Re: New here and want to share my experiences

[Guest guest]

Thanks for sharing your story. I have heard of this kind of thing

before. Somebody your age wrote up their story on this board and it

was very similar except they had been taking prozac instead of

lexapro.

I think the SSRIs set up some kind of chemical imbalance in the

brain that can lead to a loss of sexuality that begins *after* they

are discontinued. There is probably some kind of neurochemical

vicious circle set up.

So, apart from the spaciness, the wellbutrin has restored you pretty

much to normal? I've noticed a little speciness too at 37.5

mg/day. I agree that it's a subtle " out of it " feeling. Strange.

How long did it take before the pro-sexual effects kicked in, and

how long have you been on it all together?

Vornan

>

> I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder at age 16, at the

> beginning of 11th grade. I agree that I had a problem with

anxiety: I

> could not function in front of groups, would blush extremely

easily,

> and basically couldn't talk to girls out of such extreme anxiety.

So,

> I was prescribed Lexapro. I think I started at 5 mg for a few

months,

> gradually increasing over the next two years up to 20 mg.

>

> Up until this time, I think I masturbated almost every day since I

> first started around age 13. I didn't think much of it at the time

but

> after starting Lexapro I think I slowed down to 2-4 times a week.

> Other than that, I don't think I had any sexual problems, and I

> definitely didn't think anything was wrong at the time. I was very

> happy to have gotten rid of the anxiety.

>

> After entering college I got involved with my first girlfriend.

Also,

> I was her first boyfriend who she did more than kiss, so things

went

> slow. For a short time I tried 30 mg Lexapro (after talking with

the

> doc) but decided to go back to 20, not because of side effects but

> because I noticed no difference in anxiety. I had no trouble

getting

> erections or with libido. After we started having sex, I still had

no

> trouble with libido. Once in a while I had trouble getting an

> erection, but it was always late at night and I still think I was

just

> so tired.

>

> After my first year at college, I decided to stop taking Lexapro

and

> see if my anxiety was gone. I didn't talk to my doc first, but I

did

> taper off with slight side effects. (There was also one point

during

> the school year that I stopped cold turkey to see how I felt, but

the

> withdrawal was bad so I went back to taking it). Again, up until

now I

> had no sexual problems. So I tapered off Lexapro, anxiety wasn't

too

> bad. For summer, my girlfriend would be far away at her home, so I

> don't know how I was sexually except through masturbation. I

> *definitely* remember thinking how masturbation released my tension

> but was not too pleasurable; at the time I thought it was just bad

in

> comparison to being with my girlfriend.

>

> But, then I went to visit my girlfriend for two weeks during the

> summer. When I first arrived we couldn't keep our hands off of each

> other and I had no trouble with libido or erections, but we

couldn't

> have sex because we didn't get to be alone for long enough. When

our

> first chance came, I think I had a little trouble staying hard

when it

> came time to put on a condom. Unfortunately we were interrupted and

> didn't get any farther. Later came our second chance. We decided

to go

> to a hotel so we wouldn't have any interruptions, but oddly I was

not

> eager *at all* to do this. Partly I didn't like the idea of

spending

> the money, but also it felt " cheap " . But we went. This time even

after

> getting the condom on for no apparent reason I couldn't keep an

> erection. Eventually I did, but the sex just didn't quite feel

like it

> used to. It felt like a chore.

>

> Then I had to go back to my home. The next year of college started

and

> my girlfriend and I were together again but I still had problems

> getting an erection, especially at first. The sex was still

mediocre.

> I also noticed how I didn't get much feeling by looking at

attractive

> women, even my girlfriend who before made me crazy. Once in a

while we

> would have sex and everything would be great, but that became rare.

> Also particularly disappointing was, when she used to grab me, I

would

> just go crazy for her. But now, it would just annoy me.

>

> Near the end of the 2nd year of college (May of this year) it

occured

> to me to look up info on long term effects of SSRIs and I found

this

> group. I started taking 75 mg Wellbutrin. Unfortunately my

girlfriend

> again had to leave for summer, but I did spend a little bit of time

> with her while on Wellbutrin. First we were just cuddling together

and

> I got a good erection again. Later, she was stroking me and it

felt

> like it used to when we first started. We didn't get to have sex

though.

>

> If you have bothered to read through my whole story, one thing

that is

> still a mystery to me is I had almost no sexual problems while

taking

> Lexapro but rather the problems started after stopping the drug! If

> anybody else has similar experience I would like to know about it.

