Re: PSSD, hope of regaining function, and length of time to recover?

[Guest guest]

It has been 5 years for me now and counting.

Subject: PSSD, hope of regaining function, and length of time to recover?To: SSRIsex Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 10:49 AM

Thought I would cast a line to see what you all have to say.I've been on and off of a variety of antidepressant medications since 1994. SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs...I've always experienced sexual side-effects while on medications that usually fatigue with time to a more or less tollerable level. Whenever I've gone off of medications, I've regained satisfactory sexual function - perhaps not as stellar as before I started taking medications, but still conducive to an enjoyable sex life. The medication I've taken longer than any other is Effexor XR, and while it's very difficult to go off of with severe discontinuation symptoms, after a few difficult weeks, things feel fine. I have also taken Wellbutrin XL 300mg - which did not really relieve depressive symptoms, but did seem to enhance my sexual functioning - restoring my ererectile and orgasmic quality to a level similar to my teenage years.About

two years ago I switched to Citalopram 20 mg daily because my health insurance did not cover prescription medications and Effexor and Wellbutrin are rather pricey. Citalopram (generic celexa) is listed on the $4 generic list at most major chain pharmacies which made it an attractive option. I thought I'd try it. It worked very well as far as relieving my depressive symptoms, but essentially disabled me sexually (erectile dysfunction, genital anesthesia, anorgasmia).I tried to supplement it with Wellbutrin XL, which I was able receive through the drug company's prescription access program. Even with Wellbutrin, my sexual symptoms persisted at an unacceptable level. I decided to discontinue all medications hopeful that I would regain my pre-medicated sexual function. It has been 10 months now since I discontinued all meds, and I still have sexual dysfunction. I do not get spontaneous erections during

the day in response to visual or mental stimulation. I do not have nocturnal tumescence (don't wake with an erection). I can achieve an erection of less than full rigidity with significant manual stimulation and a lot of mental focus. The moment stimulation is interupted, the erection goes limp. I don't feel the sexual pleasure associated with genital stimulation - it feels numb and comparable to someone stroking my elbow. Of course, I can feel that there is contact, but it does not feel the least bit pleasurable. I can ejaculate, but again, pleasure is a mere hint of what it once was; it equates more to a feeling of a release than an orgasm per se.I have read what literature there is on this subject in addition to the underpinnings of normal sexual function. I've followed this group for several months now. I've had comprehensive bloodwork done. I take high grade fish oil capsules for omega-3, a

good multivitamin, and a vitamin B complex daily. (I would do this regardless of PSSD symptoms.) I've tried PDE-5 inhibitors - which do restore my erectile quality, but do little to nothing for sensation - not to mention their prohibitive cost.I am highly skeptical of playing with medications and supplements and not ignorant enough to jump onto the many treatment bandwagons which surface in this and other on-line groups. I am not willing to stand on my head while sucking on a pebble, or munch down a cereal bowl of herbs in hopes of feeling a tingle "down there." My research leads me to suspect these changes are neurogenomic in nature. Increasingly, I have come to believe that time alone (if anything) will facilitate my body's return to its baseline state. At nearly a year after discontinuing medications, I'm wondering whether I have any justified hope of regaining function over time. This

situation is very depressing in and of itself, but I refuse to treat my recurrent depression with pharmaceuticals as long as what were originally billed as "side-effects" are truly front-and-center effects...and permanent at that. If you have a similar situation to mine, and have not yet regained a somewhat satisfactory level of function, how long have you been waiting? If you HAVE regained function, after how long a time did it happen? Please, refrain from submitting theories of etiology or recipes for an orgasmic diet - I don't need to know any more along those lines.Thanks.

[Guest guest]

2 years 3 months and counting.

Still in a state of shock that none of my PSSD symptoms have improved

in this time, especially as I was given the SSRI medication simply

for a work-related stress episode for a few months.

I agree with the orginal poster that the best hope for recovery is

time, and in particular, being in a loving relationship with regular

sex which seems to be the common factor in the people who are

reporting a recovery from PSSD.

>

>

> Subject: PSSD, hope of regaining function, and length of

time to recover?

> To: SSRIsex

> Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 10:49 AM

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Thought I would cast a line to see what you all have to say.

>

> I've been on and off of a variety of antidepressant medications

since

> 1994. SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs...I've always experienced sexual side-

effects

> while on medications that usually fatigue with time to a more or

less

> tollerable level. Whenever I've gone off of medications, I've

regained

> satisfactory sexual function - perhaps not as stellar as before I

> started taking medications, but still conducive to an enjoyable sex

> life. The medication I've taken longer than any other is Effexor

XR,

> and while it's very difficult to go off of with severe

discontinuation

> symptoms, after a few difficult weeks, things feel fine. I have

also

> taken Wellbutrin XL 300mg - which did not really relieve depressive

> symptoms, but did seem to enhance my sexual functioning - restoring

my

> ererectile and orgasmic quality to a level similar to my teenage

years.

>

> About two years ago I switched to Citalopram 20 mg daily because my

> health insurance did not cover prescription medications and Effexor

and

> Wellbutrin are rather pricey. Citalopram (generic celexa) is listed

on

> the $4 generic list at most major chain pharmacies which made it an

> attractive option. I thought I'd try it. It worked very well as far

as

> relieving my depressive symptoms, but essentially disabled me

sexually

> (erectile dysfunction, genital anesthesia, anorgasmia).

>

> I tried to supplement it with Wellbutrin XL, which I was able

receive

> through the drug company's prescription access program. Even with

> Wellbutrin, my sexual symptoms persisted at an unacceptable level.

I

> decided to discontinue all medications hopeful that I would regain

my

> pre-medicated sexual function. It has been 10 months now since I

> discontinued all meds, and I still have sexual dysfunction. I do

not

> get spontaneous erections during the day in response to visual or

> mental stimulation. I do not have nocturnal tumescence (don't wake

with

> an erection). I can achieve an erection of less than full rigidity

with

> significant manual stimulation and a lot of mental focus. The

moment

> stimulation is interupted, the erection goes limp. I don't feel the

> sexual pleasure associated with genital stimulation - it feels numb

and

> comparable to someone stroking my elbow. Of course, I can feel that

> there is contact, but it does not feel the least bit pleasurable. I

can

> ejaculate, but again, pleasure is a mere hint of what it once was;

it

> equates more to a feeling of a release than an orgasm per se.

>

> I have read what literature there is on this subject in addition to

the

> underpinnings of normal sexual function. I've followed this group

for

> several months now. I've had comprehensive bloodwork done. I take

high

> grade fish oil capsules for omega-3, a good multivitamin, and a

vitamin

> B complex daily. (I would do this regardless of PSSD symptoms.)

I've

> tried PDE-5 inhibitors - which do restore my erectile quality, but

do

> little to nothing for sensation - not to mention their prohibitive

cost.

>

> I am highly skeptical of playing with medications and supplements

and

> not ignorant enough to jump onto the many treatment bandwagons

which

> surface in this and other on-line groups. I am not willing to stand

on

> my head while sucking on a pebble, or munch down a cereal bowl of

herbs

> in hopes of feeling a tingle " down there. " My research leads me to

> suspect these changes are neurogenomic in nature. Increasingly, I

have

> come to believe that time alone (if anything) will facilitate my

body's

> return to its baseline state.

