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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by harry b. on March 16, 2000, at 17:45:43
I'm to see my meds doc tomorrow. The last visit, he was
thinking af adding Lithium or Dex to my Serzone & Klonopin.My therapist told me today that the doc is an advocate
for Prozac and would likely have me do a trial of Prozac
because I am not getting much results from the max dosage
of Serzone.I have not used Prozac before but I know it causes sexual
dysfunction. I suffer from mild to moderate sexual
dysfunction even when I am not taking ADs.If he does suggest Prozac, should I ask for Wellbutrin
or another drug which will lesson the adverse effects
of Prozac? Which works best?Thanks
Posted by michael on March 16, 2000, at 19:20:24
In reply to prozac, posted by harry b. on March 16, 2000, at 17:45:43
> I'm to see my meds doc tomorrow. The last visit, he was
> thinking af adding Lithium or Dex to my Serzone & Klonopin.
>
> My therapist told me today that the doc is an advocate
> for Prozac and would likely have me do a trial of Prozac
> because I am not getting much results from the max dosage
> of Serzone.
>
> I have not used Prozac before but I know it causes sexual
> dysfunction. I suffer from mild to moderate sexual
> dysfunction even when I am not taking ADs.
>
> If he does suggest Prozac, should I ask for Wellbutrin
> or another drug which will lesson the adverse effects
> of Prozac? Which works best?
>
> ThanksHarry -
I'm just starting Prozac (a couple of weeks now), and leaving effexor behind.
Was/am also taking wellbutrin (for smoking). It didn't do any good for me as far as sexual side effects are concerned while I was taking the effexor.
However, it seems to be improving now that I'm taking wellbutrin & prozac. Of course, there's no guraranty that the wellbutrin is actually what's making a difference in my case, since it didn't in combination w/effexor.
So I guess I'd ask... nothing to lose in asking. Even if he says no, I'd at least want to know why. Just my opinion.
Posted by bob on March 16, 2000, at 20:11:37
In reply to Re: prozac, posted by michael on March 16, 2000, at 19:20:24
> > I'm to see my meds doc tomorrow. The last visit, he was
> > thinking af adding Lithium or Dex to my Serzone & Klonopin.First, the Prozac thing sounds like it's coming from your therapist's knowledge/opinion of your pdoc, more than any "plan" that your pdoc has brought up in the past. So why even consider it?
Now, *if* your pdoc does bring it up, ask about the Dex or the Lithium. Why start a second AD, especially one that probably will exacerbate any sexual dysfunction you have, when you haven't followed through on the augmentation strategies he's suggested in the very recent past?
You've got other options here than what your therapist expects.
cheers,
bob
Posted by ChrisK on March 17, 2000, at 6:36:52
In reply to prozac, posted by harry b. on March 16, 2000, at 17:45:43
Harry B.,
You may want to consider trying some Ginko Biloba for any sexual dysfunction. It's not a gaurantee but quite a few people I know say that they have been helped by it to get over the SSRI sex problems. It is available in any drug store. Personally, I am so far gone with the sex problems that I take Viagra now and that works fine.
Posted by Anne on March 17, 2000, at 19:51:42
In reply to prozac, posted by harry b. on March 16, 2000, at 17:45:43
My personal experience with prozac is that it made me uncomfortably nauseated and very nervous at the lowest doses for a long period of time. At first the nausea and nervousness were more than unbearable then it changed to plain unbearable! Wellbutrin made me very nervous and gave me bad insomnia. Celexa has been the best for me at a low dose for depression. Also, in the past Paxil was also effective till it quit working for depression for me. I've had several drugs up and quit working on me-I became immune to them it seemed. Serzone quit working on me, too. At one time imipramine worked well for me and then it quit working. Another one that worked for awhile was another tricyclic called Vivactil. What haven't I tried-oh the Maoi s.
Posted by harry b. on March 17, 2000, at 21:46:33
In reply to Re: prozac ... why?, posted by bob on March 16, 2000, at 20:11:37
> > > I'm to see my meds doc tomorrow. The last visit, he was
> > > thinking af adding Lithium or Dex to my Serzone & Klonopin.
>
> First, the Prozac thing sounds like it's coming from your therapist's knowledge/opinion of your pdoc, more than any "plan" that your pdoc has brought up in the past. So why even consider it?
>
> Now, *if* your pdoc does bring it up, ask about the Dex or the Lithium. Why start a second AD, especially one that probably will exacerbate any sexual dysfunction you have, when you haven't followed through on the augmentation strategies he's suggested in the very recent past?
