AED & Sex Drive

My Antiepileptic Drug(s) effects my sex drive:

  • Yes

    Votes: 132 54.8%
  • No

    Votes: 47 19.5%
  • Unchanged

    Votes: 23 9.5%
  • Don't Know / N/A

    Votes: 39 16.2%

  • Total voters
    241

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Yes. Just found out about Lamotrigine, says in side effects sexual disfunction, only been taking it for 8 years, enjoyed knowing that, I don't think.
 
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Hey Sandee you couldn't have landed in a better place and as a E person my self I know all about landings...I prefer the soft ones. This is a terrific site and GREAT people abound. What you learn here is more than medical it is human! It is finding out that we are not alone and the stuff that is cosidered, shall we say odd to others, well here is this house you gotta really work at finding something that hasn't been experianced by someone (it is such a relief) I love this place!!!
 
somebody said sex

To all out there at CWE ever heard of the term Friday night frenzy? Well I would like to think that it is part of Pam’s life and mine but there are times that it seems like a Wed
day take out the trash day seven days a week. I really want to pin this on the medications that have been run through my system since 1997, years of looking for that right combination that will let me live the life that, I think that I should be able to live. Most seem to leave my body in some state not always the one I live in. the Mysoline 875mg. 400mg. Dilantin worked well but the Mysoline got to be a little rough on the liver. So since that time frame 97 to now three things have happened gotten older. Tried five different medications when they either went toxic or some the side effects were not what I bargained for. Don’t get me wrong sex is part of the life just not the daily bread.
Jerry
 
Just wanted to tell a quick funny- I also have RLS and have taken Mirapex with great results for three years, I also have a long history of drug interactions and side effects. That being said, my hubby was watching ths RLS ad for Mirapex, the part where they tell you there are cases of gambling and strong sexual drives or something to that effect...to which he turned and said " how come you didn't get that side effect?" I was hysterical. I guess that answers the does it or doesn't it question:roflmao:
 
Well, this is terrible. Or maybe it's not. I am going thru the beginnings of menopause but I still have a high sex drive. Changed meds. I just don't know . I think I was just born that way. lol Who knows what will happen. When I had my son I had no sex drive for maybe 3 years. I was so tired. And now well.......
 
Wow, I am glad I am not alone. I have been on Keppra since January 2008 and have noticed a drop in the sex drive:agree: I too am tired by the end of the evening and sex is not on my mind. When I was on the Dilantin my sex drive was not low. I am also going thru menopause and I noticed a decrease in desire but nothing compared to when I started Keppra. I feel bad for my husband because it is not him that is the problem. This will make an interesting discussion for us tonight!!!

Hi Sandee

Wow, me too! I'm glad I'm not alone, I just read your entry on loss of sex drive, I'm on Keppra, I think I've just gone through the menopause (I'm just 45) and my sex drive is non existant! Life is so unfair, I have the most wonderful gorgeous fiance, we adore each other, and have been together nearly 9 years, I wouldn't swap him for anyone, and I couldn't be without him now, so why do I feel so bad about myself, it's nearly twelve months since we last "got together" and it's got to the point now, where I'm scared to, will it be different after the menopause, will everything go ok, it's just easier to kiss and cuddle, we are extremely tactile, and are always telling each other "I love you" so it's not as if the attraction's not ther, it sure is for me, he's a dark handsome hairy firefighter, and the man of my dreams, and I know he still fancies me. He has never once forced himself on me, and I feel so lucky that he's still around, I'd never thought about AED's affecting my sex drive until I read some of the stuff on CWE.

Cheers

Elaine
 
Elaine,

So glad to be able to "talk" to you. I will give you a bit of advice if I may. Give it a go. I found that once started it is a wonderful experience.:woot: It's all in the mind. Maybe a glass of wine or a pint of stout (I love a good stout!) to relax and then don't think about the lack of desire. Think about your handsome man and how wonderful he is. Eventually the desire will come in the process. It's just difficult with the lack of desire, but it will return in tiny pieces at times. But don't force yourself if you don't feel ready. I'm just sharing my experiences with you.