>

> At nearly a year after discontinuing medications, I'm wondering

whether

> I have any justified hope of regaining function over time. This

> situation is very depressing in and of itself, but I refuse to

treat my

> recurrent depression with pharmaceuticals as long as what were

> originally billed as " side-effects " are truly front-and-center

> effects...and permanent at that.

>

> If you have a similar situation to mine, and have not yet regained

a

> somewhat satisfactory level of function, how long have you been

> waiting? If you HAVE regained function, after how long a time did

it

> happen?

>

> Please, refrain from submitting theories of etiology or recipes for

an

> orgasmic diet - I don't need to know any more along those lines.

>

> Thanks.

>

[Guest guest]

i am getting sick and tired of posts like this. what is so difficult

to comprehend about the term 'post' in 'post ssri sexual

dysfunction'? it happens time and time again and i am afraid that

the consequence, especially for newcomers to this board, is that it

simply puts the fear of god into them. i wish to make it clear that i

am not picking on anyone in particular here, i am simply trying to

point out what 'pssd' means. 'post' means 'after'. on Sat Jul 7, 2007

5:19 pm Ira L wrote that he had been off of ssri's for about 8

months. i make that approximately 2 years that he can possibly have

suffered from pssd then, not the stated 5 years posted here. in one

of his earlier posts he also asks the question of others whether or

not they think that their pssd has got worse since stopping ssri's.

by the very definition of the term and particularly the word 'post'

it is not possible to suffer from it whilst still taking an ssri.

side-effects - yes, pssd - no. if i were to include the number of

years that i was actually taking an ssri then i would have suffered

from pssd for something like 15 years, but i haven't, its been just

over one year. i reiterate that the only consequence of this

misunderstanding is that it simply increases anxiety in newcomers to

this board and is not really fair. When i first joined this group

there was a guy that kept talking about his pssd symptoms of the last

10 years and being in a pretty anxious state already at having just

discovered what was wrong with me this sent me into absolute panic.

it later transpired, however, after i started reading older posts,

that the person in question had only actually been ssri free for

about a year. an avid, long, hard look at old posts will actually

show that many people have recovered from pssd in varying time spans,

anything between 1 and 6 years and that many other people's

conditions have greatly improved over time. may i also add that i

wonder sometimes what the point of this board actually is? i joined

it thinking that it was a support group, but have seen very little

support forthcoming. and with people seemingly not understanding the

term pssd, which is the sole thing that we are supposed to be

discussing on here, there seems to be a great deal more destructive

than constructive posts on here. no wonder people leave the board

never to be heard of again without bothering to mention that their

condition might have improved.

>

>

> Subject: PSSD, hope of regaining function, and length of

time to recover?

> To: SSRIsex

> Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 10:49 AM

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Thought I would cast a line to see what you all have to say.

>

> I've been on and off of a variety of antidepressant medications

since

> 1994. SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs...I've always experienced sexual side-

effects

> while on medications that usually fatigue with time to a more or

less

> tollerable level. Whenever I've gone off of medications, I've

regained

> satisfactory sexual function - perhaps not as stellar as before I

> started taking medications, but still conducive to an enjoyable sex

> life. The medication I've taken longer than any other is Effexor

XR,

> and while it's very difficult to go off of with severe

discontinuation

> symptoms, after a few difficult weeks, things feel fine. I have

also

> taken Wellbutrin XL 300mg - which did not really relieve depressive

> symptoms, but did seem to enhance my sexual functioning - restoring

my

> ererectile and orgasmic quality to a level similar to my teenage

years.

>

> About two years ago I switched to Citalopram 20 mg daily because my

> health insurance did not cover prescription medications and Effexor

and

> Wellbutrin are rather pricey. Citalopram (generic celexa) is listed

on

> the $4 generic list at most major chain pharmacies which made it an

> attractive option. I thought I'd try it. It worked very well as far

as

> relieving my depressive symptoms, but essentially disabled me

sexually

> (erectile dysfunction, genital anesthesia, anorgasmia).

>

> I tried to supplement it with Wellbutrin XL, which I was able

receive

> through the drug company's prescription access program. Even with

> Wellbutrin, my sexual symptoms persisted at an unacceptable level.

I

> decided to discontinue all medications hopeful that I would regain

my

> pre-medicated sexual function. It has been 10 months now since I

> discontinued all meds, and I still have sexual dysfunction. I do

not

> get spontaneous erections during the day in response to visual or

> mental stimulation. I do not have nocturnal tumescence (don't wake

with

> an erection). I can achieve an erection of less than full rigidity

with

> significant manual stimulation and a lot of mental focus. The

moment

> stimulation is interupted, the erection goes limp. I don't feel the

> sexual pleasure associated with genital stimulation - it feels numb

and

> comparable to someone stroking my elbow. Of course, I can feel that

> there is contact, but it does not feel the least bit pleasurable. I

can

> ejaculate, but again, pleasure is a mere hint of what it once was;

it

> equates more to a feeling of a release than an orgasm per se.

>

> I have read what literature there is on this subject in addition to

the

> underpinnings of normal sexual function. I've followed this group

for

> several months now. I've had comprehensive bloodwork done. I take

high

> grade fish oil capsules for omega-3, a good multivitamin, and a

vitamin

> B complex daily. (I would do this regardless of PSSD symptoms.)

I've

> tried PDE-5 inhibitors - which do restore my erectile quality, but

do

> little to nothing for sensation - not to mention their prohibitive

cost.

>

> I am highly skeptical of playing with medications and supplements

and

> not ignorant enough to jump onto the many treatment bandwagons

which

> surface in this and other on-line groups. I am not willing to stand

on

> my head while sucking on a pebble, or munch down a cereal bowl of

herbs

> in hopes of feeling a tingle " down there. " My research leads me to

> suspect these changes are neurogenomic in nature. Increasingly, I

have

> come to believe that time alone (if anything) will facilitate my

body's

> return to its baseline state.

>

> At nearly a year after discontinuing medications, I'm wondering

whether

> I have any justified hope of regaining function over time. This

> situation is very depressing in and of itself, but I refuse to

treat my

> recurrent depression with pharmaceuticals as long as what were

> originally billed as " side-effects " are truly front-and-center

> effects...and permanent at that.

>

> If you have a similar situation to mine, and have not yet regained

a

> somewhat satisfactory level of function, how long have you been

> waiting? If you HAVE regained function, after how long a time did

it

> happen?

>

> Please, refrain from submitting theories of etiology or recipes for

an

> orgasmic diet - I don't need to know any more along those lines.

>

> Thanks.

>

[Guest guest]

The big problem I have with most members of the group is the " quick

fix " mentality. Most folks don't want to hear about taking long

courses of high does fish oil or protein supplements, for example.

The want to hear about a magic bullet drug that they can have their

doctor prescribe.

There was a gentleman who posted a few weeks ago that stated he made

great improvement from taking fish oil. But I'll bet most members

dismissed his claims because he didn't improve with the help of a

psych med. It's a shame really..

