I see a lot of discussion on the board about Lexapro, but it all seems to be posts by women.

I just started taking Lexapro about 5 days ago, and it has already killed my sex drive. Well, at least my ability to achieve orgasm. Is this likely to get better eventually?

I'm taking Lexapro for mild but constant depression (dysthymia). It has already helped my moods tremendously, but I know that I tend to respond well to most antidepressants. Unfortunately, most also give me the sexual side effect problems.

I just recently stopped taking Remeron after trying it for several weeks, and the side effects of that were also unnacceptable. With Remeron, you're supposed to increase dose to avoid drowsiness, and I never got over the sedated feeling. So the doc agreed I shouldn't be on that one.

But in the past few years I've tried a whole range of anti-depressants:

Effexor and Paxil and Prozac all did wonders for my depression, but had the sexual side effects.

I also tried Wellbutrin, but it really had no effect on me at all (no moderation of depression).

I'd like to know if any guys had only short-term side effects, that eventually got better. Otherwise, I'm going to stop taking Lexapro.

I don't know that most of the people on these posts are women, but your sex shouldn't really matter in terms of the way the medication affects you. AD's affect each individual whether male or female differently. Having said that I am a MAN on Lexapro, I have never been able to get over 5mg. of it b/c I have developed skin sensitivity to the sun, a gross taste in my mouth and worse no it is very hard to get out of bed in the morning. I haven't had any trouble achieving orgasm, nor did I ever have it as a symptom. I do have a low sex drive but I had that when I was depressed so I don't know if it is the Lexapro doing it or if that just hasn't disappeared.

As an aside I must say I have had a very unsuccessful run with AD's as it sounds like you have. I am going to wean off of the Lexapro. I have tried homeopathy and it has been far better at treating depression than has any AD. Synthetic medication is not the way to go, it cause more pain than pleasure and only suppresses real internal problems. Homeopathy brings those problems to the forefront and deals with them on a more holistic level, leaving you in better health and happiness. I thought it was quackery until I tried it and it has been working slowly. But AD's aren't exactly fast acting.

hope any of this was of help

Could you please explain homopathy to me. I am new to all this. My husband is going through a tough time and really doesn't want to start and meds. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thank you and good luck to all of you.

hey, I'm not a guy but my husband was taking L along with neurotin for migranes and I had to finally say something...uh, ya know, he now takes 50 elavil at night, cause it makes him tired if he takes it in the am. Please say something to your doc about this side effect, I hear "that" kinda side effect effects men more that women . Maybe together you can adjust or "fix" the problem. If you can't tell, talking about this is uncomfortable for me, but this is important. good luck R

I would be happy to, but I think your question would be better fielded by Sarah68, she is a Senior Veteran on the health boards and has been my guiding light when it comes to homeopathy. She is also in homeopathic school or a homeopathic Dr. Try creating a post with her name in the Title. You are more likely to find her in the Alternative Medicine section.

Quickly though homeopathy is based on the law of similars, it was the most practiced form of medicine in the US until the 1930's. It believes that like cures like and sees the body as a holistic entity. So in the case of depression rather than taking an AD, which I am currently weaning off of, that just masks your symptoms of unhappiness by artificially boosting serotonin in your brain. Homeopathy goes to the root of the depression and shocks your immune system into responding by in essence giving your body a highly potentized form of depression (that is the remedy). I know it sounds like witchcraft but Sarah68 can explain it better. Just so you know the potentized remedy is tailored to the individuals symptoms and personality and the right remedy is determined after a lengthy (1 to 2 hour) meeting with the homeopath. So it is very therapeutic in this sense because you feel like the dr. really has a good feel for who you are and is not just throwing you on any random remedy. This is unlike AD's where individuals of very lifestyles, issues, depression and symptoms are thrown on one of 6 or so AD's and told to grin and bear it for a few weeks and they will start to feel better. Well along with not being individualized, the AD causes many adverse symptoms (as I am sure you have heard)and suppress the symptoms of the depression which are actually your body's immune system trying to fight the way you are feeling. I am giving up now, but leave a message for Sarah68. In closing all I can say is homeopathy is starting to work for me and there are no side effects. Also your husband may want to take a look at his diet, lifestyle and try some nutritional supplements which are clinically tested to be as effective as AD's (5-htp, St. John's wort- not as good as AD, Omega-3 fish oil, Magnesium supplements and b-complex vitamins (make sure has b-6 and b-12).
There is a Senior Veteran named GarFla who knows a lot about nutritional supplements and there ability to benefit people with depression. However, before any of this I think it is important that your husband have a very thorough physical and blood work done to rule out a thyroid disorder, hyper or hypoglycemia (onset can come after youth), electrolyte levels and levels of nutrients in the blood. Also a urine sample is good- see if they can test the amount of HIAA in his urine. HIAA is what your body converts serotonin into after it has used it. If your body is low on HIAA then a 5-HTP nutritional supplement of anywhere from 100mg a day to 300mgs. may have serious benefits.

I hope any of this was of help and definitely recommend you contact Sarah68 for Homeopathy and GarFla for naturopathy if you are interested.

your husband will be ok, it just may be hard to see right now.

A therapist once told me that some people treat the sexual side effects of SSRI's etc. with Viagra and sometimes another combination of drugs.

deprezzed;

I would rather this thread stick with the topic in the title. Homeopathy is, in my opinion (and I have several science degrees) pure quackery. Please start another thread elsewhere if you wish to discuss that.

Thanks to others for the information. I'm going to give Lexapro the full 30 days trial that my doctor wants. I've read that in some cases the sexual side effects decrease or even go away. It isn't an acceptable option for me to have these side effects long term.

*** I deleted what I said earlier ***

[This message has been edited by hangtenvetter (edited 04-30-2003).]

[This message has been edited by hangtenvetter (edited 05-02-2003).]

Sorry to have gotten carried away on YOUR thread. I too have many science degrees, your argument is a bit ad hominem. The number of degrees you possess or knowledge in an area doesn't rule out the possibility of other options or possibilities.

But to help your original question. I was on Lexapro and Wellbutrin together, because Wellbutrin is often prescribed in conjunction with an SSRI to prevent any sexual side effects the SSRI may cause. Many people find Wellbutrin to be very stimulating and energizing- especially sexually. Wellbutrin is not an SSRI, rather it boosts your dopamine and norepinephrine. I would be happy to tell you the significance of that but with your science degrees you probably know, so I don't want to waste your time. On the other hand, if you don't feel free to reply and I would be happy to tell you.

hope this suggestion may be of some help

Kellyguy: The side effects MIGHT go away over time. I'm a man taking 10 mg of Lexapro (started a little over a month ago) and the main side effect the first two weeks was spaciness, which has gone away.

I still get some flushing in my face and sometimes fall asleep 2 or 3 hours early, but have no other side effects, and no sexual side effects.