Mike - in answer to your question about SSRIs, In the year prior to the onset of this problem I had been trying different SSRIs -- venlafaxine, prozac, zoloft -- and finally settled on paxil because it was the only one that seemed to work to redo ce anxiety issues. I am currently taking 20 mg per day. When I thought it could be the cause of the erection problem I immediately stopped taking it for several days, yet the problem continued. I resumed the paxil. Perhaps the cause was one of the other SSRIs thpugh though of course they should be out of my system. So, I am perplexed as to what is initiated the problem.
Eugene
Eugene
Eugene, thanks for your posts. Please keep the dialogue going as you seek an answer to this. I will do the same. I posted this once before, but Elavil (a tricyclic anti-depressent) has been beneficial for this problem. I started on it about a year and a half ago, and it does seem to deepen sleep so that your threshold for waking up is higher. However, the benefits seem to be wearing off now, and my sleep is once again being disrupted several times per night. As a reminder, my erections are not painful either. However, I seem to spend half the night fighting off the erections by either waking up and walking around or willing them down (which basically requires that I fully wake myself). I too have tried some of the SSRI's for anxiety, but i found that i could not reach ejaculation on them. It seems to me that this problem must be connected to either taking SSRI's or the anxiety itself. Also, it seems like quite a few people who have posted were on Propecia (i was too for many years). So, let's all please keep everyone else informed. We'll find an answer to this!
Some great info there, appreciate the latest posts. Are there any short-term or long-term side effects to taking baclofen? I have yet to try it, and have been suffering with this problem for almost 2 years now. I'm not sure if it's even available in the country I am living in. Keep us posted Eugene.
Rezz
Rezz
I have not yet visited the urologist to obtain baclofen, only in early December. I am hoping for a fix to the problem. I do not know the long term side effects of baclofen, unfortunately. If someone has a info on this, it would be useful for us all to know. Though I know baclofen is a stimulates gaba b receptors and acts as an inhibitor on areas of the brain, and acts as a skeletal muscle relaxor, I do not know if anyone has knowledge of how it reduces or prevents erections during sleep?
Eugene
Eugene
Questions for Mike: I am glad you have found Baclofen to help tremendously. I think everyone would appreciate your answers to the following questions.
1. Has the problem gone away completely and every night using baclofen?
2. How many years have you been taking baclofen? Do you take baclofen in pill form before going to sleep?
3. Have you had to ramp up the dosage over the years in order to maintain its effectiveness?
Thanks very much!
Eugene
1. Has the problem gone away completely and every night using baclofen?
2. How many years have you been taking baclofen? Do you take baclofen in pill form before going to sleep?
3. Have you had to ramp up the dosage over the years in order to maintain its effectiveness?
Thanks very much!
Eugene
Hi All, I am having the same problem as yours, and I found this web site when I was trying to find any help from the internet. I also tried everything. Recently I tried a very old Chinese Herb medicine and feel it helped at least. The name is "Liu Wei Di Huang Wan", you can get it in any Chinese herb stores or even Chinese Super Market. I understand how painful it is, so I like to share with you. Please note my problem is improving, not completely recovered. I can sleep about 3-4 hours first, then 2-3 hours, so need to go to bathroom twice. Before my pattern is about 2 hours, 1 hour, 30-45 minutes...3-4 times at night. I am satisfied because I believe I have other heath issues that could have contributed to this as well. If you tried and feel better, I will be happy to see that you can share your story here, so others can benefit as well. I see effect in a few days, if you took the whole bottle (8 days supply) and see no effect, then you should stop it. It means it is not working for you.
I took "Liu Wei Di Huang Wan" , no effect for me :(
I wonder if anyone has found anything to provide relief? For me the best thing that helps with relief is probably not the best and that is alcohol. Intoxication seems to have the best result in terms of hours strung together for sleep. Most nights I get 3-4 hours in the first part of sleeping. Following a fun friday night I find myself sleeping 5-6 hours straight. After that, up every hour. The other thing I'm curious about is what may have led up to your issue. For me (i'm new posting here), I recall it starting after taking herbal viagra. Looking back, I didn't need to take it as I have never had an issue with erections. I took it recreationally and all of a sudden after a few months, I found that i was waking up with an erection similar to all of you. I bought the stuff on amazon and it likely wasn't my greatest decision in life. Curious to see if that experience matches anyone else on here. I anticipate that the "herbs" used may have wrecked my brain in some way. Outside of that, no doctor has a clue what's going on with me and doesn't seem to think it's possible that I get awakened by erections since that shouldn't be something that occurs for 99.9% of men out there. Considering everyone's experience, we can confirm that it does indeed occur and it is a tough thing to deal with.
75 mg of amitryptaline before bed has been helpful for me, but it does not eliminate the problem altogether. I started acupuncture and chinese herbal medication a couple weeks ago. Not too much benefit so far but I'm going to give it a couple months to see what happens. Will keep the board posted.
Hi everybody,
suffering since may 2015.
Done:
- urologist (nothing found, nothing done)
- acupuncture (no results and boring experience)
- shaman (no results, at least immediate, but stunning experience)
- herbal therapies (no results and lots of money)
- more sex (no results)
- less sex (no results)
- no alcohol at diner (no results)
- no cigarettes before go to bed (no results)
At the end after 6 months the only thing I'm still doing is psychoterapy and finally now I'm down to just 1 time against 4 times at the beginning. I do weekly meetings.
It's a 100% psychological problem, now I've the confirmation. It's the body trying to talking to you, asking you to listen something he's has to say.
The best way is to be thankfull (I know this can be strange). I must say that without this nightmare I would have not solved many inner problems I'm solving right now.
Do not surrender to meds, listen, accept, be brave.
Leo
suffering since may 2015.