Luther

> >

> > From: gwistik <gwistik@>

> > Subject: PSSD, hope of regaining function, and length

of

> time to recover?

> > To: SSRIsex

> > Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 10:49 AM

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Thought I would cast a line to see what you all have to say.

> >

> > I've been on and off of a variety of antidepressant medications

> since

> > 1994. SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs...I've always experienced sexual side-

> effects

> > while on medications that usually fatigue with time to a more or

> less

> > tollerable level. Whenever I've gone off of medications, I've

> regained

> > satisfactory sexual function - perhaps not as stellar as before I

> > started taking medications, but still conducive to an enjoyable

sex

> > life. The medication I've taken longer than any other is Effexor

> XR,

> > and while it's very difficult to go off of with severe

> discontinuation

> > symptoms, after a few difficult weeks, things feel fine. I have

> also

> > taken Wellbutrin XL 300mg - which did not really relieve

depressive

> > symptoms, but did seem to enhance my sexual functioning -

restoring

> my

> > ererectile and orgasmic quality to a level similar to my teenage

> years.

> >

> > About two years ago I switched to Citalopram 20 mg daily because

my

> > health insurance did not cover prescription medications and

Effexor

> and

> > Wellbutrin are rather pricey. Citalopram (generic celexa) is

listed

> on

> > the $4 generic list at most major chain pharmacies which made it

an

> > attractive option. I thought I'd try it. It worked very well as

far

> as

> > relieving my depressive symptoms, but essentially disabled me

> sexually

> > (erectile dysfunction, genital anesthesia, anorgasmia).

> >

> > I tried to supplement it with Wellbutrin XL, which I was able

> receive

> > through the drug company's prescription access program. Even with

> > Wellbutrin, my sexual symptoms persisted at an unacceptable

level.

> I

> > decided to discontinue all medications hopeful that I would

regain

> my

> > pre-medicated sexual function. It has been 10 months now since I

> > discontinued all meds, and I still have sexual dysfunction. I do

> not

> > get spontaneous erections during the day in response to visual or

> > mental stimulation. I do not have nocturnal tumescence (don't

wake

> with

> > an erection). I can achieve an erection of less than full

rigidity

> with

> > significant manual stimulation and a lot of mental focus. The

> moment

> > stimulation is interupted, the erection goes limp. I don't feel

the

> > sexual pleasure associated with genital stimulation - it feels

numb

> and

> > comparable to someone stroking my elbow. Of course, I can feel

that

> > there is contact, but it does not feel the least bit pleasurable.

I

> can

> > ejaculate, but again, pleasure is a mere hint of what it once

was;

> it

> > equates more to a feeling of a release than an orgasm per se.

> >

> > I have read what literature there is on this subject in addition

to

> the

> > underpinnings of normal sexual function. I've followed this group

> for

> > several months now. I've had comprehensive bloodwork done. I take

> high

> > grade fish oil capsules for omega-3, a good multivitamin, and a

> vitamin

> > B complex daily. (I would do this regardless of PSSD symptoms.)

> I've

> > tried PDE-5 inhibitors - which do restore my erectile quality,

but

> do

> > little to nothing for sensation - not to mention their

prohibitive

> cost.

> >

> > I am highly skeptical of playing with medications and supplements

> and

> > not ignorant enough to jump onto the many treatment bandwagons

> which

> > surface in this and other on-line groups. I am not willing to

stand

> on

> > my head while sucking on a pebble, or munch down a cereal bowl of

> herbs

> > in hopes of feeling a tingle " down there. " My research leads me

to

> > suspect these changes are neurogenomic in nature. Increasingly, I

> have

> > come to believe that time alone (if anything) will facilitate my

> body's

> > return to its baseline state.

> >

> > At nearly a year after discontinuing medications, I'm wondering

> whether

> > I have any justified hope of regaining function over time. This

> > situation is very depressing in and of itself, but I refuse to

> treat my

> > recurrent depression with pharmaceuticals as long as what were

> > originally billed as " side-effects " are truly front-and-center

> > effects...and permanent at that.

> >

> > If you have a similar situation to mine, and have not yet

regained

> a

> > somewhat satisfactory level of function, how long have you been

> > waiting? If you HAVE regained function, after how long a time did

> it

> > happen?

> >

> > Please, refrain from submitting theories of etiology or recipes

for

> an

> > orgasmic diet - I don't need to know any more along those lines.

> >

> > Thanks.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Yes indeed Luther, and I don't think there is actually a magic pill

that can permanently reverse PSSD in a few days or a couple of weeks.

e.g. someone once posted their doctor prescribed them Ritalin or

something similar but after a few days they stopped it because they

didn't experience improvement. I doubt PSSD can be significantly

improved or cured within a few days. If one is going to experience

improvement, it will probably take several months of taking a

particular natural supplement daily to build up in the system.

Theoretically, L-Tyrosine should improve PSSD because it increases

dopamine and norepinephrine (Wellbutrin mainly increases

norepinephrine) but I suspect if one is going to experience

improvement (assuming testosterone is within normal levels), then one

would have to take L-tyrosine at a dose of say 500mg or 1000mg, three

times per day on an empty stomach for say 4 - 6 months at least (or

longer) to improve PSSD. In this forum's history there was one guy

who took L-Tyrosine for several months and he reported that he

experienced improvement.

I think Rhodiola Rosea, which increases dopamine and norepinephrine,

looks promising, but it's a herb and so will need to be taken for

at least several months on a daily basis to build up in the system to

exert its effects. Herbs and amino acids can be just as powerful as

prescription medication but they need to be taken for several months

to build up in the system. I'm taking 100mg, three times per day of

the amino acid 5-HTP for anxiety and only now after two months have I

begun to experience improvement in anxiety - and a real improvement

plus calmness of mind. After two months, 300mg daily of 5-HTP is more

effective for me for anxiety than Paxil/Seroxat ever was.

Even with prescription medication, I once was precribed a medication

which decreases dopamine for anxiety and it took two months before it

began to work and my anxiety disappeared but I developed impotence

and loss of libido and stopped it. I once read that dopamine levels

change slowly in the brain.

> > >

> > > From: gwistik <gwistik@>

> > > Subject: PSSD, hope of regaining function, and length

> of

> > time to recover?

> > > To: SSRIsex

> > > Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 10:49 AM

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Thought I would cast a line to see what you all have to say.

> > >

> > > I've been on and off of a variety of antidepressant medications

> > since

> > > 1994. SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs...I've always experienced sexual side-

> > effects

> > > while on medications that usually fatigue with time to a more

or

> > less

> > > tollerable level. Whenever I've gone off of medications, I've

> > regained

> > > satisfactory sexual function - perhaps not as stellar as before

I

> > > started taking medications, but still conducive to an enjoyable

> sex

> > > life. The medication I've taken longer than any other is

Effexor

> > XR,

> > > and while it's very difficult to go off of with severe

> > discontinuation

> > > symptoms, after a few difficult weeks, things feel fine. I have

> > also

> > > taken Wellbutrin XL 300mg - which did not really relieve

> depressive

> > > symptoms, but did seem to enhance my sexual functioning -

> restoring

> > my

> > > ererectile and orgasmic quality to a level similar to my

teenage

> > years.

