[NyxBean]

[You may see this post on other sites - it is still me posting; I am desperate for help or even just some comfort]

I was assigned female at birth and have a clitoris.

I am now anorgasmic (unable to achieve orgasm) due to the venlafaxine I've been taking for probably over a year and a half now.

My GPs cut me down from 150mg very fast, causing hellish side effects. When my psychiatrist was finally able to be reached, he said exactly what I had been trying to tell the patronising GPs: that venlafaxine is a stronger drug than some and it is not wise to come off quickly.

I've managed to reach 37.5mg. It had been assumed that I could simply stop taking that after a few weeks but when I tried it was horror all over again, monstrous brain zaps...

The problem is that I missed my psychiatric appointment last month due largely to stress and lack of sleep. He was supposed to arrange another date but my carer and I have still not heard anything. Obviously the holidays will have something to do with it all.

Still, I can't take this anymore. Being able to pleasure myself was one of my only respites in awful times. I've bought great vibrators and blood flow enhancers, yet they don't make any difference - this is not going to go away until I'm off the drug and even then I might not get it back.

As far as I've been able to tell, there isn't really any suitable treatment for me in regards to anorgasmia.

QUESTIONS

- Can I take apart the capsule of venlafaxine/effexor and remove one/two of the little balls in a bid to taper myself off more?

- Are there any ways to help my anorgasmia which aren't mentioned on regular medical sites? Obviously these would have to be safe?

- Do you have experience with med-induced anorgasmia as a female/assigned female? Can you tell me about it? How long were you on the drug and how long did it take to get your sensation back, if you did?

- How likely is it that this will be lifelong? I know it is not supposed to be all that common and also the amount of time it will take to return to normal has to do with how much and how long I was on the drug.

- Do you have any other advice for me?

Thank you for reading, I'm at my wit's end.

[kecanoe]

I don't know the answers to most of your questions, but I can say that coming off meds that kept me from having orgasms allowed me to respond normally again, like within a week.

[ChipperMonkey]

As far as I know and I've heard, for most people, sexual side effects cease when the medication is discontinued or soon after. So chances are when you get off the medication, your ability to orgasm will return.

Yes, i believe you can open the capsule and taper down by reducing the little balls. Docs don't recommend opening capsules, but I do it anyway.

[Chummy]

When I started venlafaxine, I couldn't get an orgasme. After about two months on it, that side effect went away a bit.
I've googled and read that most got the ability to get an orgasm back after they got off venlafaxine. With some it took a bit longer. Even people who were on venlafaxine for years.

[WantToGrow]

Hi NyxBean,

How is it going with your taper? I weigh out the little beads. 37.5 mg is the minimum effective dose but even at that dose you still have 80% serotonin receptor occupancy by the drug! So, it's no wonder when we try to jump off from that point that all hell breaks lose!

So yes, you've probably figured it out. The number of balls per capsule can vary, so it is best to take the average of a few capsules, and then try to take the same number of beads each day.

The SurvivingAntidepressants.org forum recommends a 10% reduction of the previous dose each month, must slower than anyone else recommends, but it is a harm-reduction approach aimed at keeping one comfortable and functional while reducing.

I went off too fast over a year ago and had 10 months of protracted withdrawal hell before reinstating. I'd been on for 12 years. Our brains actually down-regulate serotonin production and receptors in an effort to regain homeostasis while taking the drug, so my neurons were very slow to adapt back without it. I am now resigned to taking a couple of years to get off, going slowly enough for my nervous system to adapt back as I taper by small amounts. Knowing what these drugs do to you, there's no other choice in my opinion!

I had an improvement of sex drive when I went off, but the anorgasmia got worse - PSSD. When I went back on, I got slightly more responsive, but my sex drive disappeared. I'm hoping some day I can have the kind of enjoyment of sex I had before I ever went on these drugs.

I hope you are doing ok with your taper.

WTG

I take my caps apart and take however much looks right. I pretty much just continue to take it because I don't want to deal with the withdrawals again and because the small amount I do take keeps me from going into an all out depression.
If you want to stop completely then I'd suggest a small dose of Prozac to help ease the zaps, rage etc that come when you stop taking Effexor. It worked for me. Unfortunately depression fell on me like a ton of bricks and I had to resume taking Effexor and probably will have to take it for the duration.
As for the anorgasmia.. sometimes its a problem and sometimes it isn't.