Anti-depressants, crushed libido, anorgasmia

[Courage]

Been a while...this place seems to have turned over.

 

Anyway, the title says it all. My use of anti-depressants is pretty much non-negotiable for now--they've improved most aspects of my life drastically. I figured I'd ask and see if any other guys have found a way to improve things.

[+ kov78]

I take some myself. And yeah they do limit your sex drive, or can for some. I take cialis extended release. Helps things along for a few days at a time. Not as a huge problem for me though as I'm a total bottom

[rvwnsd]

Been a while...this place seems to have turned over.

 

Anyway, the title says it all. My use of anti-depressants is pretty much non-negotiable for now--they've improved most aspects of my life drastically. I figured I'd ask and see if any other guys have found a way to improve things.

My advice is to discuss it with your doctor and see if one of the anti-depressants that have fewer sexual side-effects would work for you.

[NuSingle]

Yes work with your doctor and communicate your issues. It's not uncommon to switch around to find the right one for you. The only side effect mine has is a longer amount of time to reach orgasm which I love. In fact I'd consider staying on it for that reason alone.

[+ OliverSaks]

Adding Wellbutrin / changing to Wellbutrin is a common practice to help with what you're going through. It wouldn't hurt to ask your doc.

(Assuming you're on an SSRI)

[gp0560]

For a long time, I was on anti-depressants. It was hard to get an erection, I didn't have much interest in it anyway, and I was never able to ejaculate.

 

Then my PCP prescribed Cialis. We tried various levels and ended up with the daily version. OK, so now I can get hard, if/when I want to, but still can't come.

 

Then I saw an endocrinologist. He prescribed Androgel in the pump form. Aha, now I want to come physically, and I can get hard, if (big IF) I want to.

 

And then, and then, as I started trying to go off some of my anti-depressants, I was down to only Cymbalta and Lamictal. Went off Cymbalta, and that was the final piece of the puzzle. I have been able to get hard for, to want to physically, and to want to emotionally. AUGUST 3, 2013: The first time I came since I don't know when.

 

Since then, I been coming more often than I did as a teenager, to the point that I think I must have had low testosterone all my life. Thank God for endocrinologists, especially those who understand what a man needs and who are willing to let him keep doing it well into old age.

 

Hopefully, my story will give you some things to look into. In particular, if you can get off SNRIs, you may find a whole new world out there. Good luck!

[adannyboy]

The best advice that I got regarding antidepressants and sexual dysfunction is to masturbate through it.

 

The drugs change your body a bit. It's all chemical. You've gotta let your body re-learn pleasure pathways in its new environment. It's not gonna be a quick learn, but it's possible.

 

Thinking on how people who, for example, get sober after long periods of substance (ab)use need to relearn how to get down. Same idea, different chemical.

[gp0560]

The best advice that I got regarding antidepressants and sexual dysfunction is to masturbate through it.

 

The drugs change your body a bit. It's all chemical. You've gotta let your body re-learn pleasure pathways in its new environment. It's not gonna be a quick learn, but it's possible.

 

Thinking on how people who, for example, get sober after long periods of substance (ab)use need to relearn how to get down. Same idea, different chemical.

 

Yes, I can see how that approach might work for some people, but I guess there's no one recipe that will work for everyone. In my case, I could rub away all I wanted, but all I got was a chafed dick.

[Courage]

Adding Wellbutrin / changing to Wellbutrin is a common practice to help with what you're going through. It wouldn't hurt to ask your doc.

(Assuming you're on an SSRI)

 

Thanks to all respondents. I'll talk with the doc. Unlike some commenters' experience, I can get and maintain erections, and I can ejaculate Just fine on my own. Just in my few times with another guy, there was an inability to come--which I ascribed to other factors.

 

Nerves etc. might be part of it, but given the side effects I've read about, I think I need to look at this.

 

Once again, thanks.

[NavyChief]

The other issue, and of course talk to your PCP, mental health professional but look at dietary changes, etc., as an alternative to chemicals. We as a culture have done so many things to of food and seems like we need to take a pill for everything. I was one an antidepressants for awhile and needed viagra. Seriously, that it like someone mixing valium with speed. Anyway, my point is there were metabolic issues at play as well. I have been off all those meds for a good while because of eating clean (yes I do cheat and sometimes binge), but all in all it has had the best impact all around. I did all the research on line. Also, some herbal supplements worked well. Try and find a homeopathic doctors advise as well.