This is a wonderful place to come and feel good about yourself. It's been a difficult year for me and I can only think it can get better.This house has been a haven of peace for me. I haven't had a seizure in 2 months so it looks like the change in meds is helping. I hit the big half-century mark this month.


Welcome to our house. Best wishes and God Bless.

Sandee
 
Hi Sandee

Thankyou so so much for writing back to me so quickly, I'm sure you are right, and I have always seen sex as a bit of a mystery, having always missed out on the big "O" I'm sure you know what I'm refering to. I do love to cuddle Mark, he is just such a gorgeous hunk of man, and I have never and would never hurt him, but I feel like I'm letting him down, I think we need to have a weekend away somewhere, "a mucky weekend" we're off on a Carribbean cruise next March, and possible Egypt again at Xmas, I always feel romantic in Egypt, I guess we just need some sunshine here in the UK, it does make you feel sexy doesn't it, a bit of sunshine.
Which meds are you on? I've heard that Keppra can affect your sex drive, I lost my darling mum just before Xmas, and I lost another job due to my epilepsy, that's about eight times now that employers have had a problem with my medical condition. Have you suffered any prejudice or ignorance? I've lost seven jobs now I think it was at the last count.
I agree with you about this website, it has been so helpful hearing from people who simply understand each other, what sort of epilepsy do you have? I've had brain surgery once and I'm waiting for a second op anytime now, so I guess that's not helping, I've always had low self esteem, but as I'm out of work again, I think it definately makes me feel unworthy of Mark's love sometimes.
Hope I don't feel all doom and gloom, I'm writing a book about my experiences with epilepsy, I've got to turn this into something positive, and lets hope this second operation works and I can jump into my little car again and drive, can't wait for that.
Keep in touch Sandee, it is so brilliant to hear from people who have such a lot in common, in case I didn't tell you, I was 45 on May 4th, all in the mind age eh? Write again soon, and keep in touch. I hope you remain seizure free for a long long time! If you want a laugh, have a look on the cReative Writing Page on this web site, and let me know what you think of my poems, I'm also on a website called www.dipex.com/org I'm patient EP22 on page 3 of the Epilepsy section, I'm talking about my epilepsy on there, it's a good website.

Loadsalove
Elaine x
 
Girls, this is just my advise. I am 43 going thru menopause, feel sexy about yourselves. I am on keppra. Walk a lot. I have been on both sides of it. Put a little swing in your step for yourselves. Eat good. Don't deny any feelings you may have. Good or bad. Its obviosly on your minds.
 
Hi BuckeyeFan

What a sweet thing to say, I feel that way about it too, it would be so good to all meet up somewhere in the world wouldn't it? I can't even put a photo on here, let alone anything else, but it is nice to see and meet the people that you are talking to. I have really enjoyed talking to people on this site, and it does make you realise that you aren't alone with this annoying condition.

How are you coping with being 47? I'm cool with 45, I certainly don't feel any older, and life gets better as I get older, I just want a date for this surgery, will keep you posted.

Have you had a look at the creative Writing Page that cinnabar set up? It's great, you can put poetry and stuff on there, I've put two on there already, have a look and tell me what you think of the one called "Pubic Hair" I thought I might get told off for that one, but come on, we're all grown ups here eh?

Anyway, I hope you are ok, I'm going up the shop for a newspaper, so as long as I don't collapse half way up the road, I'll maybe be in touch later. Have a good day, and keep in touch.

Cheers
Elaine
 
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Girls, this is just my advise. ...feel sexy about yourselves... Its obviosly on your minds.

:clap: I love the way you think! Having just turned 50 I feel the best is yet to come now. The worst has happened. It IS all about attitude. My aunt once told me a story.They have a mirror placed as they get out of the shower. She is overweight and took a good look at herself. She said she could either lose weight or like herself the way she was. Well, she decided she wasn't going to lose weight so she thought she looked pretty good. That's going to be my new attitude. I am going to work on walking and already watch what I eat. I just have a lot of trouble losing weight. 30 pounds would be great 40 and I would be all it!!! At least, I would like to think that. But thanks to all for the honest answers and comments. This is a great place to be!
 
sex drive? what sex drive?

