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From: John D. on 23 Jul 2006 09:47

Hi all,

In the past I have taken a lot of different antidepressants (Cipramil,
Efexor, Prozac, Cymbalta...) and as a result I have almost completely
lost my libido. I have quit taking antidepressants for over two years
now, but my libido doesn't seem to come back.

I was wondering if there's *any* way to get it back? Are there any
people here who have succesfully overcome their loss of libido? Isn't
there really some kind of drug that *stimulates* the libido instead of
destroying it? I have read some articles on Nom de Plume's pages and
am now considering asking a prescription for Wellbutrin. Should I do
it? Or should I just leave the antidepressants alone and try some
alternative drugs like Ginkgo Biloba?

I'd appreciate any advice you can give.

Thank you.
From: Nom dePlume on 23 Jul 2006 19:54
"John D." <here(a)there.invalid> wrote in message
news:vlv6c292ttki8dpffbsav6t4qfe71nohdc(a)4ax.com...
>
> Hi all,
>
> In the past I have taken a lot of different antidepressants
> (Cipramil,
> Efexor, Prozac, Cymbalta...) and as a result I have almost
> completely
> lost my libido. I have quit taking antidepressants for over two
> years
> now, but my libido doesn't seem to come back.
>
> I was wondering if there's *any* way to get it back? Are there any
> people here who have succesfully overcome their loss of libido?
> Isn't
> there really some kind of drug that *stimulates* the libido instead
> of
> destroying it? I have read some articles on Nom de Plume's pages and
> am now considering asking a prescription for Wellbutrin. Should I do
> it? Or should I just leave the antidepressants alone and try some
> alternative drugs like Ginkgo Biloba?
>
> I'd appreciate any advice you can give.
>
> Thank you.

I addressed your post in the ASD.Med group.

--
Nom dePlume, Ph.D.
Why, yes, in fact, I am a rocket scientist.

Guide to Medications for Mental Illness:
http://www.geocities.com/nomdeplume1000/

=====


From: Doug Laidlaw on 25 Jul 2006 02:40
John D. wrote:

>
> Hi all,
>
> In the past I have taken a lot of different antidepressants (Cipramil,
> Efexor, Prozac, Cymbalta...) and as a result I have almost completely
> lost my libido. I have quit taking antidepressants for over two years
> now, but my libido doesn't seem to come back.
>
> I was wondering if there's *any* way to get it back? Are there any
> people here who have succesfully overcome their loss of libido? Isn't
> there really some kind of drug that *stimulates* the libido instead of
> destroying it? I have read some articles on Nom de Plume's pages and
> am now considering asking a prescription for Wellbutrin. Should I do
> it? Or should I just leave the antidepressants alone and try some
> alternative drugs like Ginkgo Biloba?
>
> I'd appreciate any advice you can give.
>
> Thank you.

Darn! My pdoc has a completely different solution, but I forgot to raise
it with her. I promised Nom that I would contribute it for his book. My
wife and I are in our 60's and have got a bit generally uninterested
anyway. My wife is a pharmacist, but the only remedy she knows of is
Viagra/Cialis, which deals rather with performing. That is more my
problem, and I am still on Efexor. An article at
http://www.nytimes.com/specials/women/warchive/960515_1126.html

suggests that libido should return naturally when you stop, which was always
my understanding, and my wife's. It is of course written from the woman's
point of view.

An article from Psychology Today:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20020101-000009.html talks
about the drug VML 670, developed by Vernalis and Eli Lilly, but this is
again with current users of SSRIs. Further, it is still in the testing
stage, not released. The last two sentences in the article read: "Since
the regulatory process takes several years, the drug might be half a decade
away from your medicine cabinet. Meanwhile, you may just have to keep
feigning those headaches." That rather suggests that there is no real
alternative at the moment.

Sorry I can't be more helpful. The inference however does seem to be always
that your libido should have returned by now. Is there some problem with
your expectations? Or with your relationship?

Doug.
--
History is philosophy derived from examples.
- Dionysius of Halicarnassus, 1st c. B.C.

