Did Wellbutrin stop my dressing?

[jeniinnylons]

I recently noticed that I wasn't feeling good (depressed) and asked my Dr for a antidepressant and she put me on Wellbutrin. Since starting it my desire for dressing and sex drive/self pleasure has gone completely away. I'm not really complaining because I would love to be able to date again without having to deal with the having to reveal the "bombshell" lurking in the closet. (tired of being alone)

Wondering if others have had the same happen to them.

[sandra-leigh]

Interestingly, it was while I was on Wellbutrin (due to pretty hefty depression) that I realized that was a cross-dresser. I would not say that in itself it made me more or less likely to cross-dress, but it helped me to process that my "trying things on" had a reason, and gave me the freedom and confidence to act on my realization.

A little-known fact about Wellbutrin is that it is one of the few known true aphrodisiac drugs. It was never intended or marketed as such at all, but there was a standard trial study for anti-depressant purposes, and at the end of the study almost all of the women asked to be permitted to stay on it because there had been notable increases in their sexual desire.

I have seen diminishing of sexual desire listed as a possible side effect for Wellbutrin. I cannot say that I noticed either way myself. I would say that it helped me feel more positive about myself overall.

[Vickie_CDTV]

I know some males (cis and dressers) who have claimed it didn't increase their libido per se, but that it made their orgasms far more intense and they absolutely loved it!

[Marie-Elise]

An acquaintance's doctor prescribed Wellbutrin for her to counteract the loss of sexual desire from he Prozac prescription.

[elizabethamy]

Paxil killed my libido and most of the rest of my personality, from temper tantrums to sense of humor. Wellbutrin brought most of it it back. I'm in that group who hope that dressing and understanding my TG issues will enable me to stop Wellbutrin, rather than the other way around!

[Alice Torn]

Not wellbutrin, but flouexitene (prozac), and 22 yrs on lithium. At 57, Almost no libido left. I no longer feel like releasing, when i dress. Several years ago, I still had some sexual energy. Taking herbs to help that, but they mess up my brain, now! We all lose our libidos as we age.

[docrobbysherry]

It MAY just be a coincidence but:

My desire to dress suddenly at age 50 came at about the same time that they started me on meds to shrink my prostate!
Those were proscar and terrazocine, I believe? I've been taking them for 15 years! And, u can see from my avatar where my dressing has taken me in that time!

[sandra-leigh]

Paxil killed my libido and most of the rest of my personality, from temper tantrums to sense of humor.

I have heard much the same far too often for me to feel comfortable with Paxil. :sad:


Wellbutrin brought most of it it back. I'm in that group who hope that dressing and understanding my TG issues will enable me to stop Wellbutrin, rather than the other way around!

Wellbutrin helped me a lot when I needed it, but eventually I stabilized at a point where it was no longer doing all that much for me. I think the big advances for me the last few years have been through therapy -- but I would not been able get to that point without the meds having prepared the way.

[2B Natasha]

I think your missing part of your own post.

Hoping that the drug will allow you to date with your cd'ing coming up is IMHO wrong thinking. Once you are feeling better and of the drug. Don't be surprised if ( read when ) your cd'ing desire comes back. Your going to have to deal with it and so will your new partner.

About your libido. Who knows really. Every drug effects every person differently. Your went away. Theirs went up. Just concentrate on getting better and off the drugs.

[Persephone]

It MAY just be a coincidence but:

My desire to dress suddenly at age 50 came at about the same time that they started me on meds to shrink my prostate!
Those were proscar and terrazocine, I believe? I've been taking them for 15 years! And, u can see from my avatar where my dressing has taken me in that time!

Hmmmmm, yes, it may be coincidence, Sherry, but I went from house to far-out-and-about after a while on Proscar (Finasteride). The other awesome side benefit is that if you start it before you develop male pattern baldness you are much more likely to keep your hair!

:ms: Here's to Finasteride!

Hugs,
Persephone.

[JamieTG]

Wellbutrin is not supposed to have those side effects. Its the SSRI's such as lexapro, prozac, zoloft, ect. that affect your libido. The depression itself causes loss of interest in sex and loss of interest in things you used to enjoy so its possible that the wellbutrin is not working for you and your still depressed.

