sex drive

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: sex drive

Before you lost your sex drive...how often were you having sex? How good was it? How many orgasms would you have during a session?

I'm on carbomazepine and primidone and I feel horny-- well, quite often. :-)I work in a primarily male environment and that is a turn on- a lot of these guys are fun to interact with. Many of them are real flirts. I also enjoy looking at pictures of couples having sex,reading about sex, thinking about sex, as well as having sex.

I'm on carbamazepine and primidone and I feel horny-- well, quite often. I work in a primarily male environment and that is a turn on; a lot of these guys are real flirts and they are fun to interact with. I also enjoy looking at pictures of couples having sex, reading about sex, as well as having sex.

Orgasms have never been a problem and I've been on this medication for years.

By Chrissyml on Sun, 05/13/2007 - 7:54am

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Re: sex drive

I recently had a second seizure and have consequently been put back on Dilantin. I completely understand: I have never wanted/needed it more in my life. I think about sex constantly. I am always horny, any time of the day.

All day I think about positions and things to do with my wife when I get home. It's kind of tough, but I really love it at the same time. I wish my wife could keep up to me. It seems that my experience is rare for males--I've heard only the opposite.

By Requiem on Thu, 10/20/2011 - 12:49pm

Wow. I understand, too. Even after having my cyst removed that caused the seizures and now being seizure-free since Oct. 2nd, 2006. I'm still on my meds (Topomax & Trileptal) for one year after surgery but i've got no drive to be with my boyfriend of 5 years. Partially because he's 6'8" and 475 pds. (If he was like the Rock, it might be different. LOL) But i'm just not horny, in general. I'd rather take my walks and get in shape and work now that I have my memory back and can do what I never could do before. I like to look at guys and go out sometimes, but i'm not into the evenings at home, if you know what I mean. I think it's the meds. It would be nice to have it back though and have a goodlooking boyfriend, too. :) -Kelly

By Kelly G. on Sun, 03/25/2007 - 12:11pm

I've been married for 8

I've been married for 8 years, but had no sex drive since switching to Tegretol several years ago. I just don't even think about it, and have no desire to do it. I had thought it may be my meds, as I was very eager before. So glad to see that could really be the case. I love my husband with all my heart and want him to be happy, all I've ever wanted to be was a good wife. And I feel like I'm not. But what can we do to fix this? Doing it out of duty doesn't seem very loving, ya know? And like someone said, why don't doctors tell us to expect this? Surely there is a med to counter-act it! I'm seeing my doc next week and will def bring up this issue! I'm 33 and should be in my prime, right??!

By tracy123 on Thu, 03/29/2007 - 12:22pm

Hello im dawn and I am on trileptal and zonisamide and i have no sex drive either. It is hard. Before all my problems i used to be having sex alot and guys loved it . i have a high sex drive then i got on siezure meds and i dont have sex hardly at all. My husband now is very patient with me. He is trying to understand. I feel bad for him due to being a man and having a high sex drive. Also my lb is high also. I have been over lb for many yrs but now i am trying to lose but these meds dont help. My dr. states he is sorry but he is not my brain or my med. I have a great dr.

By Dtiller on Fri, 12/12/2008 - 10:11pm

I want to thank you all for your candid comments. I was diagnosed with epilepsy just a year prior to getting married. Of course, once starting with meds, my sex drive declined rapidly and while I assumed it was related, my doctors (both gyn and neuro)claimed there was no remarkable connection. We've been married now for seven years, and while we have two wonderful children, the sex issue has been a major source of tension. I swear there was a day when I really enjoyed it, and now...almost no interest. Like some of you, I try to keep up with my husband's needs, but it's never enough and he's done everything from accuse me of having an affair (convinced that if I'm not wanting it at home, I must be getting it some where else) to implying that there is something wrong with me sexually and most recently in a fit of frustration, decided I was just a negative old woman! (I'm 38). Anyway, desparate for something to validate my experience, I logged on yesterday and found this. I printed out the whole thing and shared with him last night (along with detailed information about my medication to help him have a better understanding). I think (hope) your comments finally helped him begin to see that this is an unfortunate side effect of my treatment and not something else.

What I want to know is why are doctors/ pharm companies not more forthright about this issue?!?! And why don't they have anything better than "eat peanut butter" to offer as advice? :-) Clearly, we're not alone and this is a rather serious side effect.
Thanks again.

By avasmom on Tue, 03/06/2007 - 6:52am

It ABSOLUTELY is--the whold nonsensical approach adds to a person's frustration in trying to get to the bottom of this garbage (for lack of a better word!) Remember, everyone that you are the person that is with you 24/7--do not give up on yourselves. My goodness, I was just jailed--he said "why did you call me?" How's that for a kick in the teeth...So I went through a whole month of soul searching--naturally he sees things from another perspective--so regaining Me was so essential--Right when I need to be on top of things again...

By ontopofit on Mon, 03/29/2010 - 7:35am

LOL I have the same problem I'm on topomax and tegeretol.. My doctor told me to eat as much peanut butter as I can tolerate. He said a spoonful here and there. He said it enhances the sex drive. I haven't tried it only cause I dont like peanut butter lol

By Hoddinott on Thu, 03/01/2007 - 1:00pm

Re: Re: sex drive

LOL, It seems we all have the same problem here. I'm on dilantin and depakote extended release, my sex drive went out long ago. I would love it back!!! I never heard of the peanut butter enhancing the sex drive...it ain't working here, as I buy it by the jars and actually eat it LMAO

By carolyn61 on Sat, 05/12/2007 - 6:50pm

Eating peanut butter? I'd better never hear that! That just shows me how conflicted about this chronic condition the medical community really is--but heaven forbid they would dare tell you--Actually, they can only tell you what little they know, because this is truly a mystery--no wonder there is alot of depression!

By ontopofit on Mon, 03/29/2010 - 7:41am

hi carolyn, i was just looking at ur entry. my boyfriend of a long time now is on the same meds as you are.. and he has no sex drive at all. its nice to see people posting this for others to see because i have been feeling so damn bad about my self, i thought it was me, and as many times as he tells me, its hard to beleive its the meds.

By spinpi... on Wed, 02/17/2010 - 9:25am

Hi Hoddinott

I have never heard that peanut butter can enhance your sex drive. But I'm willing to try it. You see I have been epileptic for 35yrs now. Since I was 3yrs old out of all the meds I have taken and believe me I have taken many. I have never had any trouble with my sex drive. Although I am taken lamictal, vimpat, and serquel, which have all been name brand. Except my insurance has been giving me trouble about being able to get the name brand. So I've been having to take generic brands on my lamictal, and vimpat. Since I started taking these generic brands my sex drive has really gone down a great deal. I know it's the generic that has caused this although my docs say no, because they say that generic, and name brand are one and the same. Although my sister has been reading up on this and there's a 80% to 125% difference in them. I also tell my docs maybe it could be that I have become emmune to one of the meds. Which I have learned over the years of taking many diff. meds that it can happen. I also think that it could probably also have something to do with my hormones. At this point I guess I'm just picking out straws, because I hope the docs can find a med that can help me get my sex drive back to me.

By bonner11 on Tue, 09/20/2011 - 6:32pm

Wow, I had no idea that the meds could do that. I figured it was my depression meds! So I guess I have a DOUBLE WHAMMY!!! My poor husband....A couple nights ago was the second time this YEAR. I just would be fine if I never had sex again!

By revawave on Wed, 02/28/2007 - 6:24am

I know exactly what you're talking about! my poor husband. i've absolutely no drive at all but i don't want to keep changing meds. not sure what to do. My husband is very understanding, thank goodness

By Lucy_UK on Wed, 02/28/2007 - 7:28am

Sex drive...what's that??? Lol
I have to say it must be the meds, because when I went without all those years I was fine. Now that I'm back on Depakote I have no desire at all. Like some other people said, I probably wouldn't mind if I never did it again.
Susan

By aquila316 on Tue, 02/06/2007 - 9:31am

I to used to have the same problem at first, then I got off most meds,not related to seizures and bing,bang zoom, now I can't stop. I am a man (sorry) now I am back to having the small head rule the big head (upper one with two eyes) Meds, can definetly due that, my wife even started to suspect me of having an affair or something. Now, she just asks me if I am trying to kill her or overdosed on viagra or that other one with the funny commercial. The one with the guy smiling all the time. No wonder I have been in a better mood lately. Hmmmmmm.
Dilantin doesn't seem to effect me that way, thank God, now i can be a pig again, as all men are. Gotta go to the troft and then wallow in some mud, then go hammer something just because.

By copabeat on Tue, 02/06/2007 - 10:54am

Re: Re: Re: sex drive

Hmmmmmmm, I suppose it affects men and women totally differently. I'm not on anything but seizure meds right now, so I have no other drug interactions, and I tried Dilantin in the hospital in September of 2006 and had a SERIOUS allergic reation. I went through Kidney failure for a week...don't want to try that again. Oh, well, at least I tried.
Susan

By aquila316 on Tue, 02/06/2007 - 11:27am

On the contrary, I don't seem to have the same problem as everyone else. I had Epilepsy from 9-13 years of age. I was seizure free for 10 years. Thank God! No more pills...the taste of phenobarbital and Dilatin was gone for good.