From: John D. on 25 Jul 2006 13:20
On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 16:40:07 +1000, Doug Laidlaw
<laidlaws(a)dougshost.invalid> wrote:

>John D. wrote:
>
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> In the past I have taken a lot of different antidepressants (Cipramil,
>> Efexor, Prozac, Cymbalta...) and as a result I have almost completely
>> lost my libido. I have quit taking antidepressants for over two years
>> now, but my libido doesn't seem to come back.
>>
>> I was wondering if there's *any* way to get it back? Are there any
>> people here who have succesfully overcome their loss of libido? Isn't
>> there really some kind of drug that *stimulates* the libido instead of
>> destroying it? I have read some articles on Nom de Plume's pages and
>> am now considering asking a prescription for Wellbutrin. Should I do
>> it? Or should I just leave the antidepressants alone and try some
>> alternative drugs like Ginkgo Biloba?
>>
>> I'd appreciate any advice you can give.
>>
>> Thank you.
>
>Darn! My pdoc has a completely different solution, but I forgot to raise
>it with her. I promised Nom that I would contribute it for his book.

I would be interested as well... This loss of sexual desire is almost
as bad as the depression itself.

> My
>wife and I are in our 60's and have got a bit generally uninterested
>anyway.

I'm 42 - a bit too soon to lose interest, I think.

> My wife is a pharmacist, but the only remedy she knows of is
>Viagra/Cialis, which deals rather with performing.

I have tried both Viagra and Levitra, but those do not bring back the
enjoyment I used to have when making love. In a.s.d.meds someone has
explained me the difference between libido and lack of
intrest/enjoyment, and I believe that the latter is indeed my
problem. I just don't get excited and nothing turns me on anymore.

It's not just sex btw, but other things as well, like listening to
music for example or watching a movie. I used to love music and I
really could enjoy a good movie, but now I feel so "neutral" and
indifferent towards everything. It's like I lost all my emotions. :(

Antidepressants do help (I remember I could immensely enjoy music when
I was on Efexor, I could have listed to it all day long), but it also
destroyed my sexual desire.

> That is more my
>problem, and I am still on Efexor. An article at
>http://www.nytimes.com/specials/women/warchive/960515_1126.html
>
>suggests that libido should return naturally when you stop, which was always
>my understanding, and my wife's. It is of course written from the woman's
>point of view.
>
>An article from Psychology Today:
>http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20020101-000009.html talks
>about the drug VML 670, developed by Vernalis and Eli Lilly, but this is
>again with current users of SSRIs. Further, it is still in the testing
>stage, not released. The last two sentences in the article read: "Since
>the regulatory process takes several years, the drug might be half a decade
>away from your medicine cabinet. Meanwhile, you may just have to keep
>feigning those headaches." That rather suggests that there is no real
>alternative at the moment.

Interesting reading. Thank you for the links.


>Sorry I can't be more helpful. The inference however does seem to be always
>that your libido should have returned by now. Is there some problem with
>your expectations? Or with your relationship?

Not really. Like I said, I can't get excited anymore. I will try
Segelinine like Nom de Plume and others suggested. I really hope it
will help.

Thank yo ufor replying, I appreciate it.
From: Cathy on 28 Jul 2006 11:48
Loss of Libido is also a sign of depression and since I am not a
doctor, I can't say with any authority but it might be a symptom of
other illnesses as well. I suggest speaking with your internist as
well as a mental health clinician. The answer could be very simple and
something you never thought about. If it is indeed related to
depression and/or meds, then speaking with a psychiatrist will help and
quite possibly bringing it up in a support group. You are not the
only one this has happened to so others can tell you what worked and
what didnt' work for them.


Mental Health general info: http://www.geocities.com/postcard_Cathy
Mental Health Treatment Info:
http://www.geocities.com/postcard_cathy/tx.html
Mental Health Bibliography:
http://www.geocities.com/postcard_cathy/books.html
Postcrossing (postcard exchange site) http://www.postcrossing.com
Camp Anawana: http://www.geocities.com/kutsherscampanawana
Postcard Site: http://www.geocities.com/mensan_Cathy
Hewlett High School: http://www.geocities.com/hewlettalumni
Camp Kewanee: http://www.geocities.com/campkewanee

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