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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cache-monkey on January 7, 2005, at 21:08:08
Hey all,
After a pretty bad panic attack (which made us resassess some earlier experiences from dysphoric mania to straight-up anxiety), my p-doc has put me on Klonopin. My big worry with all psychtropics is sexual dysfunction.
How have people fared in that department on Klonopin? I would be most appreciative if you could share your experiences, positive or negative with respect to:
a) libido/interest
b) attaining orgasm/quality of o
Please indicate the dosage and other medications that you might also have been on.Thank you!
cache-monkey
Posted by jasmineneroli on January 8, 2005, at 0:23:36
In reply to Klonopin and Sexual Function..., posted by cache-monkey on January 7, 2005, at 21:08:08
Hey:
I feel very qualified to answer this query!
I have been on Klonopin at the following doses: 1mg per day (with.5mg as needed, extra)
.5mg daily, and now
.25mg daily.
I took this as mono-therapy for about 2 months. Zero sexual problems.
Reduced dosage to .5mg, added Buspar. Zero sexual problems, no improved therapuetic effect.
Dropped Buspar, added Moclobemide(varying doses) to the Klonopin, zero sexual s/e's. AWFUL OTHER s/e's.
Dropped Mocolobemide.
Added Celexa (10mg)to the Klonopin. After 6 weeks...and BINGO! Sexual side effects...all of them, decreased sensitivity, followed by complete anorgasmia, later joined by no libido!!!!
3 months later, dropped Celexa.
Substituted tryptophan into my Klon. combo. previous sexual side effects started to diminish...libido came back, then sensitivity increased (slowly). Now pretty much back to pre-Celexa, I guess.
Moral of this long tale:
Klonopin caused NO sexual S/E's (in fact I found it a little uninhibiting, because I wasn't worried about performance - I'm female, we worry about that too).
Celexa absolutely DID cause them.
Hope that helps a bit.
Jas
Posted by tensor on January 8, 2005, at 8:01:55
In reply to Klonopin and Sexual Function..., posted by cache-monkey on January 7, 2005, at 21:08:08
Hi,
i've on clonazepam for years, i've never found it decreasing my libido nor causing other sexual side effects. I've been on 2mg, 3mg and 4mg daily.
/Mattias
Posted by Glydin on January 8, 2005, at 8:58:08
In reply to Klonopin and Sexual Function..., posted by cache-monkey on January 7, 2005, at 21:08:08
Monotherapy Klonopin for 3 years. Titrated at
.25 mgs per day (typical maint. dose) - 1 mgs per day (rare). None of the S/E you inquire about.
Posted by cache-monkey on January 8, 2005, at 21:21:27
In reply to Re: Klonopin and Sexual Function... » cache-monkey, posted by jasmineneroli on January 8, 2005, at 0:23:36
Hi Jas,
Celexa destroyed my sexual function completely, too. (Quicker than for you: it took about 10 days at 20 mg.) It did work well, though. Possibly too well.
I actually think one version of my DX is pretty close to yours, from what I've seen you post elsewhere: GAD a lot of the time, recurrenty dysthymia. Also some low-grade OCD -- more the the C than the O, and that seems actually anxiety-driven; e.g. compulsively engaging in hypochondriacal research. The other DX is some form of low-grade BP with lots of anxiety (posibly dysphoric mania) -- the Celexa did induce some genuine hypomania in combo with Wellbutrin.
So, given that maybe our DX is similar, I'm interested in hearing about how Klonopin+Tryptophan is working for you. (I'd actually been planning on starting Tryp after the Klon starts kicking in. I'm actually just getting off of BuSpar since I can't get on a high enough dose (dizziness) and even at the low dose I'm on, I feel like I get certain extra physical anxiety symptoms instead and maybe a small reduction in panicy-ness.)
Another thing I'm thinking about adding, though is low-dose Selegiline for the dysthymic (lethargy, possibly ADD, but maybe that's from being anxious all the time!) side of my symptoms. Have you any experience with this?
Thanks,
cache-monkey> Hey:
> I feel very qualified to answer this query!
> I have been on Klonopin at the following doses: 1mg per day (with.5mg as needed, extra)
> .5mg daily, and now
> .25mg daily.
> I took this as mono-therapy for about 2 months. Zero sexual problems.
> Reduced dosage to .5mg, added Buspar. Zero sexual problems, no improved therapuetic effect.
> Dropped Buspar, added Moclobemide(varying doses) to the Klonopin, zero sexual s/e's. AWFUL OTHER s/e's.
> Dropped Mocolobemide.
