Misc 25 years old and zero libido after taking sleeping pills for over a year.

[shred81]

Ok everyone, I found this forum in my quest to get to the bottom of my problem. I will try to make a long story short. I took Ambien for a few months every night. For some odd reason, I figured that I should give Lunesta a try and took that for 2 months. I lost my libido. I got off the Lunesta and began taking ambien again, and libido returned in a few days. I continued taking Ambien for a few months and again switched to Lunesta, libido again dissapeared after some time. Now I switched back to Ambien and libido never returned. I at this point figured my loss of libido was deff the Lunestas fault so I continued taking Ambien nightly. Libido did not return. On january 12th( May 12th will be 4 months) I stopped all sleeping pills cold turkey and haven't taken a singly sleeping pill since that time. Libido has not returned. I have not had a libido since the end of August 2010.

Now a little about myself. I am muscular and fit. I am in great physical shape. I have had a very strong libido my whole life up until many months into my sleeping pill use. I take no drugs and do not drink. I eat healthy etc.. Now many things went through my mind about the cause of this. I thought I had a hormonal problem but I doubt its that. if something suddenly happened that would mess my hormones up and eliminate my libido, wouldn't that have some other side effect and wouldn't i notice something in my physique? In fact, I have gained muscle and lost fat since this happened. I monitor my weight and fat level etc... Also, I can get hard and everything downstairs works, I just have no sex drive. There was a very clear point at which it disapeared. This is not something I am imagining.

Now I know that Ambien and Lunesta work on the GABA receptor as do benzos. Loss of libido is a known side effect of benzos and is in the literature for ambien and lunesta too. In all honesty, I haven't had any luck finding cases of someone losing their libido from these things. Doing internet searches dont provide much. I bet people either just go to their doctor or don't even realize their libido issue is from the sleeping pills. I am just very in tune with my body and don't drink or do drugs and am fit so I narrowed it down to this. The issue is that my libido hasnt returned. I don't know what to do. I mean is it possible that the pills fried my gaba receptors or something else in my brain. Has anyone had experience with this? I mean in the long while since I lost my libido, I have gotten in even better shape, I feel strong and healthy etc..

If someone can help me with this or went through this very thing, I would be forever grateful.

 

[shred81]

I should also mention that I am not depressed or anything. I have never suffered depression so that's not a factor in this.

 

[shred81]

Please guys, I am desperate for some help with this issue. If the mods think I posted it in the wrong section, they can feel free to move it. I am hoping someone has some exerience with this and can help me.

 

[SangerRainsford]

What happened to your libido when you originally began w/ sleep aids? You started on ambien and the lunesta seemed to cause this issue, but how would you 'rate' your libido b4 the ambien? And did the ambien raise/lower it in any way that you noticed?

I should note that I'm not really seeing any major physiological reasons here - but that could be due to unfamiliarity with lunesta's/ambien's profile. Based on your comparison to the gabaergic effects of benzo's, I'm honestly wondering how much of it is actually physical. You don't seem to have any real androgenic effects, if anything you're gaining muscle, and still have normal function down there - it sounds almost entirely psychological IMO, but that's *not* to say that such psychological changes were not induced by one of the drugs*. Have there been any significant changes to your social/sex life during the time immediately before, during, and after using these two products?
/*=I'm not saying I think this is something you're imagining (it could be, I just can't know of course), I'm simply saying it sounds like IF it was one of the two pills, then it sounds like it was a psychological effect, *not* a physical one. And I imagine you'll reply 'It was the lunesta / not the ambien', and I can see why that may seem the case, but you have to keep in mind there are products that, once you stop using them, can cause a loss of libido; that is to say that it could be lunesta-consumption causing it (like you suggested), OR ambien-cessation causing it. You're leaning to lunesta consumption, but that's over now and there's still no return, which may mean ambien-cessation.

 

[Pegasus]

My impression is that your problem is likely now psychological. When you were on the meds, sure, they could have killed your sex drive. You've been off awhile now though and whatever is occurring now could easily be in your head. It could be a change in personality brought on by the meds or something like that, which the meds may be the root cause of, but as for getting better you're probably going to have to find your drive again on your own. (IMO)

 

[SangerRainsford]

yeah that's def what I'm leaning towards - it seems SO unlikely there's residual physical effects at this point...that's not to say that psych effects cannot take years to get rid of :/

 

[hobhead]

long term use of these hypnotics is a recipe for disaster. Far better to loose a few night's sleep than use these things for more than a few weeks time nightly.
Your mind will suffer because the missing component of sleep that Z drugs cause-it is a definite thing.
Even passing out from alc is less harmful

 

[shred81]

What happened to your libido when you originally began w/ sleep aids? You started on ambien and the lunesta seemed to cause this issue, but how would you 'rate' your libido b4 the ambien? And did the ambien raise/lower it in any way that you noticed?

