Bupe Does anyone else have erectile dysfunction while on Bupe?

[tom80]

Since I've been taking Suboxone again these past couple months, I've usually had problems getting and keeping it up. I'm 27 and have NEVER had this problem (besides when I was on Sub and Methadone before), even during the highest of my opioid use. Infact opioids had even HELPED me in bed by making me last longer.

I met a girl recently, and had sex with her for the first time last night. Midway though intercourse, I went completely soft and couldn't return, yet I'm really attracted and infatuated with her. Embarrassing is an understatement. I've tried reducing my daily dose in half in the past with the same results, and even reduced it to a quarter of my dose (but that just put me into WD).

I'm not taking any anti-depressants as I'm not depressed, however I am taking Gabapentin and Clonidine to ease WD symptoms. I have no health problems either, which leads me to believe that the bupe is causing my ED (just like Methadone did).


Are there any other guys out on bupe with the same problem? What do you do to combat it? I don't want to resort to Viagra, but will if I have to.

 

[What was it?]

Since I've been taking Suboxone again these past couple months, I've usually had problems getting and keeping it up. I'm 27 and have NEVER had this problem (besides when I was on Sub and Methadone before), even during the highest of my opioid use. Infact opioids had even HELPED me in bed by making me last longer.

I met a girl recently, and had sex with her for the first time last night. Midway though intercourse, I went completely soft and couldn't return, yet I'm really attracted and infatuated with her. Embarrassing is an understatement. I've tried reducing my daily dose in half in the past with the same results, and even reduced it to a quarter of my dose (but that just put me into WD).

I'm not taking any anti-depressants as I'm not depressed, however I am taking Gabapentin and Clonidine to ease WD symptoms. I have no health problems either, which leads me to believe that the bupe is causing my ED (just like Methadone did).


Are there any other guys out on bupe with the same problem? What do you do to combat it? I don't want to resort to Viagra, but will if I have to.

Very common with Buprenorphine and also Tramadol.....to a lesser extent with other opioids. Testosterone levels reduce with long-term opioid use so this will happen after a while, but with bupe and trams there is an SSRI-comparible action going on in the brain (aka antidepressants similar to Prozac). SO you get acute lack of libido. I found this quite annoying on those drugs and have therefore quit them. I only do full agonists on and on now, such as Oxy DHC or C.

 

[tom80]

Very common with Buprenorphine and also Tramadol.....to a lesser extent with other opioids. Testosterone levels reduce with long-term opioid use so this will happen after a while, but with bupe and trams there is an SSRI-comparible action going on in the brain (aka antidepressants similar to Prozac). SO you get acute lack of libido. I found this quite annoying on those drugs and have therefore quit them. I only do full agonists on and on now, such as Oxy DHC or C.

Lovely, I'm glad my Sub Dr told me this. 8)


I could tell testosterone levels were a little down on full agonists. Still, even after about 5 years of true straight addiction, they were never down enough to keep junior down. And now with the Sub, I've noticed that I'm starting to get a little belly too. I'm too young to have too low testosterone levels, so I think I'm done with this garbage and I'll do a quick taper. Its not as bad as Methadone in this department, but still deja vu.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

I have no issues on buprenorphine, and I don't think it is comparable to SSRI's at all.

How much buprenorphine are you on? Have you tried lowering the dosage?

 

[tom80]

I have no issues on buprenorphine, and I don't think it is comparable to SSRI's at all.

How much buprenorphine are you on? Have you tried lowering the dosage?

8mg/day

I tried 4mg for a couple days, but started craving badly. 2mg put me into moderate WD. I had a HUGE tolerance over several years.

I've read some of your posts and you seem pretty knowledgeable about drugs from what I can tell. What do you think is causing this, and what remedy do you recommend (besides lower my Sub dose, unless I decide to completely taper off of it)? Would Viagra work with bupe in my system?

