Re: Sexual Side Effects - Lexapro

[Guest guest]

so youve only been on it for 5 days total ? unless you

are suicidal or have some severe mental illness I wouldnt go see a

psychiatrist. All they can do is prescirbe more medication without

much medical testing or if any. You might have to go through whole

bunch of medications just to find out what " might " work and by that

time youll have just become a psych drug addict looking for more

answers. If youve only taken it for 5 days, you might just recover

naturally, just try to eat healthy and do exercises. It seems

that there is no simple quick cure to this. Go see endo first to see

if you are having hormone problem rather than visiting a psychiatrist.

>

> This is my first post here and after reading through some, I'm still

> searching for answers. Here's my short history:

>

> My wife and I have been in marriage counseling for about 4 months

now.

> My counselor and wife have suggested that I may be depressed. I

> dismissed it at first and stated that I thought my " depression " was

> situtational because of a strained marriage. After considering it,

I

> made an appointment with a psychiatrist. After explaining

everything

> to her, she gave me samples of Lexapro to try for a month. I took 5

> mg a day for the first 5 days then up to 10 mg. I have to admit

that

> this medicine leveled me out in terms of anxiety (sometimes I feel

> trapped in my marriage). However, I feel worse because I don't

think

> it's worth sacrificing the highs to get rid of the lows...as if I

feel

> numb. I also noticed a sharp drop in sex drive after the third day

of

> taking it and it became almost impossible to have an orgasm (through

> masturbation). So, I abruptly stopped taking the Lexapro only

after 2

> weeks, expecting that I would return to the way I was prior to

> treatment. So far, that hasn't happed and it has been 2 weeks

since I

> stopped taking it. My problem is this: I still have decreased

libido

> and I also have issues with a flaccid penis. It is not nearly as

hard

> as it used to be and it's difficult to keep it hard. I am supposed

to

> see my psychiatrist in a week and I want some options prior to my

> visit. I have noticed that Wellbutrin is sometimes prescribed to

> mitigate this but what if that doesn't work? I absolutely do not

want

> to be on any anti-depression medication nor do I want to take

> medication like Viagra. If I have to I will though.

>

> Thanks

>

[Guest guest]

My counselor recommended that I see a psychiatrist for an

antidepressant since she cannot prescribe any. I am not suicidal or

have any mental illness. You are right in that the idea was a " trial

and error " approach. As far as exercising, I do that three times a

week for thirty minutes (all cardio) but I could eat healthier.

As far as having hormones tested, I had some blood work done over a

year ago and my doctor stated that everything was normal. However, I

don't know if a " standard " test reveals everything necessary to

diagnose hormone problems. The norm for me prior to taking Lexapro

allowed me to have a normal sex life (sex 3 or 4 times a week).

However, it just seems like my arousal level has dropped which

concerns me.

I suppose I would like to know what testing is available to determine

if I really need an antidepressant. Would a hormone test reveal this?

Thanks

> >

> > This is my first post here and after reading through some, I'm still

> > searching for answers. Here's my short history:

> >

> > My wife and I have been in marriage counseling for about 4 months

> now.

> > My counselor and wife have suggested that I may be depressed. I

> > dismissed it at first and stated that I thought my " depression " was

> > situtational because of a strained marriage. After considering it,

> I

> > made an appointment with a psychiatrist. After explaining

> everything

> > to her, she gave me samples of Lexapro to try for a month. I took 5

> > mg a day for the first 5 days then up to 10 mg. I have to admit

> that

> > this medicine leveled me out in terms of anxiety (sometimes I feel

> > trapped in my marriage). However, I feel worse because I don't

> think

> > it's worth sacrificing the highs to get rid of the lows...as if I

> feel

> > numb. I also noticed a sharp drop in sex drive after the third day

> of

> > taking it and it became almost impossible to have an orgasm (through

> > masturbation). So, I abruptly stopped taking the Lexapro only

> after 2

> > weeks, expecting that I would return to the way I was prior to

> > treatment. So far, that hasn't happed and it has been 2 weeks

> since I

> > stopped taking it. My problem is this: I still have decreased

> libido

> > and I also have issues with a flaccid penis. It is not nearly as

> hard

> > as it used to be and it's difficult to keep it hard. I am supposed

> to

> > see my psychiatrist in a week and I want some options prior to my

> > visit. I have noticed that Wellbutrin is sometimes prescribed to

> > mitigate this but what if that doesn't work? I absolutely do not

> want

> > to be on any anti-depression medication nor do I want to take

> > medication like Viagra. If I have to I will though.

