Negative Side Effects Of Medication - HELP!

[niceguys1st]

I have a problem that I need help with and was hoping you guys would be able to offer some advice. Recently I've been diagnosed with depression and possibly bipolar disorder and thus have been placed on some anti-depressants. I'm currently taking Paxil but I've been having some really bad side effects from it that I'm not sure how to break to my doctor. I'm unable to have an orgasm or keep an erection for very long. Everytime I happen to masturbate it takes everything I have to keep it up and it's close to impossible to have an orgasm, if I do I have to stroke so fast and hard that I am drenched in sweat, having trouble breathing with my heart beating a mile a minute and on the verge of passing out due to the physical exhaustion of it all. It's not pleasurable at all now and feels more like a task or chore trying to cum. I'm lucky if I can cum two or three times a week when I'm used to doing that much in a single day. When I read the fine print on the medication when I first received it it did mention that possible side effects may include sexual side effects but I don't know what to do. I'm too embarassed to talk to my doctor about it and I'm also worried that if I do talk to him and he prescribes different medication that it won't be covered by my medical plan and I'd be forced to pay for it unlike the medication I'm currently taking and since I don't have a job I wouldn't be able to afford a new bottle of pills every month. I'm also worried that I wouldn't be able to perform in bed when I need to. As some of you know, I'm a virgin but my best friend and I are wanting to sleep together and I'm currently in the process of saving up money to go and visit her in April or May of next year but if I can't keep an erection or achieve orgasm I'll be disappointed that my first time will be horrible. What do I do and what suggestions do you guys have?

 

[warrior queen]

absolutely go and speak to your doctor!

just because you have an illness, does not mean all of your quality of life should be taken away by the medications.

there are so many different types of anti-depressant meds available, that surely your doc should be able to change yours and still keep you on the lower-priced ones!

my SO has dep and bipolar, and his meds have been changed so many times for exactly this problem.

there's no reason to be embarrassed - in fact, if you just waltz into your docs office, and announce that these drugs are absolutely no good because you can't get a hardon and you can't cum (in a loud voice!) - then in all likelihood, your doc will be the one who gets embarrassed!!!

here's a site to check out for the different meds and their effects - all written by real people who have had real experiences with them.

LINK

good luck.

 

[niceguys1st]

Thanks for posting that link I had no idea it affected so many people. I'll try talking to my doctory as soon as I can but I'd have no idea what to say. Any suggestions?

 

[Weird Harold]

Any suggestions?

Ask him why he didn't prescribe Viagra to offset the side-effects of the Paxil. He'll get the idea without either of you having to go into details.

 

[warrior queen]

basically, you have to remember that your doctor, in all likelihood, has NEVER experienced side effects like you are having now.
your doctor probably has NEVER had depression, does not suffer from bipolar, and has absolutely NO CLUE when it comes to real-life experiences of this.
everything your doc knows, came from a book.

and that makes YOU the person in charge.

have a look at other sites that explain depression, bipolar, and side effects of the various meds, do some serious research before you go to your doc, and then when you do go - lay out EXACtLY what you want from your treatment.

your doctor is like your employee - you are paying for a service, and neither you nor he should forget that!

in case you hadn't guessed, i am soooooooo sick of doctors who think that just because they have info in a book on the desk, they know better.
the ONLY person who knows better, is the one going through it.

 

[marge_w]

niceguy, just tell your doc what you have said here, sooooo many meds affect how you feel sexually and its no shame if you respond to a documented side effect in that way........i was on major pinkillers for a long time because of a gynae problem and i couldnt even get enough stimulation then to cum because of the nerve deadening effects............please please dont let embarrasment cause you to lose your sex life........it's not something that is a bonus.....it's something you are deserved of!!!!!!

hugggggs to wariorqueen, i have been there n done that with my so too






edited to say : btw apologies for spelling, grammar etc....i plead drunkeness lol

 

[Willing and Unsure]

I have to agree with everyone else here and say talk to your doctor. You may feel uncomfortable about it, but I can guarantee you that your doctor wont be. They will understand and be able to discuss the whole situation with you and what all the other options are. Afterall, doctors are professionals and can handle pretty much anything.

 

[red_jane_doe]

It could also depend on how long you've been on the medication. It's supposed to take about a month for it to be completely in your system. My ex was put on Zoloft. He had trouble getting an erection but after two months his sex drive was back and he was able to perform as usual. Paxil is supposed to be one of the meds with the least amount of side effects. Although it's not for everyone, maybe you need a little time for everything to get in tune again.

 

[bethesdabob]

My wife of 20 years died last December.

Following her death I was on anti-depressants for 6 months, they really took the edge off and I was able to function, had absolutely no sexual desire.

Have recently begun seeing someone and fel that this is a relationship that might last, with antidepressants most have really bad withdrawel effects, Paxil is one of the worst, you can't just stop taking it, you have to gradually reduce your dose, might take a month or so, fortunately as you reduce your dose you'll start getting feelings again.

Am now down from 20 mgs of Lexapro to 5 mgs, and almost ready for duty !!!

 

[Emerald Eyed]

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR.


I have taken Zoloft and it caused me to be less interested in sex. When I told the ocotr that he said " Well I was afraid of that happeneing" Then he lowered the dose and I was ok.
He didn't act shocked that I wanted to be able to orgasm again. He didn't act shocked when I mentioned it to him.

You don't have to tell him it is when you jack off. Just say you are unable to reach orgasm. he won't ask for details.


Hope you get this straightened out.

 

[waterkemist]

I got off of Paxil

I slept ten to fourteen hours a day and could not cum.

My wife massaged my prostate and rubbed my penis for twenty minutes (God bless her!) and still I could not cum.

Try something else...the same thing has happened to many people.

 

[Vixandra]

Call your doctors office as soon as you can. Sexual disfunction is a BIG problem- what better to add to depression then not being able to orgasm?

I was told by my Dr when I got placed on Zoloft (after birthcontrol made me over-easy-to-anger psycho) to let him know ASAP if I was having problems to include sexual issues. Thats a sign of something not right and an indication its time to change your dose or the med entirely.

Don't take another med to counter the med without your dr's recommendation/perscription. It can react with the Paxil in a bad way.
There's my 2 cents.

 

[kinkybrat]

talk to your Dr.


It totally depends on how long you've been taking the medication. Alot of anti-depressants do effect us sexually, you just need to figure out which is the best for you.


I took Paxil and hated it. Took Wellbutrin and it was ok for my sex drive but made me very *shaky* and a total CLUTZ (i hurt my feet 10 times a day on that). Now, i'm on the generic of Prozac and while IT did effect my sex drive and abilty to have O's for the first few wks, my body has adjusted to it.

 

[dollface007]

If you're old enough to go to the doctor without your mommy, you're old enough to talk to the doctor about masturbation. Get over it.

First of all, tell your doctor that you cannot afford to renew your paxil prescription. This should set off an alarm that you cannot be on this medication...a lapse in dosage could send you into withdrawal and give you worse side effects than you are experiencing now (e.g., you could become suicidal). This is not something to take lightly. Make an appointment (or request a phone conference) and tell your doctor about ALL of your monetary concerns and side effects.

On another note, everyone that i've known to take paxil has had to come off it at some point, and the process is not pretty. I sincerely believe that the full damage that can be done by paxil has not be recognized by the medical establishment. Be careful. Losing your virginity is the least of your problems right now.