 Recently a question was posed to the CVSA listserv by an adult female sufferer..... Has anyone had problems with sexual dysfunction related to certain drugs, such as amitriptyline, which they have been taking as a preventative or abortive treatment for CVS episodes?  The response made by an adult male sufferer indicates that this issue is a concern for many. "It's too bad that this topic is considered embarrassing. It is a real problem that affects many people directly and has a serious indirect on an equal number of loved ones. I have had similar side effects with the use of amitriptyline. My situation is complicated by the fact that I have diabetes which often causes problems with circulation that can lead to sexual dysfunction as well as many other complications. When I was taking a 10 mg daily dose of Elavil I noticed sporadic problems but when I changed my dose to 25 mg it became more persistent. I increased my dosage in response to a flurry of episodes this past spring and early summer and I'm happy to say that I have been episode free since the first week of September. Even with these positive results I have just recently decided to take the Elavil on alternate days rather than daily in an attempt to restore my overall health. I discussed my problems of ED (as Bob Dole refers to it) with my physician and he told me that this was a fairly common side effect of Elavil. He prescribed viagra but this was ineffective for me at either a 50 mg or 100 mg dose. Deciding whether to take a medication can be a complicated decision, particularly when the symptoms are not completely alleviated. Side effects (and the implications for our loved ones) also need to be considered. In the end, we are the ones that make the decisions and have to live with them. I think it's also important to remember that none of these decisions are final and they can be changed in the future as circumstances change. Good luck to you and your husband. Sincerely, J."  SSRI use and sexual dysfunction is well known. You can search all of MedLine (a virtural "library" of most of the important medical journals--many with abstracts) at the portal -- http://www.medportal.com/. These are the journals the research is published in and which MDs read. You will find work here years before it ever becomes mainstream (sometimes never). Type your seach keywords using the AND command between them, such as-- SSRI AND sex. Other boolean algebra logic commands are explained on the home page to do focused searches. Click on the links below to go directly to a some very relevant abstracts. Effects of SSRIs on sexual function: a critical review. by Rosen RC, Lane RM, Menza M Female sexual side effects associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: a descriptive clinical study of 33 patients. by Shen WW, Hsu JH  Please support others by letting them know that this is a widespread concern and that they are not alone with their problems. Help them by letting them know how you've handled the problem of sexual dysfunction caused by medications you take to help you live with CVS. Responses will be posted on the 'Bits and Pieces' Website. Because this is a sensitive subject, responders will be identified only as being male or female and with the initial of their first name.
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