> > >

> > > About two years ago I switched to Citalopram 20 mg daily

because

> my

> > > health insurance did not cover prescription medications and

> Effexor

> > and

> > > Wellbutrin are rather pricey. Citalopram (generic celexa) is

> listed

> > on

> > > the $4 generic list at most major chain pharmacies which made

it

> an

> > > attractive option. I thought I'd try it. It worked very well as

> far

> > as

> > > relieving my depressive symptoms, but essentially disabled me

> > sexually

> > > (erectile dysfunction, genital anesthesia, anorgasmia).

> > >

> > > I tried to supplement it with Wellbutrin XL, which I was able

> > receive

> > > through the drug company's prescription access program. Even

with

> > > Wellbutrin, my sexual symptoms persisted at an unacceptable

> level.

> > I

> > > decided to discontinue all medications hopeful that I would

> regain

> > my

> > > pre-medicated sexual function. It has been 10 months now since

I

> > > discontinued all meds, and I still have sexual dysfunction. I

do

> > not

> > > get spontaneous erections during the day in response to visual

or

> > > mental stimulation. I do not have nocturnal tumescence (don't

> wake

> > with

> > > an erection). I can achieve an erection of less than full

> rigidity

> > with

> > > significant manual stimulation and a lot of mental focus. The

> > moment

> > > stimulation is interupted, the erection goes limp. I don't feel

> the

> > > sexual pleasure associated with genital stimulation - it feels

> numb

> > and

> > > comparable to someone stroking my elbow. Of course, I can feel

> that

> > > there is contact, but it does not feel the least bit

pleasurable.

> I

> > can

> > > ejaculate, but again, pleasure is a mere hint of what it once

> was;

> > it

> > > equates more to a feeling of a release than an orgasm per se.

> > >

> > > I have read what literature there is on this subject in

addition

> to

> > the

> > > underpinnings of normal sexual function. I've followed this

group

> > for

> > > several months now. I've had comprehensive bloodwork done. I

take

> > high

> > > grade fish oil capsules for omega-3, a good multivitamin, and a

> > vitamin

> > > B complex daily. (I would do this regardless of PSSD symptoms.)

> > I've

> > > tried PDE-5 inhibitors - which do restore my erectile quality,

> but

> > do

> > > little to nothing for sensation - not to mention their

> prohibitive

> > cost.

> > >

> > > I am highly skeptical of playing with medications and

supplements

> > and

> > > not ignorant enough to jump onto the many treatment bandwagons

> > which

> > > surface in this and other on-line groups. I am not willing to

> stand

> > on

> > > my head while sucking on a pebble, or munch down a cereal bowl

of

> > herbs

> > > in hopes of feeling a tingle " down there. " My research leads me

> to

> > > suspect these changes are neurogenomic in nature. Increasingly,

I

> > have

> > > come to believe that time alone (if anything) will facilitate

my

> > body's

> > > return to its baseline state.

> > >

> > > At nearly a year after discontinuing medications, I'm wondering

> > whether

> > > I have any justified hope of regaining function over time. This

> > > situation is very depressing in and of itself, but I refuse to

> > treat my

> > > recurrent depression with pharmaceuticals as long as what were

> > > originally billed as " side-effects " are truly front-and-center

> > > effects...and permanent at that.

> > >

> > > If you have a similar situation to mine, and have not yet

> regained

> > a

> > > somewhat satisfactory level of function, how long have you been

> > > waiting? If you HAVE regained function, after how long a time

did

> > it

> > > happen?

> > >

> > > Please, refrain from submitting theories of etiology or recipes

> for

> > an

> > > orgasmic diet - I don't need to know any more along those lines.

> > >

> > > Thanks.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I also posted many months ago about my recovery using fish oil (6000mg/day) and other supplements....but had no response from anyone.. I was on Lexapro for about 4 years?? and lost all libido and ability to have erection...Within six months of taking the fish oil supplement I noticed great improvement....also my cholesterol went from 240 to 190!!! Today...I have regained 95% plus of my libido and have no erection problems....I continue to take 3000 mg of fish oil in the morning and 3000 in the evening....LB

Subject: Re: PSSD, hope of regaining function, and length of time to recover?To: SSRIsex Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 8:05 PM

The big problem I have with most members of the group is the "quick fix" mentality. Most folks don't want to hear about taking long courses of high does fish oil or protein supplements, for example. The want to hear about a magic bullet drug that they can have their doctor prescribe. There was a gentleman who posted a few weeks ago that stated he made great improvement from taking fish oil. But I'll bet most members dismissed his claims because he didn't improve with the help of a psych med. It's a shame really..Luther> > > > From: gwistik <gwistik@>> > Subject: PSSD, hope of regaining function, and length of > time to recover?> > To: SSRIsex@yahoogroups .com> > Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 10:49 AM> > > > > > > > > > > > > > Thought I would cast a line to see what you all have to say.> > > > I've been on and off of a variety of antidepressant medications > since > > 1994. SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs...I've always experienced sexual side-> effects > > while on medications that usually fatigue with time to a more or > less > > tollerable level. Whenever I've gone off of medications, I've > regained > > satisfactory sexual

function - perhaps not as stellar as before I > > started taking medications, but still conducive to an enjoyable sex > > life. The medication I've taken longer than any other is Effexor > XR, > > and while it's very difficult to go off of with severe > discontinuation > > symptoms, after a few difficult weeks, things feel fine. I have > also > > taken Wellbutrin XL 300mg - which did not really relieve depressive > > symptoms, but did seem to enhance my sexual functioning - restoring > my > > ererectile and orgasmic quality to a level similar to my teenage > years.> > > > About two years ago I switched to Citalopram 20 mg daily because my > > health insurance did not cover prescription medications and Effexor > and > > Wellbutrin are rather pricey. Citalopram (generic celexa) is

listed > on > > the $4 generic list at most major chain pharmacies which made it an > > attractive option. I thought I'd try it. It worked very well as far > as > > relieving my depressive symptoms, but essentially disabled me > sexually > > (erectile dysfunction, genital anesthesia, anorgasmia).> > > > I tried to supplement it with Wellbutrin XL, which I was able > receive > > through the drug company's prescription access program. Even with > > Wellbutrin, my sexual symptoms persisted at an unacceptable level. > I > > decided to discontinue all medications hopeful that I would regain > my > > pre-medicated sexual function. It has been 10 months now since I > > discontinued all meds, and I still have sexual dysfunction. I do > not > > get spontaneous erections during

the day in response to visual or > > mental stimulation. I do not have nocturnal tumescence (don't wake > with > > an erection). I can achieve an erection of less than full rigidity > with > > significant manual stimulation and a lot of mental focus. The > moment > > stimulation is interupted, the erection goes limp. I don't feel the > > sexual pleasure associated with genital stimulation - it feels numb > and > > comparable to someone stroking my elbow. Of course, I can feel that > > there is contact, but it does not feel the least bit pleasurable. I > can > > ejaculate, but again, pleasure is a mere hint of what it once was; > it > > equates more to a feeling of a release than an orgasm per se.> > > > I have read what literature there is on this subject in addition to