[Helen Grandeis]

I have overheard several GGs talk about how Wellbutrin increased their sex drive. My wife has been on it for ten years with no decrease in her already healthy libido.

[Sophie_C]

Nope. Wellbutrin has had no negative impact on any aspect of my sexuality, although I am pretty much transgendered, not a crossdresser.

Maybe it affects you differently in that way?

[busker]

I my desire for dressing and sex drive/self pleasure has gone completely away.
Looks somethings like the side effects of metaprolal, some of which I had. No thanks. Good luck with your meds.

side effects from
www.drugs.com

Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Wellbutrin:

Changes in appetite; constipation; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; headache; increased sweating; nausea; nervousness; restlessness; taste changes; trouble sleeping; vomiting; weight changes.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Wellbutrin:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue, unusual hoarseness); blurred vision or other vision changes; changes in sexual desire or ability; chest pain; confusion; dark urine; delusions; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; hallucinations; hearing problems; menstrual changes; new or worsening mental or mood changes (eg, concentration problems, depression, panic attacks, aggressiveness, agitation, anxiety, impulsiveness, irritability, hostility, exaggerated feeling of well-being, inability to sit still); pale stools; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; seizures; severe headache or dizziness; severe or persistent joint or muscle pain; severe or persistent nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain; severe or persistent nervousness, restlessness, or trouble sleeping; shortness of breath; suicidal thoughts or attempts; tremor; unusual swelling; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

[Benita05]

I had to jump in on this.

Wellbutrin can reduce you libido, but it also reduces Obsessive Compulse symptons.

Crossdressing is IMHO in most cases just another Obsessive Compulsive behavior. It's benign so I don't worry about.

I would love to know how many heterosexulal crossdressers may have a touch of Tourette's Syndrome.

Just an thought

Benita

[Suzy Parker]

Fact: Another name for Wellbutrin is Zyban. Insurance will pay for Wellbutrin because it is for depression but not for Zyban which is used to quit smoking even though it''s the same thing.

I personally think you should consider seeing a therapist for some counceling. Doctors are way to eager to throw drugs at things and not treat the underlying cause. It did the Wellbutrin thing and the problems it caused did not outweigh the bennefits. I still fealt depressed and now I hade undesireable side effects to deal with. I learned some things about my depression and a few ways to counteract it without drugs. For me crossdressing is a release from the day to day stresses and a wonderful way to unwind and relax. I get a blissful fealing of euphoria everytime I dress and it is wonderful. The Wellbutrin pretty much killed that for me so my feeling of depression actually grew as my desire to crossdress wained as a result.

:2c:

[jeniinnylons]

I had to jump in on this.

Wellbutrin can reduce you libido, but it also reduces Obsessive Compulse symptons.

Crossdressing is IMHO in most cases just another Obsessive Compulsive behavior. It's benign so I don't worry about.

Benita
This explains it. I'm not really complaining because this could be a good thing. I would love to be "normal' and find someone to be with but haven't dated in years due to this huge bomb that would eventually have to be dropped. Last person I dated I let know about it (partially because I knew she would find out eventually and partially to sabotage the relationship due to being afraid to get close to someone) was done with me almost as soon as finding out.

[Krististeph]

I recently noticed that I wasn't feeling good (depressed) and asked my Dr for a antidepressant and she put me on Wellbutrin. Since starting it my desire for dressing and sex drive/self pleasure has gone completely away. I'm not really complaining because I would love to be able to date again without having to deal with the having to reveal the "bombshell" lurking in the closet. (tired of being alone)

Wondering if others have had the same happen to them.
Whoa- opening a can of worms here. I've been on a few minor AD Anti-anxiety protocols, never stopped my desire to CD. Ov'e done other self-directed experiments, and experimented with drugs, and they only seem to lower my inhibition to crossdressing. On some serious pain killers for a bad back problem- i used to go out running (late at night) en femme- running bra, shorts, etc- appropriate to an 30 something suburban chick out running.