[+ WmClarke]

Adding Wellbutrin / changing to Wellbutrin is a common practice to help with what you're going through. It wouldn't hurt to ask your doc.

(Assuming you're on an SSRI)

I would stay away from Wellbutrin. It really ruined my sex life.

[+ OliverSaks]

I would stay away from Wellbutrin. It really ruined my sex life.

I would be interested to hear exactly how this happened / how it "ruined" your sex life.

 

There is scant evidence in the literature to support your anecdote - a few case reports that I could find (but give enough people a drug and you'll find most any side effect can happen, so I'm not trying to seem like I don't believe you)

[+ WmClarke]

I would be interested to hear exactly how this happened / how it "ruined" your sex life.

 

There is scant evidence in the literature to support your anecdote - a few case reports that I could find (but give enough people a drug and you'll find most any side effect can happen, so I'm not trying to seem like I don't believe you)

I completely lost my sex drive and my ability to get an erection. Once I got off Wellbutrin, my sex drive returned.

[+ OliverSaks]

I completely lost my sex drive and my ability to get an erection. Once I got off Wellbutrin, my sex drive returned.

And your ability to get an erection?

[Good Grief]

I would stay away from Wellbutrin. It really ruined my sex life.

 

I tried Wellbutrin to help with smoking cessation while on another anti-d.

 

At the time my oldest son was, maybe, 3 years old and really into Barney the Purple Dinosaur...

 

On Wellbutrin I had a particular bothersome Barney song in my head 24/7 (plus, if possible.) Drove me crazy.

 

Honestly, I dumped the Wellbutrin and stuck with the Marlboros for a while.

[Jim Corrigan]

I was also on Wellbutrin for smoking and became suicidal.Not a side effect I was warned about.As a former psych nurse I totally understand why people are wary of antidepressants.

[Courage]

I was also on Wellbutrin for smoking and became suicidal.Not a side effect I was warned about.As a former psych nurse I totally understand why people are wary of antidepressants.

 

I have no reason to question your experience, but do want to say I had a different one. Despite some wariness (and some very bad experiences) with antidepressants, I have in recent years *greatly* benefited from them--including Bupropion (aka Wellbutrin). It took a long time and a bit of luck to find a good practitioner in my part of the sticks though.

[NavyChief]

Also, if you are on any other medication for perhaps cholesterol, zocor, there are potential ED side effects. I noticed that while I was taking it, I was not hacong and EMHO. That is when I researched a bit more. Surprisingly for a time I was on zoloft, I did not have any issues.

[Populist Fury]

I once faked being depressed in order to get on meds (weed had become ~so 90's~ by the time I reached my 20s), and was put on Wellbutrin. Took it, and became hornier than I'd ever been before for that whole entire first day. Jerked off & came at least 4 times watching Jon Vincent porn in the span of 8 hrs, but it didn't have the same effect on me the following day, and eventually stopped taking it, moved on to Vicodin instead lol

 

The one thing that did kill my dick, wrecked my sex drive, and gave me blue balls that wouldn't go away for days was 1,3 dimethyl in pre-workout supplements. Evil stuff! Took my dick almost 10 days to fully come back to life after I stopped taking it. I immediately dropped all pre-workout supplements containing stimulants after that scare, even the ones not containing DMAA. Besides the physical pain, there was also stress and mood swings I had to deal with. I remember panicking like crazy thinking I had become impotent at such a young age before I learned about the cause, literally wanted to die every time I thought about it. Had several emotional meltdowns during that period.

[+ WmClarke]

And your ability to get an erection?

Nope.

[NuSingle]

Well there you go, I've tried numerous antidepressants and Wellbutrin is the one for me. This is why I encourage people to work with their physician and be open to trying various ones if it's not working for you and your overall well-being.

[Deadlift1]

Many side effects are temporary. AD arent an immediate fix. They often must be taken for weeks or months before benefits are realized.