Posted by Mark H. on November 5, 2001, at 20:13:44
In reply to Celexa and Pindolol for sexual problems, posted by Teri on November 5, 2001, at 12:07:32
Pindolol is a beta-blocker, as you probably know, and it both lowers your blood pressure and limits your heart rate. This can make you quite faint-feeling while exercising, for instance, as your heart will not speed up to levels you are used to. Also, even if you had normal blood pressure before starting on Pindolol, you'll want to taper off of it very carefully if you and your doctor decide to discontinue it, as the rebound effect of high blood pressure can be both painful (headaches) and dangerous.
In men, augmentation of anti-depressants with Pindolol tends to increase unwanted sexual side effects, since it cuts blood pressure and limits stamina. Nevertheless, it can be a very effective adjunctive medication in fighting depression.
For those whose relationships permit them to plan for sex, timing one's medication so that the next dose can be taken afterwards seems to help. For instance, if you normally take your meds in the morning, but you and your partner would like to spend intimate time together on a weekend morning, you could postpone your dose that day until lunchtime. Since you're at the end of your daily medication cycle, the amount of meds in your system is lowest at that point.
Viagra, for all the jokes made about it, truly is a miracle drug for men of any age who are on anti-depressant meds and adjunctives that cause sexual dysfunction. However, it does not affect the desire for sex, just the ability to perform it. Some women have experimented with it, but I have not read any anecdotal reports here about whether they found it helpful as an offset to anti-depressants.
Can any readers of this thread comment from experience?
Mark H.
poster:Mark H.
thread:83264
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011104/msgs/83295.html