Question:

Hi All, I am trying to weigh up the benefits / risks of taking diazepam and a SSRI, especially in regard to sexual function. I understand diazepam has an effect on libido, whereas SSRI’s can decrease sexual function (delayed ejaculation) Also after having taken both for 10 years now, what are the long term effects say 20 years from now if I keep taking them? My libido is not quite as strong as when I was 20 and ejaculations take more time and are not as strong but maybe this is because I am getting older? Thanx.

Response:

Does anyone know of a more reputable N/G? I’m a bit concerned as to how many replies are directed to irrelevant posts on the group here.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi All, > I am trying to weigh up the benefits / risks of taking diazepam and a SSRI, > especially in regard to sexual function. > I understand diazepam has an effect on libido, whereas SSRI’s can decrease > sexual function (delayed ejaculation) > Also after having taken both for 10 years now, what are the long term > effects say 20 years from now if I keep taking them? > My libido is not quite as strong as when I was 20 and ejaculations take more > time and are not as strong but maybe this is because I am getting older? > Thanx.

Response:

Thanks Peter, Finally getting some feedback, hopefully some people will get some more courage now to tell us what they think! I am currently taking 40mg Paroxetine and 5mg Diazepam each morning. This week I will be cutting back my Diazepam dosage by 25% and see how I fare. I’ll let the group know how I go!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> x-no-archive:yes >Hi All, >I am trying to weigh up the benefits / risks of taking diazepam and a SSRI, >especially in regard to sexual function. >I understand diazepam has an effect on libido, whereas SSRI’s can decrease >sexual function (delayed ejaculation) >Also after having taken both for 10 years now, what are the long term >effects say 20 years from now if I keep taking them? >My libido is not quite as strong as when I was 20 and ejaculations take more >time and are not as strong but maybe this is because I am getting older? >Thanx. > I found that taking Diazapam in conjunction with SSRI’s (Cipramil in > my case, known as Celexa in the USA) caused a greater reduction in my > libido & sexual performance (or lack of it!!) than did the SSRI on its > own. > Also, age definately is a contributing factor; I’m 45 and even when I > wasn’t on SSRI’s & Diazapam I was aware that my sexual function wasn’t > as powerful as it was when I was in my early 20’s. > Cheers, > Peter.

Response:

** Dear Group During my time on SSRI’s, valium and zopiclone I was obliged to cut sexual activity down to about three or four times a day. Fortunately, now I am clear of all medication, my normal appetites and satisfactions have returned. ;o)) Kind regards, John 5 months clear of all chemicals! Support Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Benzo-Rehab Website – Benzo-Rehab: www.benzos.net Support Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Fitnwell Website – Fitness: www.fitnwell.net This forum is for support only.  The information posted to this List is for support purposes and is not intended to replace the examination, diagnosis and treatment of a licensed physician and no such claims are inferred. Please note that what you write here is public to those of us on the list. Something you write, may be copied by another member for his or her own purposes. **

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Thanks Peter, > Finally getting some feedback, hopefully some people will get some more > courage now to tell us what they think! > I am currently taking 40mg Paroxetine and 5mg Diazepam each morning. > This week I will be cutting back my Diazepam dosage by 25% and see how I > fare. > I’ll let the group know how I go! > x-no-archive:yes > >Hi All, > >I am trying to weigh up the benefits / risks of taking diazepam and a > SSRI, > >especially in regard to sexual function. > >I understand diazepam has an effect on libido, whereas SSRI’s can > decrease > >sexual function (delayed ejaculation) > >Also after having taken both for 10 years now, what are the long term > >effects say 20 years from now if I keep taking them? > >My libido is not quite as strong as when I was 20 and ejaculations take > more > >time and are not as strong but maybe this is because I am getting older? > >Thanx. > I found that taking Diazapam in conjunction with SSRI’s (Cipramil in > my case, known as Celexa in the USA) caused a greater reduction in my > libido & sexual performance (or lack of it!!) than did the SSRI on its > own. > Also, age definately is a contributing factor; I’m 45 and even when I > wasn’t on SSRI’s & Diazapam I was aware that my sexual function wasn’t > as powerful as it was when I was in my early 20’s. > Cheers, > Peter.