 

[95Land]

^ I don't think there's any reason Viagra wouldn't work, while on bupe. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the only drugs that affect Viagra's potency and/or make it dangerous, are blood pressure meds, blood thinners, alcohol, etc. Drugs that affect blood flow. Subs should be fine in that way.
If I were you, and knew for sure that it was the sub that was causing the problem, I'd do some more messing around with dosage, when I take my dose, etc before I went to another med to solve the problem.
In my experience(I've been off and on subs for 3 1/2 years, 16mgs a day) I've never had problems with ED. It's always had a SSRI like effect, in that it makes it harder to finish.

 

[tom80]

^ I don't think there's any reason Viagra wouldn't work, while on bupe. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the only drugs that affect Viagra's potency and/or make it dangerous, are blood pressure meds, blood thinners, alcohol, etc. Drugs that affect blood flow. Subs should be fine in that way.
If I were you, and knew for sure that it was the sub that was causing the problem, I'd do some more messing around with dosage, when I take my dose, etc before I went to another med to solve the problem.
In my experience(I've been off and on subs for 3 1/2 years, 16mgs a day) I've never had problems with ED. It's always had a SSRI like effect, in that it makes it harder to finish.

Full agonists made it harder for me to finish, but that was a good thing while dating. With Sub I can't even fully start. I've tried different dosages, yet had the same result.

Interested that you bring up BP meds, as I take Clonidine for high BP (and apparently for WD symptoms now too). Does that affect Viagra, or just beta blockers?

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

Full agonists made it harder for me to finish, but that was a good thing while dating. With Sub I can't even fully start. I've tried different dosages, yet had the same result.

Interested that you bring up BP meds, as I take Clonidine for high BP (and apparently for WD symptoms now too). Does that affect Viagra, or just beta blockers?

Both full agonists and buprenorphine make me last a lot longer, and make the finish feel that much better (I know they're enhancing the orgasm, but the fact that I've been working so hard for it makes it that much better).

I don't know why you're getting nearly the opposite effect with bupe vs. full agonists. :/

I don't think clonidine would effect Viagra or make it any less effective, but I could be wrong.

 

[rearranged]

I don't have experience with clonidine but I just read in the "addicted, need help?" thread that clonidine will make your dick not work. Just passing that along.

 

[suessmayr]

On bupe I never had dysfunction per se but I also never felt like doing anything sexual. Like I never sought out girls and, left to myself, masturbated like once every 3 weeks. Also when I got clean I found that I got alot harder.

It's pretty common man so I wouldn't worry about it; this girl is bound to understand unless she's a real cunt.

S

 

[Pegasus]

It is fairly common with bupe; lowering the dose seems to help many people somewhat but not entirely. I think that just about everyone that quits bupe notices that their true sex drive comes roaring back as soon as the bupe stops. This may not be as much the case when stopping other full agonist opiates as these can cause androgen deficiency with long term use.

 

[95Land]

Full agonists made it harder for me to finish, but that was a good thing while dating. With Sub I can't even fully start. I've tried different dosages, yet had the same result.

Interested that you bring up BP meds, as I take Clonidine for high BP (and apparently for WD symptoms now too). Does that affect Viagra, or just beta blockers?

Let me be clear on that. I didn't/don't mind the "harder to get off" side-effect. I say SSRI-like because when I was willing to take them, and was on Prozac, I had a very similar reaction, in that way. Definitely not unpleasant. Like another poster said, you've just gotta work harder at it. The reasons that's a good thing, I doubt I have to explain.

What would concern me is, is the combination of Clonidine and Suboxone causing your ED? Suboxone, for some, lowers libido. Two of Clonidine's side-effects are decreased sex drive and impotence.
The website doesn't say anything about Clonidine and Viagra counteracting each other. That doesn't mean they don't.
Taking the two together might be what's causing the problems. Definitely something to talk to your doctor about, IMO.

