Hey y’all. so today i finally got my vyvanse/elvanse and i’m gonna start tomorrow. I specifically asked my doctor about sexual side effects and she said that it’s well known to be relatively harmless in that regard. now I read the side effects and it says that erectile dysfunction and change of sex drive are “common: 1 in 10 people”. i’m taking wellbutrin too which didn’t harm my sex life. it rather helped a little. i’m really scared because I had some bad experiences with meds and sex in the past. so can we talk about it? how bad is it? does it go away? can you take something to help? thanks
Hey I can speak from experience to try and answer this question.
I’ve been taking lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse/Elvanse) since 2017. It has absolutely impacted my sex drive. Though, not in the way most might expect?
So achieving orgasm is actually easier for me (overall) when I’m medicated, but the drive to have sex as frequently as before has decreased. However, I don’t really think it’s by way of the medication actively depressing my sex drive, but rather because it’s no longer necessary for me to seek stimulation by way of having sex.
So, now, it’s easier to go without sex without feeling ravenous. More specifically, I considered myself to have a fairly insatiable sex drive before, but since becoming medicated I now seek it out about half as much.
My partner and I still engage in sex two or three times a week, and sometimes it’s more, rarely it’s less. For contrast, in a previous relationship (prior to diagnosis) my need was to initiate sex every single day.
If my partner initiates, it can take a little time for me to get into the groove, but the desire for sex is still functioning just fine. Maybe the best way I can put it is: ‘I could still eat, I just don’t feel like I’m starving anymore.’
I hope that gives you some insight. I’m happy to clarify or answer more if needed.
Hey that is so kind of you to offer these insights. They help me a lot. Can I just ask about your gender/body? I am cis male.
I love how you formulate your experience, it really gives a lot of food for thought and hope.
I’m glad my experiences can help!
I’ve no problem sharing gender and body info: I’m cis female.
I definitely went through a bit of a period of questioning when I realised the differences between my pre and post medicated experience. Afaik a lot of newly medicated folk go through a stage of coming to terms with the effects of the medication on their life.
Personally, I felt a lot of grief about ‘what else has changed’ for a little while. Not just in my sexual experiences, but even the need to take medication. There was a lot of internalised able-ism I had to work through as well.
Ultimately, your experience with diagnosis and medication will be your own, but there’s a big community of fellow adhd-ers that can chime in and possibly help support you with whatever you’re experiencing.
There’s always hope. :)
Yeah thanks! I don’t mind taking (the right) medication. I’ve taken my share of dumb meds that did more harm than good. So if vyvanse can help, I’d be stoked.
I hope that you are in a better space now. Good luck
Thanks for the kind words! I’m in a much better space these days. :)
I wish you all the ease and abundance possible for your journey forward. <3
Thank you <3
Amphetamines have been shown to suppress testosterone production, so it’s likely affecting your sex drive directly.
Well, before talking about meds, remember that all bodies are unique, some side effects will affect people in different levels, TL;DR: YMMV, etc, etc…
I saw no negative sexual side effects on vyvanse. In fact, if there were any effects related to sex, it was that I could actually avoid distraction while there is an obviously important person to pay attention to.
Thank you. I understand and respect you giving me the caveat but I needed your perspective to chill out a little
I’m not sure if they edited their comment or you responded to the wrong one, but their response seems pretty chill.
Yes. But I wasn’t chill 😃
Meds are a journey that you have to bravely dive into. If stimulants don’t work for whatever reason, they are short acting and discontinuing the meds should leave you where you were before. I think its good to trail these kinds of things and see how they make you feel.
Vyvanse does cause sexual dysfunction with me, but only during the day when I likely won’t be having sex anyways. In my experience, and from what I’ve heard from others is that once you’re able to get hard, things go smoothly from there.
One trick I’ve found to counteract medication induced ED is Trazodone. I take it for insomnia, but it also makes me pretty much stay at half mast and get rock hard erections very easily no matter what medication I’m taking (besides Strattera, fuck Strattera) . When I know my wife is likely in the mood I’ll take it a bit earlier to make sure I don’t have any issues.
Also, kegels aren’t just for women. They help improve blood flow that can help treat ED, help reduce your risk of prostate cancer, and potentially even make your dick bigger.
Yeah. Kegels are fun. I just keep forgetting to do them. Thanks for the pointers 😃
Well I just googled that med and it’s an antidepressant. Thanks for your help, but I’m already taking wellbutrin and I’m never going back to SRI meds
Trazodone isn’t an ssri, and the doses that are used for off label are way lower than what is prescribed for depression, and medication induced ED is one of those off label uses.
I’m taking vyvanse and wellbutrin as well with no issues from the trazodone.
Thanks. I googled it and it said it was an SRI. Hm. I have a bad history with Venlafaxin/efexor/pristiq addiction:/
I’m on atomoxetine, along with finasteride and a double blind trial of sertraline, all three affect the sex, my drive is definitely a bit lower, and while I can get it up, it isn’t as hard as it used to be. It’s worth giving a go and seeing how you get on because they’re not permanent changes, if you stop taking the medicine you go back to normal.
Not sure what you mean I should give a go, tbh. I’m not a big fan of taking more neuroactive meds, I guess Viagra as a later resort.
I meant to try them, and if they’re not a good fit for you then drop them. If you don’t like neuroactive meds though then there isn’t really much of an option outside of stimulants. Personally I’ve had a really good experience as it works 24/7 so I still have motivation to do things after work, Vs crashing completely
Thanks. Today is day 3 of vyvanse/Elvanse. Taking my time
If the meds are effective, it can help you feel better about being able to accomplish things…
And so you spend less time inside your own head and that helps the sex drive.
Though I’d wait the 8 hrs for it to wear off 😝
Exactly what do , you mean with the last sentence?
The medication lasts 8 hours usually (ish) and personally I have troubles wanting to be sexual while the medication is still keeping me in the focus zone.
Ah that helped me. Thanks!
I take methylphenidat and have nearly no side effects. On the contrary I finally can enjoy things much more due to less dumb thoughts. I know its another med, but you’ll have to try yours. Everyone reacts different to medication.
I take Vyvanse and the horny has never been an issue for me. Altho I have a theory that my ADHD plus being unsnipped has led to a level of sensitivity during sex that I wish wasnt what it was but anyways yeah, not a single worry over here, medicated since youth and I’m a young adult
Thanks! That helps
Some ED on Concerta or Vyvanse. Not an inability, more of a sluggishness to achieve a good erection. However, this is now in the back of my mind, so it impacts my drive a bit as I’m conscious of it.
In short: not perfect but not ruinous either. I’m also 44 so it could be a little more noticeable for me than for a younger person?
Well, I’m nearing the big 4 myself, so in a similar boat. I bought penis rings and will try to remember doing Kegels for now