Don't read anything into this- psychoactive are supposed to change your outlook. "Worst" case scenario- you only dress up to get a sexual charge out of it-- oh you poor thing, you are not crossdresser for the purpose of wanting to be female. Well, your loss, but so what? Dress to get off as much as you want- it's okay. Really. The only problems that might arise are others not understanding (or being willing to admit they really DO understand~!).

Yes, it is confusing. No, it is not wrong. This is the way you are- your brain is literally the most complex thing in the universe we know of. By several orders. It is going to come up with some bizarre ideas, that actually IS a part of your brain function (over millions of people, the chances for a very useful bizarre idea are large- and therefore evolutionarily useful) CD for fun, even sexual fun is normal, really.

Now, AD drugs depress the sexual response system. This is why i'm suggesting yor CD is mostly sexually drivan. Nothing wrong with that- the willingness to explore things not usually associated with your affiliated groups, Male, hetero (?), etc... actually indicates higher IQ than not. Enjoy it. Have fun. Dress a few time even if you do not feel like it- your brain is smarter than you think!

Cheers!

-kristi

[Stephenie S]

"Ahem"

Medically speaking.

Please remember that we really do not know what these drugs do or how they work. Medical efficacy trials are carried out by the drug companies themselves with NO regulatory oversight. The drugs are then shilled to doctors by highly paid salesmen with LOTS of bribery money who are intent upon nothing but getting the new drug on the market. Couple that with sophisticated media ads and you end up with a new miracle drug. Whether or not the drug actually works has NOTHING to do with it's introduction.

Stephie

[jeniinnylons]

Whoa- opening a can of worms here. I've been on a few minor AD Anti-anxiety protocols, never stopped my desire to CD. Ov'e done other self-directed experiments, and experimented with drugs, and they only seem to lower my inhibition to crossdressing. On some serious pain killers for a bad back problem- i used to go out running (late at night) en femme- running bra, shorts, etc- appropriate to an 30 something suburban chick out running.

Don't read anything into this- psychoactive are supposed to change your outlook. "Worst" case scenario- you only dress up to get a sexual charge out of it-- oh you poor thing, you are not crossdresser for the purpose of wanting to be female. Well, your loss, but so what? Dress to get off as much as you want- it's okay. Really. The only problems that might arise are others not understanding (or being willing to admit they really DO understand~!).

Yes, it is confusing. No, it is not wrong. This is the way you are- your brain is literally the most complex thing in the universe we know of. By several orders. It is going to come up with some bizarre ideas, that actually IS a part of your brain function (over millions of people, the chances for a very useful bizarre idea are large- and therefore evolutionarily useful) CD for fun, even sexual fun is normal, really.

Now, AD drugs depress the sexual response system. This is why i'm suggesting yor CD is mostly sexually drivan. Nothing wrong with that- the willingness to explore things not usually associated with your affiliated groups, Male, hetero (?), etc... actually indicates higher IQ than not. Enjoy it. Have fun. Dress a few time even if you do not feel like it- your brain is smarter than you think!

Cheers!

-kristi[/COLOR][/B]
Yes my CD started out as sexual but in recent years there were plenty of times I would dress not to "get off" but to relax, feel feminine and just be. These session would NOT end in pleasing myself at all. This desire to feel girlie got stronger in the last few years even wanting to get made up and go out.

[cracks_in_porcelain]

When I am depressed I focus more on my dressing and I start perfecting it. If anything it would effect you physically after looking it up. When I took Wellbutrin as a lad it made me vomit like crazy but it didn't change my normal activities in any way. For a lot of us our world centers around dressing, sometimes we just don't want to deal with it. It's completely normal.. you don't always have to have the urge.

[cracks_in_porcelain]

"Ahem"

Medically speaking.

Please remember that we really do not know what these drugs do or how they work. Medical efficacy trials are carried out by the drug companies themselves with NO regulatory oversight. The drugs are then shilled to doctors by highly paid salesmen with LOTS of bribery money who are intent upon nothing but getting the new drug on the market. Couple that with sophisticated media ads and you end up with a new miracle drug. Whether or not the drug actually works has NOTHING to do with it's introduction.

Stephie
Girl unless you are a doctor don't start claiming things for the hospital. You sound like one of those paranoid hippies in the 70's.

[Atlas]

"Ahem"

Medically speaking.

