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What Causes Erectile Dysfunction Inspite Of Being On Lot Of Antidepressants?
Question: Hello doctor...I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety.i have been taking pexep 37.5cr from 2003 .i had a active sex life but in 2009 wanted to improve further so had consulted another doctor as I had disturbed sleep,nightmares,talking and getting aggressive in sleep I was given a cocktail of medicines and pexep 37.5cr was removed ...finally in 2014 I was given along with a cocktail of medicines Ativan 2mg and tryptomer 75mg I had erectile dysfunction about 2 months later and continues till date. Since it was a lady doctor I could not freely discuss this issue with her so I changed to another doctor.he got me down on all the other medicines and I was on pexep 37.5 cr , Ativan 2mg and tryptomer 75mg and this was the best time of my life i had absolute control of my mind and life.but my ED still persisted so he gradually reduced and stopped my tryptomer and Ativan but I have severe withdrawal symptoms like headache,palpitations,sweating, confusion all my previous symptoms started to come back so I got back to him he had suggested betacap tr40 ,bupron xl150,pexep 37.5 cr,adesam 400,trazonil 50mg..I understand that betacap 40tr causes ED and a lot of side effects..pexep,bupron ,adesam and trazonil don't look that bad as per what I've read online..I am confused and worried that having more antidepressant drugs would cause my ED to worsen..I have never doubted or researched online and have always trusted my doctors but because of the ED I have become more worried..I have tested my testosterone level and my results show them very low below the normal limit ..kindly advice...thnx
Brief Answer:
simplification of drug treatment is needed.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Dear,
Welcome to HealthcareMagic.
I have read your details thoroughly and understand your concerns.
You have been prescribed multiple medications for depression in past. You currently take betacap, bupron, pexep, adesam and trazonil. You are concerned about getting ED.
I have some suggestions for you which will help you to choose the minimum possible and safe drugs for your anxiety and depression:
1. Pexep is a good antidepressant. It causes delayed ejaculation. This side effect is used in treating those who have premature ejaculation. Since you have responded to pexep in past, I would suggest you to continue with it.
2. Betacap will help you to control your anxiety. Yes it can cause ED. But at the doses of 40 mg, there are only minimal chances of it causing ED.
I have been using this drug very frequently in my patients of anxiety disorder and none has reported ED.
3. Bupron is also an antidepressant. However, its response is considered weaker as compared to SSRI (pexep). However, it has least sexual side effects among all antidepressant. If your symptoms respond to this drug, there can be nothing better then this.
4. Adesam is used as an augmentation therapy for antidepressants when there is poor response to main drugs. I do not think this drug is needed for you as you respond well to first line antidepressants (pexep in your case).
5. Trazonil is also an antidepressant. I do not understand why this is prescribed to you, may be for sleep. In my opinion, this is not required. Pexep itself can cause sedation. If you still have sleep problems, you can occasionally take ativan.
In short,
Consider a trial of bupron for 2 weeks. If your symptoms improve with this, continue this drug without any worry of ED.
If not, continue with pexep.
Donot worry about betacap at this dose of 40 mg. It will not cause ED at this dose.
There is no need of trazonil and adesam.
Low testosterone levels are itself not known to cause ED. I think this should not be the cause of ED.
Discuss these issues with your doctor and consider drug/dose changes under his supervision.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further. I will be happy to help.
Take care.
Thanks.
simplification of drug treatment is needed.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Dear,
Welcome to HealthcareMagic.
I have read your details thoroughly and understand your concerns.
You have been prescribed multiple medications for depression in past. You currently take betacap, bupron, pexep, adesam and trazonil. You are concerned about getting ED.
I have some suggestions for you which will help you to choose the minimum possible and safe drugs for your anxiety and depression:
1. Pexep is a good antidepressant. It causes delayed ejaculation. This side effect is used in treating those who have premature ejaculation. Since you have responded to pexep in past, I would suggest you to continue with it.
2. Betacap will help you to control your anxiety. Yes it can cause ED. But at the doses of 40 mg, there are only minimal chances of it causing ED.
I have been using this drug very frequently in my patients of anxiety disorder and none has reported ED.
3. Bupron is also an antidepressant. However, its response is considered weaker as compared to SSRI (pexep). However, it has least sexual side effects among all antidepressant. If your symptoms respond to this drug, there can be nothing better then this.
4. Adesam is used as an augmentation therapy for antidepressants when there is poor response to main drugs. I do not think this drug is needed for you as you respond well to first line antidepressants (pexep in your case).
5. Trazonil is also an antidepressant. I do not understand why this is prescribed to you, may be for sleep. In my opinion, this is not required. Pexep itself can cause sedation. If you still have sleep problems, you can occasionally take ativan.
In short,
Consider a trial of bupron for 2 weeks. If your symptoms improve with this, continue this drug without any worry of ED.
If not, continue with pexep.
Donot worry about betacap at this dose of 40 mg. It will not cause ED at this dose.
There is no need of trazonil and adesam.
Low testosterone levels are itself not known to cause ED. I think this should not be the cause of ED.
Discuss these issues with your doctor and consider drug/dose changes under his supervision.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further. I will be happy to help.
Take care.
Thanks.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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