Posted by gilbert on June 10, 2001, at 1:27:52
In reply to Re: what works for you » gilbert, posted by Elizabeth on June 9, 2001, at 22:30:09
Elizabeth,
I tried all of the slow titration measures and still had other side effects stick around besides sexual ones. I had raise in blood pressure from both effexor and celexa. I had heart rythym disturbances from tricyclics. I had vivd dreams and anger outbursts on prozac. I was too dizzy to drive on both buspar and trazadone. There is the inherent risks of cholesterol problems with remeron. My decsions were based on more side effects than libido although as a guy that's the one that smacks your ego the hardest.
I have a pretty great wife who is very understanding and up to this point in our life our sex life has only been interupted by ssri use. She has been exceptional through it all. We have an active normal intimate relationship and are both on the same wavelength there although I am sure as I head into my mid forties I will slow down and she may speed up, we have not gotten to that role reversal as of yet......I know it will come.
The funny thing really isn't the sex it just seems so odd to me I really have tried most antidepressants except for maoi's and I have never felt good on them. I never really felt like me. I have had some pretty distubing side effects and stuck it out through long slow dosing periods only to be dissapointed time after time. There should be more caution exercised on this board....it feels and sounds as if everyone is so sure side effects will dissappear or lessen my experience has been the opposite. I have put myself through a fair amount of self med induced self torture in hopes that the side effects would wear off. I think the broad brushes being used to paint people into an ssri colored corner can be misleading and dangerous at times.
If I match side effect for side effect the safest drugs I have used have been the benzos. They have given me the most bang for the buck. I become more functional without having to give up something. This may be greedy on my part but of all places you would think the stigma of benzo use would be tolerated most here. The people who would understand most would be fellow sufferrers who would applaud each others progress. Many decisions about what drugs to try are made based on what people read here. I know I tried many drugs because of reading posts here. I just wish I had trusted how I felt more than some of the contributors to the board...I could of saved myself some pain. It is one thing to be optimistic about what to expect it is completely another to be misleading. I don't mean people are misleading in a bad way......just by accident...by thinking they know. I think this is a wonderfull service and there are great people here and I will certainly continue to read the posts. But my guinea pig days are over.
Thanks,
Gil
poster:gilbert
thread:65576
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010605/msgs/65992.html