Please remember that we really do not know what these drugs do or how they work. Medical efficacy trials are carried out by the drug companies themselves with NO regulatory oversight. The drugs are then shilled to doctors by highly paid salesmen with LOTS of bribery money who are intent upon nothing but getting the new drug on the market. Couple that with sophisticated media ads and you end up with a new miracle drug. Whether or not the drug actually works has NOTHING to do with it's introduction.

Stephie

Er... No. While lots of drugs have side effects, there -is- a medical, scientific community that do research on these drugs, are very critical (such is the nature of science) and thorough. Yes, drugs companies are trying to make money - but doctors are trained to diagnose and cure, not add to anyone's burden. Meds prescribed by doctors, and made by drugs companies aren't the problem - it's the "alternative" medicine crowd with their herbs, spices and vitamins that DON'T have tests done on them (real medication does) that are the problem.

Annnddd back on topic; to the op, while I can understand why you'd take these to stop your CDing urges (it can be very stressful), you'll regret it I think. Repression is never a good thing, and doesn't work. The genie will get out of the bottle, and if you've designed your house and home around that ticking time bomb then you'll have more than a few problems when it goes off. I'd advise to just keep looking for your perfect partner. Love isn't easy; it's difficult to find (hell, does it even exist?) but surely cutting a part of your life out isn't going to help? I've always found potential partners receptive to the fact I CD (I'm just too embarrassed to do so in front of them xD). Ultimately, I have no idea of the circumstances etc. of your life, and I'm just some text on an internet forum but honestly, I don't think repressing this will help.

Long-winded text is long-winded, sorry, it's been a long day xD

[sandra-leigh]

Girl unless you are a doctor don't start claiming things for the hospital. You sound like one of those paranoid hippies in the 70's.

Urrr -- Stephenie S does indeed have the qualifications to make the statements that she made.

[LeaP]

Crossdressing is IMHO in most cases just another Obsessive Compulsive behavior. It's benign so I don't worry about.

I would love to know how many heterosexulal crossdressers may have a touch of Tourette's Syndrome.


There's the answer for the distressed GGs - just sneak a little 'ol Wellbutrin into the SO's coffee. That will take care of THAT problem.

Whoops - gonna make some of those Tourette Syndrome problems worse, though!

I'm quite familiar with TS. You're painting with a very broad brush, Benita.

Lea

[Aprilrain]

im On Wellbutrin and i love it, my sex drive is back to normal after suffering severely from the depression and the depression is way more manageable. Wellbutrin is known to to be helpful for people who are suffering sexual dysfunction as a side effect of SSRIs. It makes sense because this drug is a chemical cousin of amphetamine which can make anyone frisky!

[Acastina]

Interestingly, it was while I was on Wellbutrin (due to pretty hefty depression) that I realized that was a cross-dresser. I would not say that in itself it made me more or less likely to cross-dress, but it helped me to process that my "trying things on" had a reason, and gave me the freedom and confidence to act on my realization.

What you describe may well be the drug taking the depression mask off your psyche and letting you feel things again. That's one effect of A-D drugs, and it can be like clouds clearing after weeks of rain or fog.


A little-known fact about Wellbutrin is that it is one of the few known true aphrodisiac drugs. It was never intended or marketed as such at all, but there was a standard trial study for anti-depressant purposes, and at the end of the study almost all of the women asked to be permitted to stay on it because there had been notable increases in their sexual desire.

I've taken Wellbutrin (generic: Bupropion) for more than a decade, and the libido energizing is for real, quite noticeable. Not nympho-grade meds, but nice just the same. I've also heard that the effect is more pronounced with women than men. Maybe that's why it works for me?:heehee:

It's worth noting that Well/Bupro is a completely different drug than SSRIs like Prozac, which had the opposite effect, the notorious "sexual side effects" from the lawyer-drafted advertising, and how absurd that there was controversy about the aphrodisiac properties. As if Rx drugs should always be neutral or depressive of one of our most human fundamentals. The Puritans are ever vigilant. Here's a good summary of the drug's history:

http://www.bupropion.com/wonderwell/index.html

As for diminishing the desire to crossdress (the OP's question), I think that would depend on how tangled up one's crossdressing is with one's sexuality. A person who was asexually depressed (decreased or absent libido is a common depression symptom), for example, might be filling the void with CD as an artificial sexual stimulus. If the depression is successfully treated, that might allow the subject to replace CD-induced arousal with something more normal, and thus experience a diminished desire to CD.