>

> I got a blood test and should find out the results shortly. I've

been

> taking different doses of Wellbutrin to see what it does but I

> notice differences only at 75 mg. However, I do not want to

continue

> it because I feel " out of it " and I think it may be Wellbutrin's

> fault. I am also taking 60 mg Ginkgo two times daily. I don't know

if

> its making a difference; I saw it recommended and it was easy to

get.

>

[Guest guest]

Here is the story that was similar to yours. I've heard of others as well.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SSRIsex/message/4119?threaded=1 & var=1

Vornan

>> I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder at age 16, at the> beginning of 11th grade. I agree that I had a problem with anxiety: I> could not function in front of groups, would blush extremely easily,> and basically couldn't talk to girls out of such extreme anxiety. So,> I was prescribed Lexapro. I think I started at 5 mg for a few months,> gradually increasing over the next two years up to 20 mg.> > Up until this time, I think I masturbated almost every day since I> first started around age 13. I didn't think much of it at the time but> after starting Lexapro I think I slowed down to 2-4 times a week.> Other than that, I don't think I had any sexual problems, and I> definitely didn't think anything was wrong at the time. I was very> happy to have gotten rid of the anxiety.> > After entering college I got involved with my first girlfriend. Also,> I was her first boyfriend who she did more than kiss, so things went> slow. For a short time I tried 30 mg Lexapro (after talking with the> doc) but decided to go back to 20, not because of side effects but> because I noticed no difference in anxiety. I had no trouble getting> erections or with libido. After we started having sex, I still had no> trouble with libido. Once in a while I had trouble getting an> erection, but it was always late at night and I still think I was just> so tired.> > After my first year at college, I decided to stop taking Lexapro and> see if my anxiety was gone. I didn't talk to my doc first, but I did> taper off with slight side effects. (There was also one point during> the school year that I stopped cold turkey to see how I felt, but the> withdrawal was bad so I went back to taking it). Again, up until now I> had no sexual problems. So I tapered off Lexapro, anxiety wasn't too> bad. For summer, my girlfriend would be far away at her home, so I> don't know how I was sexually except through masturbation. I> *definitely* remember thinking how masturbation released my tension> but was not too pleasurable; at the time I thought it was just bad in> comparison to being with my girlfriend.> > But, then I went to visit my girlfriend for two weeks during the> summer. When I first arrived we couldn't keep our hands off of each> other and I had no trouble with libido or erections, but we couldn't> have sex because we didn't get to be alone for long enough. When our> first chance came, I think I had a little trouble staying hard when it> came time to put on a condom. Unfortunately we were interrupted and> didn't get any farther. Later came our second chance. We decided to go> to a hotel so we wouldn't have any interruptions, but oddly I was not> eager *at all* to do this. Partly I didn't like the idea of spending> the money, but also it felt "cheap". But we went. This time even after> getting the condom on for no apparent reason I couldn't keep an> erection. Eventually I did, but the sex just didn't quite feel like it> used to. It felt like a chore.> > Then I had to go back to my home. The next year of college started and> my girlfriend and I were together again but I still had problems> getting an erection, especially at first. The sex was still mediocre.> I also noticed how I didn't get much feeling by looking at attractive> women, even my girlfriend who before made me crazy. Once in a while we> would have sex and everything would be great, but that became rare.> Also particularly disappointing was, when she used to grab me, I would> just go crazy for her. But now, it would just annoy me.> > Near the end of the 2nd year of college (May of this year) it occured> to me to look up info on long term effects of SSRIs and I found this> group. I started taking 75 mg Wellbutrin. Unfortunately my girlfriend> again had to leave for summer, but I did spend a little bit of time> with her while on Wellbutrin. First we were just cuddling together and> I got a good erection again. Later, she was stroking me and it felt> like it used to when we first started. We didn't get to have sex though.> > If you have bothered to read through my whole story, one thing that is> still a mystery to me is I had almost no sexual problems while taking> Lexapro but rather the problems started after stopping the drug! If> anybody else has similar experience I would like to know about it.> > I got a blood test and should find out the results shortly. I've been> taking different doses of Wellbutrin to see what it does but I> notice differences only at 75 mg. However, I do not want to continue> it because I feel "out of it" and I think it may be Wellbutrin's> fault. I am also taking 60 mg Ginkgo two times daily. I don't know if> its making a difference; I saw it recommended and it was easy to get.>

