Is paxil anything like chemical castration?

[Cburner98 (imported)]

I was recently prescribed paxil, 20mg related to PTSD. I was told up front by my provider this would most likely kill my sex drive. I've read multiple articles that equate paxil to being chemically castrated and wanted to seek the advice of anyone here who may have used real CC(depo, etc) and later something like paxil. We're the results similar? At any given point my sex drive on a 10 scale is an 8 or a 9. Chemical castration is something of a dream I've always wanted, but without the muscle loss, and id LOVE for my 9 to drop to a 2 or lower.

Did paxil effect your ability to get erect? If you saw a beautiful woman with a shapely figure did you mind automatically think of fucking her? How long after starting should I expect changes in my drive?

I'm incredibly nervous to start taking the medication, but also I long for the improvements of my mental health and also to not feel controlled by these things between my legs.

Thank you in advance for any input you may have.

[DeaconBlues (imported)]

More than 27 years ago, I was all but forced to take paxil, and I honestly tell you it was totally WORTHLESS for me, I did not notice any effect on my sex drive and it only made my depression worse because I thought I should be feeling better and I was not.

Please, there is an excellent book written by Johan Hari, called "Lost Connections." Reading that book did a LOT more for me than anything else I have tried up to now. The book is available as an audio book, read by the author and the author does have a very good narration voice.

As for a chemical castration drug, I highly recommend depo provera, I have used it myself, and while I always tell anyone, castration and it's effect on a man/eunuch is different for each individual, but I absolutely loved the way I felt and how much better everything was for me about one or two weeks after I self injected two 1.5 cc's (one in each buttock) of depo provera, and one shot about every month after the initial two shots. It was about a month apart, anytime I noticed that I was getting any morning erections I would give myself a shot. You can buy the shots over the counter in any Mexican pharmacy, or order them through some online pharmacies. And honestly, I tell you this, the depo provera was at least 100 times better than the paxil ever was at easing my anxiety, and just making my day better.

[Cburner98 (imported)]

I actually have a few depo vials, but wanted to let the paxil kick in before injecting them.

[DeaconBlues (imported)]

I honestly and sincerely advise you to THROW AWAY THE PAXIL. As I said above, the paxil was so totally worthless for me, maybe it will do some good for you, but I doubt it.

[Cburner98 (imported)]

Just an update to anyone who asks this question later; paxil at 20mg made a slight change in my libido. Nothing super noticable. I was bumped to 40 mg, and the thought of sex is sorta meh. Drive is down from 10 to like 3-4. Erections require some effort to obtain and quickly deflate. It's nearly impossible to reach orgasm. I think about sex far less now which is nice. Is this comparable to chemical castration? I'm not sure. But it's definitely led to some noticable changes in a short time.

[WheelyFixed]

Just an update to anyone who asks this question later; paxil at 20mg made a slight change in my libido. Nothing super noticable. I was bumped to 40 mg, and the thought of sex is sorta meh. Drive is down from 10 to like 3-4. Erections require some effort to obtain and quickly deflate. It's nearly impossible to reach orgasm. I think about sex far less now which is nice. Is this comparable to chemical castration? I'm not sure. But it's definitely led to some noticable changes in a short time.

Thanks for the update Cburner...

Purely speculating, as I wouldn't touch psych meds with someone else's , but it would seem like the question of how close what you are describing is to chemical castration (or surgical) would revolve around how it affects you in other non-sexual aspects of your life....

At least for me, neither chemical nor surgical has had a huge impact on me other than getting rid of the interest / drive / desire that my injury didn't let me satisfy... While there are plenty of reports of depression for at least a while after, especially among those going 'hormone free', I get the impression that most get fairly little impact on the rest of their lives other than perhaps the impact of 'eunuch calm'...

WheelyFixed

[Cburner98 (imported)]

I was rxd the med for PTSD. It's my firm belief that the meds changed nothing in that regard, and I still suffer from those symptoms and such related to PTSD. I do not feel the paxil helped this at all.

[Cburner98 (imported)]

I will add that the wife is less than thrilled. She knew a side reason for my choice in trying this medication was for the sexual side effects. She's made several comments about my inability to perform and results to using her toys to get off since the meds have greatly reduced my ability to satisfy her. She very much enjoys being came in and I simply can't do that at this point. For years I've fantasized about her taking a lover, and she's into that idea (especially lately) but for other unrelated reasons that isn't likely to happen in this chapter of our lives. I still find her attractive, along with other women as I always have, but it's so refreshing not to be utterly crazed by my sex drive.

My only hesitation to try chem cast lies in the fact I enjoy being a man otherwise. A protector, strong, etc. unfortunately, since this medication is doing shit for my PTSD it will likely be switched and I fear my overbearing sex drive will return.

[WheelyFixed]

I will add that the wife is less than thrilled. She knew a side reason for my choice in trying this medication was for the sexual side effects. She's made several comments about my inability to perform and results to using her toys to get off since the meds have greatly reduced my ability to satisfy her. She very much enjoys being came in and I simply can't do that at this point. For years I've fantasized about her taking a lover, and she's into that idea (especially lately) but for other unrelated reasons that isn't likely to happen in this chapter of our lives. I still find her attractive, along with other women as I always have, but it's so refreshing not to be utterly crazed by my sex drive.