On the other hand, if one had depression-induced low libido and CD was an integral part of the subject's sexuality, depressed or not, Bupro might stimulate the whole picture...:D

[Shananigans]

As noted quite a few times, Wellbutrin rarely causes sexual dysfunction. The commonly prescribed anti-depressants like Prozac, Zoloft, etc. are SSRIs. This means basically that the drug inhibits the reuptake of neurotransmitter serotonin.

Wellbutrin, on the other hand, is an atypical antidepressant (an NDRI) that works on the reuptake of neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. SSRIs are known to cause sexual dysfunction through their action, and NDRIs are not.

HOWEVER, in treating holistically/the individual, we know that Wellbutrin does not cause sexual dysfunction in the average population...but, this does not mean that it would not cause sexual dysfunction for YOU. There ARE studies that have shown that Wellbutrin can cause erectile dysfunction and impotence in some patients. So, just because the "average population" might not have this side effect, it doesn't mean that YOU won't have this side effect.

I encourage you to report all side effects to your prescriber. This should go without saying, but what you tell your medical providers is confidential information. If you feel the need to discuss its effects on your CDing or your sexual health...DO IT. It's your right as the patient. If you just don't feel comfortable, I still encourage you to report on the side effect of your libido.

A factor to consider is that Wellbutrin does not start working with one pill. It takes a while for it to build up to therapeutic levels in your blood stream. This could be up to 4 weeks. (Again, it depends on the INDIVIDUAL as to WHEN it will reach therapeutic levels...YOU are not an average population). So, I would recognize that depression can take a major toll on your sexual appetite...and, if you haven't been on an NDRI for very long, you may still be clinically depressed. This could also explain your loss of interest in CDing and low libido.

So, the important thing here is to continue taking your medication. If you haven't been on the medication for very long, the sexual dysfunction may be a biproduct of the fact your depression has yet to be treated. In this case, I would continue taking the medication and see if this problem continues. If, however, you have been on this medication for a few weeks and want you sex drive back...I would advise contacting your prescriber. NDRIs are LESS likely to cause sexual side effects, but there are documented cases in patients where they HAVE caused erectile dysfunction and impotence.

[WsprsOnTheWind]

Some antidepressants can decrease the sex drive but I have no idea about decreasing the desire to CD or not. There could be a direct correlation. That is a great question and I would ask my doctor. Wellbutrin is also supposed to decrease the desire for cigarettes.

[Shananigans]

I would ask my doctor.

^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^

No one on this forum has access to your medical history to make clinical decisions...but, your prescriber does. You have every right to call up your prescriber or pharmacist and ask these questions. In fact, it is MUCH BETTER than relying on WebMD/whatever variant everyone is using or crossdressers.com

[Mary Lee]

I take 400MG of time release Bupropion since 2005. 200 in the morning and 200 in the evening. The Bupropion has not slowed my cross dressing down and I have been taking estradol 1MG since last Oct but have taken a break this month. I also take Terazosin 0.4MG and Finasteride 5MG since 2005.

[Stephenie S]

Er... No. While lots of drugs have side effects, there -is- a medical, scientific community that do research on these drugs, are very critical (such is the nature of science) and thorough. Yes, drugs companies are trying to make money - but doctors are trained to diagnose and cure, not add to anyone's burden. Meds prescribed by doctors, and made by drugs companies aren't the problem - it's the "alternative" medicine crowd with their herbs, spices and vitamins that DON'T have tests done on them (real medication does) that are the problem.


While you are right that the "alternative" meds are not regulated at all, I am afraid that you are laboring under a dangerous fantasy with your assumption prescription meds are regulated by anyone other than the drug companies themselves. Do some research on this. Sorry dear.