At the age of 23 got married. I didn't have much of a sex drive when I didn't have Epilepsy. Married for 13 years, I was comfortable with my body and having sex twice a week was ok. Got diagnosed with Epilepsy 5 years ago, and found out my Epilepsy came back since childhood. ( I was in denial ) and decided to take the medication last year as the Neurologist originally had suggested. I was so upset about the fact that one of the side affects was gaining weight and had to go through the same thing all over again. So, I decided to loose the weight at home, eat right and be motivated. I guess being motivated and taking my medication daily is working well. I have lost 28 pounds and can't wait to lose another 20. That's my goal! My husband was starting to suspect me of having an affair and kept asking questions, once I started lookn hot. Taking those meds was the best thing that ever happened to me and my relationship with my husband. It has made us feel young again and wild. Surprisingly, sex is in my daily routine. It's another excerise class. LOL

I wonder can it really be the meds that are making some of us lose our sex drives or are we not trying to change. I think we should all think dirty. It works!! LOL

By BELLA4... on Wed, 02/17/2010 - 11:33am

Sorry I just realized this was a woman's topic, I am a man, but still yes I have noticed my sex drive has evaporated. I had a brain tumor on my right temporal lobe, it was removed and now I have simple partial seizures there, maybe complex sometimes. I asked my Neurooncologist about this about a year ago and I think she said it was where the tumor was or maybe it was the meds too: keppra and tegratol.

The meds certainly aren't that night cap we all have in mind.

By DavidMcP on Fri, 01/05/2007 - 4:37pm

It didn't really matter if

It didn't really matter if it was a woman's topic or not really. I would say that the majority of us would like to know why it disappeared and how we can get it back. And if you were curious about what meds I take: Felbatol (which I learned is a drug that they use when nothing else has worked), Zonegran, Lamictal and Tranxene.

The meds definately were not what I had in mind either.

By rosegirl on Sun, 01/21/2007 - 9:27pm

Are you taking just Lamictal now? What were you taking before? Because I've been taking taking Dilantin and I'm switching over to just Lamictal and praying that things will be different- my boyfriend has been very supportive about the whole thing but I cannot tell you how hard it is to wake up in the night to hear him crying and realize I fell asleep in the middle of foreplay...

By keylime on Fri, 03/02/2007 - 11:43pm

My goodness! Are you jokiing? It is bad enough to have seizures, but don't you dare let that crap happen to your body--is that temporary? How long have you been on it. I am losing my license as it is! Think about the ramifications of all of this and get a new doctor...

By ontopofit on Mon, 03/29/2010 - 7:53am

I just found this site today and I have been looking at all of these blogs for hours! I can't believe that there are so many people out there that can relate to me. None of my friends, or even family sometimes, understand what it's like. Recently I have been having the same sex drive (or lack of) problems. I take lamictal, trileptal, and keppra. Any suggestions???

By meggie... on Fri, 01/12/2007 - 8:37am

Re: Re: Re: Re: sex drive

I am on the same exact meds with the same exact problem. My sex drive went down hill not long after I started on lamictal. From what I have read on this website, a lot of people on Lamitctal are having the same problem. If you find out anything that can help, please share

By sdfreeh on Mon, 02/19/2007 - 7:58pm

I'm not really sure if it's ok to give suggestions on this site but i'm so glad that there is someone else out there who is taking 3 meds like me.

By rosegirl on Sun, 01/21/2007 - 9:37pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: sex drive

I'm on Brivaracetam, Lamictal(no help), Keppra... My Drive's been gone for ages. Every once in a while I'll get a little urge, but it's not enough. As much as I insist that it's my meds ("It's not YOU, honey, It's the meds"), I know my husband still thinks he's doing something wrong, and I just cannot fake it.