> >

> > Thanks

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi. I also had a reaction after taking Lexapro for just a short while,

only 3 days of 10mg/day. On the third day my libido was severely

diminished, I just did not care about fantasizing about women whereas

before the medication my libido was almost supernatural. I was also

not able to stimulate myself, which was never a problem before. I

didn't taper off the Lexapro, I just stopped taking it because I knew

it was affecting me negatively and I was unaware of the prefered and

suggested weaning-off method for SSRIs. Although with only 3 days of

exposure, I'm not sure weaning off would have made a difference anyway.

My doctor then switched me to Wellbutrin a few days later and I took

it for 2 days. It caused muscular twitching in my abdominal area,

night sweats, stronger depressive episodes, and some physical

restlessness. So I stopped taking that medication as well.

After about a week with no meds I noticed my libido and sensitivity

beginning to return. And I did a little more research about

wellbutrin. I found a lot of testimonial-like information on message

boards online regarding increased libido and reversal of PSSD type

affects caused by SSRIs. People also suggested giving the drug time

(weeks) for the beneficial effects to develop. So, I figured I'd give

Wellbutrin one more try to see if it would enhance my libido and

slowly returning sexual sensitivity. Another 2 days, same symptoms as

before but this time with the addition of a noticeable yet brief

nervous twitching in my genitals and, later, sexual numbness just like

after 3 days on Lexapro. That is the last time I will ever take a

psych med unless there comes into existance cures for PSSD, numbness,

and anorgasmia since I still have not fully recovered.

I've been off the meds for about a month and my libido and sensitivity

have recovered to about 60% of what they used to be. Sex is no longer

as pleasureable as it was and it takes me seemingly forever (about 20

minutes of hard sex) to achieve ejaculation, if at all. And with oral

sex, I can receive an erection but I never achieve orgasm. And my

girlfriend's performance is not the problem.

My doctor said he thinks I am unusually sensitive to SSRIs and other

types of chemical inhibitor medications. I wondered how

" unusual " my reaction was. I tried to tell him about PSSD and how it

seems to affect a larger percentage of patients than initially

reported, and I gave him the well-written SSRI/PSSD psychiatric

article from our database but I really doubt he looked at it longer

than it took him to place it in the back of my medical chart.

> > >

> > > This is my first post here and after reading through some, I'm still

> > > searching for answers. Here's my short history:

> > >

> > > My wife and I have been in marriage counseling for about 4 months

> > now.

> > > My counselor and wife have suggested that I may be depressed. I

> > > dismissed it at first and stated that I thought my " depression " was

> > > situtational because of a strained marriage. After considering it,

> > I

> > > made an appointment with a psychiatrist. After explaining

> > everything

> > > to her, she gave me samples of Lexapro to try for a month. I took 5

> > > mg a day for the first 5 days then up to 10 mg. I have to admit

> > that

> > > this medicine leveled me out in terms of anxiety (sometimes I feel

> > > trapped in my marriage). However, I feel worse because I don't

> > think

> > > it's worth sacrificing the highs to get rid of the lows...as if I

> > feel

> > > numb. I also noticed a sharp drop in sex drive after the third day

> > of

> > > taking it and it became almost impossible to have an orgasm (through

> > > masturbation). So, I abruptly stopped taking the Lexapro only

> > after 2

> > > weeks, expecting that I would return to the way I was prior to

> > > treatment. So far, that hasn't happed and it has been 2 weeks

> > since I

> > > stopped taking it. My problem is this: I still have decreased

> > libido

> > > and I also have issues with a flaccid penis. It is not nearly as

> > hard

> > > as it used to be and it's difficult to keep it hard. I am supposed

> > to

> > > see my psychiatrist in a week and I want some options prior to my

> > > visit. I have noticed that Wellbutrin is sometimes prescribed to

> > > mitigate this but what if that doesn't work? I absolutely do not

> > want

> > > to be on any anti-depression medication nor do I want to take

> > > medication like Viagra. If I have to I will though.

> > >

> > > Thanks

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I think a lot of people are " unusually sensitive " to these meds. I

stopped taking Celexa nearly 3 years ago and it still feels as if I'm

on it, my body is still reacting to it. Same side effects.

The key is finding a way to treat the sensitivity. Only then we will

be able to recover properly. I will be seeing a sensivity/allergy

specialist shortly and hope I can get some answers.