S

[Donniesr]

I have been on several anti depressant meds over the last few years and none have diminished my desire for dressing. In fact, they did nothing..didn't help with the deppression,,nothing. My dressing has helped with my depression however. I feel more complete when dressed. I also have an insomnia problem that they have tried to solve. serequell is like an overdose of caffiene for me..ambien works somewhat , but my ins won't cover it..
Anyway, what I was trying to say is that I really don't thing drugs, (medication) will either diminish or enhance your crossdressing. Its a personal thing. Just be who you are, and dress how you want.

We were all born naked, I doubt that God really cares what clothes you wear...

[Acastina]

Crossdressing is IMHO in most cases just another Obsessive Compulsive behavior. It's benign so I don't worry about.

Benita

With respect, this is an out-of-the-blue dismissal of a phenomenon that has very little in common with OCD. I had an exchange a few months back with someone who objected to my use of the term "compulsive" to describe the urge to CD, making the point I just made about CD and OCD; and I agree. That the word is used both generically (meaning being driven, compelled, to a behavior, as opposed to merely choosing or preferring it) and as part of the label of OCD (typical manifestation: obsessive handwashing or germ-phobia, ala television's Monk) doesn't equate the two uses of the word.

It is indeed inherently benign, but it's not OCD.

[sometimes_miss]

Crossdressing is IMHO in most cases just another Obsessive Compulsive behavior. It's benign so I don't worry about.

So far, the psychiatric community has been unable to treat crossdressing successfully by using any known OCD methods (and oh, have they tried! The pharmaceutical company that develops a med to treat it will see their stock skyrocket). Perhaps it works on a fraction for those who's dysfunction originates in OCD, but if it doesn't, you're probably out of luck (BTW it didn't change anything at all for me. But for others, it may be worth a shot if you want to quit).

[kendra_gurl]

For years my doctor had been trying to convince me to stop smoking. In 2004 he told me studies had found that Wellbutrin helps people kick the nicotine habit so I tired it and much to my suprize after taking it for 2 weeks before starting to cut down then completely stop it worked very well. Most all of the pills on the market today to stop smoking contain the same thing as Wellbutrin.

My desire to crossdress did not deminish at all druing the 3 monts I was taking it. My sexual desire also did not increase or deminish although I do remember that orgasms were much harder to achive.

[Mary Lee]

In 2004 he told me studies had found that Wellbutrin helps people kick the nicotine habit so I tired it and much to my suprize after taking it for 2 weeks before starting to cut down then completely stop it worked very well

After taking Bupropion since early 2005, I still smoke. Every one is different.

[Mary Lee]

With respect, this is an out-of-the-blue dismissal of a phenomenon that has very little in common with OCD. I had an exchange a few months back with someone who objected to my use of the term "compulsive" to describe the urge to CD, making the point I just have about CD and OCD; and I agree. That the word is used both generically (meaning being driven, compelled, to a behavior, as opposed to merely choosing or preferring it) and as part of the label of OCD (typical manifestation, obsessive handwashing or germ-phobia, ala television's Monk) doesn't equate the two uses.

It is indeed inherently benign, but it's not OCD.

Please read DSM - IV sec 302.3. I do not totally agree with all of it but that is what is written.

[Acastina]

Please read DSM - IV sec 302.3. I do not totally agree with all of it but that is what is written.

"302.3 Transvestic Fetishism

DSM-IV

Transvestic Fetishism

A. Over a period of at least 6 months, in a heterosexual male, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving cross-dressing.

B. The fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Specify if:

With Gender Dysphoria: if the person has persistent discomfort with gender role or identity"

I don't see anything there that is germane to the uses of the term "compulsive".

[Shananigans]

The DSM isn't really intended to be used by the general public in lieu of therapy/autodiagnosing. It's kind of more of a reference guide for people that are trained to use it.

If you feel that your crossdressing is linked to both obsessive and compulsive behaviors, it doesn't necessarily equal OCD.

[busker]

insomnia problem that they have tried to solve. serequell is like an overdose of caffiene for me..ambien works somewhat , but my ins won't cover it..

I used to be a very light sleeper and about 4 months ago I got a sleep mask and I can say that it works wonders. The eyelids are translucent and just a bit of light comes through and it is enough to keep a person awake, but the mask does cut it out entirely. I highly recommend one.