By AllyP on Tue, 01/23/2007 - 11:41pm

You basically took the words right out of my mouth. I had to sit down and write my husband an e-mail because I could not say what I wanted to say out loud...and even in the e-mail I pretty much directly avoided what I really wanted to say. I am constantly thinking that it's not anything my husband is doing wrong because he is a good man and he makes sure that I have what I need, but the way I used to feel has gradually died as I continued taking topamax. I kept thinking, what is going wrong?? It wasn't because we were having problems. I was the one with the problem, not him. I told him I was sorry for being so cold (emotionally) and basically blamed that on the medication and stress it caused me with the hair loss and terrible acne, but he has stuck with me through the experience, even though at times he did not understand it or why I felt the way I did. I feel like I am faking that I am truly happy and some days it really eats away at my conscience. Things were okay in the beginning for about the first 2 or 3 months that I was living with him before marriage, but as time went on I just started questioning everything. I don't want to hurt him, so I've been trying my best not to tell him that somehow, I got emotionally messed up. He asked me why I don't say I love you as much as I did before, but I didn't answer him. I didn't want to tell him the excuse that it was the medication that had made me get all mixed up because I didn't think that he would believe me and also to be honest I don't know if that is the culprit or not. Sometimes I think that it's me...but I don't see how you could be completely in love and crazy about a person and then all of a sudden for no apparent reason it feels like you have died inside. :( I was on topamax for almost 1 year and just tapered off it over a period of about 1 month...now I have not taken any for about a week...so I guess I will see if the me I used to be will ever come back. I pray she does.

By babygi... on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 9:21am

Me too--I pray for you and wish you the best--that CRAP is just that--I know you will feel better about yourself and that is positive--topamax is too much of a downer no matter what they all say--just look at the other comments out there and say no more--People that are not on it don't even know unless they see you go blind--excuse me I'm not about to wait that long! Good Luck

By ontopofit on Mon, 03/29/2010 - 7:59am

Thank you for your statement ! I'm on Brivaracetam, Keppra, and Zonegram. My husband is hot to trot, he used to be to busy. I cannot sleep during the night thanks to the first 2 but the seizures are better! My husband and I have energy to do other things together!

By tonialpha on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 6:52pm

I only take trileptal, and it seems that I never need anything more than a snuggle. I don't know what to do to get my motor running again, and I'm still young - 32 years with one 3 yr old!

By SaraOwens on Wed, 01/17/2007 - 8:43pm

Wow! I had never thought my medicine could have caused me to have no sex drive. This has helped so much. Since I have been married it has been an issue, sometimes a very serious one. He did not understand and I could not explain it either. Thanks so much for all of your replies. It has helped me so much.

By mygirl... on Fri, 01/05/2007 - 2:37pm

I am on loestrin birth control and depakote 500 mg and my sex drive is also almost gone every once in a while a get a small urge but, its not enough to want so bad its not funny. I think its related to having a child and the medicine. But, what really sucks is I am only 22 and its like that so, whats a girl sappose to do?

By christ... on Fri, 01/05/2007 - 9:45am

Whew! I was worried it was just me! I am birth control pills and Lamictal and I have no desire at all to have sex. I just got married in August and have been on Lamictal since last December so it is really hard-my husband is very good about it though. I am so glad that I'm not just that boring wife who always 'has a headache' haha. Is there anything to do about it-any specific vitams to take or anything?
Ashley

By musmas... on Tue, 02/06/2007 - 2:15pm

Hi.. This lack of sexual

Hi..

This lack of sexual urge is not uncommen. Sometimes it is soley due to meds, sometimes it's the area of the brain that's affected, and somteimes both.

Let me give you a page:
http://www.epilepsy.com/articles/ar_1064250527.html

hope that info helps,
~sol

By solis on Sat, 12/30/2006 - 8:50pm

Re: Hi.. This lack of sexual

Oh i know that it can be related to meds, that part of the brain or both. i was just wondering if there were any more people out there who were experiencing the same...problem.

By rosegirl on Sun, 01/21/2007 - 9:33pm

(Sigh) Something I'm allowed to drive but the engine's dead! So not fair!

-Spiz

By spiz on Fri, 01/05/2007 - 2:48am

Re: Re: Hi.. This lack of sexual

HA HA HA !!! Luv your sense of humor !!

Dawn

By dmh on Fri, 01/05/2007 - 12:02pm

LOL! That made me laugh!

By carrieb on Fri, 01/05/2007 - 7:03am

Re: Re: Re: Hi.. This lack of sexual

You know this question got me thinking....grin... (must be the B-12 shot...lol)

and i think maybe ,,,,just maybe...that at a certain age,,,one would expect foreplay to be more than getting undressed....lol..not everything can be blamed on the epileplsy...grin...

Heather

By heather1 on Fri, 01/05/2007 - 8:41am

I've basically flat-lined, but I never thought about it being related to anything but stress. To anyone who is having this same problem: What meds are you taking?

By carrieb on Sat, 12/30/2006 - 4:39pm

I have started the same problem, restarted back on meds in June,2006 and plus Iam in Menapause. with all this plus I finally had my back surgery due to fall from Grandmals it was 2 fusions I had done had to remove 2 disks and they added rods and cages.I am still in recovery on back Surgery becuse it was dec,20,2006. So we will see what happens but right now I do not feel excited about any kind of sex what so ever and I have this feeling I will be like this for sometime after recovery.