Luther

> My doctor said he thinks I am unusually sensitive to SSRIs and other

> types of chemical inhibitor medications. I wondered how

> " unusual " my reaction was. I tried to tell him about PSSD and how it

> seems to affect a larger percentage of patients than initially

> reported, and I gave him the well-written SSRI/PSSD psychiatric

> article from our database but I really doubt he looked at it longer

> than it took him to place it in the back of my medical chart.

[Guest guest]

I'm new to the group. I'm 35 now and I took Lexapro, 10 mg per day for one year starting in August of 2003 and ending in August 2004. Over 2 years later and I still have no libido. I suffer premature ejaculation through sex and delayed ejaculation through masturbation. I have to have constant stimulation to maintain an erection. I can still perform when I want to but I rarely want to and when I do I have to stay very focused or I'll lose my erection. The end result is that sex has become more like work. I'm going back to the original physician who prescribed the Lexapro soon to try to sort this out. I've been looking through the posts here to get some ideas of what to try. Excersize and diet have helped some but I work with 50-year-olds who still have more sex drive than me. At 35 I certainly don't expect to get hard everytime the wind blows but it would be nice to be able to get aroused through fantasizing again. Lexapro certainly cured my depression but now my emotional response is about as flat as a tabletop. The ability to stay calm and even-keeled is nice but not having any sex drive is not. Actually I was a fairly calm person before taking Lexapro but now I'm practically ice cold. If I can't find a way to reverse the effects of Lexapro I suppose I'll go back to college to become a lawyer or a pilot - something that requires nerves of steel because I've certainly got them. I'm glad to have found this group to get some ideas and to see that I'm not the only one with this problem. My doctor told me about the side-effects of Lexapro when he prescribed it but said that the side-effects should disappear shortly after I stopped taking it. It's been 2 years and none of the side-effects have changed in the slightest, in fact lately they seem to be getting worse. I'm glad I did some research to find this group and find out that I'm

on the right track to solving the problem.

Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.

[Guest guest]

My advice to you, from my past experience (which is pretty dang

extensive with psychiatriy) Is to not take any more medications

whatsoever of any kind.

Do not take another psych drug. Trust me. If your expericing

depression, try everything else. GO excercise more, work on your

relationship, and above all I recommened behavoirial therapy or

pyschotheraphy, or some good intensive counseling.

Change your eating habits too, this will affect your moods and

feelings. Try natural remdies as well, good vitamins, like

multivitamin, 5htp for your mood, gingo biloba espically.

Whatever you do though, stay off those pysch drugs. They make you in

my honest opinion, a sucicidal, psycho nut. Im serious. You start to

lose feeling for life, and stop losing your emotions.

Now like I said this is from my personal experience in life, and

from what I read and hear from lots other. Drugs are not a answer

for mental conditions.

Honestly From what I hear, you do not sound like you need anything

remotley like those drugs, and thats the main problem with our

society. We are giving these drugs for such meaingless trivial

things.

Are you seeing visions of Jesus Christ and the virgin every

single day with blood pouring from there eyes telling you to

sacrafice your life? Or constant hallucinations of falling fireballs

and armegeddon? No, im sure your not,and thats the point im trying

to make, you dont need harsh shit like those drugs.

Its depression, its life, youll bounce back. And while you may

disagree that ''its just depression'' because when your living

through it, everything seems so monumentally horrfying it is in the

end, just depression. Why ruin your future with a flacid no feeling

penis, and the chance of never being able too feel love again? Dont

risk it my friend, please.

>

> This is my first post here and after reading through some, I'm

still

> searching for answers. Here's my short history:

>

> My wife and I have been in marriage counseling for about 4 months

now.

> My counselor and wife have suggested that I may be depressed. I

> dismissed it at first and stated that I thought my " depression " was

> situtational because of a strained marriage. After considering

it, I

> made an appointment with a psychiatrist. After explaining

everything

> to her, she gave me samples of Lexapro to try for a month. I took

5

> mg a day for the first 5 days then up to 10 mg. I have to admit

that

> this medicine leveled me out in terms of anxiety (sometimes I feel

> trapped in my marriage). However, I feel worse because I don't

think

> it's worth sacrificing the highs to get rid of the lows...as if I

feel

> numb. I also noticed a sharp drop in sex drive after the third

day of

> taking it and it became almost impossible to have an orgasm

(through

> masturbation). So, I abruptly stopped taking the Lexapro only

after 2

> weeks, expecting that I would return to the way I was prior to

> treatment. So far, that hasn't happed and it has been 2 weeks

since I

> stopped taking it. My problem is this: I still have decreased

libido

> and I also have issues with a flaccid penis. It is not nearly as

hard

> as it used to be and it's difficult to keep it hard. I am

supposed to

> see my psychiatrist in a week and I want some options prior to my

> visit. I have noticed that Wellbutrin is sometimes prescribed to

> mitigate this but what if that doesn't work? I absolutely do not

want

> to be on any anti-depression medication nor do I want to take

> medication like Viagra. If I have to I will though.

