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What Causes Erectile Dysfunction While On Focalin?
Posted on
Thu, 3 Aug 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 3 Aug 2017
Answered on
Tue, 22 Aug 2017
Last reviewed on
Question : Yes, I am 22 years old, I presently take focalin for ADHD and have a sleep disorder, hypersomnia(daytime sleepiness). Focalin helps with both diagnoses. My problem is that in the last 6 months I started having ED symptoms.....I have followed up with a urologist, had bloodwork....which I can share. My psychiatrist recommended I follow up with the urologist. He did the following: checked FSH and LH, testosterone, TSH, Prolactin, T3 and T4. All within normal limits except my FSH was on the low side at 1.8.....He said all is fine, but I still have ED. What was strange was that on 2 occasions when masturbating, after completion I go to stand up and my legs, mostly left goes numb and I this last occasion collapsed on the floor because my legs could not hold me. I regained all in about 5 seconds and stood up. But that was not right. Your thoughts? My grandfathers mom had muscular dystrophy so I am always thinking of that. Please any recommendations would be great. I have been sleepier lately and am also having an updated sleep study done in a few weeks. I am trying to get through my paramedic program and its been more difficult this last semester. Any recommendations or guidance you have would be greatly appreciated. I feel like I am going to a lot of doctors and no real answers.
Brief Answer:
Not indicative of muscular dystrophy
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
While it is natural to be worried given your family history, I do not think that those episodes are indicative of muscular dystrophy. Muscular dystrophy is a gradually progressive condition, with weakness which appears and remains present all the time, not in such acute episodes leading to falling on the ground. Would be present for many actions, not only masturbation. Also, it doesn't have sensory symptoms such as tingling.
Since you mention it to have happened after being seated one possibility would be nerve compression, of the sciatic nerve, due to the seating position. That could cause the symptoms you mentioned, usually transitory.
Another possibility is that the issue is related to your sleep disorder. Sleep disorders are at times associated with issues like sleep paralysis. However your episode involving only lower limbs doesn't fulfil all the criteria for sleep paralysis, so not that likely.
In any case, it is not related to the ED and if not associated with other symptoms is not indicative of something serious
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Not indicative of muscular dystrophy
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
While it is natural to be worried given your family history, I do not think that those episodes are indicative of muscular dystrophy. Muscular dystrophy is a gradually progressive condition, with weakness which appears and remains present all the time, not in such acute episodes leading to falling on the ground. Would be present for many actions, not only masturbation. Also, it doesn't have sensory symptoms such as tingling.
Since you mention it to have happened after being seated one possibility would be nerve compression, of the sciatic nerve, due to the seating position. That could cause the symptoms you mentioned, usually transitory.
Another possibility is that the issue is related to your sleep disorder. Sleep disorders are at times associated with issues like sleep paralysis. However your episode involving only lower limbs doesn't fulfil all the criteria for sleep paralysis, so not that likely.
In any case, it is not related to the ED and if not associated with other symptoms is not indicative of something serious
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
