Do cymbalta induced sexual side effects improve?
May 27, 2013 3:27 AM Subscribe
I was wondering if anyone who has taken Cymbalta and got side sexual side effects ever had their sexual side effects wear off. I am a male in my 20s, and besides the side effects the drug is working well. I am taking the drug for a hernia in my neck, and only later found out that the drug is also an antidepressant with potential sexual side effects . I would like to hear some personal anecdotes/problems/success stories dealing with the sex aspect of the drug.
I have not been able to have an orgasm in the two weeks since I have been taking this drug. I also heard that the Cymbalta has some serious withdrawal side effects which I am worried about. Even so, I am thinking about stopping the medication soon but besides the sexual side effects it does seem to be helping with the nerve pain. I am currently taking 40 mg, and thinking of switching to 20 mg to see if that helps with the problem. I would love to hear some personal stories of any Mefite's time with Cymblta, and how the sexual side effects were dealt with.
I have not been able to have an orgasm in the two weeks since I have been taking this drug. I also heard that the Cymbalta has some serious withdrawal side effects which I am worried about. Even so, I am thinking about stopping the medication soon but besides the sexual side effects it does seem to be helping with the nerve pain. I am currently taking 40 mg, and thinking of switching to 20 mg to see if that helps with the problem. I would love to hear some personal stories of any Mefite's time with Cymblta, and how the sexual side effects were dealt with.
Two weeks isn't long enough to know anything. Surely your doctor (who you haven't mentioned at all, hopefully this is someone you have some kind of ongoing relationship with) wants to see you after a month or six weeks, and you can discuss then.
In personal experience, the anorgasmia settles down quite a bit. You may still have a bad day every so often.
Please involve your doctor in any medication changes. It's not just that that's a terrible idea, but if you go back all "yeah, I stopped after two weeks" he's going to regard you as non-compliant and it's going to affect how he treats you in the future.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:34 AM on May 27, 2013 [1 favorite]
In personal experience, the anorgasmia settles down quite a bit. You may still have a bad day every so often.
Please involve your doctor in any medication changes. It's not just that that's a terrible idea, but if you go back all "yeah, I stopped after two weeks" he's going to regard you as non-compliant and it's going to affect how he treats you in the future.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:34 AM on May 27, 2013 [1 favorite]
As someone else who's just starting cymbalta (my previous antidepressant stopped working, and I'm a migraine sufferer after a traumatic head injury a few months back, so we're hoping to kill two problems with one drug) I haven't noticed serious problems. The ones that I have noticed have seemed to be prostate-related. On my previous drugs, the prostate issues disappeared after a while, but it took time for my body to adapt and to learn my own mental tricks to get around them.
posted by SpecialK at 8:30 AM on May 27, 2013
posted by SpecialK at 8:30 AM on May 27, 2013
I took various SSRIs and they all had sexual side effects. I agree that 2 weeks might not be enough time for the effects to actually kick in, but everyone is different.
Unfortunate that your doctor didn't fully explain the medication to you. I had a doctor try to prescribe me Buspar for stress-related stomach problems without telling me that it was an anti-anxiety drug. I am not against SSRIs or anti-anxiety meds or anything, but it's very important to tell the patient what they're getting in to!
In terms of weaning off the drug, different SSRIs are more or less difficult. You just have to go very very slowly. Your doctor might not know about this so just be very cautious and you'll be fine. If you all of a suddenly feel dizzy or very out of it when tapering off, try stepping down a an even smaller amount.
posted by radioamy at 11:14 AM on May 27, 2013
Unfortunate that your doctor didn't fully explain the medication to you. I had a doctor try to prescribe me Buspar for stress-related stomach problems without telling me that it was an anti-anxiety drug. I am not against SSRIs or anti-anxiety meds or anything, but it's very important to tell the patient what they're getting in to!
In terms of weaning off the drug, different SSRIs are more or less difficult. You just have to go very very slowly. Your doctor might not know about this so just be very cautious and you'll be fine. If you all of a suddenly feel dizzy or very out of it when tapering off, try stepping down a an even smaller amount.
posted by radioamy at 11:14 AM on May 27, 2013
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posted by clavicle at 7:17 AM on May 27, 2013