>

> Thanks

>

[Guest guest]

sean_the_engineer,

I have had a similar experience as you and agree with your 60%.

Although sex still feels good, it is not as intense or as pleasurable

as it once was. It seems as though Lexapro affects people in ways

more ways than doctors know or care to acknowledge. I find it strange

that only after a few days in your case and 2 weeks in mine have made

this much of a difference. Although nobody probably knows for sure,

it seems as though SSRIs alter the brain's chemistry and it doesn't

always " reset " upon discontinuation. I honestly thought that after

quitting Lexapro that I would return to normal but it has been about 2

1/2 weeks and I haven't fully recovered. I wonder if I ever will

without further medication, which I don't want.

Another note about this medicine that I didn't mention before. I

really don't believe that I have depression that cannot be cured

through some type of therapy. With that in mind, while I was on

Lexapro, and even some now after quitting, it made me feel like a

robot...programmed to not feel bad or feel good...just in the middle.

I felt so lifeless and emotionless and that in itself was depressing.

Anyway, I take it that there is no universal " cure " for PSSD but if

there was, I'd be in line for it.

Thanks!

> > > >

> > > > This is my first post here and after reading through some, I'm

still

> > > > searching for answers. Here's my short history:

> > > >

> > > > My wife and I have been in marriage counseling for about 4 months

> > > now.

> > > > My counselor and wife have suggested that I may be depressed. I

> > > > dismissed it at first and stated that I thought my

" depression " was

> > > > situtational because of a strained marriage. After

considering it,

> > > I

> > > > made an appointment with a psychiatrist. After explaining

> > > everything

> > > > to her, she gave me samples of Lexapro to try for a month. I

took 5

> > > > mg a day for the first 5 days then up to 10 mg. I have to admit

> > > that

> > > > this medicine leveled me out in terms of anxiety (sometimes I feel

> > > > trapped in my marriage). However, I feel worse because I don't

> > > think

> > > > it's worth sacrificing the highs to get rid of the lows...as if I

> > > feel

> > > > numb. I also noticed a sharp drop in sex drive after the

third day

> > > of

> > > > taking it and it became almost impossible to have an orgasm

(through

> > > > masturbation). So, I abruptly stopped taking the Lexapro only

> > > after 2

> > > > weeks, expecting that I would return to the way I was prior to

> > > > treatment. So far, that hasn't happed and it has been 2 weeks

> > > since I

> > > > stopped taking it. My problem is this: I still have decreased

> > > libido

> > > > and I also have issues with a flaccid penis. It is not nearly as

> > > hard

> > > > as it used to be and it's difficult to keep it hard. I am

supposed

> > > to

> > > > see my psychiatrist in a week and I want some options prior to my

> > > > visit. I have noticed that Wellbutrin is sometimes prescribed to

> > > > mitigate this but what if that doesn't work? I absolutely do not

> > > want

> > > > to be on any anti-depression medication nor do I want to take

> > > > medication like Viagra. If I have to I will though.

> > > >

> > > > Thanks

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I'm brand new and was just reading the messages already posted when I

saw this one. Other than going to counciling this is my story too.

Glad to find out I'm not the only one that this is happening to.

Hopefully we can all find some answers here and if not, at least some

hope.

>

> This is my first post here and after reading through some, I'm still

> searching for answers. Here's my short history:

>

> My wife and I have been in marriage counseling for about 4 months now.