> the > > underpinnings of normal sexual function. I've followed this group > for > > several months now. I've had comprehensive bloodwork done. I take > high > > grade fish oil capsules for omega-3, a good multivitamin, and a > vitamin > > B complex daily. (I would do this regardless of PSSD symptoms.) > I've > > tried PDE-5 inhibitors - which do restore my erectile quality, but > do > > little to nothing for sensation - not to mention their prohibitive > cost.> > > > I am highly skeptical of playing with medications and supplements > and > > not ignorant enough to jump onto the many treatment bandwagons > which > > surface in this and other on-line groups. I am not willing to stand > on > > my head while sucking on a pebble, or munch down a cereal bowl of

> herbs > > in hopes of feeling a tingle "down there." My research leads me to > > suspect these changes are neurogenomic in nature. Increasingly, I > have > > come to believe that time alone (if anything) will facilitate my > body's > > return to its baseline state. > > > > At nearly a year after discontinuing medications, I'm wondering > whether > > I have any justified hope of regaining function over time. This > > situation is very depressing in and of itself, but I refuse to > treat my > > recurrent depression with pharmaceuticals as long as what were > > originally billed as "side-effects" are truly front-and-center > > effects...and permanent at that. > > > > If you have a similar situation to mine, and have not yet regained > a > > somewhat satisfactory level

of function, how long have you been > > waiting? If you HAVE regained function, after how long a time did > it > > happen? > > > > Please, refrain from submitting theories of etiology or recipes for > an > > orgasmic diet - I don't need to know any more along those lines.> > > > Thanks.> >>

[Guest guest]

what brand are you taking ?

> > >

> > > From: gwistik <gwistik@>

> > > Subject: PSSD, hope of regaining function, and length

> of

> > time to recover?

> > > To: SSRIsex@yahoogroups .com

> > > Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 10:49 AM

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Thought I would cast a line to see what you all have to say.

> > >

> > > I've been on and off of a variety of antidepressant medications

> > since

> > > 1994. SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs...I've always experienced sexual side-

> > effects

> > > while on medications that usually fatigue with time to a more

or

> > less

> > > tollerable level. Whenever I've gone off of medications, I've

> > regained

> > > satisfactory sexual function - perhaps not as stellar as before

I

> > > started taking medications, but still conducive to an enjoyable

> sex

> > > life. The medication I've taken longer than any other is

Effexor

> > XR,

> > > and while it's very difficult to go off of with severe

> > discontinuation

> > > symptoms, after a few difficult weeks, things feel fine. I have

> > also

> > > taken Wellbutrin XL 300mg - which did not really relieve

> depressive

> > > symptoms, but did seem to enhance my sexual functioning -

> restoring

> > my

> > > ererectile and orgasmic quality to a level similar to my

teenage

> > years.

> > >

> > > About two years ago I switched to Citalopram 20 mg daily

because

> my

> > > health insurance did not cover prescription medications and

> Effexor

> > and

> > > Wellbutrin are rather pricey. Citalopram (generic celexa) is

> listed

> > on

> > > the $4 generic list at most major chain pharmacies which made

it

> an

> > > attractive option. I thought I'd try it. It worked very well as

> far

> > as

> > > relieving my depressive symptoms, but essentially disabled me

> > sexually

> > > (erectile dysfunction, genital anesthesia, anorgasmia).

> > >

> > > I tried to supplement it with Wellbutrin XL, which I was able

> > receive

> > > through the drug company's prescription access program. Even

with

> > > Wellbutrin, my sexual symptoms persisted at an unacceptable

> level.

> > I

> > > decided to discontinue all medications hopeful that I would

> regain

> > my

> > > pre-medicated sexual function. It has been 10 months now since

I

> > > discontinued all meds, and I still have sexual dysfunction. I

do

> > not

> > > get spontaneous erections during the day in response to visual

or

> > > mental stimulation. I do not have nocturnal tumescence (don't

> wake

> > with

> > > an erection). I can achieve an erection of less than full

> rigidity

> > with

> > > significant manual stimulation and a lot of mental focus. The

> > moment

> > > stimulation is interupted, the erection goes limp. I don't feel

> the

> > > sexual pleasure associated with genital stimulation - it feels

> numb

> > and

> > > comparable to someone stroking my elbow. Of course, I can feel

> that

> > > there is contact, but it does not feel the least bit

pleasurable.

> I

> > can

> > > ejaculate, but again, pleasure is a mere hint of what it once

> was;

> > it

> > > equates more to a feeling of a release than an orgasm per se.

> > >

> > > I have read what literature there is on this subject in

addition

> to

> > the

> > > underpinnings of normal sexual function. I've followed this

group

> > for

> > > several months now. I've had comprehensive bloodwork done. I

take

> > high

> > > grade fish oil capsules for omega-3, a good multivitamin, and a

> > vitamin

> > > B complex daily. (I would do this regardless of PSSD symptoms.)

> > I've

> > > tried PDE-5 inhibitors - which do restore my erectile quality,

> but

> > do

> > > little to nothing for sensation - not to mention their

> prohibitive

> > cost.

> > >

> > > I am highly skeptical of playing with medications and

supplements

> > and

> > > not ignorant enough to jump onto the many treatment bandwagons

> > which

> > > surface in this and other on-line groups. I am not willing to

> stand

> > on

> > > my head while sucking on a pebble, or munch down a cereal bowl

of

> > herbs

> > > in hopes of feeling a tingle " down there. " My research leads me

> to

> > > suspect these changes are neurogenomic in nature. Increasingly,

I

> > have

> > > come to believe that time alone (if anything) will facilitate

my

> > body's

> > > return to its baseline state.

> > >

> > > At nearly a year after discontinuing medications, I'm wondering

> > whether

> > > I have any justified hope of regaining function over time. This

> > > situation is very depressing in and of itself, but I refuse to

> > treat my

> > > recurrent depression with pharmaceuticals as long as what were

> > > originally billed as " side-effects " are truly front-and-center

> > > effects...and permanent at that.

> > >

> > > If you have a similar situation to mine, and have not yet

> regained

> > a

> > > somewhat satisfactory level of function, how long have you been

> > > waiting? If you HAVE regained function, after how long a time

did

> > it

> > > happen?

> > >

> > > Please, refrain from submitting theories of etiology or recipes

> for

> > an

> > > orgasmic diet - I don't need to know any more along those lines.

> > >

> > > Thanks.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hello Les,

Thanks for posting and it's nice to hear your improvement with fish oil

and other supplements.

Besides the fish oil, please advise which other supplements you took, at

which dosages, and for how long. Thanks.

> > >

> > > From: gwistik <gwistik@>

> > > Subject: PSSD, hope of regaining function, and length

> of

> > time to recover?

> > > To: SSRIsex@yahoogroups .com

> > > Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 10:49 AM

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Thought I would cast a line to see what you all have to say.