>
> You've got other options here than what your therapist expects.
>
> cheers,
> bob
**************************************************
Thanks bob.
As it turned out today, the pdoc did add lithium
to my mix. He said we will try it for 4 weeks and
if there is no improvement we will consider another
AD, his choice is Prozac. So I'll let you
know how it goes.harry
Posted by harry b. on March 17, 2000, at 21:51:55
In reply to Re: prozac, posted by ChrisK on March 17, 2000, at 6:36:52
> Harry B.,
>
> You may want to consider trying some Ginko Biloba for any sexual dysfunction. It's not a gaurantee but quite a few people I know say that they have been helped by it to get over the SSRI sex problems. It is available in any drug store. Personally, I am so far gone with the sex problems that I take Viagra now and that works fine.*************************************************
Chris, thanks for the info. Sorry you've had to
resort to Viagra but glad that it does work for you.
Maybe I'll try the Ginko Biloba,harry
Posted by bob on March 18, 2000, at 8:04:57
In reply to Re: prozac ... why?, posted by harry b. on March 17, 2000, at 21:46:33
> As it turned out today, the pdoc did add lithium
> to my mix. He said we will try it for 4 weeks and
> if there is no improvement we will consider another
> AD, his choice is Prozac. So I'll let you
> know how it goes.That's good news! I still would ask, if the Lithium doesn't work, about the Dexidrine. My bias is showing, but I think that especially lately there been a bit of a groundswell of support here on using stims as an augmentor.
ChrisK,
I'm interested in hearing about your experiences on Viagra. A while back, my (at-the-time,-still-)girlfriend twisted my and my pdoc's arm into getting me some. Damn HMO wouldn't cover it, but my pdoc had some free samples from a Pfizer company rep (gotta love those travelling salesfolk, expecially in this internet age!).For me, I'm sure that the physical response triggered a psychological response as well -- but something more primal than any of the "higher emotions". Just kinda a raw desire. Okay, lust is a good word for it as well. That was my problem, tho -- while it may have made my girlfriend more satisfied, the dissociation between what my body was feeling and what my heart WAS NOT feeling made me nauseous at the thought of using it again.
More to the point, tho, is that contrary to what others have said here based, I beleive, on publicity and/or published reports about it, I've been saying for months that Viagra can influence desire and drive as much as it can physical functioning. Have you experienced the same sort of thing?
Or was it just the animal in me, looking for a doorway out? Grrrr... ;^)
harry,
No need to feel sorry for someone using Viagra. Those first commercials, the ones AFTER Bob Dole had his say, were REAL winners -- there I was, blister pack in hand, watching an add that featured men who looked like they were 95 years old or younger guys in wheelchairs. Now, I have nothing against either group, but that is NOT the peer group I wanted to identify with ... I mean, I've got my own crippling problems with tossing more on top. The commercials HAVE gotten better, showing some "average Joe" sorts in there ... hopefully, given some of the latest studies, they'll start showing some women in their commercials as well.V for Victory, as they say
bob
Posted by ChrisK on March 20, 2000, at 14:23:07
In reply to Re: prozac ... why? ... and the big V, posted by bob on March 18, 2000, at 8:04:57
> ChrisK,
> I'm interested in hearing about your experiences on Viagra. A while back, my (at-the-time,-still-)girlfriend twisted my and my pdoc's arm into getting me some. Damn HMO wouldn't cover it, but my pdoc had some free samples from a Pfizer company rep (gotta love those travelling salesfolk, expecially in this internet age!).
>
> For me, I'm sure that the physical response triggered a psychological response as well -- but something more primal than any of the "higher emotions". Just kinda a raw desire. Okay, lust is a good word for it as well. That was my problem, tho -- while it may have made my girlfriend more satisfied, the dissociation between what my body was feeling and what my heart WAS NOT feeling made me nauseous at the thought of using it again.
>
> More to the point, tho, is that contrary to what others have said here based, I beleive, on publicity and/or published reports about it, I've been saying for months that Viagra can influence desire and drive as much as it can physical functioning. Have you experienced the same sort of thing?
>
> Or was it just the animal in me, looking for a doorway out? Grrrr... ;^)
>
Bob,It really hasn't increased my libido in normal settings. I end up taking it for my wife more than for me. The mental side is still a long way from where the physical side gets on Viagra. Kind of like 'Well, It's there I might as well put it to good use.' I can't complain about the way it works, I just wish there was a Viagra for the mind. And yes my HMO pays for it which surprised me.
Chris
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