[Memloss]

Hello I'm new here so please bare with me. I was diagnosed as bi polar when I was 13. I've been medicated for it on and off since then. Within the past 2 years I have had a total loss of libido and it's taking a huge toll on my marriage to the point my wife wants a divorce 😔. It's not all the sex, it's my moods and being in a fog all the time. Right now I'm weening myself off of lamactil, viibryd and saphris. All the drugs that I've been on killed my libido. The only one that didn't was lexapro, but that stopped working for me. I was wondering if anyone knew of any psych drugs that don't kill the libido that I can try.

Thank you,
Carl

[Theseus]

See, this is what makes it all highly individual. I am on Lamictal 200 mg, and Wellbutrin 450 mg, and at 56 y/o I am as horny as a teenager. Wellbutrin is supposed to be the least likely to cause sexual dysfunction. Lexapro was the worst for me. While I had the drive and ability to maintain erections, I couldn't *ahem* finish. It was most frustrating. Doc took me off it. You and your doc may have to experiment. Unfortunately one size does not fit all (isn't that always the case?). You might want to have a male hormone panel done... testosterone, estrodiol (we guys do produce estrogen, and it can put the brakes on testosterone), and SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin). Low testosterone (anything below 500-600 is not normal, so don't let your doc tell you that your testosterone of 253 is normal) will cause brain fog and moodiness. I use Axiron testosterone, which keeps my levels between 500-700.

[Memloss]

I used to be on testosterone and that helped a little, I was on Axiron also... I was on 60mg of viibryd, 400mg of lamictal and 10mg of saphris... I'm weening myself off of them so now I'm on 10mg viibryd, 200 mg lamictal and no saphris... My doctor has tried many different "side cars" with me, but hasn't changed my viibryd or lamictal even though I attempted suicide in November... I will have to try to talk to him about switching... He doesn't listen to me very well, maybe it's time to switch shrinks.
Thank you for your response

[hiddenfriend]

What's up man, ok I have an interesting mix of meds. First I'm on 500 mg of depakote twice a day for seizures, 200 mg topamax twice a day seizures/migraines/bipolar, and 50mg of seroquel. I was on 100 of seroquel but slept to much. With seroquel you may last a little longer which isn't always a bad thing. But as far as getting it up and maintaining no problems. Talk to your doc and see what he says, good luck.

[Memloss]

I was on 60mg of viibryd, 400mg of lamictal and 50 mg of saphris. Then I weened myself to 10mg viibryd, 200mg of lamictal (gonna go to 125 soon then keep lowering it) and no saphris and no change in sex drive...i went an endocrinologist a year and a half ago and he put me on Axiron until my levels balanced out and that helped a tiny bit... My shrink doesn't listen to me much and doesn't change much, he just ups the dosage and adds more on to what I'm already taking... He didn't even change the viibryd and lamictal after an attempted suicide in November so I think it's time for a new doc.

I tried seroquel and it made me look and feel like I was on heroin so he took me off of it after my wife went with me and talked to him. He was going to try depakote, but he said it was in the same family as the lamictal and didn't want to change it... I want to go on topamax as a "side car" because I read studies and they seemed promising, plus most people I know that were on it lost weight and that's a plus... I just want the best results without having to take so many meds

Thanks for the input guys... I hope some other people will ring in on this for me too

[hamster-bamster]

Try taking 60-120 mg of the supplement called Gingko Biloba. I have an integrative pdoc who knows her way with supplements, and she said that she is seeing gingko reverse the sexual side effects of antidepressants.

Just be careful if you have poor blood clotting since gingko will worsen this problem, and you may then need to stop.

Amazon offers the best deal on gingko.

[hamster-bamster]

PS Topamax killed my libido fully, and the ability to orgasm was killed as well. Even on the lowest possible dose.

So it is all individual.

[r010159]

I heard somewhere that if Wellbutrin is added to the mix, the libido can return.

[Memloss]

Thanks Hamster I'll have to try some Ginko

Thanks R010159 maybe I'll try the webutrin again too... I have an appointment today at 4:30

[swheaton]

Oh, Wellbutrin does help libido. Unfortunately, it did nothing for me mood wise.

[txbipolar]

Everyone is going to react differently to meds. And different states of mind will affect you also.

As the others have noted, drug side effects depend on the individual. I take Prozac and Trileptal, and neither has adversely affected my libido. Lexapro, on the other hand, killed it. Trial and error, trial and error.

[Sad&Bipolar]

Supposedly, Wellbutrin does not inhibit sex-drive. However, you should have a conversation with your doctor before going off any medications. Tell your doctor about your concerns and how your marriage is being affected. Being open with a pdoc can lead you to the meds that will help you the most.