> > >

> > > I've been on and off of a variety of antidepressant medications

> > since

> > > 1994. SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs...I've always experienced sexual side-

> > effects

> > > while on medications that usually fatigue with time to a more or

> > less

> > > tollerable level. Whenever I've gone off of medications, I've

> > regained

> > > satisfactory sexual function - perhaps not as stellar as before I

> > > started taking medications, but still conducive to an enjoyable

> sex

> > > life. The medication I've taken longer than any other is Effexor

> > XR,

> > > and while it's very difficult to go off of with severe

> > discontinuation

> > > symptoms, after a few difficult weeks, things feel fine. I have

> > also

> > > taken Wellbutrin XL 300mg - which did not really relieve

> depressive

> > > symptoms, but did seem to enhance my sexual functioning -

> restoring

> > my

> > > ererectile and orgasmic quality to a level similar to my teenage

> > years.

> > >

> > > About two years ago I switched to Citalopram 20 mg daily because

> my

> > > health insurance did not cover prescription medications and

> Effexor

> > and

> > > Wellbutrin are rather pricey. Citalopram (generic celexa) is

> listed

> > on

> > > the $4 generic list at most major chain pharmacies which made it

> an

> > > attractive option. I thought I'd try it. It worked very well as

> far

> > as

> > > relieving my depressive symptoms, but essentially disabled me

> > sexually

> > > (erectile dysfunction, genital anesthesia, anorgasmia).

> > >

> > > I tried to supplement it with Wellbutrin XL, which I was able

> > receive

> > > through the drug company's prescription access program. Even with

> > > Wellbutrin, my sexual symptoms persisted at an unacceptable

> level.

> > I

> > > decided to discontinue all medications hopeful that I would

> regain

> > my

> > > pre-medicated sexual function. It has been 10 months now since I

> > > discontinued all meds, and I still have sexual dysfunction. I do

> > not

> > > get spontaneous erections during the day in response to visual or

> > > mental stimulation. I do not have nocturnal tumescence (don't

> wake

> > with

> > > an erection). I can achieve an erection of less than full

> rigidity

> > with

> > > significant manual stimulation and a lot of mental focus. The

> > moment

> > > stimulation is interupted, the erection goes limp. I don't feel

> the

> > > sexual pleasure associated with genital stimulation - it feels

> numb

> > and

> > > comparable to someone stroking my elbow. Of course, I can feel

> that

> > > there is contact, but it does not feel the least bit pleasurable.

> I

> > can

> > > ejaculate, but again, pleasure is a mere hint of what it once

> was;

> > it

> > > equates more to a feeling of a release than an orgasm per se.

> > >

> > > I have read what literature there is on this subject in addition

> to

> > the

> > > underpinnings of normal sexual function. I've followed this group

> > for

> > > several months now. I've had comprehensive bloodwork done. I take

> > high

> > > grade fish oil capsules for omega-3, a good multivitamin, and a

> > vitamin

> > > B complex daily. (I would do this regardless of PSSD symptoms.)

> > I've

> > > tried PDE-5 inhibitors - which do restore my erectile quality,

> but

> > do

> > > little to nothing for sensation - not to mention their

> prohibitive

> > cost.

> > >

> > > I am highly skeptical of playing with medications and supplements

> > and

> > > not ignorant enough to jump onto the many treatment bandwagons

> > which

> > > surface in this and other on-line groups. I am not willing to

> stand

> > on

> > > my head while sucking on a pebble, or munch down a cereal bowl of

> > herbs

> > > in hopes of feeling a tingle " down there. " My research leads me

> to

> > > suspect these changes are neurogenomic in nature. Increasingly, I

> > have

> > > come to believe that time alone (if anything) will facilitate my

> > body's

> > > return to its baseline state.

> > >

> > > At nearly a year after discontinuing medications, I'm wondering

> > whether

> > > I have any justified hope of regaining function over time. This

> > > situation is very depressing in and of itself, but I refuse to

> > treat my

> > > recurrent depression with pharmaceuticals as long as what were

> > > originally billed as " side-effects " are truly front-and-center

> > > effects...and permanent at that.

> > >

> > > If you have a similar situation to mine, and have not yet

> regained

> > a

> > > somewhat satisfactory level of function, how long have you been

> > > waiting? If you HAVE regained function, after how long a time did

> > it

> > > happen?

> > >

> > > Please, refrain from submitting theories of etiology or recipes

> for

> > an

> > > orgasmic diet - I don't need to know any more along those lines.

> > >

> > > Thanks.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hey Les -

Did you start taking the 6000mg of fish oil right away or did you

slowly work your dosage up?

Currently, I'm taking 1800mg daily but I plan on gradually ramping

up. I've actually been taking fish oil for many years, but at a

small dose of 600mg a day. I've only recently increased dosage.

Thanks -

Luther

> > >

> > > From: gwistik <gwistik@>

> > > Subject: PSSD, hope of regaining function, and

length

> of

> > time to recover?

> > > To: SSRIsex@yahoogroups .com

> > > Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 10:49 AM

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Thought I would cast a line to see what you all have to say.

> > >

> > > I've been on and off of a variety of antidepressant

medications

> > since

> > > 1994. SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs...I've always experienced sexual

side-

> > effects

> > > while on medications that usually fatigue with time to a more

or

> > less

> > > tollerable level. Whenever I've gone off of medications, I've

> > regained

> > > satisfactory sexual function - perhaps not as stellar as

before I

> > > started taking medications, but still conducive to an

enjoyable

> sex

> > > life. The medication I've taken longer than any other is

Effexor

> > XR,

> > > and while it's very difficult to go off of with severe

> > discontinuation

> > > symptoms, after a few difficult weeks, things feel fine. I

have

> > also

> > > taken Wellbutrin XL 300mg - which did not really relieve

> depressive

> > > symptoms, but did seem to enhance my sexual functioning -

> restoring

> > my

> > > ererectile and orgasmic quality to a level similar to my

teenage

> > years.

> > >

> > > About two years ago I switched to Citalopram 20 mg daily

because

> my

> > > health insurance did not cover prescription medications and

> Effexor

> > and

> > > Wellbutrin are rather pricey. Citalopram (generic celexa) is

> listed

> > on

> > > the $4 generic list at most major chain pharmacies which made

it

> an

> > > attractive option. I thought I'd try it. It worked very well

as

> far

> > as

> > > relieving my depressive symptoms, but essentially disabled me

> > sexually

> > > (erectile dysfunction, genital anesthesia, anorgasmia).

> > >

> > > I tried to supplement it with Wellbutrin XL, which I was able

> > receive

> > > through the drug company's prescription access program. Even

with

> > > Wellbutrin, my sexual symptoms persisted at an unacceptable

> level.

> > I

> > > decided to discontinue all medications hopeful that I would

> regain

> > my

> > > pre-medicated sexual function. It has been 10 months now since

I

> > > discontinued all meds, and I still have sexual dysfunction. I

do

> > not

> > > get spontaneous erections during the day in response to visual

or

> > > mental stimulation. I do not have nocturnal tumescence (don't

> wake

> > with

> > > an erection). I can achieve an erection of less than full

> rigidity

> > with

> > > significant manual stimulation and a lot of mental focus. The

> > moment

> > > stimulation is interupted, the erection goes limp. I don't

feel

> the

> > > sexual pleasure associated with genital stimulation - it feels

> numb

> > and

> > > comparable to someone stroking my elbow. Of course, I can feel

> that

> > > there is contact, but it does not feel the least bit

pleasurable.

