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Posted: 11/15/2014 7:39:51 AM EDT
I'm 28 years old and taking 150mg Venlafaxine (Effexor XR) for anxiety and depression stemming from PTSD. The shit works good for it's intended purpose, but it's making things nonexistent in the bedroom. Anyone else have this problem?
I don't want to go off it, because I'll be really unpleasant to be around without it, to say the least. What can I do? 
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Posted: 11/15/2014 7:46:48 AM EDT
[#1]
Did you discuss alternatives with your doctor ?
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Posted: 11/15/2014 7:55:41 AM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Did you discuss alternatives with your doctor ? Doc says Effexor is the least side-effective drug, and that good sleep and exercise will help. I work in the oilfield, so 'good' sleep ain't an option, and exercise I plenty of on the job. One fellow vet on the job suggested taking testosterone supplements, but I'm kinda wary of that. |
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Posted: 11/15/2014 7:58:49 AM EDT
[#3]
Exercising on the job is not the same IMO. Yes it might keep you in shape, but the other kind of exercise is an emotional thing. You can purposefully get rid of tension, be proud of yourself, and feel more confident.
ETA: Oops, was just browsing active topics. Didn't see this was in this forum. |
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Posted: 11/15/2014 7:59:13 AM EDT
[#4]
I am a smoker.+/- a pack of Marlboro red 100's a day. I don't get to drink much anymore due to the nature of my work.
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Posted: 11/15/2014 8:13:11 AM EDT
[#5]
Might want to have a chat with your doc about switching to Wellbutrin (bupropion). YMMV, but I've found Wellbutrin tends to have fewer sexual S/E than other ADs in the patients I've had in my outpatient clinic.
Small print: Yes, I'm a PharmD. No, I'm not your PharmD. I'm just throwing out an option. Always talk to your physician, nurse practitioner, PA, pharmacist, yoga master, chiropractor or voodoo father before trying any of this at home. |
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Posted: 11/15/2014 8:25:12 AM EDT
[#6]
Same here. I fixed it by taking a daily multi vitamin. I take the "Geriatric" ones, 50+, and it seems to work for me. It was actually my wifes suggestion, I guess she read about it somewhere. Anyway, it works.
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Posted: 11/15/2014 8:53:51 AM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
I'm 28 years old and taking 150mg Venlafaxine (Effexor XR) for anxiety and depression stemming from PTSD. The shit works good for it's intended purpose, but it's making things nonexistent in the bedroom. Anyone else have this problem? I don't want to go off it, because I'll be really unpleasant to be around without it, to say the least. What can I do? Have you tried 75mg? |
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Posted: 11/15/2014 11:53:46 AM EDT
[#8]
Not to sound ignorant, but why does working in the oilfields preclude "good" sleep?
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Posted: 11/15/2014 12:12:34 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Doc says Effexor is the least side-effective drug, and that good sleep and exercise will help. I work in the oilfield, so 'good' sleep ain't an option, and exercise I plenty of on the job. One fellow vet on the job suggested taking testosterone supplements, but I'm kinda wary of that. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Did you discuss alternatives with your doctor ? Doc says Effexor is the least side-effective drug, and that good sleep and exercise will help. I work in the oilfield, so 'good' sleep ain't an option, and exercise I plenty of on the job. One fellow vet on the job suggested taking testosterone supplements, but I'm kinda wary of that. Have you had your T tested? If you're low, or low normal, why not push it up to the high normal range with a little help? |
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Posted: 11/15/2014 12:20:52 PM EDT
[#10]
They don't call it SIDEffexor for nothing.
 talk to your doc and follow the above advice .
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Posted: 11/28/2014 7:33:43 PM EDT
[#11]
I had a similar issue for a while with a different but similar med. I picked up some GNC brand vitamins made for prostate health and virility. Yohimbe root I believe is the active ingredient. Made a world of difference for me. I would talk to your doctor about your concerns first and foremost.
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Posted: 11/28/2014 7:54:24 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Doc says Effexor is the least side-effective drug, and that good sleep and exercise will help. I work in the oilfield, so 'good' sleep ain't an option, and exercise I plenty of on the job. One fellow vet on the job suggested taking testosterone supplements, but I'm kinda wary of that. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Did you discuss alternatives with your doctor ? Doc says Effexor is the least side-effective drug, and that good sleep and exercise will help. I work in the oilfield, so 'good' sleep ain't an option, and exercise I plenty of on the job. One fellow vet on the job suggested taking testosterone supplements, but I'm kinda wary of that. Test boosters arent a bad thing just make sure you are cycling them and arent just popping them like they are candy. |
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Posted: 11/28/2014 8:18:15 PM EDT
[#13]
My Lupus meds were doing the same thing... hammered my urologist until he prescribed me supplemental Testosterone. Problem fixed. Have your doc check your T levels and take your blood test at 2:30 pm. See the testosterone thread...
