Bupropion/Wellbutrin and sex drive: my experience

Therapeutic Efforts Pharmaceutical
#1

I have been away for few months and I am going to update you on two things (in two different posts).
The remaining symptoms are sexual for now. GENITAL NUMBNESS & LOW LIBIDO. pretty much that’s almost all.

I started Wellbutrin around early September. I started 150 mg for 2 weeks, then, because I was very depressed (GF left me) my shrink approved upping it to 300mg/day.

One day, around the 3 week mark, just when the drug is supposed to kick in, I woke up incredibly horny, and I masturbated, hear me out, FOUR TIMES almost CONSECUTIVELY. That has never happened since I was 13 maybe, if ever. Of course this did not stick, that was just one day, but now that I have been almost 3 months on it I can say:

Pre Wellbutrin: My libido was 1-2 over 10, with an average of 1.5 I would say.
On Wellbutrin: My libido is between 2-5 over 10 with an average of 3 I would say.

The days when my libido is 3 I can have sex with the help of Cialis… but the ideal conditions have to be met: old and patient partner, no condom, cialis, …

I also noticed that the higher the libido the longer I last.

Anyway I wish I started Wellbutrin before I am sure it would have saved my relation, which now is tormenting me every day, and it is very hard to meet a new girl who would be understanding that 2 days out of three I am not really interested in sex, and some days not at all.

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#2

Could you give us an update on your experience with wellbutrin?

#3

@numbduck Any updates on wellbutrin and/or your status?

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#4

concerta and medikinet gave me a little orgasm. But erection was more difficult and genital sensitivity was lower. the vascular contraction of an stimulant, perhaps. Assuming that what I know is correct, wellbutrin may have different results because it has different receptors.

#5

Concerta and Medikinet are both brands for methylphenidate (also known as Ritalin).

It turns out that methylphenidate and Wellbutrin / bupropion have the same general mechanism: both are norephinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors. Still, there could still be differences in the way they work.

References:
Concerta: http://www.janssenlabels.com/package-insert/product-monograph/prescribing-information/CONCERTA-pi.pdf
Bupropion: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC514842/

#6

Yes, bupropion is usually prescribed for anti-smoking treatment. But a Korean I know said it didn’t work…How about cabergoline? Some people at this forum said even cabergoline was have no effect. Still, I have high hopes for cabergoline

#7

I was on Wellbutrin for over a year. Barely helped with libido. I noticed myself checking out girls maybe 25% more. That’s about it

#8

How about depression, mood and Cognitive?
@Sawproblemo

#9

My depression was reduced but I can’t tell if it was from Wellbutrin or doing strong lift 5x5. I started both around the same time. Cognition is still messed up to some degree

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#10

Wellbutrin did nothing for my libido and made my cognition worse because it is anti-cholinergic. Every pill has been tried at this point.