> I

> > can

> > > ejaculate, but again, pleasure is a mere hint of what it once

> was;

> > it

> > > equates more to a feeling of a release than an orgasm per se.

> > >

> > > I have read what literature there is on this subject in

addition

> to

> > the

> > > underpinnings of normal sexual function. I've followed this

group

> > for

> > > several months now. I've had comprehensive bloodwork done. I

take

> > high

> > > grade fish oil capsules for omega-3, a good multivitamin, and

a

> > vitamin

> > > B complex daily. (I would do this regardless of PSSD

symptoms.)

> > I've

> > > tried PDE-5 inhibitors - which do restore my erectile quality,

> but

> > do

> > > little to nothing for sensation - not to mention their

> prohibitive

> > cost.

> > >

> > > I am highly skeptical of playing with medications and

supplements

> > and

> > > not ignorant enough to jump onto the many treatment bandwagons

> > which

> > > surface in this and other on-line groups. I am not willing to

> stand

> > on

> > > my head while sucking on a pebble, or munch down a cereal bowl

of

> > herbs

> > > in hopes of feeling a tingle " down there. " My research leads

me

> to

> > > suspect these changes are neurogenomic in nature.

Increasingly, I

> > have

> > > come to believe that time alone (if anything) will facilitate

my

> > body's

> > > return to its baseline state.

> > >

> > > At nearly a year after discontinuing medications, I'm

wondering

> > whether

> > > I have any justified hope of regaining function over time.

This

> > > situation is very depressing in and of itself, but I refuse to

> > treat my

> > > recurrent depression with pharmaceuticals as long as what were

> > > originally billed as " side-effects " are truly front-and-center

> > > effects...and permanent at that.

> > >

> > > If you have a similar situation to mine, and have not yet

> regained

> > a

> > > somewhat satisfactory level of function, how long have you

been

> > > waiting? If you HAVE regained function, after how long a time

did

> > it

> > > happen?

> > >

> > > Please, refrain from submitting theories of etiology or

recipes

> for

> > an

> > > orgasmic diet - I don't need to know any more along those

lines.

> > >

> > > Thanks.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

a few people have reported improvements after taking fish oils.

whether or not these improvements can be directly attributed to the

fish oils or whether these people would have seen improvements anyway

i dont think we will know, but i started taking them a couple of

months ago too. with all the other supposed health benefits i felt

that it couldnt do much harm. be interesting to know how we all feel

in 6 months or a years time.

> > > >

> > > > From: gwistik <gwistik@>

> > > > Subject: PSSD, hope of regaining function, and

> length

> > of

> > > time to recover?

> > > > To: SSRIsex@yahoogroups .com

> > > > Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 10:49 AM

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Thought I would cast a line to see what you all have to say.

> > > >

> > > > I've been on and off of a variety of antidepressant

> medications

> > > since

> > > > 1994. SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs...I've always experienced sexual

> side-

> > > effects

> > > > while on medications that usually fatigue with time to a more

> or

> > > less

> > > > tollerable level. Whenever I've gone off of medications, I've

> > > regained

> > > > satisfactory sexual function - perhaps not as stellar as

> before I

> > > > started taking medications, but still conducive to an

> enjoyable

> > sex

> > > > life. The medication I've taken longer than any other is

> Effexor

> > > XR,

> > > > and while it's very difficult to go off of with severe

> > > discontinuation

> > > > symptoms, after a few difficult weeks, things feel fine. I

> have

> > > also

> > > > taken Wellbutrin XL 300mg - which did not really relieve

> > depressive

> > > > symptoms, but did seem to enhance my sexual functioning -

> > restoring

> > > my

> > > > ererectile and orgasmic quality to a level similar to my

> teenage

> > > years.

> > > >

> > > > About two years ago I switched to Citalopram 20 mg daily

> because

> > my

> > > > health insurance did not cover prescription medications and

> > Effexor

> > > and

> > > > Wellbutrin are rather pricey. Citalopram (generic celexa) is

> > listed

> > > on

> > > > the $4 generic list at most major chain pharmacies which made

> it

> > an

> > > > attractive option. I thought I'd try it. It worked very well

> as

> > far

> > > as

> > > > relieving my depressive symptoms, but essentially disabled me

> > > sexually

> > > > (erectile dysfunction, genital anesthesia, anorgasmia).

> > > >

> > > > I tried to supplement it with Wellbutrin XL, which I was able

> > > receive

> > > > through the drug company's prescription access program. Even

> with

> > > > Wellbutrin, my sexual symptoms persisted at an unacceptable

> > level.

> > > I

> > > > decided to discontinue all medications hopeful that I would

> > regain

> > > my

> > > > pre-medicated sexual function. It has been 10 months now

since

> I

> > > > discontinued all meds, and I still have sexual dysfunction. I

> do

> > > not

> > > > get spontaneous erections during the day in response to

visual

> or

> > > > mental stimulation. I do not have nocturnal tumescence (don't

> > wake

> > > with

> > > > an erection). I can achieve an erection of less than full

> > rigidity

> > > with

> > > > significant manual stimulation and a lot of mental focus. The

> > > moment

> > > > stimulation is interupted, the erection goes limp. I don't

> feel

> > the

> > > > sexual pleasure associated with genital stimulation - it

feels

> > numb

> > > and

> > > > comparable to someone stroking my elbow. Of course, I can

feel

> > that

> > > > there is contact, but it does not feel the least bit

> pleasurable.

> > I

> > > can

> > > > ejaculate, but again, pleasure is a mere hint of what it once

> > was;

> > > it

> > > > equates more to a feeling of a release than an orgasm per se.

> > > >

> > > > I have read what literature there is on this subject in

> addition

> > to

> > > the

> > > > underpinnings of normal sexual function. I've followed this

> group

> > > for

> > > > several months now. I've had comprehensive bloodwork done. I

> take

> > > high

> > > > grade fish oil capsules for omega-3, a good multivitamin, and

> a

> > > vitamin

> > > > B complex daily. (I would do this regardless of PSSD

> symptoms.)

> > > I've

> > > > tried PDE-5 inhibitors - which do restore my erectile

quality,

> > but

> > > do

> > > > little to nothing for sensation - not to mention their

> > prohibitive

> > > cost.

> > > >

> > > > I am highly skeptical of playing with medications and

> supplements

> > > and

> > > > not ignorant enough to jump onto the many treatment

bandwagons

> > > which

> > > > surface in this and other on-line groups. I am not willing to

> > stand

> > > on

> > > > my head while sucking on a pebble, or munch down a cereal

bowl

> of

> > > herbs

> > > > in hopes of feeling a tingle " down there. " My research leads

> me

> > to

> > > > suspect these changes are neurogenomic in nature.