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/827650_Low_Testosterone__What_are_the_options__UPDATE__HGH_Therapy_.html |
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Posted: 11/29/2014 8:13:49 PM EDT
[#14]
get off the drugs, see a counselor for the anxiety/depression. there are many many ways to work with anxiety/depression outside of drugs. The drugs treat the symptom, not the problem; and will do more harm in the long run. |
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Posted: 12/14/2014 1:11:35 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Have you had your T tested? If you're low, or low normal, why not push it up to the high normal range with a little help? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Did you discuss alternatives with your doctor ? Doc says Effexor is the least side-effective drug, and that good sleep and exercise will help. I work in the oilfield, so 'good' sleep ain't an option, and exercise I plenty of on the job. One fellow vet on the job suggested taking testosterone supplements, but I'm kinda wary of that. Have you had your T tested? If you're low, or low normal, why not push it up to the high normal range with a little help? The bad thing about taking a supplemental hormone is that once you start taking it your body stops making it making it so you have to take it the rest of your life. A few soldiers in my command have come to me(medic) about this issue. BH meds all affect your sex drive. I used to take some meds for issues developed from deployments. I wish there was some more help, but the fact is I could never climax when I was taking them. So I stopped and found that exercising and keeping busy helps a lot more than meds. |
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Posted: 12/14/2014 1:49:20 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The bad thing about taking a supplemental hormone is that once you start taking it your body stops making it making it so you have to take it the rest of your life. A few soldiers in my command have come to me(medic) about this issue. BH meds all affect your sex drive. I used to take some meds for issues developed from deployments. I wish there was some more help, but the fact is I could never climax when I was taking them. So I stopped and found that exercising and keeping busy helps a lot more than meds. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Did you discuss alternatives with your doctor ? Doc says Effexor is the least side-effective drug, and that good sleep and exercise will help. I work in the oilfield, so 'good' sleep ain't an option, and exercise I plenty of on the job. One fellow vet on the job suggested taking testosterone supplements, but I'm kinda wary of that. Have you had your T tested? If you're low, or low normal, why not push it up to the high normal range with a little help? The bad thing about taking a supplemental hormone is that once you start taking it your body stops making it making it so you have to take it the rest of your life. A few soldiers in my command have come to me(medic) about this issue. BH meds all affect your sex drive. I used to take some meds for issues developed from deployments. I wish there was some more help, but the fact is I could never climax when I was taking them. So I stopped and found that exercising and keeping busy helps a lot more than meds. I'm neither a doctor nor an expert, but to me that trade off seems ok. The T trade off, not the climax one. |
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Posted: 12/14/2014 3:12:24 PM EDT
[#17]
I had the same problem with my meds. (Percocet & Flexeril) Without the meds I was in too much pain and with the meds nothing worked. Talked with my doctor and he tested my T. It was on the low side of normal. He gave me a supliment, some little blue pills, and recomended I take a multi-vitamen.
I am happy now and, more importantly, so is the wife. At age 43 I am now a true believer in better living through modern chemistry. |
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Posted: 12/14/2014 7:59:56 PM EDT
[#18]
30k milligrams of Vitamin D every 2 -3 weeks can do wonders.
Both Mentally and Physically. Google it. |
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Posted: 12/17/2014 11:29:37 PM EDT
[#19]
I'm on a maint dose of tramadol to address my pain and fatigue. Tramadol is also used to treat premature Ej (which i thankfully dont have) but the mix of T and added stay was well received. Since i will always be on the drugs that tanked my T, being on T for the rest of my life is not a big deal.
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Posted: 12/24/2014 12:48:18 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I'm on a maint dose of tramadol to address my pain and fatigue. Tramadol is also used to treat premature Ej (which i thankfully dont have) but the mix of T and added stay was well received. Since i will always be on the drugs that tanked my T, being on T for the rest of my life is not a big deal. Tramadol was the drug I was talking about. I was off of it for a while but I'm now taking it again, at a much lower dose which has helped with a lot of the side effects. But when I was taking more of it in the past I would have WELCOMED premature EJ. Try not to increase your daily dose over time if it becomes less effective. That was when I started getting the bad side effects. |
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Posted: 12/25/2014 8:50:40 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Tramadol was the drug I was talking about. I was off of it for a while but I'm now taking it again, at a much lower dose which has helped with a lot of the side effects. But when I was taking more of it in the past I would have WELCOMED premature EJ. Try not to increase your daily dose over time if it becomes less effective. That was when I started getting the bad side effects. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: I'm on a maint dose of tramadol to address my pain and fatigue. Tramadol is also used to treat premature Ej (which i thankfully dont have) but the mix of T and added stay was well received. Since i will always be on the drugs that tanked my T, being on T for the rest of my life is not a big deal. Tramadol was the drug I was talking about. I was off of it for a while but I'm now taking it again, at a much lower dose which has helped with a lot of the side effects. But when I was taking more of it in the past I would have WELCOMED premature EJ. Try not to increase your daily dose over time if it becomes less effective. That was when I started getting the bad side effects. |
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Posted: 1/4/2015 10:32:35 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
get off the drugs, see a counselor for the anxiety/depression. there are many many ways to work with anxiety/depression outside of drugs. The drugs treat the symptom, not the problem; and will do more harm in the long run. Could not agree more. After a few years of choking down all of the VA prescribed shit, I had reached my limit. Quit everything in one night. Did not sleep for about 3 days, and was a wreck. But when I did fall asleep, it was as though I had not slept that well in years. Never again. Multivitamins, and weightlifting supplements are the only things I take now. |
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Posted: 1/5/2015 10:32:33 AM EDT
[#23]
I'd keep seeking alternatives, including meds, with your Doc. Also are you involved in group therapy ? I know a lot who have lived a warriors life self medicate with alcohol too. You dont have to admit it here but do be honest with yourself. Best wishes to you.
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Posted: 1/5/2015 11:00:39 AM EDT
[#24]
If you are up to switching meds Lexapro's side effects are minor.
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