Sexual side effects

[devon00]

Agh, so I'm back where I started. I'm taking a very small dose of Celexa once a day and I've been doing and feeling quite well lately. The depression seems to be in remission. But...the problem that always is there is the medicine's effect on sexual functioning. Basically, when I take the medicine I'm "dead" sexually. I have little or no interest or sexual response, and forget about having an orgasm...it's just impossible. I actually get to the point sometimes where I forget what it's like to have sexual feelings or impulses, it's that bad!

But...if I skip a day it all comes back and I start to remember what I've been missing.

I dunno if there's any solution, but this just doesn't seem a reasonable tradeoff to me. Yet, no other medications (including Wellbutrin) have worked for me, and I'm guessing that the reason I'm feeling so good now is that I've been taking my medication regularly. Still, it's miserable. I mean, it's like working in a candy store when you're a diabetic...it just seems so unfair.

I'm wondering

1) if any of you can commiserate

2) do you have any ideas other than trying a different medication (as that has never worked for me)

3) what about my only taking the medication every other day but taking twice the dose?? Has anyone ever tried this? If it's safe to skip it occasionally, then what about doing it more often?

[Dweii]

Can't really comment on the other stuff since I'm one horny bastard on all meds.

3) what about my only taking the medication every other day but taking twice the dose?? Has anyone ever tried this? If it's safe to skip it occasionally, then what about doing it more often?

But this doesn't sound good. Don't mess around with your meds. Especially not doubling the dose.

[hollywoodfreaks]

OH YES I can commiserate. What you wrote could have been stolen out of my brain. I'm on Lexapro, Celexa's daughter medication. If it the only thing that works for you though, you have to stay on it. As sad as it is, being seriously depressed trumps dead vagina syndrome anyday.

You said that when you skipped (or missed) your feelings started coming back. Have you tried having sex or masturbating during those times? Does it work? It is generally safe to skip a day of an SSRI, maybe even more--just ask your doc how many days you can skip in a row. Some people don't take it on Sat and Sun so they can be sexually active on weekends. As for #3, you should ask your doctor. Maybe he/she can come up with something.

Other ideas--another poster on this board said she had her hormones tested and her testosterone was low and her sexual ablities were restored by using testesterone cream. You could ask to have the hormones that impact sexual functioning tested. I am considering doing this myself.

Good luck.

[Bianca]

Isn't Celexa the older version of Lexapro? For me adding WB counteracted the sexual side effects.

[devon00]

Isn't Celexa the older version of Lexapro? For me adding WB counteracted the sexual side effects.

Really? My doc and I have discussed that as an option. How much Wellbutrin do you take in addition to Celexa or Lexapro? Also, does the Wellbutrin give you any side effects?

[Greenyflower]

Wellbutrin is an excellent add-on to SSRIs with many, not just for the sexual side effects of the SSRIs, but because it's a very potent AD combination. I currently take Wellbutrin + Zoloft.

You might try messing with the time of day you take the Celexa (talking with your doctor, of course). For instance, if you generally take it in the morning, take an extra dose on Thursday eve and skip Friday and Saturday. I was on Celexa for a year and didn't have withdrawal symptoms for three or four days when I quit taking it.

And how long have you been taking the Celexa? I noticed that after a few months the sexual effects weren't as strong.

[Thomas]

Now that I'm on effexor instead of lexapro, the sexual SE's are worse. No erection rather than one that just won't stop. I'm hoping the effect will lessen over time because 400 mg. of wellbutrin doesn't seem to help much.

Tommy

[Bianca]

Tommy, the SNRIs seem to be worse for the sexual side effects.

Devon, When I was on prozac I only needed 150mg. I suspect that would work for Lex and any other SSRI. I had upped mine to 300mg since I got on the Cymbalta in September. Its hit or miss whether I have an O or not.

[LikeMinded]

hey y'all--

Long story short. Celexa is 2 chemicals that are the mirror image of each other (but are not the same, since they're both 3D figures). The 'right-hand' mirror image is active, the 'left-hand' one is probably inert.

Lexapro is the separated 'right-hand' partner, the one that works. Usually doing this is just a marketing and regulatory ploy as the FDA considers the mixture a separate entity from a purified mirror chemical -- i.e., Celexa and Lexapro are separate patents; when Celexa's patent saw challenges, the mfr. separated it and sold Lexapro as a separate chemical, which is what the FDA considers it.

Prilosec/Nexium is another famous example, Prilosec being both images, and Nexium being only the 'right-hand' chemical.

The idea that pharmas have is that most doctors are too ignorant to remember their basic biochemistry to realize that there often isn't much clinical difference between the mixture and the separated active image. I'm betting more often than not, it's true. (Any comments on your colleagues, ncc1701?)