Libido?: Sensitive topic for certain... - Cure Parkinson's

Cure Parkinson's

26,511 members27,921 posts

Libido?

kaypeeoh profile image
18 Replies

Sensitive topic for certain whether man or woman. My question is how does l- dopa affect one's libido. At age 66 I don't have much interest but I assumed it's from my age. BUT, since stopping the Rytary thing are different. Stopping rytary had several effects.

First, Suddenly my arms and legs hurt as if I've been spending hours a day in the gym and on the treadmill. I haven't been.

Second, 'morning wood' has returned. Not like a 20yr old but better than nothing.

Third, I'm not sleeping as much as I was when taking Rytary. . Possibly because I'm developing restless leg syndrome. My wife has had it for years and takes Ropinirole 4mg. I tried a dose of her her meds last night.

Written by
kaypeeoh profile image
kaypeeoh
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
18 Replies
Smittybear7 profile image
Smittybear7

Why did you go off that drug?

kaypeeoh profile image
kaypeeoh in reply toSmittybear7

Years back I was diagnosed with MS. I took tysabri infusions weekly for two years then quit it, Then I was diagnosed with APS, antiphosPholipid enzyme syndrome which is a clotting problem similar to Lupus then quit that after a year. then PD.

park_bear profile image
park_bear

Is this muscle pain due to muscle tightness? If so that would likely be Parkinson's dystonia.

kaypeeoh profile image
kaypeeoh in reply topark_bear

I'm not sure what the difference might be.

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply tokaypeeoh

With dystonia discomfort is more apparent upon extension than flexion

HekateMoon profile image
HekateMoon in reply topark_bear

Thats interesting info, PB!

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply toHekateMoon

It was an interesting thought but upon reflection, wrong. What I should have said is if stretching the muscle in question increases discomfort that indicates dystonia.

Grumpy77 profile image
Grumpy77

Is Ropinirole also prescribed for RLS or does your wife also have PD? So you're suggesting that Rytary is the culprit for your lack of action, right? If you're not still sure, you could quickly start Rytary again and see if you're back to your previous state.

Ordinarily I would have said said no way, since these meds just dump dopamine to our brains which in turn gives us a feel-good factor

kaypeeoh profile image
kaypeeoh in reply toGrumpy77

No, she has RLS but no PD. I plan to restart Rytary but wanted to find out whether I really needed it. I never had any of the typical signs; Stiffness, bradykinesia, balance problems. I've had a dominant arm tremor for 5 or 6 years. And poor handwriting. Probably some degree of cognitive malfunction.

I was a veterinarian for 35 years. I started making mistakes in dosing medication then poor decisions in surgery. These told me something was wrong but I blamed it on burnout. After 35 years working 6 days a week and seeing emergencies on Sunday several colleagues mentioned burnout was in my future. Even now I think my signs can be from depression.

SilentEchoes profile image
SilentEchoes in reply tokaypeeoh

How about a trial of SAMe?

JustJeff profile image
JustJeff

Interesting subject as an off shoot question i have often wondered how dopamine levels are effected regarding libido particularly as its the reward chemical......not sure how that could be measured and if its relevant....just a thought :)

beehive23 profile image
beehive23 in reply toJustJeff

Dopamine and Male Sexual Dysfunction

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/118...

hang tough

HekateMoon profile image
HekateMoon

Its an interesting topic. For women with PD rarely spoken at least here. Probably in some PD women's groups maybe. Personally my interest is gone "pooof"or magically disappeared along with my interest in pretty clothes etc. . Not surprising as leading with pain, gastro issues and fatigue as well as life issues have its toll. The need to give and receive affection is there,thank goodness else i would start wondering if ive been abducted by aliens.... Have you drastically stopped rytary? Is it not dangerous? I thought it has to be done slowly...take care. Chelo

kaypeeoh profile image
kaypeeoh in reply toHekateMoon

I'm still wondering if I truly have PD. The DAT scan says I do but I've read that 30% of people taking the DAT register false positive. I don't have typical signs like stiffness or balance problems. At the same time, I don't have "off" periods. No reaction to stopping the Rytary three weeks ago. I assumed there'd be a detox period.

Farooqji profile image
Farooqji in reply tokaypeeoh

PD is mysterious disease and misdiagnosis is always a possibility. Here is an unusual case of a 91-year-old man with a clinical diagnosis of Parkinsons, but whose autopsy findings showed a ubiquitin-positive astrogliopathy without significant neuronal loss in the substantia nigraactaneurocomms.biomedcentra...

xy-zt profile image
xy-zt in reply toHekateMoon

You have described my situation exactly.

HekateMoon profile image
HekateMoon in reply toxy-zt

😢🌞🙏

Jebbie12 profile image
Jebbie12

I am also a 66-year-old woman with PD. My libido is about the same as before which is not too bad. I take carbo levodopa sinemet instead of Ritary. I’m also on Selegiline, entacapone and Amantadine. . I don’t know if this helps

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Ready to start my new prescription for rytary but . . .

My Parkinson's disease neurologist has just prescribed rytary, the new extended release version of...
gleeson profile image

Well mom was taken to the ER today

The Rytary cannot or should not be stopped even though she ended up in the ER today. Her movements...
Beths611 profile image

Not enough dopamine for Dystonia vs. too much dopamine creating fatigue and daytime sleepiness.

struggling to find the right mix of meds. been working closely with my neurologist who is very...
Jockboy17 profile image

Switching from sinemet to rytary

My mom is in her first week of rytary from sinemet. She took 4 sinemet pills a day. Her rytary...
jcavana profile image

Rytary switching, tips from your success?

My MDS has recommended switching to Rytary. She says "most" people do better on Rytary. I have...
rebtar profile image

Moderation team

See all
CPT_Aleksandra profile image
CPT_AleksandraAdministrator
CPT_Anaya profile image
CPT_AnayaAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.