![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lynn on September 24, 1999, at 11:05:24
Dear Roo and Everyone else: I read your thread on sexual dysfunction and want to THANK YOU for bringing this topic out in the open. I've been on a number of ADs, and the only ones that did not give me the sexual side effects were Desimpramine and Serzone, neither of which combated my depression like Prozac, etc. I have tried virtually EVERYTHING to reverse the anorgasmia caused by the SSRIs. The only thing that works for me is taking Viagra, 25 mg. I highly recommend it. Of course, it has its drawbacks. For one thing, it is very expensive, so I've had to use it sparingly. What I wanted to ask you all is whether the half-life of Celexa is short enough to be able to take "drug holidays" from it, which might lower the threshold of how much Viagra/other meds are needed to reverse the sexual side effects. I am currently taking 20 mg of Prozac, and am thinking of switching to Celexa. Has anyone else who has switched from Prozac to Celexa noticed that it is LESS effective as an AD? THis is critical to me, as I am going through quite a bit of stress right now. Thanks for your feedback.
Posted by roo on September 24, 1999, at 15:18:48
In reply to Sexual Side Effects -- Update, Questions, posted by Lynn on September 24, 1999, at 11:05:24
Hey Lynn,I found I could pretty easily take drug holidays
when I was on Celexa. And it WAS an effective
antidepressant for me. I didn't like it as much
as prozac though b/c I felt fat and bloated and
foggy headed on it. I don't think I gave it a
very fair trial though (I didn't take it long
enough), but yeah, you can do the vacation thing
with it, which it pretty cool!
Dosen't it suck that the SSRI's are so much more
excellent as antidepressants, but they kill the
old sexual sensation with a vengeance! I'm
finally liking the disipramine, but it's taken a
LONG time to adjust! I sure loved prozac...
Posted by Lynn on September 26, 1999, at 17:33:00
In reply to Re: Sexual Side Effects -- Update, Questions, posted by Lynn on September 26, 1999, at 17:22:42
Roo -- thanks so much for your reply. I'm still debating whether to switch to the Celexa from the Prozac. I absolutely loathe the sexual side effects. At first, I almost felt ashamed about this, as if I should be so thankful about controlling the depression, that the side effects should pale in comparison. And that was true, to a point (especially since I was not feeling at all sexual when depressed). But now I almost feel cheated out of enjoying something that makes me feel truly vital. At the same time, I have to take care of myself depression-wise. For some reason, nothing has ever worked quite like Prozac in alleviating the depression and quieting the shame, guilt, and humiliation that went hand in hand with it. I'm glad your desipramine is working out. I found it great as an AD, but too sedating for me (almost everything sedates me, including Wellbutrin!).
Posted by Lynn on September 27, 1999, at 7:58:21
In reply to Re: Sexual Side Effects -- Update, Questions, posted by Lynn on September 26, 1999, at 17:33:00
Go ahead and give it a whirl, Lynn. My Dad did
GREAT on celexa--he said with prozac his depression
lifted and he didn't feel sad, but with celexa he
got even more and actually felt happiness and joy.
It was wonderful to watch...he became more social
and outgoing and easier to talk to. He didn't have
too much trouble with sexual side effects. I've
found experimenting is both stressful, and liberating...
it's stressful b/c you never know what to expect, and
you're venturing beyond the tried and true, but if
you don't experiment, you always wonder "I wonder
if there's something out there better than this...".
The most important thing is being patient and giving
the new drug time to work. It took a long time for
me to feel ok on disipramine...2 months! I'm glad
I've experimented b/c there's so many options out there
and it's good to have some of them eliminated so I
don't have to wonder about them anymore.
I kind of feel like if you do well on one SSRI, you'll
do reasonably as well on all of them. Give celexa
a try, give it a few months, and if you're not happy
with it, go back on prozac until you figure out what
to try next. You really shouldn't have to sacrifice
sex for mental health--it IS an important and vital
part of who we are. And hang in there--believe me,
I know exactly how frustrating this can be, and how
it can get you down on yourself.
Posted by Shawn on September 28, 1999, at 9:05:01
In reply to Sexual Side Effects -- Update, Questions, posted by Lynn on September 24, 1999, at 11:05:24
Hi,
I had no sexual dysfunction issues with Celexa. As you know, sexual dysfunction takes on many forms, including decreased desire, erectile dysfunction (males, only, of course), anorgasmia (inability to achieve orgasm), delay in achieving orgasm, and decrease in male ejaculate. With other SSRI's, I did experience varying degrees of sexual dysfunction, weight gain, and lethargy. Clonazepam, as monotherapy, is a very good alternative to the SSRI's. It would seem sexual dysfunction and weight gain would not enhance the therapeutic effects of SSRI's.
You may also want to consider venlafaxine or bupropion. Bupropion may actually enhance libido.
> Dear Roo and Everyone else: I read your thread on sexual dysfunction and want to THANK YOU for bringing this topic out in the open. I've been on a number of ADs, and the only ones that did not give me the sexual side effects were Desimpramine and Serzone, neither of which combated my depression like Prozac, etc. I have tried virtually EVERYTHING to reverse the anorgasmia caused by the SSRIs. The only thing that works for me is taking Viagra, 25 mg. I highly recommend it. Of course, it has its drawbacks. For one thing, it is very expensive, so I've had to use it sparingly. What I wanted to ask you all is whether the half-life of Celexa is short enough to be able to take "drug holidays" from it, which might lower the threshold of how much Viagra/other meds are needed to reverse the sexual side effects. I am currently taking 20 mg of Prozac, and am thinking of switching to Celexa. Has anyone else who has switched from Prozac to Celexa noticed that it is LESS effective as an AD? THis is critical to me, as I am going through quite a bit of stress right now. Thanks for your feedback.
Posted by Melanie on September 29, 1999, at 17:11:33
In reply to Re: Sexual - Had no problem with Celexa, posted by Shawn on September 28, 1999, at 9:05:01
I am taking Celexa as well, after switching from Zoloft due to lack of sexual desire and difficulty achieving orgasm. Between the two, I took Serzone (couldn't handle the dizziness) and Wellbutrin (did nothing for me). But I felt an immediate difference with Celexa. I have felt the same type of relief from depressive symptoms as I did with Zoloft, but none of the sexual side effects. What a switch!!! My husband loves it. ;-) Good luck!>
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.