Anti-depressants

[creativexangst.livejournal.com]

Can someone give me some advice on how to approach a doctor about being put on anti depressants? For more then just depression (sexual reasons)? I feel uncomfortable asking any doctor for meds unless its their idea so I dont know what to do. Thanks!

Comments

[edge-ofthe-sea.livejournal.com]

While anti-depressants can help with lowered sexual drive due to depression (because they help lift the depression which then lifts the lowered sex drive), you have to remember that a very common side effect of most anti-depressants is actually lowered sexual drive, as well as lowered ability or inability to orgasm.

So I guess I'm a little confused and want a little more information on what's going on.

(also, another appropriate community to ask would be crazymeds, as most people there are pros at asking for the psychotropic meds they need)

But generally, most doctors I've dealt with...if you say, "look, I've done some research because I've been having x, y, and z symptoms and it sounds like an antidepressant could help me out"....they are more than happy to prescribe (which actually annoys me to no end, as I am a firm believer that if you have to be put on psychotropic drugs, then you also need to be in therapy as well...but that's another topic).

[creativexangst.livejournal.com]

I am in therapy :) Its mostly for my boyfriend (whos also in therapy, but its totally non-meds). He wants to be put on anti depressants for two reasons, one being thats the only thing thats been recommended for him because of his total lack of interest in sex, and when he does have it, it lasts 30 seconds or less (not even joking), so we both thought this might be a place to look to ask about going about it.

[edge-ofthe-sea.livejournal.com]

Oooooh. See, I thought you were asking for you. You don't want a doctor to prescribe you pills for your boyfriend, I hope.

Apparently, Wellbutrin has generally good record of not having many sexual side effects, but I can't remember if that's just in women or not.

[jimmielynne.livejournal.com]

Doctors generally like to try out a couple of the more mainstream anti-depressants before they'll prescribe Welbutrin. Most people's depression responds better to an SSRI. Unless he has Seasonal Affective Disorder or depression characterized by anhedonia they'll prolly wanna try out something cheaper and more consistent first. I do highly recommend Welbutrin though. It's the only anti-depressant that doesn't cause either sexual side effects or weight gain. In fact it has been shown to increase the intensity of orgasms, and help people break destructive eating habits or quit smoking.

I'm surprised that they aren't all trying to med you up already to be honest. From my experience psychiatrists dole out Prozac like party favors. My family doctor once wrote me a scrip for Effexor because I checked too many of the "do you ever feel hopeless?" boxes on the intake form they make everybody fill out before they'll see you. Which is made even weirder by the fact that I was there for my yearly and not a psych consult.

[https://users.livejournal.com/i-cant-think-/]

wow, i need to look into wellbutrin! i'm on effexor and i've tried getting off of it for two years but the side effects are just so bad that i can't :/
but you're right, psychiatrists treat anti-depressants like candy.

[kuni-bob.livejournal.com]

Just have to jump in here: you will probably still have a withdrawal period between the two because Wellbutrin affects dopamine in place of seratonin (when comparing Effexor and Wellbutrin). Seratonin withdrawal is a bitch. I came off of Paxil several years ago, and it was BRUTAL, so I feel your pain! But a doc will probably help you wean off of one and onto the other, which should help a bit. And yeah, the side effects from Wellbutrin are much better for most people. Good luck!!

[creativexangst.livejournal.com]

No, he just has constant depression :-/. Actually, Im surprised too. I've been seeing psychiatrists since a few suicide attempts when I was 14 and not once that they suggested drugs to me. Of course, the doctors I see are like, Christian therapists or holistic, or homeopathic...

[a-tiny-goat.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I have no suggestions for the OP.

I just wanted to share that at the age of 20, I was in a car accident that banged me up pretty good, and I stopped being as social and as active because of it. I was also single, and happy about being single.

My mom thought I should go talk to her psychiatrist because talking about one's frustrations (being unable to fully use my body due to pain!)can be helpful.

Instead, he fixated on the fact that I was single, asked me about 10 questions relating to why I was single, and prescribed me Lexapro because obviously I was depressed. I mean come on, I didn't have a boyfriend!

I never filled the rx nor did I ever go back to see him.

[marionravenwood.livejournal.com]

(which actually annoys me to no end, as I am a firm believer that if you have to be put on psychotropic drugs, then you also need to be in therapy as well...but that's another topic).

I completely disagree with this: I firmly believe it should be the patient's choice. Not everyone is helped by therapy anymore than everyone is helped by drugs.

[chantalzola.livejournal.com]

If you ever find the answer, PLEASE let me know =/

[creativexangst.livejournal.com]

Apparently, you just have to ask a doctor for them. Explain that your depressed and ask if anti-depressants will work, and then they either write a prescription or send you to a therapist to ask them.

[chantalzola.livejournal.com]

Not for me though, my boyfriend. Thank you, though I don't think I could pay him to go to a doctor for the problem. Argh.

[creativexangst.livejournal.com]

Everyone Ive talked to have seriously recommended anti depressants for men who have a problem with premature ejaculation (and by premature, I mean it not lasting longer then 3 minutes) and apparently, doctors are willing to prescribe them just for that problem.

[823freckles.livejournal.com]

I've been in this situation. It's simple. All you gotta do is make an appointment with a psychiatrist. They hand out drugs like it's candy. Not even kidding. It's that simple.

Nevertheless, depression can mess with sex drive. But so can many anti-depressants. So if you're looking for drugs just for a low sex drive...well, many other things can cause a low sex drive. I'd suggest changing your eating habits, exercising, and continuing therapy and bringing up the issues with low sex drive in therapy, before resorting to medications.

[creativexangst.livejournal.com]

I eat nothing but salads (with chicken or tuna on them for protein), I excersise for a minimum of an hour daily, and I've been seeing therapists since I was 14 after a few suicide attempts. And no, Im looking to ask about the drugs because of a boyfriend with no sex drive due to depression and he orgasms in less then 30 seconds, and thats it for him in the sexual department for months. So, I wanted to ask to them about if that will help for him, and then ask about me :)

[torturedsoul14.livejournal.com]

St John's wort is a good over the counter, herbal remedy. But just ask them, they are prepared for this dont be scared of them.