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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by afatchic on May 11, 2002, at 6:58:33
Ok Folks! This is my third attempt to post this fascinating study about ADs and low sex drive. So far I've had no responses and I really would like to discuss this.
The study reveals that the majority of people tested who had a low sex drive that they associated with AD medication, turned out to have low testosterone levels. The deficiency was revealed in men AND women.
I'm a women and when I discovered that my serum testosterone level was way below normal, I went to the internet to do some research. That's how I came across this study.
Here's the link, I'd appreciate some feed back.
http://www.priory.com/psych/sexdys.htm
afatchic
Posted by krazy kat on May 11, 2002, at 9:31:34
In reply to Low Sex Drive? Read This! , posted by afatchic on May 11, 2002, at 6:58:33
it's nice to see your name again.
i have a low sex drive. is it the depakote? or is it me? not ad-related.
anyway, this is interesting.
thanks.
- kk
Posted by Phil on May 11, 2002, at 9:56:50
In reply to Low Sex Drive? Read This! , posted by afatchic on May 11, 2002, at 6:58:33
Glad you posted this, I've asked others about testosterone levels and mood and didn't get much of a response. I' m seeing my doc this Wed. to get it checked out.
Are you taking anything for the low testosterone?
I hope you get some responses here, it's interesting.
Later
Posted by Thrud on May 11, 2002, at 23:59:40
In reply to Low Sex Drive? Read This! , posted by afatchic on May 11, 2002, at 6:58:33
Hi there.
Did you get leutenizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels measured along with your testosterone? Both these hormones command endocrine glands to release testosterone.
If you have low LH and/or FSH with low testosterone this could suggest hypopituitarism or high cortisol levels. High LH or FSH could suggest that adrenal and/or gonadal problems might be present.
The cortisol problem is very interesting: being the "stress" hormone it is well known to be elevated in people with depression and anxiety. Amongst other bad things, it suppresses LH and hence testosterone. Paradoxically, antidepressants are well known to LOWER cortisol and should, from that perspective, INCREASE testosterone. Regardless, they somehow find other ways of destroying your sexual function...
Maybe in the study you cite the patients' depression was not well controlled, even on medication, and hence cortisol, LH, testosterone etc. was also out of whack? If they compared non-depressed controls with equally non-depressed people on medication then the picture would be clearer.
Anyways, if you ever get hormonal abnormalities get referred straight to an endocrinologist: my experience with PCPs in these sort of matters has been pretty negative.
Best of luck.
Thrud
Posted by Roo on May 13, 2002, at 9:24:23
In reply to Re: Low Sex Drive? Read This! » afatchic, posted by Thrud on May 11, 2002, at 23:59:40
I went to an endocrinologist to see if my low sex
drive/response was hormonal and maybe not entirely
AD related. I tested low in testosterone. I'm sure
it wasn't low (just on an intuitive level) before I
started taking AD's (almost 10 years now), b/c I used
to be a very horny chick--really almost TOO horny.
Then I read a study about AD's lowering testosterone
and I thought "well that makes sense!". I was prescribed
a testosterone cream and it definitely helped with increasing
sex drive..unfortunately not much with dulled sensation, but
maybe a little...
Posted by Krazy Kat on May 13, 2002, at 12:05:36
In reply to Re: Low Sex Drive? Read This!, posted by Roo on May 13, 2002, at 9:24:23
Roo:
Do you know if all testerone creams are prescribed? Just curious if there are any otc.
See my response to your thread on PBS - we certainly have some things in common. :)
- kk
Posted by Roo on May 13, 2002, at 13:16:51
In reply to Re: Low Sex Drive? Read This! » Roo, posted by Krazy Kat on May 13, 2002, at 12:05:36
I think the real, actual testosterone creams are only prescribed. First the endocrinologist
prescribed them, and then my gynecologist...
There might be some sort of natural testosterone
enhancer..I'm not sure. I know DHEA is supposed to
increase levels and you can get it at all health food
places.It's good to know I'm not alone! Thanks for the
responses...
Posted by Krazy Kat on May 13, 2002, at 14:03:41
In reply to Re: Low Sex Drive? Read This!, posted by Roo on May 13, 2002, at 13:16:51
euphoria for women? has anyone heard about this cream? its safety, etc.?
Posted by vince on May 14, 2002, at 22:53:49
In reply to Low Sex Drive? Read This! , posted by afatchic on May 11, 2002, at 6:58:33
I've always tested low for testosterone after being on SSRI's. I've told my pdoc that I thought that it was due to the medication but he didn't believe me.
