Question:
I'm 52, and otherwise perfectly healthy.
I started Tegretol Retard (400mg x 2, daily) [...]
I haven't been able to get a proper stiffy for
several months. My worry is that it's all connected to the medication.
I spoke to my neuro and decided unilaterally to come off the Tegretol.
He tried to dissuade me, but eventually advised me on how to pace
myself. I think I'd almost rather have seizures (mine are small but
regular!) than a limp willy! Another doc at London's "National
Hospital for Neurology" suggests LEVETIRACETAM as it has "a better
side-effect profile". Any ideas / experience?
Answer:
I'm just looking at the long, long list of *possible* side effects for
Carbamazepine[1] and I don't see erectile problems listed but it wouldn't
surprise me. There was some talk here or on uk.people.support.epilepsy
recently about this and I get the impression it can be a problem with a
lot of AEDs, perhaps more so if one is a little past one's sexual peak as
thee and me are.
However thinking about it is possible that you're suffering from this anyway
just because you're getting to a certain age, and it's nothing to do with
the AED. Either way have you thought about sticking with the Tegretol and
trying Viagra? It is meant to be very good, much better than the rather
Heath Robinson techniques that went before it like vacuum pumps and elastic
bands or injecting yourself
