Lots of questions...please help

[Guest guest]

Sorry that this is a lot of information, but please take the time to

help me because I am extremely freaked out and this problem is

dismantling my life.

I'm a 20 year old guy, and in the last few months or so I've been

having a hard time getting or keeping an erection, and my sex drive is

next to nothing. I also don't wake up with morning erections anymore

like I used to, or it only seems to happen about once a month. I don't

remember the last time I had a spontaneous erection. Orgasms are still

good, and I think sensitivity is alright as well.

I took Celexa and Wellbutrin from the time I was about 10 years old

until I was about 16. Ironically, I stopped taking them because I

heard that antidepressants could cause sexual dysfunction, and without

any prompting I had this idea in my head that those effects could

last. Little did I know...

The thing is that I have only had this problem since about mid-Summer,

and before I think I was OK, or at least tolerable. It seemed to

happen rather quickly. The complication is that since I started taking

SSRIs since a few years before puberty, I don't have any " pre-SSRI "

sexual function to compare to. I seem to remember getting erections a

lot more easily than I do now, and my sex drive was always good. But I

also remember sometimes having weak erections or having to do a lot of

prodding to get it up.

As recently as July I had a ferocious sex drive for a while, and was

getting erections really easily. But then one day I couldn't, and I

started worrying. Now, I can still get an erection a lot of the time,

but only with rubbing. I also have been losing it at least half of the

time, even if it's just oral or rubbing. I also have almost NO sexual

thoughts or desires, but I don't know if it's just been scared out of

me because of the erection issue. The blood flow down there just

doesn't seem that good, and usually I'm REALLY flaccid (as opposed to

some blood flow).

I started taking Maca (4.5g/day), Zinc (50mg/day), Gingko (120mg/day),

and Yohimbine HCl (2.5mg/day) in the last few weeks, but I haven't

really seen much of an improvement to speak of. I have tons of other

supplements such as Tribulus and Fish Oil and Rhodiola and L-Arginine

that I haven't tried. I recently ordered a trial pack of generic

Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra from an online pharmacy, but whether or

not it will actually arrive is a toss-up. It's not a long term

solution but I want to be able to function for at least a while.

I went to a GP to try to tell him about it. The first time I requested

a Testosterone test, hoping that would give me some answers. Being

skeptical, he (stupidly) only ordered a Total Testosterone count. I

tested at 468, which is technically within the normal range. But for a

20 year old male who otherwise is pretty healthy this does not seem

normal whatsoever. It is borderline low. He assured me that this was a

fine level and that it shouldn't be giving me any problems, and that

the whole thing was in my head and I need to relax. He prescribed me

Celexa to help with anxiety and depression that has been causing this

problem (yeah right, fuck that. I'm definitely not taking Celexa again).

So that's the background info. Here are my theories as to the cause of

this problem.

1) The doc is right and it's all in my head. I doubt this because of

the lack of morning erections, weak erections when masturbating (and

recent difficulty getting them by myself), no sex drive, and no

spontaneous erections. Although there is no doubt that the distress

this is causing me is contributing, I don't think this is the main cause.

2) It's testosterone/hormone related. I should really go back and

demand that he check all my adrenals/free-test/etc., but seeing as how

the just plain Total Testosterone test cost me $80, I'm pretty scared

to find out how much this is going to cost. I'm also really afraid to

do Testosterone Replacement Therapy if this is the real cause. But I

find this to be fairly likely since I have low sex drive, poor

erections, bad concentration and energy, a hard time growing

facial/body hair, low muscle mass (low body fat too, though).

3) It's PSSD. The Celexa (and possibly Wellbutrin?) screwed with my

normal development/puberty process since I took it between ages 10-16.

I don't know a whole lot about this though besides what I've read on

here. But from what I've read so far, I don't know of anyone that

started SSRIs at a younger age than I did.

And now I have some questions.

1) Do SSRIs mess with testosterone / other hormones? It seems that

some people on here have problems with their hormones and that could

be the problem.

2) Could the SSRIs mess with puberty/development?

3) Can the effects of PSSD show up much later after discontinuing SSRIs?

4) Can you become physiologically / psychologically dependent on ED

drugs like Viagra? Can they lose their effectiveness over time?

I know I just bombarded you with details, but I'm trying to give a

clear of a picture as I can as to what's going on. I'm 20 years old

for God's sake, I just want to be able to enjoy a normal or somewhat

normal sex life, at least while I'm young. This is all I think about

lately and it's ruining every aspect of my life. Please help if you can.

[Guest guest]

bespgr13 ,

FIrst thing, dude, chill out. You're all worked up about this, and I understand

why. It can

be very scary and distressing. But you aren't doing yourself any favors by

getting to

anxious about it. You're 20 years old, you have LOTS of life ahead of you , and

I really

doubt this problem is going to stay with you for the rest of your life, or even

for years to

come. You'll get through it and be just fine, I suspect.

Personally, I think it's unlikely that PSSD would develop well after you stopped

taking your

SSRIs. Now, keep in mind, we really don't have any proof of anything around

here. Just a

bunch of people who aren't the same after they got off their SSRIs. But you had

some very

good sexual functioning after you stopped the SSRIs. Based I that fact, it seems

unlikely

that you have full-blown PSSD.