[Guest guest]

I wouldn't say that wellbutrin has restored me to normal... yet. Its

just better. I had taken it for only 3 days of 75 mg when I noticed

the positive effects. That seems a little too soon for it to take

effect (maybe it was the placebo effect?), however I seem to respond

to respond to drugs (alcohol, caffeine) fairly quickly so maybe it

really did work that quickly. After those 3 days it occured to me to

try even lower doses first: 37.5 mg for 6 days, then 56.25 mg for 8

days. I didn't think those doses did too much but I did masturbate

more than usual. Now I'm on 75 mg a day for 8 days so far. So that's

25 days since the first pill. As annoying as the 'out of it' side

effect is I think it is helping so I am tempted to deal with it for at

least a month more of 75 mg/day. I hope/expect that if I take

Wellbutrin for some time, it will permanently reverse the SSRI effects

and I will be normal with no drugs at all.

Unfortunately my girlfriend is not here so I cannot say how well I

would perform with her. Masturbation is better, but I am also trying

to refrain from it so perhaps I can reinforce sexual feelings. I will

say I am 'normal' when:

-- I awaken with an erection more often than not. Right now its not

too common, maybe only once a week.

-- I can easily get an erection from looking at or thinking about women.

-- Little trouble getting and maintaining an erection during sex.

As for the other person, fretboard1969, my experience is almost just

like his:

-----fretboard1969:

" mentally " I am as interested in women as ever, but my primitive,

natural, biological, physical lusting, or what-have-you is severely

diminished. In other words, haven't felt any kind of " need " to relieve

myself of " sexual tension " in... I don't even know how long.

I am able to achieve orgasm but there is little pleasure leading up to

it, so masturbation is simply a sort of routine at this point. I have

all but lost interest in pornography.

------

By the way, I am 20 years old.

>

> Thanks for sharing your story. I have heard of this kind of thing

> before. Somebody your age wrote up their story on this board and it

> was very similar except they had been taking prozac instead of

> lexapro.

>

> I think the SSRIs set up some kind of chemical imbalance in the

> brain that can lead to a loss of sexuality that begins *after* they

> are discontinued. There is probably some kind of neurochemical

> vicious circle set up.

>

> So, apart from the spaciness, the wellbutrin has restored you pretty

> much to normal? I've noticed a little speciness too at 37.5

> mg/day. I agree that it's a subtle " out of it " feeling. Strange.

> How long did it take before the pro-sexual effects kicked in, and

> how long have you been on it all together?

>

> Vornan

[Guest guest]

That's what I'm hoping too. If the gene expression theory is correct,

then it's possible.

So 75 mg/day is the maximum dose you have taken? I will probably go

up to 75 from the 37.5 I'm on right now. I might even try 100 mg of

the SR form if I feel it's working.

Vornan

As annoying as the 'out of it' side

> effect is I think it is helping so I am tempted to deal with it for

at

> least a month more of 75 mg/day. I hope/expect that if I take

> Wellbutrin for some time, it will permanently reverse the SSRI

effects

> and I will be normal with no drugs at all.

[Guest guest]

So what is this 'gene expression theory'?

Anyone care to explain it to me?

>

> That's what I'm hoping too. If the gene expression theory is correct,

> then it's possible.

>

> So 75 mg/day is the maximum dose you have taken? I will probably go

> up to 75 from the 37.5 I'm on right now. I might even try 100 mg of

> the SR form if I feel it's working.

>

> Vornan

>

> As annoying as the 'out of it' side

> > effect is I think it is helping so I am tempted to deal with it for

> at

> > least a month more of 75 mg/day. I hope/expect that if I take

> > Wellbutrin for some time, it will permanently reverse the SSRI

> effects

> > and I will be normal with no drugs at all.

>

[Guest guest]

You have to take anything less than 100mg (i.e. immediate release) 3x

a day right? So is 37.5 or 75 the total daily dose or the individual

dose? Also, have you had any anxiety side effects? These questions are

for anybody on or previously on WB.

>

> That's what I'm hoping too. If the gene expression theory is correct,

> then it's possible.

>

> So 75 mg/day is the maximum dose you have taken? I will probably go

> up to 75 from the 37.5 I'm on right now. I might even try 100 mg of

> the SR form if I feel it's working.