I should note that I'm not really seeing any major physiological reasons here - but that could be due to unfamiliarity with lunesta's/ambien's profile. Based on your comparison to the gabaergic effects of benzo's, I'm honestly wondering how much of it is actually physical. You don't seem to have any real androgenic effects, if anything you're gaining muscle, and still have normal function down there - it sounds almost entirely psychological IMO, but that's *not* to say that such psychological changes were not induced by one of the drugs*. Have there been any significant changes to your social/sex life during the time immediately before, during, and after using these two products?
/*=I'm not saying I think this is something you're imagining (it could be, I just can't know of course), I'm simply saying it sounds like IF it was one of the two pills, then it sounds like it was a psychological effect, *not* a physical one. And I imagine you'll reply 'It was the lunesta / not the ambien', and I can see why that may seem the case, but you have to keep in mind there are products that, once you stop using them, can cause a loss of libido; that is to say that it could be lunesta-consumption causing it (like you suggested), OR ambien-cessation causing it. You're leaning to lunesta consumption, but that's over now and there's still no return, which may mean ambien-cessation.

Firstly, thanks to everyone who responded. My libido has been extremely strong my whole life up till a few months into my sleeping pill use. While I was taking Ambien, my libido was the same way it always was, which was strong. It did seem like the Lunesta brought it on but I have been off all sleeping pills for almost 4 months and I haven't seen much improvement. I mean I do indeed think it's psychological too at this point in the sense that I don't think this affected my hormones. I remember exactly when I realized that my libido was gone. It was a clear difference. The thing is that I have to admit that I am indeed anxious about the issue now so I am sure I am not helping myself in that regard. I was thinking to see a psychiatrist or perhaps have comprehensive bloodwork done on my own. I also researched pt-141 amongst other things to try and see if taking them will help. I mean it may help ease my minds concern about the issue and that would make me more calm about the problem in general.

What do you guys think?

 

[Pegasus]

^It makes sense that anxiety could be impacting your libido. Are you saying that you haven't been aroused in months, or that it just isn't nearly as regular as it should be? If it is the latter, anxiety could easily be the cause.

 

[SangerRainsford]

I remember exactly when I realized that my libido was gone. It was a clear difference.

It's not typically something that comes on that fast - how far into taking lunesta did this happen?(that'd be the 1st time on lunesta, iirc)

I also researched pt-141 amongst other things to try and see if taking them will help.
...............................................
What do you guys think?

I'd recommend you find out much more about the cause b4 taking that (never heard of it, but it reads like more of a last-resort type of med to me..)

^It makes sense that anxiety could be impacting your libido. Are you saying that you haven't been aroused in months, or that it just isn't nearly as regular as it should be? If it is the latter, anxiety could easily be the cause.

General types of anxiety will absolutely impact it, though at 25 most people's anxiety has been there for a couple yrs at least (unsure if it's just 'performance anxiety' only, or more of a generalized/social/etc type). If it's 'performance' anxiety, that shit'll feed itself :/

Shred- how do you know you're 100% physically if the psychological isn't really there? (/what changes, if any, have you had in your sex life - like have you had a steady relationship/etc? Changes in your sex life can make an otherwise small problem seem out of proportion)

 

[shred81]

Ok sorry for the delayed response. I have had absolutely nothing out of the ordinary happen to me. My anxiety level is really low actually. I certainly am mentally stable and have had no issues with anxiety. The libido loss happened essentially 9 months after being on the sleeping pills and about 3 months into the Lunesta use. It didn't happen when I first started Lunesta. I would love to be able to say that this is something I am imagining but its not the case. Something certainly changed. My one time out of control sex drive is completely gone. If I see something that would arouse me, I still become aroused, it's just my sex drive(libido) is gone. It's hard for me to explain. I can still perform etc.. it's just like I don't have any desire for it.

Interestingly, I started taking the sleeping pills to help me get on schedule but I enjoyed their effects and got hooked. I didn't start them because of anxiety or mental problems etc.. It was a very hard addiction to break but I did manage to totally quit them in January thinking that my libido would come back but it hasn't.

 

[amapola]

I think you need to see a specialist. Even if this was caused by drugs (PSSD comes to mind) the fact that it is still apparent after discontinuation means our advice of "try stopping drugz" would not be helpful. The whole live healthy and don't over think it aspect seems pretty played out as well.

It is a medical problem and you could benefit from medical help. It could be some sort of hormonal imbalance of unknown origin that you can't overcome on your own but who knows. At the very least I know if I had been out of the game for however many months I would be seeing someone.

