Depression: Anti-Depressants, Male Sex Boobytraps

Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician Pharmacologist and Toxicologist.

Courtesy: fogcityjournal.com

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - I have had a few PTSD Veteran victims come in for MJ permits who informed me that one of their PTSD symptoms was E.D., Erectile Dysfunction. This surprised me because I knew from my own experience and the experience of my combat buddies that sex relations was one of the ways a combat soldier could forget being bombed or shot at if even for a few minutes (or hours).

Such being the case, I was not surprised to read in Peoples Pharmacy a medical/pharmacology news feature about this problem by Joe & Teresa Graedon. I believe Joe Graedon has a Masters Degree in Pharmacology but this news feature is how he makes a living. Joe fields write-in questions.

This one stated that he had been taking Prozac for about 5 years and could not get a sexual climax. He was switched to Celexa which didn’t help either. Joe’s answer clarified this problem – somewhat! He said that pharmaceutical company statements said this was rare (2-16 percent) but truthful information indicated this erectile dysfunction (E.D.) was 30 to 70 percent.

He specified the anti-depressant drugs known to cause this problem: Celexa, Effexor, Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft which as the reader possibly knows are prescribed for millions of people including PTSD Veteran victims.

He further writes that these drugs reduce libido (sex drive), decrease arousal, delay or block orgasm (climax) and cause E.D. Some described the effects as “genital anesthesia” or numbness and that the sex act produces little or no pleasure. These symptoms may persist long after stopping the medications.

Viagra etc may help some patients and I know from reading PTSD Veterans medical chart notes from VA hospitals that Viagra etc is a common prescription.

All of this information really surprised me. I knew that the anti-depressant drugs were dangerous and caused many suicides but to psychologically castrate these PTSD Veterans victims is above and beyond cruel. This could be the answer to the high rate of Veterans' divorce and suicides.

I have had around 400 PTSD Veterans seeking MJ permits because of bad side effects from anti-depressants.

IT ALL MAKES SENSE TO ME NOW.

HOORAH FOR MY FELOW PTSD VETERANS!

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Email him: Newsroom@Salem-News.com

More information on the history of Dr. Leveque can be found in his book, General Patton's Dogface Soldier of WWII about his own experiences "from a foxhole".
Order the book by mail by following this link: Dogface Soldier

Watch for more streaming video question and answer segments about medical marijuana with Bonnie King and Dr. Phil Leveque.

Click on this link for other articles and video segments about PTSD and medical marijuana on Salem-News.com:
Dr. Leveque INTERVIEWS & ARTICLES

Salem-News.com Marijuana Coverage

Where and How to Smoke Legal Marijuana without Fear of Arrest in the U.S.

Eulogy of a Great Warrior: Hoss Plourde

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Chaz November 28, 2008 11:58 am (Pacific time)

What a sad side effect for our vets. Is there any way to sue the gov't for lack of sex? Maybe someday the VA will understand there are many other healing therapies besides one drug after another. Maybe, but probably not.

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