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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 Steve_M on October 29, 2004, at 9:56:42
Based on what I've read, I have gone on to Effexor fairly quickly - from 0 to 150mg in about 2 weeks; and I've now been at the 150mg level for about 3 weeks. I've experienced several side effects (edginess, spaciness, nausea and/or loss of appetite, etc) and my doctor decided, yesterday, to move me back down to 112.5mg and see if things don't improve.
I've experienced a pronounced loss of sex drive, though. I'm less interested in sex, it's more difficult to attain/maintain an erection, it takes a long time to reach climax, and ejaculation is often NOT accompanied by orgasm.
Will this improve after I become more stabilized with the Effexor? Has anyone found any "tricks" to circumvent some or all of these difficulties?
Don't get me wrong. The Effexor works! Depression symptoms are dramatically reduced and severe PTSD anxiety events are starting to become much more manageable. I am *not* inclined to make any changes in medication or dosage.
I was just wondering if anyone had discovered any tricks for reducing the sexual side effects - diet, other medications or compounds, etc.
Thanks for the input!
Posted by jclint on October 30, 2004, at 19:45:27
In reply to Effexor XR and male sexual difficulties, posted by Steve_M on October 29, 2004, at 9:56:42
Hi Steve. I was put on 75mg of effexor about 2 years ago, just finishing as I speak. I had the exact same sexual side effects as you, and rest assured, they go away. I remember feeling very asexual for about 6 weeks, but after that my libido + orgasm/ejac went back to normal. If I remember quickly, it changed very rapidly, over the course of several days. Since then, I've been perfectly normal, perhaps even with a slight libido increase. But maybe that's just me. Glad to hear you've found something that's working, try and entertain yourself with something wholesome like chess until you are back to normal :)
John
Posted by Bill LL on November 1, 2004, at 13:43:31
In reply to Effexor XR and male sexual difficulties, posted by Steve_M on October 29, 2004, at 9:56:42
For some people, that side effect gradually diminishes. But others continue to have sexual side effects on Effexor and on the various SSRI drugs.
It seems that at least for males, the most effective treatment is Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra. The only effective over the counter remedy that I know of is yohimbine. But it causes a fair amount of jitteriness.
Some people have success augmenting with Wellbutrin, Remeron, or Buspar.
> Based on what I've read, I have gone on to Effexor fairly quickly - from 0 to 150mg in about 2 weeks; and I've now been at the 150mg level for about 3 weeks. I've experienced several side effects (edginess, spaciness, nausea and/or loss of appetite, etc) and my doctor decided, yesterday, to move me back down to 112.5mg and see if things don't improve.
>
> I've experienced a pronounced loss of sex drive, though. I'm less interested in sex, it's more difficult to attain/maintain an erection, it takes a long time to reach climax, and ejaculation is often NOT accompanied by orgasm.
>
> Will this improve after I become more stabilized with the Effexor? Has anyone found any "tricks" to circumvent some or all of these difficulties?
>
> Don't get me wrong. The Effexor works! Depression symptoms are dramatically reduced and severe PTSD anxiety events are starting to become much more manageable. I am *not* inclined to make any changes in medication or dosage.
>
> I was just wondering if anyone had discovered any tricks for reducing the sexual side effects - diet, other medications or compounds, etc.
>
> Thanks for the input!
>
>
>
Posted by Steve_M on November 1, 2004, at 13:58:10
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and male sexual difficulties, posted by Bill LL on November 1, 2004, at 13:43:31
Hmm. I was wondering about that. I'm also being treated for high blood pressure. Do Viagra, Cialis and Levitra all have negative side-effects for blood pressure? I'm pretty sure Viagra does.
Might be a moot point. Some of the side-effects of the Effexor seem to be subsiding since we moved back down to 112.5mg per day. Maybe the sexual difficulties will get better as well.
> For some people, that side effect gradually diminishes. But others continue to have sexual side effects on Effexor and on the various SSRI drugs.
>
> It seems that at least for males, the most effective treatment is Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra. The only effective over the counter remedy that I know of is yohimbine. But it causes a fair amount of jitteriness.
>
> Some people have success augmenting with Wellbutrin, Remeron, or Buspar.
>
>
> > Based on what I've read, I have gone on to Effexor fairly quickly - from 0 to 150mg in about 2 weeks; and I've now been at the 150mg level for about 3 weeks. I've experienced several side effects (edginess, spaciness, nausea and/or loss of appetite, etc) and my doctor decided, yesterday, to move me back down to 112.5mg and see if things don't improve.
> >
> > I've experienced a pronounced loss of sex drive, though. I'm less interested in sex, it's more difficult to attain/maintain an erection, it takes a long time to reach climax, and ejaculation is often NOT accompanied by orgasm.
> >
> > Will this improve after I become more stabilized with the Effexor? Has anyone found any "tricks" to circumvent some or all of these difficulties?
> >
> > Don't get me wrong. The Effexor works! Depression symptoms are dramatically reduced and severe PTSD anxiety events are starting to become much more manageable. I am *not* inclined to make any changes in medication or dosage.
> >
> > I was just wondering if anyone had discovered any tricks for reducing the sexual side effects - diet, other medications or compounds, etc.
> >
> > Thanks for the input!
> >
> >
> >
>
>
Posted by jclint on November 1, 2004, at 16:55:48
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and male sexual difficulties, posted by Steve_M on November 1, 2004, at 13:58:10
When I was concerned about this, when I first started, I seem to remember somebody suggesting that the XR version had much fewer sexual side effects than the original version, but don't quote me on that.
Posted by Steve_M on November 2, 2004, at 9:44:59
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and male sexual difficulties, posted by jclint on November 1, 2004, at 16:55:48
That's probably true. I am on the XR version, so I'm grateful for that! I've noticed over the past few days, after we reduced my dosage by 25%, that I've been feeling more irritable and a little bit depressed. Grr. I hope that's not a preview of what is in store if/when I ever have to stop taking the stuff! However, I've also noticed I feel a little more "natural" - fewer of the 'brain shivers' and less of that odd 'chemically-influenced' sensation. I seem to be able to achieve erections more easily, too; though orgasms are still elusive and/or take a very long time to achieve.
> When I was concerned about this, when I first started, I seem to remember somebody suggesting that the XR version had much fewer sexual side effects than the original version, but don't quote me on that.
Posted by juliette on November 3, 2004, at 13:17:37
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and male sexual difficulties, posted by jclint on October 30, 2004, at 19:45:27
hi i am a women and have the same side affects as all of u it really stinks and i am taking the xr also have alot of other side affects not to good i feel 4 all of u
Posted by whitdaddy on November 6, 2004, at 13:36:33
In reply to Effexor XR and male sexual difficulties, posted by Steve_M on October 29, 2004, at 9:56:42
Effexor will definitely destroy your sex drive. The side effects do diminish with time, but I always had great difficulty reaching orgasm while taking Effexor...very frustrating. Viagra, et al. do help with ED but won't do a thing about the anorgasmia. This is because the problem is related to neurotransmitter levels in your brain and not below your belt!
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