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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jacot on September 16, 2004, at 20:48:18
Has anyone had any sexual side effects yet on cymbalta, and if yes..at what dosage???
Posted by PhoenixGirl on September 16, 2004, at 21:11:42
In reply to cymbalta, posted by jacot on September 16, 2004, at 20:48:18
I'm thinking of trying Cymbalta, and would like to actually have a sex life.
Posted by boomarang on September 16, 2004, at 21:39:26
In reply to I would like to know this also!, posted by PhoenixGirl on September 16, 2004, at 21:11:42
on day 7 of cymbalta 30mg i have discovered to my dismay that it is having a negative affect on my ability to enjoy sex. the desire is there but whew, nothing else.
Posted by Racer on September 17, 2004, at 10:01:39
In reply to Re: I would like to know this also!, posted by boomarang on September 16, 2004, at 21:39:26
I've been on Cymbalta for a bit more than three weeks, and when I checked, I found that I -- like boomarang -- have pretty complete anorgasmia. Not a lot of desire, as of now, and no sex life involving a partner, but when I tried on my own -- well, I may as well have been clipping my toenails for all the pleasure involved.
I'm on 60mg, and that's what I was taking at the time I tried.
Sorry to give you bad news. (If it helps, on Effexor cyproheptidine improved things for me. Although on Effexor -- and Prozac -- I don't remember the anorgasmia being *this* absolute.)
Posted by jacot on September 17, 2004, at 18:09:40
In reply to I would like to know this also!, posted by PhoenixGirl on September 16, 2004, at 21:11:42
I'm wondering if once you're on if for awhile, if those sexual effects lessen?? I'm on 20 mg right now, which is a small dose, and everything seems to be o.k.
I'm also wondering if combined with another drug like wellbutrin may be beneficial.
Posted by Cecilia on September 18, 2004, at 1:19:17
In reply to cymbalta effects, posted by jacot on September 17, 2004, at 18:09:40
How did you get the 20 mg capsules? After calling about 20 different pharmacies, I was told the manufacturer wasn`t distributing the 20 mg capsules yet. Frankly, I could care less whether this or any med has any sexual side effects. but I want to start on the lowest dose to reduce the gastrointestinal side effects. Cecilia
Posted by sunshine211 on September 18, 2004, at 7:04:52
In reply to Question for Jacot, posted by Cecilia on September 18, 2004, at 1:19:17
I will be starting Cymbalta sometime this week (when I get the nerve to tapper off the Paxil and add the Cymbalta in). I was told by my awesome pdoc that the anorgasmic crap would be IMPROVED and I would have more 'desire.' I know my finace would be happy, me too. I'll let you guys know!!!!!
Posted by yznhymer on September 18, 2004, at 11:56:24
In reply to cymbalta, posted by jacot on September 16, 2004, at 20:48:18
I'm following this discussion closely as well. AD induced sexual dysfunction is a definite deal killer as far as I'm concerned. If sexual side effects are a possibility, I'm likely to experience them.
I'm at another crossroads med wise. I expect I'll be prescribed something new at my next pdoc appt. I've phased out moclobemide. In fact, I feel about the same off the meds as I did on. I expect we'll be looking at Cymbalta, and possibly Parnate or Selegeline.
Honestly, I'm not hopeful any of them will leave me unscathed sexually speaking. I did have a robust response to Nardil a few years ago but the weight gain and sexual side effects were not tolerable. I also seemed to do OK (not great)with Wellbutrin till I developed a rash on the SR formulation. At a later time when I tried the old formulation again, I didn't get the AD response but my anxiety and agitation went through the roof. SSRIs that I've tried seemed to deal out anxiety and sexual side effects with no appreciable improvement in depressive symptoms. Remeron worked great briefly (one week)then turned me into a zombie. Effexor, and tricyclates were also problematic in terms of side effects and limited response.
Nowadays, I vaccilate between wanting to give a new med another shot and just not wanting to go through another failed trial and all the potential side effects again.
Any insights would be appreciated,
Mark
Posted by Racer on September 18, 2004, at 14:16:41
In reply to Re: sexual side effects cymbalta and other ADs, posted by yznhymer on September 18, 2004, at 11:56:24
Since the sexual side effects are pretty much par for the course on so many of these drugs, have you tried mitigating them, rather than trying to avoid them? I know it's not the ideal solution, but it's made the situation more bearable for me.
As for Cymbalta, I've tried for an orgasm twice now on it, the first time was pretty much a total bust -- although, to be fair, that was really just an academic exercise, to see if it was having that effect -- but the second time I did manage. It wasn't easy, and was hardly worth the effort involved, but again -- I wasn't necessarily all that into what I was doing. More out of frustration than desire.
On the other hand, cyproheptidine has helped me in the past. It's a PRN solution, like viagra for erectile dysfunction, and it is sedating -- basically, it worked until it put me to sleep, which usually happened about the time I didn't need it to work anymore. It doesn't work for everyone, but it was a workable solution for me -- and I even ended up marrying the new partner for whom I sought out that solution in the first place. :-D
Hope that helps. And, by the way, I *love* your name. One of those "wish I had thought of that" names!
Posted by karaS on September 18, 2004, at 23:23:14
In reply to Re: sexual side effects cymbalta and other ADs, posted by yznhymer on September 18, 2004, at 11:56:24
> I'm following this discussion closely as well. AD induced sexual dysfunction is a definite deal killer as far as I'm concerned. If sexual side effects are a possibility, I'm likely to experience them.