> Increasingly, I

> > > have

> > > > come to believe that time alone (if anything) will facilitate

> my

> > > body's

> > > > return to its baseline state.

> > > >

> > > > At nearly a year after discontinuing medications, I'm

> wondering

> > > whether

> > > > I have any justified hope of regaining function over time.

> This

> > > > situation is very depressing in and of itself, but I refuse

to

> > > treat my

> > > > recurrent depression with pharmaceuticals as long as what

were

> > > > originally billed as " side-effects " are truly front-and-

center

> > > > effects...and permanent at that.

> > > >

> > > > If you have a similar situation to mine, and have not yet

> > regained

> > > a

> > > > somewhat satisfactory level of function, how long have you

> been

> > > > waiting? If you HAVE regained function, after how long a time

> did

> > > it

> > > > happen?

> > > >

> > > > Please, refrain from submitting theories of etiology or

> recipes

> > for

> > > an

> > > > orgasmic diet - I don't need to know any more along those

> lines.

> > > >

> > > > Thanks.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I searched the forum history using part of Les' e-mail address "lotusandkoi" and found his old post about the fish oil and supplements he was taking for 6 months after which he made great progress. He said the other day that his libido is now 95% returned:"Yes...especially right after I went off Lexapro.....10 mg/day for four years. However, a year out and I am feeling much better although the libido is at only about 10%. For the past six months I have been taking 6 g of fish oil omega three pills (3 in the am and 3 in the pm), 100 mg 5-HTP ( 50 am, 50 pm), 1000 mg L-tyrosine (500 am, 500 pm), and 1000 mg L-argine (500 am, 500 pm). Today, after six months of this regimine and walking 2 to 3 miles/day....I feel much better...can get hard erections, feel emotionally less depressed...and look forward to further improvements in the future. My wife has supported me...even though there is still little sex in our lives....(she has always had a low libido...and so lack of sex has not been a major issue for her). Anyway...I am now 56 years old...and am feeling so much better than when I first came off the lex....It is hard to know whether it is the supplents or time that is healing me....but I know that continue to improve......"http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SSRIsex/message/9857So taking fish oils (6000mg daily), L-Tyrosine (500mg, twice daily), L-Arginine (500mg, twice daily), and 5-HTP (50mg, twice daily) for at least 6 months possibly played a significant role in his erections and libido returning to normal.I did mention previously that if natural supplements actually help to restore erections and libido to normal, then they would need to be taken for at least several months. Perhaps they should be taken for 6 - 12 months to give them a good chance to build up in the system to see if they work to improve PSSD.I think L-Tyrosine, which increases dopamine and norepinephrine, is important.Amino acids such as L-Tyrosine, 5-HTP, etc. should be taken on an empty stomach.> > > > > > From: gwistik <gwistik@>> > > Subject: PSSD, hope of regaining function, and length > of > > time to recover?> > > To: SSRIsex@yahoogroups .com> > > Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 10:49 AM> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Thought I would cast a line to see what you all have to say.> > > > > > I've been on and off of a variety of antidepressant medications > > since > > > 1994. SSRIs, SNRIs, NDRIs...I've always experienced sexual side-> > effects > > > while on medications that usually fatigue with time to a more or > > less > > > tollerable level. Whenever I've gone off of medications, I've > > regained > > > satisfactory sexual function - perhaps not as stellar as before I > > > started taking medications, but still conducive to an enjoyable > sex > > > life. The medication I've taken longer than any other is Effexor > > XR, > > > and while it's very difficult to go off of with severe > > discontinuation > > > symptoms, after a few difficult weeks, things feel fine. I have > > also > > > taken Wellbutrin XL 300mg - which did not really relieve > depressive > > > symptoms, but did seem to enhance my sexual functioning - > restoring > > my > > > ererectile and orgasmic quality to a level similar to my teenage > > years.> > > > > > About two years ago I switched to Citalopram 20 mg daily because > my > > > health insurance did not cover prescription medications and > Effexor > > and > > > Wellbutrin are rather pricey. Citalopram (generic celexa) is > listed > > on > > > the $4 generic list at most major chain pharmacies which made it > an > > > attractive option. I thought I'd try it. It worked very well as > far > > as > > > relieving my depressive symptoms, but essentially disabled me > > sexually > > > (erectile dysfunction, genital anesthesia, anorgasmia).> > > > > > I tried to supplement it with Wellbutrin XL, which I was able > > receive > > > through the drug company's prescription access program. Even with > > > Wellbutrin, my sexual symptoms persisted at an unacceptable > level. > > I > > > decided to discontinue all medications hopeful that I would > regain > > my > > > pre-medicated sexual function. It has been 10 months now since I > > > discontinued all meds, and I still have sexual dysfunction. I do > > not > > > get spontaneous erections during the day in response to visual or > > > mental stimulation. I do not have nocturnal tumescence (don't > wake > > with > > > an erection). I can achieve an erection of less than full > rigidity > > with > > > significant manual stimulation and a lot of mental focus. The > > moment > > > stimulation is interupted, the erection goes limp. I don't feel > the > > > sexual pleasure associated with genital stimulation - it feels > numb > > and > > > comparable to someone stroking my elbow. Of course, I can feel > that > > > there is contact, but it does not feel the least bit pleasurable. > I > > can > > > ejaculate, but again, pleasure is a mere hint of what it once > was; > > it > > > equates more to a feeling of a release than an orgasm per se.> > > > > > I have read what literature there is on this subject in addition > to > > the > > > underpinnings of normal sexual function. I've followed this group > > for > > > several months now. I've had comprehensive bloodwork done. I take > > high > > > grade fish oil capsules for omega-3, a good multivitamin, and a > > vitamin > > > B complex daily. (I would do this regardless of PSSD symptoms.) > > I've > > > tried PDE-5 inhibitors - which do restore my erectile quality, > but > > do > > > little to nothing for sensation - not to mention their > prohibitive > > cost.> > > > > > I am highly skeptical of playing with medications and supplements > > and > > > not ignorant enough to jump onto the many treatment bandwagons > > which > > > surface in this and other on-line groups. I am not willing to > stand > > on > > > my head while sucking on a pebble, or munch down a cereal bowl of > > herbs > > > in hopes of feeling a tingle "down there." My research leads me > to > > > suspect these changes are neurogenomic in nature. Increasingly, I > > have > > > come to believe that time alone (if anything) will facilitate my > > body's > > > return to its baseline state. > > > > > > At nearly a year after discontinuing medications, I'm wondering > > whether > > > I have any justified hope of regaining function over time. This > > > situation is very depressing in and of itself, but I refuse to > > treat my > > > recurrent depression with pharmaceuticals as long as what were > > > originally billed as "side-effects" are truly front-and-center > > > effects...and permanent at that. > > > > > > If you have a similar situation to mine, and have not yet > regained > > a > > > somewhat satisfactory level of function, how long have you been > > > waiting? If you HAVE regained function, after how long a time did > > it > > > happen? > > > > > > Please, refrain from submitting theories of etiology or recipes > for > > an > > > orgasmic diet - I don't need to know any more along those lines.> > > > > > Thanks.> > >> >>