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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by AllieD on December 9, 2002, at 20:13:26
I've been taking 200 mg of zoloft for about a month now (doesn't seem to be working, but that's a different thread). But ever since I've been on it, I haven't been able to have an orgasm. I'm still interested in sex, and I often *almost* climax, and stop just short. It's driving me nuts, but the thing is that zoloft is the first AD I've been able to tolerate for any length of time because of even worse side effects.
I'm thinking about quitting the zoloft b/c of this, but I'm worried that it won't even make a difference (and that I'll never have an orgasm again. ack!). On the other hand, I've never been on an AD for as long as four weeks, and I've been on this one, coming up from 50 mg., for about six weeks. How long should I keep trying? How do I even know if it's helping? I had a very stressful Thanksgiving with my family, and I think that made me more depressed, so maybe the zoloft is working but I just can't tell... as in, would I be feeling even worse without the zoloft?
Oops, I'm totally off topic. My psychiatrist gave me a couple of options -- she said that she could give me viagra (even though I'm a girl) or I could try a low dose of serzone. My BF is a psychiatric resident and he's like, "Serzone? No one takes serzone anymore!" but my doctor said it stopped being prescribed because of a media scare that blew the risks out of proportion, and at a low (50 mg) dose I should be fine, just get my liver tested, blah blah blah. In general, I really trust my psychiatrist; she listens, she does research, she's willing to try new things but remains cautious.
Has anyone tried serzone to help with sexual dysfunction? I would love some advice because I'm about to give up after years of messing around with meds.
Thanks,
Allie
Posted by LyndaK on December 11, 2002, at 2:01:16
In reply to zoloft and sexual dysfunction -- serzone?, posted by AllieD on December 9, 2002, at 20:13:26
I had the same sexual dysfunction that you describe when I was on Zoloft -- damn frustrating isn't it?! I never tried Serzone to alleviate it. You might want to do a search to see if you can find other discussions of this topic and see what others have tried. For me, as long as I was on the Zoloft I had the sexual dysfunction. I'm on a different medication now -- Remeron -- no sexual dysfunction. Keep working with your doctor, but this is also a good resource for finding out what others have tried. Don't go off of Zoloft cold-turkey -- bad idea.
Hang in there.
Keep searching.
Lynda
Posted by bookgurl99 on December 11, 2002, at 8:14:10
In reply to zoloft and sexual dysfunction -- serzone?, posted by AllieD on December 9, 2002, at 20:13:26
I was on Serzone 150 mgs for a combined total of almost 4 years. I have never had liver problems.
From depression.about.com:
"Just how rare is 'rare'? The FDA reports one case of liver failure per every 250,000 to 300,000 patient-years. The total patient-years is a summation of each patient's duration of exposure expressed in years. For example, 1 patient-year is equal to 2 patients each treated for 6 months, 3 patients each treated for 4 months, etc. "I think most people that are relatively healthy can assume that they will be in the 299,999 people who do not have liver failure on serzone.
It was a great med, and I did have orgasms.
I'm on zoloft now myself; I know what you're talking 'bout. :D
Posted by Aadika on December 12, 2002, at 21:17:08
In reply to zoloft and sexual dysfunction -- serzone?, posted by AllieD on December 9, 2002, at 20:13:26
There are actually several options for treating psychopharmaceutical sexual dysfunction. I myself used Focalin to counteract these side effects while taking Nardil, and it worked wonderfully. Generally speaking, a drug that works specifically to raise dopamine levels (or increase the overall efficacy of dopamine already present in the brain) is a very good option. Drugs included in this class would be the psychostims (methylphenidate, pemoline, and various forms of amphetamine), bromocryptine, Wellbutrin, and various anti-parkinsonian drugs (such as Mirapex). Another approach (especially for those taking drugs with a serotonergic action) is to take a drug like cyproheptadine (an anti-histamine with serotonin-antagonist properties) about an hour before sexual activity. Finally, I've heard that the drug bethanechol can be used for this, though it's exact mechanism of action escapes me at the moment. Hope this helps, and good luck!
~ Aadika
Posted by LyndaK on December 13, 2002, at 0:57:38
In reply to Re: zoloft and sexual dysfunction -- serzone?, posted by Aadika on December 12, 2002, at 21:17:08
<<Another approach (especially for those taking drugs with a serotonergic action) is to take a drug like cyproheptadine (an anti-histamine with serotonin-antagonist properties) about an hour before sexual activity.<<
Actually, this one rings a bell for me. I remember being prescribed this as a means of helping my sexual function. So I took it an hour before like the directions said. An hour later I was out cold -- fast asleep! So much for great sex.
:-) Lynda
Posted by Ricardo on December 15, 2002, at 5:45:21
In reply to zoloft and sexual dysfunction -- serzone?, posted by AllieD on December 9, 2002, at 20:13:26
After having the same problem with Paxil, my doctor put me on Wellbutrin. As regards my sex life, I never felt better! I wonder why you doctor thought of Serzone considering that there's Wellbutrin...
Posted by AllieD on December 15, 2002, at 15:19:53
In reply to Re: zoloft and sexual dysfunction -- serzone?, posted by Ricardo on December 15, 2002, at 5:45:21
I've tried wellbutrin, and I can't tolerate it -- it makes me horribly jumpy and nervous. But thanks for the suggestion! I wish I could take that. :)
This is the end of the thread.
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