> Added Celexa (10mg)to the Klonopin. After 6 weeks...and BINGO! Sexual side effects...all of them, decreased sensitivity, followed by complete anorgasmia, later joined by no libido!!!!
> 3 months later, dropped Celexa.
> Substituted tryptophan into my Klon. combo. previous sexual side effects started to diminish...libido came back, then sensitivity increased (slowly). Now pretty much back to pre-Celexa, I guess.
> Moral of this long tale:
> Klonopin caused NO sexual S/E's (in fact I found it a little uninhibiting, because I wasn't worried about performance - I'm female, we worry about that too).
> Celexa absolutely DID cause them.
> Hope that helps a bit.
> Jas
Posted by Dan Perkins on January 8, 2005, at 21:47:32
In reply to Re: Klonopin and Sexual Function... » jasmineneroli, posted by cache-monkey on January 8, 2005, at 21:21:27
I'm not a fan of klonopin but I can't recall that it ever caused me any sexual side-effects. In fact, as a previous poster mentioned, it's uninhibiting qualities can actually make sex a bit more enjoyable. Another thing to mention is that if you are taking it for social anxiety (as I was) and are single, you probably stand a much better chance of meeting someone and getting laid once your social anxiety has been mitigated by the drug.
Posted by cache-monkey on January 9, 2005, at 7:15:19
In reply to Re: Klonopin and Sexual Function..., posted by Dan Perkins on January 8, 2005, at 21:47:32
" I'm not a fan of klonopin but I can't recall that it ever caused me any sexual side-effects. In fact, as a previous poster mentioned, it's uninhibiting qualities can actually make sex a bit more enjoyable. Another thing to mention is that if you are taking it for social anxiety (as I was) and are single, you probably stand a much better chance of meeting someone and getting laid once your social anxiety has been mitigated by the drug. "
Way to get right to the point there, Dan. Actually, as it happens, I'm in a new relationship and don't want the whole sex thing to be weird and awkward because of a non-responsive member. (Ah, the good old Celexa days.)
How come you're not a fan of Klonopin?
cache-monkey
Posted by Dan Perkins on January 9, 2005, at 10:27:37
In reply to Re: Klonopin and Sexual Function... » Dan Perkins, posted by cache-monkey on January 9, 2005, at 7:15:19
I'm not a fan of klonopin b/c after knocking out my social anxiety for a for a few hours (which is a huge relief), it sinks me into a miserable, suicidal depression that lasts for days. Just not a good bargain for me.
> How come you're not a fan of Klonopin?
>
> cache-monkey
>
>
Posted by jasmineneroli on January 12, 2005, at 1:01:36
In reply to Re: Klonopin and Sexual Function... » jasmineneroli, posted by cache-monkey on January 8, 2005, at 21:21:27
Hey: Sorry for the delay in my answer...been busy.
Um, yes, I did (and do from time to time) have lethargy. Especially in the am...very hard to rouse...takes me forever to energize. I also have times when I feel totally paralyzed and incapable of accomplishing anything. If I'm at home, I sometimes just sit and think, but don't "do"!!
At times, I've no idea where the time went.I feel that last part is a function of constant anxiety...my brain seems to need to take time away from stimulation of any kind. At first I thought it was a kinda depression, no motivation etc. But it only seems to happen every now and then, and only at home, where I'm "safe" and can relax.
I have ritualistic behaviours about getting ready in the am, that always make me late and cause more anxiety!! I too consider these as compulsions. I can't relax and get "unstuck" unless I've done certain tasks first.
I have tried Selegeline (briefly) to combat the am lethargy...but unfortunately (the story of my drug-taking life!) it gave me massive headaches.
However, before I stopped it, I did find that it gave me an energy lift. Now I just use caffeine!!The Tryptophan experiment is perplexing me. I've varied my dose from 500mg daily to 3,500mg - per my doctors plan. 500mg did nothing. I don't even get drowsy at 3.5g, but it's hard to take such a large amount over the course of a day, especially since it cannot be taken with protein, but should be taken with food!
3.5g I've decided is too much, I feel a bit apathetic lately. So I'm now down to 1500mg and have hit anxiety again. Therefore, I'm going to hover around 2grams and stick with the .25 to .5mg Klonopin also, for about a month to see what happens.
At least I have no side effects! The Trypt. really limits my OCD type behaviour and WAS giving me good sleeps - not anymore though.
I recommend it in combo with a benzo (low dose), it's "clean" and seems to have a similar effect to Celexa.
Let me know how you get on with your experiments!
You can Babblemail if you like.
Take care.
Jas
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