>
> I'm at another crossroads med wise. I expect I'll be prescribed something new at my next pdoc appt. I've phased out moclobemide. In fact, I feel about the same off the meds as I did on. I expect we'll be looking at Cymbalta, and possibly Parnate or Selegeline.
>
> Honestly, I'm not hopeful any of them will leave me unscathed sexually speaking. I did have a robust response to Nardil a few years ago but the weight gain and sexual side effects were not tolerable. I also seemed to do OK (not great)with Wellbutrin till I developed a rash on the SR formulation. At a later time when I tried the old formulation again, I didn't get the AD response but my anxiety and agitation went through the roof. SSRIs that I've tried seemed to deal out anxiety and sexual side effects with no appreciable improvement in depressive symptoms. Remeron worked great briefly (one week)then turned me into a zombie. Effexor, and tricyclates were also problematic in terms of side effects and limited response.
>
> Nowadays, I vaccilate between wanting to give a new med another shot and just not wanting to go through another failed trial and all the potential side effects again.
>
> Any insights would be appreciated,
>
> Mark
I think Racer had good advice about treating the sexual side effects rather than trying to avoid them. It would be a great loss to give up on a medication that could potentially help you without trying to mitigate that particular side effect.I've also recently narrowed my choices to Cymbalta, Parnate and Selegiline with phenylalanine. (Also maybe Marplan) Given my symptoms and based on the failed trials in the past, these are the ones that make the most sense for me right now. I dread going through another drug trial as well. I've only had about one month's worth of relief from depression in many, many years of trying and that was from Prozac before it pooped-out. Maybe if I had experienced more relief in the past and could remember how different and wonderful it felt, I'd be less hesistant to deal with further drug trials.
At any rate, I know what you're going through. Intellectually I know that we could both be so much better off if we force ourselves to try again. It has helped me to read the posts of those who have found success with a medication or treatment after many unsuccessful years and trials. They are so inspiring and you do get a sense that it's worth the effort to try again. Maybe we need to print those posts and read them and reread them to keep us going...
Kara
Posted by yznhymer on September 19, 2004, at 11:37:21
In reply to Re: sexual side effects cymbalta and other ADs » yznhymer, posted by karaS on September 18, 2004, at 23:23:14
Thanks, Racer and Kara, for your input. I certainly will keep the option of treating Sexual Dysfunction open if I get that far.
To date, I've gotten the sexual dysfunction and other side effects from drug trials without a robust antidepressant response. The outstanding exception has been Nardil, but I gained 20 pounds the first month with unhappy effect on my blood pressure, as well as becoming a virtual eunich. Added to the dietary restrictions, it just seemed like the side effect cluster was too much to deal with long term.
I also have to admit to a healthy dose of skepticism about anyone's ability to concoct a complex cocktail of chemicals that will induce remission AND mitigate side effects. I don't think the meds are sufficieently predictable on a person to person basis. It seems like its too easy to get caught up in a pattern of taking chemicals to counteract the side effect of other chemicals, which in turn require even more substances to mitigate their side effects. Anything beyond 2 or 3 meds looks like a house of chemical cards to me.
Mark
Posted by karaS on September 19, 2004, at 15:34:50
In reply to Re: sexual side effects cymbalta and other ADs » karaS, posted by yznhymer on September 19, 2004, at 11:37:21
> Thanks, Racer and Kara, for your input. I certainly will keep the option of treating Sexual Dysfunction open if I get that far.
>
> To date, I've gotten the sexual dysfunction and other side effects from drug trials without a robust antidepressant response. The outstanding exception has been Nardil, but I gained 20 pounds the first month with unhappy effect on my blood pressure, as well as becoming a virtual eunich. Added to the dietary restrictions, it just seemed like the side effect cluster was too much to deal with long term.
>
> I also have to admit to a healthy dose of skepticism about anyone's ability to concoct a complex cocktail of chemicals that will induce remission AND mitigate side effects. I don't think the meds are sufficieently predictable on a person to person basis. It seems like its too easy to get caught up in a pattern of taking chemicals to counteract the side effect of other chemicals, which in turn require even more substances to mitigate their side effects. Anything beyond 2 or 3 meds looks like a house of chemical cards to me.
>
> MarkI see why the treating the sexual side effects was irrelevant in your case. I can also certainly understand your skepticism about multi-medication cocktails. I feel the same way on a gut level but I have to admit that these boards are rife with examples of polypharmacy success stories. Perhaps the difference is that those individuals are taking the various meds to treat various issues rather than taking them to mitigate side effects from the other medications.
-K
Posted by zeugma on September 19, 2004, at 16:48:09
In reply to Re: sexual side effects cymbalta and other ADs » yznhymer, posted by karaS on September 19, 2004, at 15:34:50
see why the treating the sexual side effects was irrelevant in your case. I can also certainly understand your skepticism about multi-medication cocktails. I feel the same way on a gut level but I have to admit that these boards are rife with examples of polypharmacy success stories. Perhaps the difference is that those individuals are taking the various meds to treat various issues rather than taking them to mitigate side effects from the other medications.
-K
hi kara.
I agree completely that polypharmacy success stories are those in which the meds are treating different conditions. Taking a med to counteract a med's side effects is at best an unfortunate necessity, and at worst a recipe for serious problems down the line.
-z
Posted by boomarang on September 20, 2004, at 15:55:10
In reply to Re: sexual side effects cymbalta and other ADs » karaS, posted by zeugma on September 19, 2004, at 16:48:09
i had to post another message here. i took another go at it and this time everything worked. took a bit longer but considering i had thought there was no chance i was pleasantly surprised.
This is the end of the thread.
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