Response:

ooooooook three of four times a day?  Since being on Zoloft I could care less about sex or showing any affection other then to my children.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> ** > Dear Group > During my time on SSRI’s, valium and zopiclone I was obliged to cut sexual > activity down to about three or four times a day. Fortunately, now I am > clear of all medication, my normal appetites and satisfactions have > returned. ;o)) > Kind regards, > John > 5 months clear of all chemicals! > Support Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Benzo-Rehab > Website – Benzo-Rehab: www.benzos.net > Support Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Fitnwell > Website – Fitness: www.fitnwell.net > This forum is for support only.  The information posted to this List is for > support purposes and is not intended to replace the examination, diagnosis > and treatment of a licensed physician and no such claims are inferred. > Please note that what you write here is public to those of us on the list. > Something you write, may be copied by another member for his or her own > purposes. > ** > Thanks Peter, > Finally getting some feedback, hopefully some people will get some more > courage now to tell us what they think! > I am currently taking 40mg Paroxetine and 5mg Diazepam each morning. > This week I will be cutting back my Diazepam dosage by 25% and see how I > fare. > I’ll let the group know how I go! > > x-no-archive:yes > > >Hi All, > > >I am trying to weigh up the benefits / risks of taking diazepam and a > SSRI, > > >especially in regard to sexual function. > > >I understand diazepam has an effect on libido, whereas SSRI’s can > decrease > > >sexual function (delayed ejaculation) > > >Also after having taken both for 10 years now, what are the long term > > >effects say 20 years from now if I keep taking them? > > >My libido is not quite as strong as when I was 20 and ejaculations take > more > > >time and are not as strong but maybe this is because I am getting > older? > > >Thanx. > > I found that taking Diazapam in conjunction with SSRI’s (Cipramil in > > my case, known as Celexa in the USA) caused a greater reduction in my > > libido & sexual performance (or lack of it!!) than did the SSRI on its > > own. > > Also, age definately is a contributing factor; I’m 45 and even when I > > wasn’t on SSRI’s & Diazapam I was aware that my sexual function wasn’t > > as powerful as it was when I was in my early 20’s. > > Cheers, > > Peter.

Response:

How old are you now? Is the diazepam for anxiety?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi All, > I am trying to weigh up the benefits / risks of taking diazepam and a SSRI, > especially in regard to sexual function. > I understand diazepam has an effect on libido, whereas SSRI’s can decrease > sexual function (delayed ejaculation) > Also after having taken both for 10 years now, what are the long term > effects say 20 years from now if I keep taking them? > My libido is not quite as strong as when I was 20 and ejaculations take more > time and are not as strong but maybe this is because I am getting older? > Thanx.

Response:

Diazepam has very little if any effect on libido; SSRIs are notorious for it, as in fact are any serotonergic drugs. The best thing to do is see a doctor who knows something about this: there are a good number of dopamine agonists on the market that have been used successfully for just this kind of problem: amantadine (Symmetrel) is probably the commonest. There are also Nitric Oxide inhibitors like Viagra. And yes, age is of course part of it. Other meds can interfere as well, e.g. antihypertensives, lipid-lowering drugs. There’s no evidence of permanent effect or damage that I’ve seen in the literature. RL> – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

I’m 29 now and yes the diazepam is for the anxiety caused by the SSRI ! Cheers, Loopy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> How old are you now? Is the diazepam for anxiety? > Hi All, > I am trying to weigh up the benefits / risks of taking diazepam and a > SSRI, > especially in regard to sexual function. > I understand diazepam has an effect on libido, whereas SSRI’s can decrease > sexual function (delayed ejaculation) > Also after having taken both for 10 years now, what are the long term > effects say 20 years from now if I keep taking them? > My libido is not quite as strong as when I was 20 and ejaculations take > more > time and are not as strong but maybe this is because I am getting older? > Thanx.

Response:

Thanks for that response RL. Very helpful. Cheers, Loopy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Diazepam has very little if any effect on libido; SSRIs are notorious for > it, as in fact are any serotonergic drugs. > The best thing to do is see a doctor who knows something about this: there > are a good number of dopamine agonists on the market that have been used > successfully for just this kind of problem: amantadine (Symmetrel) is > probably the commonest. There are also Nitric Oxide inhibitors like Viagra. > And yes, age is of course part of it. Other meds can interfere as well, e.g. > antihypertensives, lipid-lowering drugs. > There’s no evidence of permanent effect or damage that I’ve seen in the > literature. > RL>

Response: