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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Thrud on March 30, 2001, at 0:47:50
Hey everyone, I'm in a pickle.
I have tried every class of antidepressants continuously for 10 years but they all leave me with profound sexual dysfunction (I am a guy). Believe it or not, this includes Serzone and Wellbutrin. If I go off medication my libido comes back but so do the nightmare depression and anxiety symptoms. I am currently on Lithium and it is actually not too bad...except for sexual dysfunction again.
ECT is my last choice, but I am terrified of it's potential do disrupt memory. I am an engineer in a high technology industry: I just can't afford to forget things. More than that, our memories are our most essential component. But I have missed sex enormously for the past 10 years and often I do not feel like a man.
What should I do? Cut my losses and go on with what I've got? Play double-or-nothing with ECT and risk losing it all? Maybe just hang on and hope that something like rTMS or VNS will succeed? I don't know. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thrud
Posted by Elizabeth on March 30, 2001, at 4:22:34
In reply to What would you do?, posted by Thrud on March 30, 2001, at 0:47:50
> Hey everyone, I'm in a pickle.
>
> I have tried every class of antidepressants continuously for 10 years but they all leave me with profound sexual dysfunction (I am a guy). Believe it or not, this includes Serzone and Wellbutrin.What about desipramine? Parnate?
> ECT is my last choice, but I am terrified of it's potential do disrupt memory. I am an engineer in a high technology industry: I just can't afford to forget things.
My understanding is that the memory loss is only for the time when you were having the ECT. You won't lose the ability to form new memories, nor will you forget the things you learned in school and work.
Anyway, I hope this helps. I understand your fears and I have avoided ECT too because I share some of them. But this is what the people who know about ECT have to say about the rumors. For all our sakes, I hope they're right.
Posted by mila on March 30, 2001, at 8:26:22
In reply to What would you do?, posted by Thrud on March 30, 2001, at 0:47:50
dear Thrud,
you might also trace back you life to the point when you started to be depressed and anxious. what was first, anxiety, or depriession? Try cognitive therapy for it.
Another approach is orthomolecular psychiatry, it works wonders for some people who do not respond well to medication (once they are off the pills, the symptoms come back full swing). you might lack some vitamins that catalyze natural serotonin production in your body, or have an excess of other chemicals that inhibit it. Give it a try. Won't hurt, you know. ECT, to my knowledge is applied very cautiously today. And it is a shot in the dark, for the mechanism of it is poorly understood. elizabeth is right when she is saying that only memories immediately preceeding the ECT will vanish. long-term memory is not affected. Your profesional skills won't be affected.
mila
Posted by SalArmy4me on March 30, 2001, at 19:55:17
In reply to What would you do?, posted by Thrud on March 30, 2001, at 0:47:50
Tell me everything that you have been on, and I guarantee that I can find something new for you.
> Hey everyone, I'm in a pickle.
>
> I have tried every class of antidepressants continuously for 10 years but they all leave me with profound sexual dysfunction (I am a guy). Believe it or not, this includes Serzone and Wellbutrin. If I go off medication my libido comes back but so do the nightmare depression and anxiety symptoms. I am currently on Lithium and it is actually not too bad...except for sexual dysfunction again.
>
> ECT is my last choice, but I am terrified of it's potential do disrupt memory. I am an engineer in a high technology industry: I just can't afford to forget things. More than that, our memories are our most essential component. But I have missed sex enormously for the past 10 years and often I do not feel like a man.
>
> What should I do? Cut my losses and go on with what I've got? Play double-or-nothing with ECT and risk losing it all? Maybe just hang on and hope that something like rTMS or VNS will succeed? I don't know. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thrud
>
Posted by Thrud on March 31, 2001, at 16:58:34
In reply to Re: What would you do?, posted by SalArmy4me on March 30, 2001, at 19:55:17
How about you give me a "top five" list of meds which are supposed to be low in sexual side effects. Maybe there's one or two there I haven't tried.
Thanks much.> Tell me everything that you have been on, and I guarantee that I can find something new for you.
>
> > Hey everyone, I'm in a pickle.
> >
> > I have tried every class of antidepressants continuously for 10 years but they all leave me with profound sexual dysfunction (I am a guy). Believe it or not, this includes Serzone and Wellbutrin. If I go off medication my libido comes back but so do the nightmare depression and anxiety symptoms. I am currently on Lithium and it is actually not too bad...except for sexual dysfunction again.
> >
> > ECT is my last choice, but I am terrified of it's potential do disrupt memory. I am an engineer in a high technology industry: I just can't afford to forget things. More than that, our memories are our most essential component. But I have missed sex enormously for the past 10 years and often I do not feel like a man.
> >
> > What should I do? Cut my losses and go on with what I've got? Play double-or-nothing with ECT and risk losing it all? Maybe just hang on and hope that something like rTMS or VNS will succeed? I don't know. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Thrud
> >
Posted by quilter on April 1, 2001, at 1:41:15
In reply to Re: What would you do? SalArmy4me, posted by Thrud on March 31, 2001, at 16:58:34
My experiences with ECT left me with significant long term memory loss as well as the ones that never even registered during the times surrounding the treatment series. The relief they gave me was also relatively short lived. I believe it can be life saving, but would not do it again. I now have information I wish to keep.
p.s. It was very frightening to go out into a kitchen I had laid out and worked in for over 3 years and discover I had no idea how to start supper or where anything was.
Quilter
Posted by SalArmy4me on April 1, 2001, at 18:28:25
In reply to Re: What would you do? SalArmy4me, posted by Thrud on March 31, 2001, at 16:58:34
Here are some good ones that don't cause sexual disturbances: buproprion, MIRTAZAPINE, selegiline, nefazodone, trazodone, BUSPIRONE, lithium, depakote, carbamazepine, gabapentin, lamotrigine, TOPIRAMATE, PINDOLOL, T4/T3, MAPROTILINE,
NOT so good but considerable: desipramine; clonazepam, tiagabine, felbamate, methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine, prmaipexole, ropinrole
Ask me which ones I've used and I can give you a full profile (I have used them all).
--Blood and Fire: Founded by General William Booth
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