My only hesitation to try chem cast lies in the fact I enjoy being a man otherwise. A protector, strong, etc. unfortunately, since this medication is doing shit for my PTSD it will likely be switched and I fear my overbearing sex drive will return.

Sounds like a rock and hard place situation, if the wife is not happy about you not performing.... I feel that if one is part of a relationship, everyone involved needs to be at least OK about changes. I'm fortunate in that my GF doesn't understand WHY, but is OK with my going on this journey. It probably didn't hurt that we weren't able to do much anyways for a variety of reasons...

Have the two of you tried other options like oral or you using 'toys' on her? Possibly you might be able to find an option that works for both of you, seems like experimenting might be worthwhile.

It does sound like the Paxil isn't working for you so switching is probably not a bad idea, although from what I hear, performance problems / libido reduction are a common side effect of many (most?) psych meds so if you stay on some sort of meds you might not get all the drive back. It might be worth talking with your shrink about wanting a moderate drive that will let you keep the wife happy w/o feeling overwhelmed - depends on how much that would be a desired outcome.

I know that my TG doc was talking about trying to satisfy my desire for lower drive w/ psych meds during our initial appointments before I vetoed the idea.

The results vary tremendously, but at least some of the members here that have had surgery report being able to perform, albeit differently, by playing with their testosterone replacement dosage, and not having overwhelming drive... (and even saying their wives found it an improvement, as it took longer to get things 'started' but then taking longer to climax....) However this doesn't seem like a possibility w/ chemical castration, as that seems like an 'all or nothing' choice, as the drugs used either totally suppress T production or end the ability to respond to it. I've seen several folks asking about the option of 'partial' and not seen anyone suggest anything that works.

I'd also suggest that 'being a man' is more a function of what's between your ears than what's between your legs... Castration can and probably will lead to some loss of muscle mass / physical strength, but not extremely so if you make the effort to keep in shape w/ diet / exercise, etc. You can still be a protector, and do most all the other 'manly man' things (outside of porn, strip bars and so forth) that you do now... I still present as normal male, have a full beard and mustache (though they grow slower) and still enjoy playing w/ tools, fixing things, etc. The only thing that sort of suggests that I've been fixed and on estrogen is that I've grown bigger boobs, but I seem to be the only one that notices (I've never gotten any comments about them)

WheelyFixed

[WheelyFixed]

I will add that the wife is less than thrilled. She knew a side reason for my choice in trying this medication was for the sexual side effects. She's made several comments about my inability to perform and results to using her toys to get off since the meds have greatly reduced my ability to satisfy her. She very much enjoys being came in and I simply can't do that at this point. For years I've fantasized about her taking a lover, and she's into that idea (especially lately) but for other unrelated reasons that isn't likely to happen in this chapter of our lives. I still find her attractive, along with other women as I always have, but it's so refreshing not to be utterly crazed by my sex drive.

My only hesitation to try chem cast lies in the fact I enjoy being a man otherwise. A protector, strong, etc. unfortunately, since this medication is doing shit for my PTSD it will likely be switched and

I fear my overbearing sex drive will return.

Sounds like a rock and hard place situation, if the wife is not happy about you not performing.... I feel that if one is part of a relationship, everyone involved needs to be at least OK about changes. I'm fortunate in that my GF doesn't understand WHY, but is OK with my going on this journey. It probably didn't hurt that we weren't able to do much anyways for a variety of reasons...

Have the two of you tried other options like oral or you using 'toys' on her? Possibly you might be able to find an option that works for both of you, seems like experimenting might be worthwhile.

It does sound like the Paxil isn't working for you so switching is probably not a bad idea, although from what I hear, performance problems / libido reduction are a common side effect of many (most?) psych meds, so if you stay on some sort of meds you might not get all the drive back. It might be worth talking with your shrink about wanting a moderate drive that will let you keep the wife happy w/o feeling overwhelmed - depends on how much that would be a desired outcome.

I know that my TG doc was talking about trying to satisfy my desire for lower drive w/ psych meds during our initial appointments before I vetoed the idea.

The results vary tremendously, but at least some of the members here that have had surgery report being able to perform, albeit differently, by playing with their testosterone replacement dosage, and not having overwhelming drive... (and even saying their wives found it an improvement, as it took longer to get things 'started' but then taking longer to climax....) However this doesn't seem like a possibility w/ chemical castration, as that seems like an 'all or nothing' choice, as the drugs used either totally suppress T production or end the ability to respond to it. I've seen several folks asking about the option of 'partial' and not seen anyone suggest anything that works.

I'd also suggest that 'being a man' is more a function of what's between your ears than what's between your legs... Castration can and probably will lead to some loss of muscle mass / physical strength, but not extremely so if you make the effort to keep in shape w/ diet / exercise, etc. You can still be a protector, and do most all the other 'manly man' things (outside of porn, strip bars and so forth) that you do now... I still present as normal male, have a full beard and mustache (though they grow slowe

r) and still enjoy playing w/ tools, fixing things, etc. Being in a chair limits my abi

lity to do 'man things' far more than the lack of balls... The only thing that sort of suggests that I've been fixed and on estrogen is that I've grown bigger boobs, but I seem to be the only one that notices

(I've never gotten any comments about them)

WheelyFixed