Gabapentin stopped erections and ability to orgasm

[sftineun (imported)]

Does any one have taken Gabapentin and experienced near complete loss of ability to get erect or reach orgasm?

I have been a chemical eunuch since 2009. I did not take any HRT and my libido dropped significantly to the point where I did not need any release for 3 - 4 months. But since 2017, I have been on Androgel to help slow down my osteopenia. Unfortunately, my libido returned, though full erections remained impossible. Since then, I have learned to enjoy soft orgasms. And at times, I used Viagra, but I don't get fully hard for enough time to have penetrative sex.

Recently, my doctor prescribed Gabapentin to other GI issues. I had taken it for just about 2 weeks and had to stop it because it was causing dizziness and other side effects. By now, almost a month after stopping Gabapentin, my penis remains totally soft and non-responsive regardless of what stimulation I gave it, even if I used my favorite stimulation before I started Gabapentin.

Wondering if others had similar experience.

[Losethem (imported)]

I have not had a similar experience. Though I no longer have a dick, I do have the stump, and it's getting hard when I'm aroused and I can have an orgasm.

I've only been taking the medication for a few weeks for pain issues. I'll say, I've not had your experience. It does not mean your experience is any more or less real than my own, but it may be worth asking your care team about it. Your medication mix and mine seem different, so it could have something to do with that.

[WheelyFixed]

Back when I was first injured they put me on all sorts of things, including gabapentin, and it's close cousin Lyrica, in an effort to deal w/ some of my pain issues... That class of drugs is very commonly used in the SCI world, most often in an effort to deal with neuropathic pain and spasticity, and with very mixed results...

At that time I could get an erection, but went from "on the edge" to "done, continued effort is painful" w/o the fun of having the orgasm... It was so totally frustrating that I quit trying, and somewhere along the way mostly lost the ability to get it up... (Which eventually got me here, but that's a separate story)

I have not heard ANYTHING in the SCI circles about an association between gabapentin type drugs causing a loss of function, but sex is not a real commonly discussed topic in the groups I associate with... When I was in rehab the topic was barely raised at all, it seemed that they didn't want to acknowledge that us gimps might have in interest in it... I've heard things have changed these days, but don't know, and now don't have a lot of reason to worry about it...

WheelyFixed

[Nathan74 (imported)]

That sucks, I tried that stuff once for 2 days and I immediately had brain fog so I stopped it. The first red flag for me was the 1/4" thick stack of side effects that they printed out for me. It was everything from extreme weight gain, to brain fog, to who knows what. It's a drug that you take when everything else has failed.

[magusuk89 (imported)]

I had gabapentin once and got full blown amnesia/dementia -- took several months to recover (hopefully all of) my memories.

[Wolf-Pup (imported)]

I take 2 600mg pills 3 times a day of Gabapentin. Been on it since 2004/5

As to side effects? Probably? I will say before I went on it, I was bed ridden for almost three years and it gave me a LOT of mobility back. I'm still bad off, but I can do more than I was able to before going on it.

I was just mentionioning Lyrica to my pain doctor this week oddly enough. Possible I may try switching down the road.

[sftineun (imported)]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. I guess my regular medications may have worsened the effects of Gabapentin. Luckily, I am not quite at a condition where Gabapentin is a must. It was just supposed to help with my Gi problems.

[Losethem (imported)]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. I guess my regular medications may have worsened the effects of Gabapentin. Luckily, I am not quite at a condition where Gabapentin is a must. It was just supposed to help with my Gi problems.

You're welcome. I hope you're able to work with your care team to find a solution.

[Paolo]

If you do go with Lyrica, make sure you are not allergic to it! The stuff nearly killed my Aunt.

[Wolf-Pup (imported)]

Could she use Gabapentin? They are supposed to be chemically similar to each other. You can go to higher doses with Lyrica. I haven't looked into much yet.

Thanks!