 

[SangerRainsford]

Who said stop drugs/"live healthy"? ;P

srsly tho, what would a specialist be able to do for postSSRIdysfunction? Give you a NDRI? If it's pssd (whatever that actually is..), then isn't it safe to say that it *is* a psychological 'side effect' that, unfortunately, just has some strong persistence?
(Are you thinking bupropion?)
/and I'm highly doubting anything hormonal, given that any other 'andro' hormones seem to be functioning normal/better at this point, as well as normal physical stimulation - just a decrease in desire to seek stimulation, that's all psych if I'm not mistaken (psych caused by a pharm, no doubt, and there's physical changes in the brain - but the 5ht/gaba paths don't really smack of physical. I could be mistaken, not the most well-read on xxRI's drugs/side effects)

 

[shred81]

Who said stop drugs/"live healthy"? ;P

srsly tho, what would a specialist be able to do for postSSRIdysfunction? Give you a NDRI? If it's pssd (whatever that actually is..), then isn't it safe to say that it *is* a psychological 'side effect' that, unfortunately, just has some strong persistence?
(Are you thinking bupropion?)
/and I'm highly doubting anything hormonal, given that any other 'andro' hormones seem to be functioning normal/better at this point, as well as normal physical stimulation - just a decrease in desire to seek stimulation, that's all psych if I'm not mistaken (psych caused by a pharm, no doubt, and there's physical changes in the brain - but the 5ht/gaba paths don't really smack of physical. I could be mistaken, not the most well-read on xxRI's drugs/side effects)

Yes, in fact the loss of libido is the only symptom I have experienced. Absolutely nothing else negative to report. Do you think this will clear up on it's own soon? Keep in mind that I experienced this loss of libido back in August of 2010 but stupid me continued taking Ambien all the way until January of 2011, as I said. So this has been going on for awhile so if my hormonal levels were crashed since August 2010, I am pretty sure I would be affected in more ways than a libido problem. Thats why I think this is deff something that the pills did to my brain.

I wish there would be a way to know how long this will take to clear up.

 

[shred81]

If I do see a doctor, I think a psychiatrist will be best able to help me as any mention of libido problems due to benzos etc.. were always in psychiatry books. I mean if the problem doesn't go away soon, I will find a good Psychiatrist here in NYC where I live. I am hoping that someone here has some advice for me or that someone who actually suffered and overcame this could tell me how long it took them etc..

 

[SangerRainsford]

I'm hoping someone more familiar w/ the effectiveness of psychiatrists can chime in here, as I'm generally not too fond of recommending them for anything but really severe stuff (bad ptsd, etc; I think peple, as a whole, see psychiatrists WAY too much).
If this is something psychiatric that's similar to, say, decreased libido during post-acute w/d's from stim's/ope's/alcohol/whatever, I just cannot see how a psychiatrist can touch it. I'll acknowledge that it's a psychological issue for sure, but it's something that imo is going to come down to the individual to get over/fix mentally, if that makes any sense.
/have you tried attempting new activities, even though the drive wasn't there, to see if they did/did not spark it? Just increasing activity/changing things in that dept may spark it. If the drugs are 100% over and done, and considering you didn't use that long / there seem to be no physical issues, then I'm leaning to you being back to normal once you 'kickstart' it / get it going again, but no way to know if that'll happen next week or next month or longer..

 

[shred81]

Well, I will see how things go. I haven literally checked the scale, my bodyfat etc.. and things have only improved. The reason why I say this is because I remember when I first noticed my libido was gone, I thought that I would start getting weaker and add fat while losing muscle. This hasn't happened and I keep an eye on it. As I said, libido has been gone for awhile. Everything downstairs works perfectly and things that always aroused me, still do, its just that I don't have the drive for it. It's hard to explain but this definitely happened. And I have to admit that I now think about the problem which probably itself impedes arousal. I do have to thank everyone for both the past and continuous help. At least I now have a place to discuss this problem.

 

[shred81]

One more thing I forgot to discuss in detail:
After being on the Ambien for a few months, I switched to Lunesta. After Being on the Lunesta for a few months, libido went. I switched back to Ambien and within a week, libido was back. For some reason, I again used Lunesta after being on the Ambien for a few months. This time when libido went and I switched back to Ambien, libido hasn't returned. I should of quit sleeping pills totally when the libido disappeared this time, but I stayed on Ambien. Regardless, I am hoping libido comes back as it has in the bast. I do actually think this is part mental at this point because I have to admit that I am stressed out about the problem and think about it. Somehow I have to get it out of my head.

 

[Voxide]

Get a hormone panel done. I'd be willing to bet your testosterone levels are not up to par after all those drugs. That is without a single fucking doubt the cause of your low libido. At that young of an age, your physique will not be impacted regardless.


Oh yeah, and 90% of it is probably psychosomatic, so calm the fuck down, breath, and put on a Jenna Haze double feature.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

I'm hoping someone more familiar w/ the effectiveness of psychiatrists can chime in here, as I'm generally not too fond of recommending them for anything but really severe stuff (bad ptsd, etc; I think peple, as a whole, see psychiatrists WAY too much).

I have PTSD, but I have been to a psychiatrist for ADHD, as well as ORT. I don't think it's right to say people see psychiatrists way too much, I think they actually don't see them often enough.