At my age, I'm afraid there are nothing but Viagra Vatos anyway. So I'm looking for younger.
 
Me.......and my wife are both happy that there has been no change!!! LOL . I have only been on the keppra for about a month.
 
Yipppeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!

They've just taken me off Lamotrigine and everything is working again at this rate (trying to make up for lost time) OH is going to have to beat me off with a big stick, :roflmao:.

Dave
 
I have taken Lamictal all of my adult life so I don't know any different, then I introduced Ethosuximide, then my sex life died, I don't think ethosuximide is going to last long in my life :eek:)
 
when I first started taking gabapentin, my sex drive drove off!!! that was for about 8 months,then I was put on topamax as well, and it apparently turned it back on again. It drove off in a robin reliant and drove back in a ferrari!!!
 
Hi Sandee

I've been scouting around CWE trying to see if anyone else has noticed a low sex drive on Keppra, and I just noticed your message. I'm on Keppra 1500mg am and 1500mg pm, I don't really know why I bother as it really has no effect, but then again none of the AED's Ive taken over the last 22 years have worked, nor two lots of brain surgery! I have no sex drive whatsoever, and as a 45 year old woman, I think I have just gone through the Menopause, no periods for at least 18 months, maybe longer!

Hope you are ok when you read this, and your seizures are settled down? Mine are all over the place, and I'm sitting here recovering from my second brain surgery 8 weeks ago, where will it all end eh?

Best Wishes To You!

Cheers

Elaine
 
Hi Elaine,

The seizures have settled down and appear to be okay now. My neruologist said Keppra needs to be taken along with another med, I take Phenobarbital. I just got my license back, after 7 months, and am free to drive around. In May, I slid in water on the top step of our outdoor deck, fell down 12 steps backwards and landed on my back. Ended up hurting the left arm. End result is I am in physical therapy for both arms for the past two months. The good arm went bad after I started pt. So this year hasn't been the greatest health wise. I have arthritis in my back and tendonitis and inflammation in both rotator cuffs of my arms. The right arm gives me the worst pain but I will take it over seizures.

You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers for your seizures to settle down. Bless you, you are having it rough. Try asking your doctor about taking something along with the Keppra or switching to another med perhaps. Not sure what all you have available in the UK. Lyrica is a fairly new drug but it does have the side effect of weight gain. Phenobarbital has been available, in the states, for a long time. I think somewhere around 40 or 50 years.

Let me know how you are doing.

All my best to you,
Sandee
 
Hi Sandee

Thanks for getting back to me, your support is invaluable to me! I have tonight, sat and e.mailed my specialist to tell him all about my bad experiences with the Keppra, so I hope to hear back from him tomorrow, I've not heard that before, that Keppra should be taken as Polytherapy and not Monotherapy, it's absolutely bloody useless whatever, it doesn't help me at all, and I am having all sorts of miserable side effects from it. I have been talking to someone else on it today, and they've been almost suicidal on it! Since coming off it, they are back to their normal happy self. I'll let you know what the doc says as soon as I hear back from him, but I really might aswell shove the Keppra up my nose for all the good it does!

Thanks again for keeping in touch, I really do love to hear from you, the folks on CWE have all been fantastic! What a happy day that was when I accidentally came across it. I'll be back to you soon. Take care and thanks again mate.

Cheers

Elaine x
 
Hi Sandee

Wow! I am glad to hear you have the same trouble as me on Keppra! I so want to stop taking this stuff and seeing if I can get my sex drive back to normal. I'm only 45, and I think I must have gone through the menopause as I haven't had a period for over twelve months, so that may have affected things I guess?

It was good to hear that someone else feels the same way about Keppra, I am the most miserable insecure screwed up woman at the moment, and I want to stop taking it!

Cheers

Elaine x
 
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