Vince
Posted by fairnymph on May 15, 2002, at 1:22:46
In reply to Low Sex Drive? Read This! , posted by afatchic on May 11, 2002, at 6:58:33
Interestingly, I have high levels (above average) of testosterone AND estrogen.
Prozac eradicated my sex drive (and ability to orgasm), and Effexor didn't affect my libido, but it DID prevent me from orgasming.
~fairnymph
Posted by Roo on May 15, 2002, at 9:57:56
In reply to Re: Low Sex Drive? Read This! , posted by fairnymph on May 15, 2002, at 1:22:46
Does anyone know if your testosterone levels go
back up to normal once you discontinue the drug,
or are they permanantly lowered?
Posted by vince on May 15, 2002, at 23:35:58
In reply to Re: Do testosterone levels ever return to normal?, posted by Roo on May 15, 2002, at 9:57:56
> Does anyone know if your testosterone levels go
> back up to normal once you discontinue the drug,
> or are they permanantly lowered?Testosterone levels should return to previous level within a few months after discontiuning ssri's. That has been my experience at least.
However if you supplement with testosterone, patches, creams etc. your natural test production will be suppressed. If you use testosterone replacement products long enough your natural production may be suppressed permanantly. Some cannot produce test natually. These people need testosterone replacement, but if your test levels were normal before using ssri's then you don't need these products. A better way might be to use supplements that support natural testosterone production.
Try a combination of three or four of the following natural remedies. I've listed them in my own order of preference. This worked for me much better than Viagra, or any other prescription that I've tried. I've never been big on using supplements but I was pretty desperate and I found out that they work well. Almost too well. I think about sex way too much now. I guess i could cut back on the dose - maybe.
- Epimedium Sagitatum extract(arial),
- Maca (Lepidium meyenii)(root),
- Potency Wood (Muira puama)(arial),
- Avena Sativa extract(ariel),
- Yohimbe extract (Pausinystalia yohimba)(bark), (yohimbe may cause nerviousnes - probably not good for people with GAD or depression - IMO.
- L-Arginine,
- Zinc (or ZMA)
- Tribulus Terresteris extract(arial), (I don't know how well this would work for women).Also: Low dose selegiline can increase testosterone levels: "THE TESTOSTERONE SYNDROME" BY EUGEN SHIPPEN MD
You can find all of these (except selegiline) at:https://www2.acadia.net/cgi-bin/BAC/web_store.cgi
I like this site because it sells in bulk which makes the products much cheaper. The downside is that you have to cap the products yourself because if you take them without capping them most of them taste nasty. There is an expanation there for what each of the supplements are supposed to do for you.
Vince
Posted by krazy kat on May 16, 2002, at 10:59:38
In reply to Re: Do testosterone levels ever return to normal? » Roo, posted by vince on May 15, 2002, at 23:35:58
Vince:
Thanks a lot for this info. I was going to ask Roo's ? as well.
Do you know if and how any of these interact with medications? I would never have been concerned about that before having a bad interaction with Ginko and an SSRI once.
Thanks!
- kk
Posted by Ron Hill on May 16, 2002, at 16:49:14
In reply to supplements... » vince , posted by krazy kat on May 16, 2002, at 10:59:38
Posted by vince on May 17, 2002, at 0:51:01
In reply to supplements... » vince , posted by krazy kat on May 16, 2002, at 10:59:38
> Vince:
>
> Thanks a lot for this info. I was going to ask Roo's ? as well.
>
> Do you know if and how any of these interact with medications? I would never have been concerned about that before having a bad interaction with Ginko and an SSRI once.
>I had a problem with Ginko too. I couldn't use it with ssri's.
I didn't have a problem with any of the supplements that I listed in my post, except the yohimbe, but everyone is different. I'm certainly not qualified to give advice on medication interactions, but it seems common sence that if you've experienced problems before with 'natural' supplements you probably should be extra careful. Start out slowly on one supplement, then test others one at a time, then you can combine some until you find a cocktail that works best for you.
Another good one that I didn't mention is Rhodiola Rosea. It's not the best one for sexual disfunction but it is supposed to make others like Maca work even better; and it's supposed to help with depression. You can look it up on the web or read a little bit about it at the link that I mentioned. Remember that the link that I posted sells mostly bulk materials. If you don't want to cap your own stuff then look around for the best buys on capsulized products.
Don't spend too much though. Just try one or two at first. I think you'll find that most of the ones that I listed are very potent. You might want to read a little to see which ones are most effective for women.
Vince
This is the end of the thread.
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