal cancer. Now I think I have to stop taking it because it might tip me back into mania despite my mood stabilizer.
Posted by PattyG on March 18, 2000, at 20:26:50
In reply to Re: Effexor/libido WARNING, posted by kevin shapiro on March 18, 2000, at 19:53:17
(Kevin) My doctor switched me to Effexor. It cured my depression, but it has the side effect of increasing my libido to an intolerable level. I am getting spontaneous erections even while reading boring material, such as papers on colorectal cancer.....
//I rarely laugh out loud when reading these posts, but Kevin....I laughed out loud! (Hope you don't mind, but this tickled my funny bone.) Hope that doesn't arouse you!
Posted by Cindy W on March 18, 2000, at 22:38:36
In reply to Re: Effexor/libido WARNING, posted by PattyG on March 18, 2000, at 20:26:50
> (Kevin) My doctor switched me to Effexor. It cured my depression, but it has the side effect of increasing my libido to an intolerable level. I am getting spontaneous erections even while reading boring material, such as papers on colorectal cancer.....
>
> //I rarely laugh out loud when reading these posts, but Kevin....I laughed out loud! (Hope you don't mind, but this tickled my funny bone.) Hope that doesn't arouse you!Hey, I agree with PattyG! Your post "tickled" me. Effexor-XR is one of the few AD's (besides Serzone) which doesn't interfere with my libido. I wouldn't mind having my libido increased to an "intolerable" level! How much Effexor are you taking?
Posted by vesper on March 19, 2000, at 20:02:41
In reply to Re: Effexor/libido WARNING, posted by Cindy W on March 18, 2000, at 22:38:36
When I took effexor as a possible substitute for SSRIs, I had the EXACT same side-effects as the ssris paxil, prozac, etc. including almost complete loss of sex drive.
Posted by K.L. on April 22, 2000, at 0:24:56
In reply to Re: Effexor/libido WARNING, posted by vesper on March 19, 2000, at 20:02:41
I've been on a pretty heavy dosage (375mg/day) for more than two years and I have no problems with depression, libido or ejaculation, but I am seldom able to achieve a satisfactory erection. I'm not certain Effexor is to blame, but I suspect it.
This is the end of the thread.
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