Done:
- urologist (nothing found, nothing done)
- acupuncture (no results and boring experience)
- shaman (no results, at least immediate, but stunning experience)
- herbal therapies (no results and lots of money)
- more sex (no results)
- less sex (no results)
- no alcohol at diner (no results)
- no cigarettes before go to bed (no results)
At the end after 6 months the only thing I'm still doing is psychoterapy and finally now I'm down to just 1 time against 4 times at the beginning. I do weekly meetings.
It's a 100% psychological problem, now I've the confirmation. It's the body trying to talking to you, asking you to listen something he's has to say.
The best way is to be thankfull (I know this can be strange). I must say that without this nightmare I would have not solved many inner problems I'm solving right now.
Do not surrender to meds, listen, accept, be brave.
Leo
Eugene,
I believe SSRI medications may cause permanent damage/changes to the nervous sysytem.
Google PGAD, Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder. There are women with this condition and it is similar in that some feedback mechanism involving the human sexual response is broken and the result is persistent painful engorgement of the genitals. Kind of like a female priapism. It is believed this is linked to SSRIs.
The changes that occur that result in that condition don't go away after the drug is stopped. In fact they seem to start after the drug is stopped.
This problem is not psychological. It is physiological. Anyone saying it is psychological is wrong or perhaps we have some Eli Lilly executives trolling this board trying to make us all seem crazy so we don't file a class action lawsuit against them.
30 mg of Baclofen does the trick for me. I still get them but the intensity is much much less and there is no pain.
So I saw another Finasteride/Propecia guy. I wish we could find another forum to gather on so we could get a better idea who was on what. I have a friend that hosts a forum and will see if he can gin one up for us. I'm convinced my problems were caused by propecia or prozac.
LOL, I forgot to mention possible Mercy trolls as well maybe on this board.
I saw a couple posts so nutty they seemed fake.
So I saw another Finasteride/Propecia guy. I wish we could find another forum to gather on so we could get a better idea who was on what. I have a friend that hosts a forum and will see if he can gin one up for us. I'm convinced my problems were caused by propecia or prozac.
LOL, I forgot to mention possible Mercy trolls as well maybe on this board.
I saw a couple posts so nutty they seemed fake.
Excuse me, Merck trolls, not Mercy trolls (autocorrect on phone).
Mike
Mike
Hi everyone, Eugene here. I just visited a urologist specializing in Erectile Dysfunction. My problem seemed new to him, except for,the fact that he noted that he had noted that a number of patients problems are associated with SSRI use. Though, I am not sure if he is exactly referring to priapism-like disorders.
In any case he told me to stop Paxil, so I am weaning myself off it. He said he wants to see what happens if I go completely off before he prescribes any baclofen, which I suggested to him. He also mentioned that Sudofed (pseudophedrine) could help and was rather enthusiastic about it though he did not tell me to definitely take it.
In any case, while weaning myself off Paxil for the last week, I decided to buy some sudofed which at CVS is behind the counter - apparently people use if to make metamphetamines. I took it and I had relief all not long until almost time to wake up when I had an erection that would not go away. By that time I think it was wearing off. But it was the only relief I had in months. Nevertheless, I have noticed that only after 5 days or so of taking sudofed before bed, it is not as effective anymore. So, luckily I have an appointment with the same doctor and will address this with him, and try to get on baclofen.
Apparently sudofed acts to constrict blood vessles in the body by stimulating the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. It does this in the nasal passageways - why most people are taking sudofed - but also in the penis, which helped me for a few days. Before you go on sudofed for long term though I am very concerned about its long term effects, these I do not know but I suspect may be serious.
More soon.
Eugene
In any case he told me to stop Paxil, so I am weaning myself off it. He said he wants to see what happens if I go completely off before he prescribes any baclofen, which I suggested to him. He also mentioned that Sudofed (pseudophedrine) could help and was rather enthusiastic about it though he did not tell me to definitely take it.
In any case, while weaning myself off Paxil for the last week, I decided to buy some sudofed which at CVS is behind the counter - apparently people use if to make metamphetamines. I took it and I had relief all not long until almost time to wake up when I had an erection that would not go away. By that time I think it was wearing off. But it was the only relief I had in months. Nevertheless, I have noticed that only after 5 days or so of taking sudofed before bed, it is not as effective anymore. So, luckily I have an appointment with the same doctor and will address this with him, and try to get on baclofen.
Apparently sudofed acts to constrict blood vessles in the body by stimulating the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. It does this in the nasal passageways - why most people are taking sudofed - but also in the penis, which helped me for a few days. Before you go on sudofed for long term though I am very concerned about its long term effects, these I do not know but I suspect may be serious.
More soon.
Eugene
Mine has been going on now for a little over 3 years. The only thing that typically works is either urinating or standing up for me. I posted earlier about alcohol having a benefit which seems to suggest the problem is related to muscle tightness as alcohol can act as a muscle relaxer. I believe my pelvic area is tighter than it was prior to the issue. I started having changes in the size of my c**p so I had a colonoscopy worried about polyps. Turned out to be totally fine with the exception of internal hemmroids. No idea if they are related but know that urologists have no idea what to do with me. Met with a sleep expert who told me what I was experiencing wasn't possible. I've tried sudafed which helps for a few days but then goes away.
I have avoided actual prescription drugs as I haven't found anyone post one that seems to have lasting impact with the exception of clozapine which I have been very resistant to even try. Has anyone tried it? I worry about the effect on my well-being as I have never taken a psychotropic drug in my life and that one seems pretty heavy.
John
I have avoided actual prescription drugs as I haven't found anyone post one that seems to have lasting impact with the exception of clozapine which I have been very resistant to even try. Has anyone tried it? I worry about the effect on my well-being as I have never taken a psychotropic drug in my life and that one seems pretty heavy.
John