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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sdb on April 20, 2005, at 15:01:43
Hi!
Whats the best supplement to combat drug induced sexual sideeffects (libid/erection)?
herbs? aminoacids? vitamins? minerals? or something else? Any experience?
Kind regards
Posted by LOOPS on April 20, 2005, at 19:51:54
In reply to Best supplement to reverse sexual sideeffects, posted by sdb on April 20, 2005, at 15:01:43
Hi -
there are lots of things you can try. I can't tell you if they will definitely work as I'm not on meds - but I have had problems with lack of libido in the past and have found some of these things helpful:
ginkgo - i think you have to take this for awhile before you see results, and also don't wimp out on the dosage. It did up my libido, but made my eating disorder worse (made me very hungry).
ashwagandha - this is supposed to relax you and get you in the mood for sex - I find it both relaxing and energizing, and yes, am more interested in sex generally. Is classed as an adaptogen, so also has other benefits (lowered cortisol, less stress for example).
piracetam - yes, believe it or not, this nootropic has very strong aphrodisiac effects (on me anyway). Combined with hydergine and lecithin works even better. HOwever it is not a vitamin/herb, and you need to be taking a whole host of supporting vitamins to really make the most of it (IMO).
fish oil - this is the most important one for me, but then I am using it for depression and anxiety. My sex drive came back on high doses of this. Not everyone has the same success though. Maybe I'm just odd.
One thing I found by accident in the past, is a combination of a good guarana extract and a good korean red panax ginseng extract (be careful - good stuff is hard to find). Specifically, GNC was doing a blend of these two, and it worked like magic for both energy and sex. I was only interested in energy at the time, but this was a welcome bonus. I would say that really high quality red korean ginseng is maybe the most potent libido booster I've ever tried. However it is expensive and not that easy to get hold of.
There are many other things as well - here is a good website:
raysahelian.com
He goes into lots of herbs/vitamins in brief, maybe that will be helpful.
Good luck.
Loops
Posted by jessers11581 on April 20, 2005, at 20:36:12
In reply to Best supplement to combat sexual sideeffects, posted by sdb on April 20, 2005, at 11:23:14
> Hi!
>
> Whats the best supplement to combat drug induced sexual sideeffects (libid/erection)?
>
> herbs? aminoacids? vitamins? minerals? or something else? Any experience?
>
> Kind regardsA lot of people reccommend taking ginkgo biloba at higher doses (i.e. 240 mg. a day). My doctor suggested this to me and I have been doing it about a year. It only helps me a little, but I know that others have been successful with it. Another option (which you probably already know) is Wellbutrin. But that's a drug--not a supplement. I can't use it because it makes me too anxious, but I do know that it can work wonders for the libido. Good luck!
Posted by Bill LL on April 20, 2005, at 20:36:12
In reply to Re: Best supplement to combat sexual sideeffects, posted by jessers11581 on April 20, 2005, at 14:16:05
The only thing that I am aware of that works for most men is Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. Here is an excerpt from a Swedish medical website:
Try an antidote
This involves maintaining your current level of fluoxetine, while adding a second medication to offset the sexual side effects. Keep in mind that these antidotes can also cause side effects. The drugs that have shown the most promise as antidotes are:Bupropion (Wellbutrin) “ this is the most commonly used and most effective antidote. However, bupropion is not recommended for people with eating disorders, panic disorders, seizure disorders, or obsessive-compulsive disorders. Side effects include anxiety, delirium, myoclonus (irregular involuntary contraction of a muscle), uncontrolled hypertension, nausea, headache, dizziness, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, drowsiness, and low blood pressure.
Buspirone (BuSpar) “ this drug should not be taken in doses exceeding 30 mg/day. BuSpar is generally safe, although the potential side effects include: sedation, akathisia (uncontrollable motor restlessness), dizziness, insomnia, nervousness, GI disturbance, nausea, and headache.
Sildenafil (Viagra) “ commonly known as a treatment for male impotence, sildenafil may also help women with sexual dysfunction. However, the expense of this drug may prohibit many patients from using it.
Amantadine (Symmetrel) “ several case reports have shown amantadine to be an effective antidote for SSRI-related sexual dysfunction, however it has not yet been proven effective in a double-blind clinical study, which is the gold standard for drug efficacy.Consider herbal supplements
The efficacy of herbal supplements to treat the sexual side effects of SSRIs is not clear. There have not been any double-blind clinical studies, only case reports, some of which have shown positive effects and others that have shown no effects. Care should also be taken with herbal products because they are not strictly regulated, as drugs are. Two herbs commonly used to resolve the sexual dysfunction associated with SSRIs are:Yohimbine
Ginkgo
Posted by Larry Hoover on April 25, 2005, at 9:52:27
In reply to Best supplement to reverse sexual sideeffects, posted by sdb on April 20, 2005, at 15:01:43
> Hi!
>
> Whats the best supplement to combat drug induced sexual sideeffects (libid/erection)?
>
> herbs? aminoacids? vitamins? minerals? or something else? Any experience?
>
> Kind regardsOther posts have already covered some good ideas, but I see that nobody mentioned Tribulus terrestris. This herb has proven effects on stimulating male sexual potency, but whether it is sufficient to reverse the suppressive effects of drugs is unclear. Also, taking herbs for an extended period is not recommended. Tribulus changes testosterone metabolism, and you have to be careful using herbs with hormonal impacts. Episodic use is what you want, not chronic intake. 3 to 4 weeks on, 2 to 3 weeks off....that sort of pattern, but you can play around a little bit with the on and off periods.
Lar
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