 

[ColdBloodedDave]

yea...haha but for me after like a month i was good sometimes it seems like it takes me awhile to get started but then im good to go....on full agonists i could get it up but not finish(same for my wife...well the not finishing part she doesnt have much to get up haha)

 

[Tripman]

Funny. It takes me hours to finish on bupe. And I was on 16mg a day.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

8mg/day

I tried 4mg for a couple days, but started craving badly. 2mg put me into moderate WD. I had a HUGE tolerance over several years.

I've read some of your posts and you seem pretty knowledgeable about drugs from what I can tell. What do you think is causing this, and what remedy do you recommend (besides lower my Sub dose, unless I decide to completely taper off of it)? Would Viagra work with bupe in my system?

I am not sure what is causing it. Buprenorphine doesn't have an adverse effect on your endogenous testosterone (although full agonist opiates do), so my best guess is that you are still in the acute/post-acute withdrawal period, and your body and mind are in the process of adjusting to life without full agonists.

I think after a few weeks, your body will balance out some, and I think this will be less of a problem as time goes on.

You would have to go talk to your doctor about viagra anyways, so I would say to go to the doctor nonetheless. Additionally you can use drugs.com interactions checker to see what potential complications there might be with buprenorphine and viagra.

 

[tom80]

Let me be clear on that. I didn't/don't mind the "harder to get off" side-effect. I say SSRI-like because when I was willing to take them, and was on Prozac, I had a very similar reaction, in that way. Definitely not unpleasant. Like another poster said, you've just gotta work harder at it. The reasons that's a good thing, I doubt I have to explain.

What would concern me is, is the combination of Clonidine and Suboxone causing your ED? Suboxone, for some, lowers libido. Two of Clonidine's side-effects are decreased sex drive and impotence.
The website doesn't say anything about Clonidine and Viagra counteracting each other. That doesn't mean they don't.
Taking the two together might be what's causing the problems. Definitely something to talk to your doctor about, IMO.

I read you loud and clear on why its a good thing that opioids make us last longer...girls would think I was Superman while on full-agonists, eventhough they did reduce the sensation of 'finishing'.

I never knew that Clonidine could cause ED. I have legit high BP (hereditary) and have been taking it for the past couple years, all the while mixing it with Oxy daily and never having a problem in that department.

So I guess the million dollar question is whether its a mix of bupe and clonidine or just bupe that's causing this.

 

[tom80]

I am not sure what is causing it. Buprenorphine doesn't have an adverse effect on your endogenous testosterone (although full agonist opiates do), so my best guess is that you are still in the acute/post-acute withdrawal period, and your body and mind are in the process of adjusting to life without full agonists.

I think after a few weeks, your body will balance out some, and I think this will be less of a problem as time goes on.

You would have to go talk to your doctor about viagra anyways, so I would say to go to the doctor nonetheless. Additionally you can use drugs.com interactions checker to see what potential complications there might be with buprenorphine and viagra.

I don't feel physical WD symptoms anymore, but I do feel like my body and mind are in some sort of transitional period. Its gotten better over time, but I still have this unexplainable feeling...like a part of me is missing, a general feeling of awkwardness that I haven't felt since I was a teenager, and a HUGE lack of energy.

The first week of being on bupe this time was terrible...it helped a little and was better than cold turkey WD, but I still felt physical WD symptoms. I started out at 24mg/day, then was lowered to 16mg a few days later, and now I've been on 8mg for about a month. I think you might be right about me still adjusting to it being the cause, I never thought about that. I hope I can adjust to the bupe sooner than later.

I called my Dr and am waiting to hear back from him, and I'll let you guys know what happens. Thank you for your info and advice gentlemen.

 

[shahab6]

I had the same problem when i was on 8mg, but I started working out and it helped a lot, and now that am on 2mg, I don't have a problem at all. In fact I want to have sex all the time now, which kinda sucks..

So start working out, it helps a lot, at least for me..

 

[95Land]

I called my Dr and am waiting to hear back from him, and I'll let you guys know what happens. Thank you for your info and advice gentlemen.

With a good doctor(which I hope he/she is) working alongside you, I'm sure you can get this thing figured. Good luck!