[robotlove29]

Ok, so who else has completely lost their sex drive due to Effexor?
It's also nearly impossible for me to have an orgasm.
Everyone always promotes Wellbutrin to counteract this kind of stuff, but the thing is I have severe anxiety disorder so I don't think Wellbutrin is a good idea for me.  Anyone know of any other meds that would help me out and not make my anxiety flare up??

[Dee]

Hi Robot,
I am definitely experiencing a decrease in my libido.  I used to be a total nymph. I can still enjoy sex, but the big "O" hasn't happened since I started Effexor. I guess if you're a boy, the sexual side effects will be even more of an issue.
I think I read somewhere that Buspar can help sexual side effects from AD's. It's also prescribed specifically for anxiety.  I don't blame you for being wary of Wellbutrin.  I have GAD and it fucked me up royally.
I'm hoping the sexual side effects will diminish over time like the other start up side effects did.
Best of luck.
xoxox

[tallulah]

i lost ALL of my sex drive after increasing over 75mg of effexor. it NEVER came back until i completely went off the medication altogether.

im sorry - i hope others can bring you more words of wisdom, although it will be hard to find...

XO
ash

[justgwyn]

i've always had a low sex drive, so that really isn't much of an issue.  i like sex and all, it's just not really that important to me.  i can kinda take it or leave it.

when i do get around to getting it on, the orgasm situation is way different . . . . i have a much, much harder time getting there than i did before i was on the effexor, but it's a thousand times more intense when i do.  i figure it's a decent trade-off.

[Hellcat13]

Ah yes ME TOO!!  No drive at all since starting the Effexor.  Not that it has really affected me as I havent had a partner till now.  And now what the heck do I do?

I mean, before any meds I could enjoy sex but did orgasm anyhow, now it makes it even more difficult due to the meds.  Oh man this is starting to stress me a bit.

Help?

[Captduffy]

efforxor did it to me at 187.5 mg...lost the sex drive and the plumbing AND couldn't finish.

[Bianca]

I'm on Cymbalta and just started on WB.  I'm hoping it will counteract the side effects.  Last time it worked for me when I was on Prozac.  You shouldn't take WB if you have bad anxiety.  It will make it worse.

[Whacked]

I'm only on 37.5...3rd day

Problems with having an orgasm?!
Jeez....I'd be happy with just a damn erection!
I think 'Mr. Happy' is starting to work his way back inside of me to go into hibernation.

[Hellcat13]

Hey Whacked if you are having probs at 37.5 I must be fucked....I'm on 300!!!!

Argh!!

[PBF]

Effexor killed me from the waist down when I was on it.  Really couldn't get it up with a forklift...  Probably the worst antidepressant when it comes to sexual side effects, esp. for men. 

PBF

[Min]

Effexor actually intensifies my orgasms.  Sometimes it's really hard to come, sometimes not, but it feels great compared to when I wasn't on it.

I wouldn't say it decreased my libido either.  I guess I'm lucky.  Paxil totally ruined it for me, though.

[robotlove29]

So the good news is my sex drive is back 

I think I was thinking about this whole situation in the wrong way.... I had troubles being intimate with my (now ex) boyfriend at the time, but I've sinced realized that "those" types of feelings were really low because of my anxiety about going thru such a horrible and messy breakup.  Anyhow, somehow this crap side effect has completely dissapeared.

This post has been edited by robotlove29: 31 October 2005 - 02:50 PM

[Bianca]

Congrats!  How long were you having that side effect?

This post has been edited by Bianca: 31 October 2005 - 05:10 PM

[robotlove29]

Bianca, on Oct 31 2005, 05:00 PM, said:

Congrats!  How long were you having that side effect?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Bianca, 

Thanks! I'm glad I'm normal again too.  Had this effect for the first month and a half on this drug and until I got to the 150mg mark.

Good Luck other to everyone else in the Effexor club!

B)

[Bianca]

I wish my ability to O came back urgh.  I haven't tried since I started taking the WB.  I should try soon but I'm so scared to fail.  It worked well last time adding the WB to Prozac.  I guess we will see.

[Dee]

Bianca, on Nov 1 2005, 01:08 PM, said:

I wish my ability to O came back urgh.  I haven't tried since I started taking the WB.  I should try soon but I'm so scared to fail.  It worked well last time adding the WB to Prozac.  I guess we will see.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Me too!  I think my bf has carpal tunnel and lockjaw from trying so fucking hard.

[andrew_UK]

PBF, on Oct 31 2005, 09:05 AM, said:

Probably the worst antidepressant when it comes to sexual side effects, esp. for men. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh God, how did I allow myself to be put on this drug....probably because I had tried almost all the others, had no libido left anyway (I was on 40mg of Prozac, which probably wasn't helping), and desperately needed (and still need) to feel less depressed. But I swear I haven't had a proper erection since I started on Effexor....almost 2 1/2 weeks ago.

As I said, my libido was low in any case, and I'd put a lot of that down to the depression, but anything making things even WORSE isn't going to help me get less depressed.

I'm going to ask my psych about moclobemide (hi Dee from the other Effexor thread), as it's supposed to be free of sexual side FX....though not sure if it can be combined with Zyprexa, which I'm also taking at the moment....