Sexual side effects from hell.
August 9, 2015 12:53 AM Subscribe
Super high libido + extreme difficulty orgasming: how to cope with sexual side effects from antidepressants?
I've been on 9mg of Emsam or the transdermal patch of selegiline (MAOI) for a little over a month now. Almost immediately my libido shot through the roof. Orgasms were very pleasurable and I felt a lot sexier overall. Things were good...
Up until about two weeks ago when it started to take me longer and longer to reach orgasm. It takes me well over an hour to reach orgasm now--possibly two. I actually clocked in at an astonishing four hours (!!) yesterday, which is an experience I have no desire to repeat. The thing is, it does feel pleasurable while I'm masturbating--it's just incredibly difficult to get over the edge.
YANMD--but I am wondering how others have coped with this. I have almost no other side effects from this medication and I'm feeling so much healthier (mentally) since I started this dosage. I don't know what to do. Wondering if I should try to masturbate significantly less or just change up my techniques, or try alternating dosage times, or see if there is another drug I can add to my cocktail to counteract the sexual side effects.
Sidenote: There is a hitachi magic wand being shipped to my house as we speak.
I've been on 9mg of Emsam or the transdermal patch of selegiline (MAOI) for a little over a month now. Almost immediately my libido shot through the roof. Orgasms were very pleasurable and I felt a lot sexier overall. Things were good...
Up until about two weeks ago when it started to take me longer and longer to reach orgasm. It takes me well over an hour to reach orgasm now--possibly two. I actually clocked in at an astonishing four hours (!!) yesterday, which is an experience I have no desire to repeat. The thing is, it does feel pleasurable while I'm masturbating--it's just incredibly difficult to get over the edge.
YANMD--but I am wondering how others have coped with this. I have almost no other side effects from this medication and I'm feeling so much healthier (mentally) since I started this dosage. I don't know what to do. Wondering if I should try to masturbate significantly less or just change up my techniques, or try alternating dosage times, or see if there is another drug I can add to my cocktail to counteract the sexual side effects.
Sidenote: There is a hitachi magic wand being shipped to my house as we speak.
If you're spending hours masturbating, it may be that you're kind of training yourself to not come for a really really long time. Try going for a few days without masturbating or sex, and hopefully you'll get charged up enough that next time you'll get a quick, satisfying kablooey.
If the drugs are helping your mood in general, it's worth sticking with them a little while to see if the side effects settle down. In my experience it can be a challenge to find the right drug for your moods, and side effects can decrease quite a bit. I've had to go on and off my meds a few times over the years, and when I go on them I'll have REALLY weird, worryingly intense dreams for weeks and I'll get what I call "sleep attacks," where no matter what I'm doing I can suddenly get so sleepy that I basically HAVE to sleep. It's just short of passing out. It's inconvenient as hell, but eventually that stuff goes away but the positive effects of the drug remain.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 1:48 AM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
If the drugs are helping your mood in general, it's worth sticking with them a little while to see if the side effects settle down. In my experience it can be a challenge to find the right drug for your moods, and side effects can decrease quite a bit. I've had to go on and off my meds a few times over the years, and when I go on them I'll have REALLY weird, worryingly intense dreams for weeks and I'll get what I call "sleep attacks," where no matter what I'm doing I can suddenly get so sleepy that I basically HAVE to sleep. It's just short of passing out. It's inconvenient as hell, but eventually that stuff goes away but the positive effects of the drug remain.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 1:48 AM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's likely going wrong at the rub-really-hard stage. It may be you are transitioning to that stage too early because your sizzling libido is telling you you are ready for it. Try spending longer at the precursor stage.
Your orgasms may be in the process of changing their nature due to the anti-depressants. They may become slower and deeper and milder and longer. Tactile stimulation should take this into account.
You could stop trying to orgasm and tease yourself more, backing up when you think you ought to put on the finish line sprint. This is a good time to play and experiment. It's like having a new partner. Different things are going to work and you might make some cool discoveries.
posted by Jane the Brown at 5:02 AM on August 9, 2015
Your orgasms may be in the process of changing their nature due to the anti-depressants. They may become slower and deeper and milder and longer. Tactile stimulation should take this into account.
You could stop trying to orgasm and tease yourself more, backing up when you think you ought to put on the finish line sprint. This is a good time to play and experiment. It's like having a new partner. Different things are going to work and you might make some cool discoveries.
posted by Jane the Brown at 5:02 AM on August 9, 2015
Wondering if I should try to masturbate significantly less or just change up my techniques, or try alternating dosage times, or see if there is another drug I can add to my cocktail to counteract the sexual side effects.
Anorgasmia or severely delayed orgasm is a common side effect of antidepressants. You should absolutely discuss this with your prescribing doctor.
posted by DarlingBri at 7:13 AM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Anorgasmia or severely delayed orgasm is a common side effect of antidepressants. You should absolutely discuss this with your prescribing doctor.
posted by DarlingBri at 7:13 AM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: My doctor is aware of the situation and is trying to research an answer.
posted by joeyjoejoejr at 8:36 AM on August 9, 2015
posted by joeyjoejoejr at 8:36 AM on August 9, 2015
Walk more, try to stay on top of things like hydration, check if these drugs are known to cause specific nutritional deficiencies and, if so, supplement to treat it. Make sure you are getting enough sleep. Being tired can be a factor.
Vibrator may well solve it. If it doesn't, see if you can add something that jerks your chain emotionally. Porn/erotica can do that. If that isn't your cup of tea, fantasies of someone you are crushing on might be an alternative or cultivating a "for sexual feels only" (online/by phone) relationship might work for you.
Also, consider playing with your medication dosage (ie see if a lower dose will work without causing extreme side effects). I have taken lots of medication over the years. I have become a fan of loading doses -- i.e. taking more at first to get enough into my system to make a difference, then lowering the dose to maintain the effect without excess buildup of chemicals in my system. For me, that reduces side effects.
posted by Michele in California at 12:36 PM on August 9, 2015
Vibrator may well solve it. If it doesn't, see if you can add something that jerks your chain emotionally. Porn/erotica can do that. If that isn't your cup of tea, fantasies of someone you are crushing on might be an alternative or cultivating a "for sexual feels only" (online/by phone) relationship might work for you.
Also, consider playing with your medication dosage (ie see if a lower dose will work without causing extreme side effects). I have taken lots of medication over the years. I have become a fan of loading doses -- i.e. taking more at first to get enough into my system to make a difference, then lowering the dose to maintain the effect without excess buildup of chemicals in my system. For me, that reduces side effects.
posted by Michele in California at 12:36 PM on August 9, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
Legalize orgasms!
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 1:14 AM on August 9, 2015 [1 favorite]