Climb Introduction / Log

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climb
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Climb Introduction / Log

Unread post by climb »

Hi everyone,

I'm a new member to the forum. I've been suffering with PSSD for approximately 6 - 7 years.
I took citalopram previously and suffered ED, but when I stopped taking the medicine, everything returned to normal after a while.
However, after another bout of depression, I took it again and when I attempted to come off it due to the ED, the PSSD started. Although I attempted to taper off the medicine slowly, perhaps it was still too fast.

I've got a serious lack of interest in sex, difficulty getting hard etc. plus I think I have suffered some emotional blunting. I've attempted to manage the situation as best I could during this time in the same way other people seem to have - i.e viagra etc. A recent failed attempt at a relationship has prompted me to see if there is anything I can do to improve the situation.

Since getting PSSD, I've been absolutely terrified of taking any medications and have refused. Last year I tried mirtazapine briefly (reluctantly), as I still struggle with an anxiety disorder. I abandoned this after 2 weeks because I was concerned about the long term implications of taking it.

Having read the forum, I've decided it could be worth trying other things I would not have considered previously to see if I can get some kind of recovery.

I'd like to express my best wishes and support to everyone here.

I understand I have a probation period before I can post in other forums. How long is this? apologies if I have missed it.
Last edited by climb on Fri Jan 22, 2021 5:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
climb
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Re: Climb Introduction / Log

Unread post by climb »

I'm just updating what's been going on with me for the benefit of others here.

January 2020
Took inositol at the highest therapeutic dose for 3 days.
This restored connection between brain and genitals and libido but made my genitals really soft so I stopped taking it.
This resulted in a massive crash which led to pain in my genitals and eventual atrophy. Atrophy of other muscles in my body, worsened ED, bad gut problems and constipation.
I've always been a 5 shits a day man all my life, as I'm slim with high metabolism but now I have to eat prunes every day just to go once :0(

It took a long time to get over this and I was feeling despondent for quite a while. Eventually, erections seemed to get more or less back to PSSD baseline, but it bothers me that my penis and other parts of my body look different. There are strange prominent veins where there were not before.

November 2020
Decided that buspirone seemed like a decent thing to try given the medical literature, experiences of others such as Arahant, discussion with a psych doctor.

Here's how things went for me on buspirone:
1 week - 5 mg (slight libido increase, nocturnal erections returned, dreams returned)
1 week - 10 mg (as above)
2 weeks - 15 mg (libido boost and nocturnal erections etc. disappeared, erections got worse. I decided this wasn't a good sign and doctor agreed, so I tapered off).
1 week 10 mg (not much difference to the above)
1 week 5 mg (libido boost returned)
1 week 2.5 mg (libido boost remained, nocturnal erections returned)
a few days on 1.25 mg (as above).

The day after my last dose, I felt super depressed, then for several days after that, I had higher libido than at any other point while taking the drug. Libido has since disappeared, but I still seem to be getting nocturnal erections, which is really strange. I wonder if that will continue.
The instructions for the drug suggests that it can improve sexual functioning in some and worsen it in others.

Fingers crossed I seem to have at least gotten back to where I was before the trial, but still keeping an eye on this.
Thomas
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Re: Climb Introduction / Log

Unread post by Thomas »

Why don't you stay at 5mg if this dose gave you only benefits? And it is very low, less than the therapeutic dose.
Being depressed just after stopping any psychotropic drug seems both logical and common.
Escitalopram, 10mg/day, Jan-May 2019. Fluoxetine, May-Sept 2019. Mirtazapine 7,5mg/day, November 2019-January 2020. Escitalopram, 5mg/day, Feb-May 2020.
Symptoms: sexual & emotional numbness
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Delfador
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Re: Climb Introduction / Log

Unread post by Delfador »

What's your next move Climb?
sovietxrobot
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Re: Climb Introduction / Log

Unread post by sovietxrobot »

Its interesting that you saw a positive benefit after quitting. I observed something similar- I went on Effexor right after I developed PSSD, for about a year. Tapering off was difficult but towards the end of the taper I had greatly improved sexual functioning, almost normal. that lasted for about 3-4 months, then I started drifting back towards the PSSD state. I feel like there is something about the proper withdrawal process that may be beneficial, its part of my current trial.
climb
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Re: Climb Introduction / Log

