Hey there Guys,
Today I wanted to talk about the importance of sharing information with your doctor when it comes to treatment and potential side effects.
Just this morning I was visited by another doctor’s patient to review some recent blood tests. One of the results, a hormone called prolactin, was high so I discussed the potential causes and how this could affect him, in particular his sex drive.
When the patient explained to me that he hadn’t had a sex drive for 10 years I was shocked. Worse was that he was able to pin point the exact point where his sex drive had dropped off, with the increase in a medication that was used to treat a psychiatric issue 10 years ago.
After careful discussion and examination it became apparent that indeed it might have been this increase in his medication that lead to not only a drop in his sex drive but it being totally switched off. When I asked if this worried him he replied, “Well sure but for me I would rather not have a sex drive, rather than having the problem I had before the medication.”
I was shocked and saddened. Had his medical team known, there is a chance the medication could have been changed and he could have both a healthy mind and sex drive. Sadly nobody had checked to see if he had this common side effect from this particular medicine.
Good news is that today I was able to organise testing to exclude other causes and I’ve organised for him to see his psychiatrist to see if he could change to a medicine that did not cause such a dramatic change in his sex drive.
What this has highlighted to me is the importance of asking all my patients about side effects as well as encouraging people to feel free to share how their body has reacted to medications. Sadly not all medicines are going to agree with everyone but the good news is that there is usually a chance to address side effects when they occur, and if they do, to have an open discussion about the pros and cons of addressing them.
Given the chance to have this conversation today may help this man not only regain his sexual desires but his 10 year relationship may be due to change as well. Imagine that!
So guys, I urge you, please don’t ever be embarrassed or concerned talking to your doctor about side effects, concerns or worries about medical treatments. The main outcome I want to see in all my patients is complete health, and this includes the biological, psychological and social aspect of vibrant health.
If there is something concerning you let us know! Don’t suffer in silence when you don’t have to suffer at all. Not happy with what one doctor says? It never harms to get a second opinion. Sometimes a different set of eyes can make all the difference. Clearly mine did when I met this patient today.
Certainly something to think about.
Yours in complete health!
Dr George
Hello,
What about people who are hiv+, experience depression and have diabetes and take medications for all 3 medical conditions? I have experienced issues with low sex drive.
I don’t know if I trust my Primary Care Physician who is an infectious disease specialist to know. Thank you.
HIV, depression and diabetes can be a tough combination.
Some of the HIV drugs as well as HIV itself can really impact mood, add diabetes to the mix and it’s just that little bit harder.
I am a big believer in hitting from as many different directions as possible. Do you get some regular movement in your day? Do you have someone you can talk with? What do you do for pleasure mate?
Pleasure can make a massive difference not only on mood but also your bodies response to HIV as well as sugar use.
Do you have a good HIV clued in psychiatrist in your town? That may be a great place to start…
He Dr .I over the pas 14yrs have suffered with Depression and after finding thr right drug , Cymbalta is what i Have been taking , in 2004 i had bi lateral hip surgery , I’m 53 now , and after that surgery have suffered terrible Neurological pain in my right upper leg, (it;s a big area where i get this horrible debilitating pain, I am now on 90 mg a day to counteract that with the cymbalta as well , but I don’t as well have a sex drive , I have the loveliest partner but this worries the crap outta me , I seem to be stuck, if i don’t take cymbalta it means really bad and I do mean REAL bad pain , or no sex Drive …. I have seen 2 Drs and nothing came of either of them , I don’t think these days I suffer with depression , but I know the utter pain associated with not taking the medication , I literally have to play with my self , I also get on/ off sore testicles as well , which i think is related to not Coming ?, no too sure, what can I do Please
Hey there Leslie, sounds like the mix of depression and neuropathic pain is bad for you. They tend to feed each other with depression making the perception of pain worse and pain making the depression worse.
Cymbalta is one medication but there are others available that can be good for both depression and pain. Have you spoken to your doctor about other nerve pain medicines like Lyrica or even old style tricyclic antidepressants?
They can be very good for people with this style of problem.
Other things to remember is getting regular movement. Do you have access to a pool or hydrotherapy? We often look to medicines first but sometimes physical therapy can have a massive impact.
Do you have a good pain team where you live?
Dr George