I would strongly recommend you get your hormones checked, and your thyroid, and

your

adrenal glands. Take a look at your estrogen in particular, also SHBG, free

testosterone

and a saliva cortisol test will tell you how your adrenals are doing.

Also, sometimes people just go through a period of sexual desire and

functioning, for a

wide variety of reasons. Maybe there is no real reason, it just happens. All of

these are

possibilities, and if you want some answers I would start with some more tests.

And, relax man. I think you'll be just fine.

Good luck,

Joe

>

> Sorry that this is a lot of information, but please take the time to

> help me because I am extremely freaked out and this problem is

> dismantling my life.

>

> I'm a 20 year old guy, and in the last few months or so I've been

> having a hard time getting or keeping an erection, and my sex drive is

> next to nothing. I also don't wake up with morning erections anymore

> like I used to, or it only seems to happen about once a month. I don't

> remember the last time I had a spontaneous erection. Orgasms are still

> good, and I think sensitivity is alright as well.

>

> I took Celexa and Wellbutrin from the time I was about 10 years old

> until I was about 16. Ironically, I stopped taking them because I

> heard that antidepressants could cause sexual dysfunction, and without

> any prompting I had this idea in my head that those effects could

> last. Little did I know...

>

> The thing is that I have only had this problem since about mid-Summer,

> and before I think I was OK, or at least tolerable. It seemed to

> happen rather quickly. The complication is that since I started taking

> SSRIs since a few years before puberty, I don't have any " pre-SSRI "

> sexual function to compare to. I seem to remember getting erections a

> lot more easily than I do now, and my sex drive was always good. But I

> also remember sometimes having weak erections or having to do a lot of

> prodding to get it up.

>

> As recently as July I had a ferocious sex drive for a while, and was

> getting erections really easily. But then one day I couldn't, and I

> started worrying. Now, I can still get an erection a lot of the time,

> but only with rubbing. I also have been losing it at least half of the

> time, even if it's just oral or rubbing. I also have almost NO sexual

> thoughts or desires, but I don't know if it's just been scared out of

> me because of the erection issue. The blood flow down there just

> doesn't seem that good, and usually I'm REALLY flaccid (as opposed to

> some blood flow).

>

> I started taking Maca (4.5g/day), Zinc (50mg/day), Gingko (120mg/day),

> and Yohimbine HCl (2.5mg/day) in the last few weeks, but I haven't

> really seen much of an improvement to speak of. I have tons of other

> supplements such as Tribulus and Fish Oil and Rhodiola and L-Arginine

> that I haven't tried. I recently ordered a trial pack of generic

> Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra from an online pharmacy, but whether or

> not it will actually arrive is a toss-up. It's not a long term

> solution but I want to be able to function for at least a while.

>

> I went to a GP to try to tell him about it. The first time I requested

> a Testosterone test, hoping that would give me some answers. Being

> skeptical, he (stupidly) only ordered a Total Testosterone count. I

> tested at 468, which is technically within the normal range. But for a

> 20 year old male who otherwise is pretty healthy this does not seem

> normal whatsoever. It is borderline low. He assured me that this was a

> fine level and that it shouldn't be giving me any problems, and that

> the whole thing was in my head and I need to relax. He prescribed me

> Celexa to help with anxiety and depression that has been causing this

> problem (yeah right, fuck that. I'm definitely not taking Celexa again).

>

> So that's the background info. Here are my theories as to the cause of

> this problem.

>

> 1) The doc is right and it's all in my head. I doubt this because of

> the lack of morning erections, weak erections when masturbating (and

> recent difficulty getting them by myself), no sex drive, and no

> spontaneous erections. Although there is no doubt that the distress

> this is causing me is contributing, I don't think this is the main cause.

>

> 2) It's testosterone/hormone related. I should really go back and

> demand that he check all my adrenals/free-test/etc., but seeing as how

> the just plain Total Testosterone test cost me $80, I'm pretty scared

> to find out how much this is going to cost. I'm also really afraid to

> do Testosterone Replacement Therapy if this is the real cause. But I

> find this to be fairly likely since I have low sex drive, poor

> erections, bad concentration and energy, a hard time growing

> facial/body hair, low muscle mass (low body fat too, though).

>

> 3) It's PSSD. The Celexa (and possibly Wellbutrin?) screwed with my

> normal development/puberty process since I took it between ages 10-16.

> I don't know a whole lot about this though besides what I've read on

> here. But from what I've read so far, I don't know of anyone that

> started SSRIs at a younger age than I did.

>

> And now I have some questions.

>

> 1) Do SSRIs mess with testosterone / other hormones? It seems that

> some people on here have problems with their hormones and that could

> be the problem.

>

> 2) Could the SSRIs mess with puberty/development?

>

> 3) Can the effects of PSSD show up much later after discontinuing SSRIs?

>

> 4) Can you become physiologically / psychologically dependent on ED

> drugs like Viagra? Can they lose their effectiveness over time?

>

> I know I just bombarded you with details, but I'm trying to give a

> clear of a picture as I can as to what's going on. I'm 20 years old

> for God's sake, I just want to be able to enjoy a normal or somewhat

> normal sex life, at least while I'm young. This is all I think about

> lately and it's ruining every aspect of my life. Please help if you can.

>