>

> Vornan

>

> As annoying as the 'out of it' side

> > effect is I think it is helping so I am tempted to deal with it for

> at

> > least a month more of 75 mg/day. I hope/expect that if I take

> > Wellbutrin for some time, it will permanently reverse the SSRI

> effects

> > and I will be normal with no drugs at all.

>

[Guest guest]

see here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSSD

Vornan

> >

> > That's what I'm hoping too. If the gene expression theory is

correct,

> > then it's possible.

> >

> > So 75 mg/day is the maximum dose you have taken? I will

probably go

> > up to 75 from the 37.5 I'm on right now. I might even try 100

mg of

> > the SR form if I feel it's working.

> >

> > Vornan

> >

> > As annoying as the 'out of it' side

> > > effect is I think it is helping so I am tempted to deal with

it for

> > at

> > > least a month more of 75 mg/day. I hope/expect that if I take

> > > Wellbutrin for some time, it will permanently reverse the SSRI

> > effects

> > > and I will be normal with no drugs at all.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I'm taking only 37.5 mg/day, but will go up to 75 or maybe even 100

mg/day over the next few weeks.

I have had some anxiety in the mornings, and if I wake up in the

middle of the night, but it has been manageable so far. The worst

effect has been the spacey feeling I mentioned before. Hopefully,

that will go away.

Vornan

> >

> > That's what I'm hoping too. If the gene expression theory is

correct,

> > then it's possible.

> >

> > So 75 mg/day is the maximum dose you have taken? I will

probably go

> > up to 75 from the 37.5 I'm on right now. I might even try 100

mg of

> > the SR form if I feel it's working.

> >

> > Vornan

> >

> > As annoying as the 'out of it' side

> > > effect is I think it is helping so I am tempted to deal with

it for

> > at

> > > least a month more of 75 mg/day. I hope/expect that if I take

> > > Wellbutrin for some time, it will permanently reverse the SSRI

> > effects

> > > and I will be normal with no drugs at all.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I don't take it 3x daily. The bottle says to take the 75 mg pill once

daily. It is immediate release. However, I have been taking 37.5 mg

(half a pill) twice daily to hopefully reduce bad side effects and

because it seems better to spead out the dose (hence the SR and XL

pills). Next time I will ask my doctor to prescribe either 100mg SR or

150mg SR, which I think are twice-daily (i.e. you take 50 mg or 75mg

twice daily, for a daily total of 100 or 150). There is also the more

expensive XL which is once a day.

I have noticed no anxiety side effects. The normal dose for depression

is 150-300, at which those effects may be noticeable. Side effects I

have noticed are nauseau and slight dizziness at the beginning, but

now to seem to have disappeared, and also I feel " out of it " sometimes.

>

> You have to take anything less than 100mg (i.e. immediate release) 3x

> a day right? So is 37.5 or 75 the total daily dose or the individual

> dose? Also, have you had any anxiety side effects? These questions are

> for anybody on or previously on WB.

>

[Guest guest]

If the SR is taken twice a day, the total daily dose would be 200 or

300 mg. It comes in 100 mg or 150 mg strength.

Next time I will ask my doctor to prescribe either 100mg SR or

> 150mg SR, which I think are twice-daily (i.e. you take 50 mg or 75mg

> twice daily, for a daily total of 100 or 150). There is also the more

> expensive XL which is once a day.

[Guest guest]

I'm not surprised Wellbutrin can contribute to anxiety. It was originally developed as a drug to help smokers quit, so I imagine it has some of that nicotine "rush" feeling (I don't know since I'm not a smoker). My husband has been on it with little or no side effects though."Vornan-19 (moderator)" wrote: I'm taking only 37.5 mg/day, but will go up to 75 or maybe even 100 mg/day over the next few weeks.I have had some anxiety in the mornings, and if I wake up in the middle of the night, but it has been manageable so far.

The worst effect has been the spacey feeling I mentioned before. Hopefully, that will go away.Vornan> >> > That's what I'm hoping too. If the gene expression theory is correct, > > then it's possible.> > > > So 75 mg/day is the maximum dose you have taken? I will probably go > > up to 75

from the 37.5 I'm on right now. I might even try 100 mg of > > the SR form if I feel it's working.> > > > Vornan> > > > As annoying as the 'out of it' side> > > effect is I think it is helping so I am tempted to deal with it for > > at> > > least a month more of 75 mg/day. I hope/expect that if I take> > > Wellbutrin for some time, it will permanently reverse the SSRI > > effects> > > and I will be normal with no drugs at all.> >>

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