Guest guest Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 That is interesting. I have heard of this before, and you're probably right that your brain somehow adapted to the lexapro while you were on it - probably in a different or opposite way to most people with PSSD. Anyway, that's good news that you're doing better and I hope you can find a way to get back to normal without it. V > > First, for those who don't know, my problem seems to be atypical. I > took Lexapro for 3 years without having any problems. My sexual > problems started after stopping the drug in June 2005: > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SSRIsex/message/5312 > > I took Wellbutrin for awhile, and it seemed to be helping but it had > unpleastant side effects and it didn't help enough. So I decided I > would restart Lexapro, since I didn't have problems on it. On Sunday I > took 10 mg in the morning. When I woke up Monday morning, I was very > surprised to find myself with an erection (waking with an erection had > been very rare). I also immediately noticed how much sensation I had > on my penis. > > It hasn't even been a week and I think I feel normal again. I did feel > like orgasm took too long to achieve, however the whole time it was > pleasurable. (Before, there was little pleasure until orgasm). Notable > things that improved: > - Awaken with erection > - Can achieve erection without touching (i.e. by thinking/looking) > - Erection will last without constant touching > > I used to be at 20 mg/day, so I may see what happens if I move up to > 15 or 20. I haven't talked to my psychiatrist since I stopped the drug > (I didn't realize a link between Lexapro and my sexual problems), but > I made an appointment and I will tell him all of this. > > Meanwhile I have been getting prescriptions from my general doctor, > who thinks my problems are an anxiety issue and that is why Lexapro > helps. I am not convinced. I don't know how to explain it but my best > guess is that, since I started the drug young (age 16), my body has > built some sort of dependence on it. After talking to the doc I may > try to get off the drug over 1 or more years to gradually regain > ability without Lexapro. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Thanks for sharing your story. Keep us updated on your recovery. > > > > First, for those who don't know, my problem seems to be atypical. I > > took Lexapro for 3 years without having any problems. My sexual > > problems started after stopping the drug in June 2005: > > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SSRIsex/message/5312 > > > > I took Wellbutrin for awhile, and it seemed to be helping but it > had > > unpleastant side effects and it didn't help enough. So I decided I > > would restart Lexapro, since I didn't have problems on it. On > Sunday I > > took 10 mg in the morning. When I woke up Monday morning, I was > very > > surprised to find myself with an erection (waking with an erection > had > > been very rare). I also immediately noticed how much sensation I > had > > on my penis. > > > > It hasn't even been a week and I think I feel normal again. I did > feel > > like orgasm took too long to achieve, however the whole time it was > > pleasurable. (Before, there was little pleasure until orgasm). > Notable > > things that improved: > > - Awaken with erection > > - Can achieve erection without touching (i.e. by thinking/looking) > > - Erection will last without constant touching > > > > I used to be at 20 mg/day, so I may see what happens if I move up > to > > 15 or 20. I haven't talked to my psychiatrist since I stopped the > drug > > (I didn't realize a link between Lexapro and my sexual problems), > but > > I made an appointment and I will tell him all of this. > > > > Meanwhile I have been getting prescriptions from my general doctor, > > who thinks my problems are an anxiety issue and that is why Lexapro > > helps. I am not convinced. I don't know how to explain it but my > best > > guess is that, since I started the drug young (age 16), my body has > > built some sort of dependence on it. After talking to the doc I may > > try to get off the drug over 1 or more years to gradually regain > > ability without Lexapro. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 2006 Report Share Posted August 6, 2006 So maybe you're saying that we might be dependent on first anti- depressant that we took(i.e. paxil at 14)? What if we started to have serious side effects on that medication and can't go back on? I went back on effexor which is supposively like paxil but still did nothing...Anyways, thanks for sharing, and yea keep us posted! > > First, for those who don't know, my problem seems to be atypical. I > took Lexapro for 3 years without having any problems. My sexual > problems started after stopping the drug in June 2005: > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SSRIsex/message/5312 > > I took Wellbutrin for awhile, and it seemed to be helping but it had > unpleastant side effects and it didn't help enough. So I decided I > would restart Lexapro, since I didn't have problems on it. On Sunday I > took 10 mg in the morning. When I woke up Monday morning, I was very > surprised to find myself with an erection (waking with an erection had > been very rare). I also immediately noticed how much sensation I had > on my penis. > > It hasn't even been a week and I think I feel normal again. I did feel > like orgasm took too long to achieve, however the whole time it was > pleasurable. (Before, there was little pleasure until orgasm). Notable > things that improved: > - Awaken with erection > - Can achieve erection without touching (i.e. by thinking/looking) > - Erection will last without constant touching > > I used to be at 20 mg/day, so I may see what happens if I move up to > 15 or 20. I haven't talked to my psychiatrist since I stopped the drug > (I didn't realize a link between Lexapro and my sexual problems), but > I made an appointment and I will tell him all of this. > > Meanwhile I have been getting prescriptions from my general doctor, > who thinks my problems are an anxiety issue and that is why Lexapro > helps. I am not convinced. I don't know how to explain it but my best > guess is that, since I started the drug young (age 16), my body has > built some sort of dependence on it. After talking to the doc I may > try to get off the drug over 1 or more years to gradually regain > ability without Lexapro. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2007 Report Share Posted January 10, 2007 > > First, for those who don't know, my problem seems to be atypical. I > took Lexapro for 3 years without having any problems. My sexual > problems started after stopping the drug in June 2005: > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SSRIsex/message/5312 > > I took Wellbutrin for awhile, and it seemed to be helping but it had > unpleastant side effects and it didn't help enough. So I decided I > would restart Lexapro, since I didn't have problems on it. On Sunday I > took 10 mg in the morning. When I woke up Monday morning, I was very > surprised to find myself with an erection (waking with an erection had > been very rare). I also immediately noticed how much sensation I had > on my penis. > > It hasn't even been a week and I think I feel normal again. I did feel > like orgasm took too long to achieve, however the whole time it was > pleasurable. (Before, there was little pleasure until orgasm). Notable > things that improved: > - Awaken with erection > - Can achieve erection without touching (i.e. by thinking/looking) > - Erection will last without constant touching > > I used to be at 20 mg/day, so I may see what happens if I move up to > 15 or 20. I haven't talked to my psychiatrist since I stopped the drug > (I didn't realize a link between Lexapro and my sexual problems), but > I made an appointment and I will tell him all of this. > > Meanwhile I have been getting prescriptions from my general doctor, > who thinks my problems are an anxiety issue and that is why Lexapro > helps. I am not convinced. I don't know how to explain it but my best > guess is that, since I started the drug young (age 16), my body has > built some sort of dependence on it. After talking to the doc I may > try to get off the drug over 1 or more years to gradually regain > ability without Lexapro. > I had the same idea as you. When I took Paxil CR to begin with my sex drive improved initially. I had a very strong sex drive on paxil CR and when I took other SSRI's it decreased. But I restarted paxil CR a couple months ago right before I quit them all after I found out where the physical pain in my head was coming from. I felt like my sex drive was returning again but I didn't stay on it long enough for proof positive results. I also remember hearing a story of a woman who couldn't have sex without MDMA. If she didn't take the substance she would feel no pleasure because her body adapted to that high. I feel like if I took paxil again it might restore my drives but as of now I'm going for an alternative way out but your story doesn't surprise me at all. Chemicals are very sensitive in our body and our bodies adapt to and remembers things that it gets used to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 It's amazing how these drugs affect everybody so differently. What about the huge # of people who go on and stay on these drugs with no long term effects? Are there really people who have no persistant side effects? Are we really a minority? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 I think people with persistent effects are a minority, but I would guess it's about 10%. I think there are many reasons why it's under- reported: First of all, I think the majority never say anything to their doctor - there are a surprisingly large percentage of people who can't talk about sex even in the 21st century! Or if they do they are not believed. Then there are some people who don't realize it's the drugs, some don't care, some actually welcome the decrease in libido, some get only relatively minor effets that are tolerable, and some commit suicide becasue it's so bad, and so on and so on... Vornan > > It's amazing how these drugs affect everybody so differently. What about the > huge # of people who go on and stay on these drugs with no long term > effects? Are there really people who have no persistant side effects? Are we really > a minority? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2007 Report Share Posted January 15, 2007 I just got done with a post, not expecting anyone to relate to my unique problem and then directly after I posted this http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SSRIsex/message/7147 I saw your story which was identical to mine, things only became a problem when I stopped as well, and I to began taking it around 16 or 17. It was prescribed for me because of depression, I had lots of anxiety as well - but one of the 2 main things that prove to me that the sexual symptoms are not the result of anxiety or depression or what have you, is number 1 i'm experiencing ejaculatory anhedonia, which isn't even a symptom of depression, and number 2 there were times when I was very happy even off the drug yet nothing. I wish I could just go on ssri's but, I dread being dependent on them for life, I don't like the way they make me feel, they completely change me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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