> My counselor and wife have suggested that I may be depressed. I

> dismissed it at first and stated that I thought my " depression " was

> situtational because of a strained marriage. After considering it, I

> made an appointment with a psychiatrist. After explaining everything

> to her, she gave me samples of Lexapro to try for a month. I took 5

> mg a day for the first 5 days then up to 10 mg. I have to admit that

> this medicine leveled me out in terms of anxiety (sometimes I feel

> trapped in my marriage). However, I feel worse because I don't think

> it's worth sacrificing the highs to get rid of the lows...as if I feel

> numb. I also noticed a sharp drop in sex drive after the third day of

> taking it and it became almost impossible to have an orgasm (through

> masturbation). So, I abruptly stopped taking the Lexapro only after 2

> weeks, expecting that I would return to the way I was prior to

> treatment. So far, that hasn't happed and it has been 2 weeks since I

> stopped taking it. My problem is this: I still have decreased libido

> and I also have issues with a flaccid penis. It is not nearly as hard

> as it used to be and it's difficult to keep it hard. I am supposed to

> see my psychiatrist in a week and I want some options prior to my

> visit. I have noticed that Wellbutrin is sometimes prescribed to

> mitigate this but what if that doesn't work? I absolutely do not want

> to be on any anti-depression medication nor do I want to take

> medication like Viagra. If I have to I will though.

>

> Thanks

>

[Guest guest]

"it made me feel like arobot...programmed to not feel bad or feel good...just in the middle." That's exactly how I feel, 2 1/2 years after getting off Lexapro. I don't get happy or sad, at least not to any extreme or for a very long duration. I have two basic moods - relaxed or irritated. I don't get excited about much and I haven't felt fear of anything for a very long time. If the government wanted to use this drug to create assasins they'd have the perfect drug. You can think calmly regardless how much excitement is going on around you, just as if you were programmed to. It certainly help you become a more logical-thinking individual but it certainly doesn't help you maintain a spousal relationship when you have virtually no emotions. Chriscomputer_junkie1 wrote: sean_the_engineer,I have had a similar experience as you and agree with your 60%. Although sex still feels good, it is not as intense or as pleasurableas it once was. It seems as though Lexapro affects people in waysmore ways than doctors know or care to acknowledge. I find it strangethat only after a few days in your case and 2 weeks in mine have madethis much of a difference. Although nobody probably knows for sure,it seems as though SSRIs alter the brain's chemistry and it doesn'talways "reset" upon discontinuation. I honestly thought that afterquitting Lexapro that I would

return to normal but it has been about 21/2 weeks and I haven't fully recovered. I wonder if I ever willwithout further medication, which I don't want.Another note about this medicine that I didn't mention before. Ireally don't believe that I have depression that cannot be curedthrough some type of therapy. With that in mind, while I was onLexapro, and even some now after quitting, it made me feel like arobot...programmed to not feel bad or feel good...just in the middle.I felt so lifeless and emotionless and that in itself was depressing.Anyway, I take it that there is no universal "cure" for PSSD but ifthere was, I'd be in line for it.Thanks!> > > >> > > > This is my first post here and after reading through some, I'mstill> > > > searching for answers. Here's my short history:> > > > > > > > My wife and I have been in marriage counseling for about 4 months > > > now.> > > > My counselor and wife have suggested that I may be depressed. I> > > > dismissed it at first and stated that I thought my"depression" was> > > >

situtational because of a strained marriage. Afterconsidering it, > > > I> > > > made an appointment with a psychiatrist. After explaining > > > everything> > > > to her, she gave me samples of Lexapro to try for a month. Itook 5> > > > mg a day for the first 5 days then up to 10 mg. I have to admit > > > that> > > > this medicine leveled me out in terms of anxiety (sometimes I feel> > > > trapped in my marriage). However, I feel worse because I don't > > > think> > > > it's worth sacrificing the highs to get rid of the lows...as if I > > > feel> > > > numb. I also noticed a sharp drop in sex drive after thethird day > > > of> > > > taking it and it became almost impossible to have an orgasm(through> > > > masturbation). So, I

abruptly stopped taking the Lexapro only > > > after 2> > > > weeks, expecting that I would return to the way I was prior to> > > > treatment. So far, that hasn't happed and it has been 2 weeks > > > since I> > > > stopped taking it. My problem is this: I still have decreased > > > libido> > > > and I also have issues with a flaccid penis. It is not nearly as > > > hard> > > > as it used to be and it's difficult to keep it hard. I amsupposed > > > to> > > > see my psychiatrist in a week and I want some options prior to my> > > > visit. I have noticed that Wellbutrin is sometimes prescribed to> > > > mitigate this but what if that doesn't work? I absolutely do not > > > want> > > > to be on any anti-depression medication nor do I want to take>

> > > medication like Viagra. If I have to I will though.> > > > > > > > Thanks> > > >> > >> >>

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