i have been taking effexor 150 mg and Eppival my sex life is totally dead and drive is all but done. need advice

[famemon79]

i have been taking effexor 150 mg and Eppival for severe depression my sex life is totally dead and drive is all but done. it has taken a big toll on my married life. need advice is there any meds or vitamins out there that can help boost my drive and atleast reduce the effects a little bit perhaps allow me to have a semblance of a normal married life without upsetting or derailing the effects of effexor and eppival?

[Hidden]

Sorry I don't have a solution for you. I used to take zoloft, prozac, paxil, etc. And my sex drive was wiped out.

I now take L-theanine (and various non-drug aides) for depression. Now my sex drive is restored- though I have no use for it lol.

[luthien in reply to Hidden]

I take L-theanine for better sleep; took me a while to work out my feeling down and stressed was lack of sleep because I couldn't get into a good sleep cycle, so never well rested. I think it improves GABA levels which helps serotonin levels and dopamine levels, and thus improves the sleep / wake pattern, anxiety and "feel good" stuff. Improved libido obviously comes with that.

[famemon79 in reply to Hidden]

is L Theanine an anti depressant or just a supplement of some sort?

[Hidden in reply to famemon79]

It is an amino acid supplement. Some people take it for anxiety. I feel like it has helped my depression and anxiety. I started taking it because a read a study about a possible link between vegetarianism and depression.

[luthien]

I haven't taken either myself but a quick google of Effexor side effects presents this:

Tell your doctor right away if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: easy bruising/bleeding, decreased interest in sex, changes in sexual ability, muscle cramps/weakness, shaking (tremor).

I would suggest going to your doctor to mention the loss of sex drive as that looks like a serious side effect but also that it's important to you so shouldn't be ignored. It's important to find a balance so you can still feel normal with regards to your married life and manage your other issues.

[famemon79 in reply to luthien]

my psychiatrist seemed least bothered about it first mention he told me first lets get ur depression fixed then we can discuss this. next mention he told me ur eurologist can help u with that. the thing is effexor doesnt even help the depression by all that much

[luthien in reply to famemon79]

if it's a cyclical thing that your depression leads you to being given that medication which lowers your sex drive and then that makes you depressed as it's. . . well an essential part for some people (for me it's my way of telling if I'm okay. So I guess you need to break the cycle; if the effexor isn't doing much for your depression and the side effect isn't helping, it's possibly time to switch, I'm sure they can do that. Perhaps explore if you feel your depression is separate to your libido or whether the loss of libido adds to it.

Just a thought

[rosesandcherubs in reply to famemon79]

change your psychiatrist

[lillyofthevalley37]

Tyrosine could help but not advised if you have bipolar disorder

[famemon79 in reply to lillyofthevalley37]

is Tyrosine an anti depressant or its a supplement to help the sex drive

[luthien in reply to famemon79]

it's a dietary amino acid, L-tyrosine, the right amounts in our diet helps balance our response to stress, sleep, and alertness. It is found in dairy products, meats, fish, eggs, nuts, beans, oats, and wheat. It can also be taken in tablet form, doesn't need a prescription as it's not considered a medication, it's a dietary supplement, but it may be worth reading up a bit on the dosage.

I have taken it to help with stress / sleep wake patters and it does help, but it took about 4 weeks for me to really notice the benefits. It has been shown to improve libido mainly because it reduces stress, and allows us to generally be more relaxed.

[lillyofthevalley37]

Tyrosine is an amino acid that you can buy as a supplement in capsule or powder form

Tyrosine makes dopamine and dopamine is the opposite of serotonin so if you have had too much serotonin due to SSRI antidepressants you should be able to put the balance right by supplimenting with tyrosine

It isn't really marketed as a supplement to help your sex drive - the amino acid arginine is

Young people put on SSRI antidepressants often end up with no sex drive or ability to enjoy life I have read that some of them take cocaine to get high but supplimenting with tyrosine should put the balance right

Start on a small dose and stick to a recommended dose you could check out arginine too , they sell both in Holland and Barret in uk

[luthien in reply to lillyofthevalley37]

or you can get them on amazon if stores are shutting!!

[Mrspjsmom]

I have taken Effexor for years. Between that and changes from menopause the last thing on my mind is intimacy. But I have a very understanding husband and have recently been trying to turn things around. The only advice I can offer is be creative and don't put too much pressure on yourself. I have faked interest and found after things get going I respond well. Too shy to mention specifics but there is a lot of information out there. Just google away. Most importantly keep communicating with your partner. You can figure this out together if they are willing. The most important thing for me was knowing my husband understood why this was happening. I love him and was relieved to find out he knew that and understood my issues. You can also talk to your doctor. It's uncomfortable and embarrassing but not uncommon. Good luck. I'll be thinking of you.