By anniem... on Fri, 01/05/2007 - 1:36am

hmmm sign me up....lol
as for meds... lets see

for seziures...its carbamazipine 1200 mg, and topamax 300 mg with ativan when necessary for cluster seziures..

add to that vasotec and norvasoc and plavix for blood pressure

add in oxycodene for muscle pain and nortriplyine for nerve pain for the MS

throw in pantoloc and estrogen...and of course naproxen for arthrutis.....

sigh...cripes after writing it all down i feel alot older than 40...

i think maybe i have not flat-lined but maybe just to tired after after all the bloody meds that say...."may cause drowsness" or just from opening all the damn bottles....grin...

But there is that two weeks a month after that B-12 shot....grin....that im game...lol lol

By heather1 on Sat, 12/30/2006 - 6:13pm

Have you read how alot of the anti-seizure medication causes seizures? Do you still have them? To me, there ain't no way, I'd truly be a basket case.

By ontopofit on Mon, 03/29/2010 - 8:07am

I've been married 9 years with 4 kids. If I never had sex again, fine. I haven't had a sex drive since I started my meds. But my husband needs it, and I do it when he wants to. I would LOVE to have my sex drive back, but as long as I'm on meds, I don't think there's much hope. I like to cuddle, and he's there for me with that. I guess we just have to look other places for satisfaction!

By seizur... on Fri, 10/13/2006 - 2:10pm

I am 18 years old and when I was 15, doctors removed my right temporal lobe due to a brain tumor. I have never enjoyed sex. I never had sex prior to the operation, but I did other things,like touching, that I enjoyed. But now, nothing turns me on and it ALWAYS hurts, even if it is just touching.

Can anyone relate and maybe help me out??

THANKS!

By Heathe... on Tue, 07/22/2008 - 10:11am

Wow, I feel like a minority on this one- my sex drive has only gotten higher as I have gotten older...sorry!!*LOL*...Well, actually I am not sorry, but I do feel badly for you ladies!!

From the sounds of it- I am an anomoly*LOL* Always have been one- but am glad it is in a good way this time! ;)

By cranbe... on Tue, 08/26/2008 - 3:40pm

I am SO glad I found this. I have been married for almost 3 years but have been with my husband since I was diagnosed 8 years ago. I have been on different meds. DepakoteER at first, then lamictal, then topamax was added. My sex drive stated declining when I started the lamictal and now it is non-existant. It is very hard expecially since we would like to have another child, if the neuro will allow it. It would be nice it they made a little blue pill for women! My husband and I both suffer from this little problem.

By jencas16 on Sun, 09/14/2008 - 7:20am

Mine comes and goes! The reason is because of the amount of medication in my system. I am 3 medication. One Keppra, which has no effect on the sex drive, Zonegran which has had no effect on my sex drive, and a test drug where I am on a mystery dose. I tend to get toxic on Keppra.

I also am having more seizures too. My sex drive goes down. I am tired post-ictally too. The high dosage of medication does the trick too. When I am not toxic I do not have problem w/ my sex drive. I've been married for 17 years to a pharmacologist.

By tonialpha on Wed, 11/19/2008 - 4:53am

I am taking Topamax, Keppra, and Lamacital. I have been on all kinds of meds through the years but none have changed my sex drive at least not to my knowledge. I mean I never looked at it that way until I read this post. But I have had grand mal seizures the next day after having sex so I am very scared to have sex like talking about it. My husband says he understands but of course he is a man and he has his moments of tenseness. I tend to have my worst seizures (grand mals) when I get stressed in some way. It ususally happens a week before, during, or a week after my cycle. But I am just very cautious when it comes to sex most of time and of course, yes I am very excited just like my husband. But don't let him know that LOL! I just wanted to let you guys know my situation and thank you for sheding light on something I never thought of and now I can think about just in case need be. Thank you all :)

By writer33 on Wed, 11/19/2008 - 9:49am

hi my name is susu i have been married for twenty years . i have alaways thought my sex drive was decent until my first seizure in 2007 i startyed on dilatin then carabatrol and last but not least tegretol .slowly slowly we started having sex less and less being married to an arab(they have very high sex drives) it became a daily fight over and over. but, i have slowly accepted it and everytime we fight i take a deep breath count to ten and repeat to my self how much i love him and that i am doing the best that i can. find a new way to get yourself excited everytime remember what you loved about him in the beining and you will be fine just remember you are doing what your body will let you do.

By susu on Sat, 12/13/2008 - 10:24am

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