![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by b.c. on February 7, 2002, at 15:18:07
I've never taken an anti-depressant, but my boyfriend has been taking Effexor for the last 7 months. In reading other threads, I realized that he experiences some of the same side effects that others have listed including low libido, delayed or inability to achieve orgasm, sleepiness, jumpy/restlessness, difficulty focusing, difficulty communicating thoughts/forming sentences. I also think his ability to think analytically and make correlations is also slightly off given that he is very intelligent. All of these side effects are variable in their severity and are sometimes completely absent. Understanding that these are side effects of the medication is very helpful to me in that there have been times when I've taken the low libido personally, or have mistaken the restlessness and sleepiness as boredom (which I've also taken personally). So, I thank you for sharing.
I have a couple of questions and would greatly appreciate any insights anyone has to offer.
My boyfriend is starting to take Welbutrin along with Effexor to help with his libido. I've noticed other threads where this was suggested, but I am wondering if anyone has had success regaining their interest in sex by combining Welbutrin with Effexor? If so, how effective and how immediate were the results? Any additional side-effects?
As I have no experience taking anti-depressants, I try to understand and believe I am understanding, but it is difficult to relate sometimes. He started taking Effexor 7 months ago, about one month before we met. This may be an irrational concern, but sometimes I wonder how his feelings for me are affected by the drug. I guess what I'm concerned about is whether his positive feelings for me would exist without the medication and to what extent they may be induced or heightened by the medication. He is a very sweet, kind and loving man and I know that those qualities have nothing to do with any drug, but I guess the natural insecurities of being newly in love are heightened sometimes by the knowledge that he is taking a drug that changes his brain chemistry. This is a thought I would never share with him as he's never given me a reason to doubt his feelings and I don't want to upset him. Is this an irrational thought?
Thanks in advance to anyone who responds.
Be well...
Posted by sid on February 7, 2002, at 20:51:27
In reply to Insights on Effexor appreciated, posted by b.c. on February 7, 2002, at 15:18:07
> He started taking Effexor 7 months ago, about one month before we met. This may be an irrational concern, but sometimes I wonder how his feelings for me are affected by the drug. I guess what I'm concerned about is whether his positive feelings for me would exist without the medication and to what extent they may be induced or heightened by the medication. He is a very sweet, kind and loving man and I know that those qualities have nothing to do with any drug, but I guess the natural insecurities of being newly in love are heightened sometimes by the knowledge that he is taking a drug that changes his brain chemistry. This is a thought I would never share with him as he's never given me a reason to doubt his feelings and I don't want to upset him. Is this an irrational thought?
I'd say it's a concern, which you're entitled to. I would not worry about it. ADs do not create feelings of love, they help your brain work better and therefore they may help sort your thoughts and feelings out. He is probably going through something very difficult (depression), and I suspect that's a major stress for him. If he can manage falling in love in the middle of it all, I'd say he's not doing so bad at this point. It is an unsettling thing to go through, and that can be more confusing to him than the Effexor itself, I think. At least that's been my short-lived experience on Effexor. I'm still me, only better because I feel better.
One note about the intelligence: the depression itself affects his thinking, so you can't be sure if what you're seeing is a side effect of the drug or a symptom of the illness. Unless you discuss it with him and he can say how he was with depression and without Effexor... although depression distorts your impressions.
He's lucky to have found someone so caring as to read this board. I hope I can find a good man who's willing to understand all I've gone through over the years because of this terrible illness.
- sid
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.