Unread post by climb »

Thomas wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 5:35 pm Why don't you stay at 5mg if this dose gave you only benefits? And it is very low, less than the therapeutic dose.
Being depressed just after stopping any psychotropic drug seems both logical and common.
Because it wasn't only benefits while I was tapering down, erections didn't return to baseline while I was still taking 5 mg, 2.5 mg. I was definitely considering it as a possibility to keep taking it at 2.5 or 5 mg if erections had improved to baseline at that point.
Yes, I wasn't surprised at feeling depressed the day after, but I was surprised to get a sudden spike in libido after that for several days.
sovietxrobot wrote: Sat Jan 23, 2021 12:10 pm Its interesting that you saw a positive benefit after quitting. I observed something similar- I went on Effexor right after I developed PSSD, for about a year. Tapering off was difficult but towards the end of the taper I had greatly improved sexual functioning, almost normal. that lasted for about 3-4 months, then I started drifting back towards the PSSD state. I feel like there is something about the proper withdrawal process that may be beneficial, its part of my current trial.
Definitely, it made me think about the rebound that Lokzo was describing from cyproheptidine, and strange that you experienced something similar over a longer period with effexor.
So far, for me it seems that anything that messes with 5ht1a can increase libido pretty quickly but will also worsen ED.
It's also really interesting that so far, nocturnal erections have returned, but disappear almost immediately after I've woken up. A bit like something has been slightly re-sensitized.
Delfador wrote: Sat Jan 23, 2021 6:30 am What's your next move Climb?
I've started a low carb, restricted eating time diet similar to the one talking ant described. I'm doing this mainly in the hope it will help with my gut issues.
After a while, I have a few other things I'm planning on trying depending on how my baseline is generally. If I trial anything else, I'll report it here once I've had enough time to reflect and report clearly on it.
climb
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Re: Climb Introduction / Log

Unread post by climb »

Here's what I've been doing since I gave up on buspirone:

Low carb diet and broccoli treatment, which has definitely helped with continuing to get nocturnal erections.

Panax ginseng - 500mg - 1g has given minor improvements in libido and helped with overall mental well-being and cognition. I felt a bit more like my old self taking this. Studies seemed to suggest 3g for sexual dysfunction and that's the max recommended dose, so I'll probably try this next time.

Shilajit - it's a psycho stimulant, so it made me super focused and I got loads done while taking it. Not much else to report. I could have increased the dose.

L Tyrosine - improved nocturnal erections and seemed to help a little with overall well-being. Felt massively depressed when I came off it.

I've just started 25 mg of naltrexone. I don't think many people have tried this dose so far, it seems to be mainly LDN that people go for.
Someone on Reddit was helped by standard dose and posted these studies:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/11395188/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/2543996/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/2399258/

Has anyone else had experience with the standard dose (25 - 50 mg)? I've taken for one day so far and the side effects are absolutely brutal. I've seen online that they can last for 30 days while the body acclimatises. I think I'll struggle to put up with it for a week.
I've had nausea, struggling to eat, headaches, feeling spaced out, can't concentrate or do anything, more anhedonic, pissing like a race horse, depression.
I'm considering dosing at night to see if it helps or waiting until I'm in a less busy time at work. I'm due a holiday soon but don't want to ruin it feeling ill.

Input from anyone with naltrexone (particularly standard dose) experience would be welcome.

Cheers.
climb
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Re: Climb Introduction / Log

Unread post by climb »

I've been taking 12.5 mg of naltrexone for about 4 days.
Side effects have been less bad than on 25 mg. I thought they were easing off but it's been bad again today.

I've had some slight waves of libido but nothing I haven't had from panax ginseng.

Anhedonia is worse, cognition is worse. Feeling sick and depressed..

I'm trying to stay on it but it seems difficult to justify it when I'm feeling unwell and when there's not any improvement in symptoms and worsening in some....

I think Rat reported benefits from 12.5 mg but not sure how long it took to get those benefits or how long he had to endure side effects before there were benefits...
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