But some people would argue that quality is more important than quantity. In your case, you've come on to the thread that I started and made some unsourced quote about "pain signals", which you've then tried to use to discredit the success that I've had taking milnacipran to stop my POIS.
I don't understand your motivations here. My experiences with milnacipran as I have related on this thread are completely genuine. Milnacipran doesn't "mask any pain" for me, it stops my brain fog, allowing me to live my life normally. Do you have a problem with that?
Well, I'm not the person you were replying to, I was just browsing the forum and came across this, but I just wanted to say that I also think you should be very cautious when taking a psychiatric medication like Milnacipran. It's great that it helps you, but many things have helped people with POIS, which means they are probably just masking different symptoms and not attacking the cause, since said cause is still unknown. I suppose many medications that affect brain function and mood could make people with POIS feel better, that's what they're supposed to do in general, but they could have serious effects in the long run. Just saying you should maybe be cautious. I hope you won't be offended by this, it's your choice after all, but I personally think sex isn't that important as to take random psychiatric medications so we can have it, no matter what doctors think or say (we all know how effortlessly some of them prescribe meds, and none of them knows the slightest thing for sure about POIS yet). Best of luck to you, take care!
I would like to reflect on some points related to this discussion.
Hurray, and Jan use milnacipran not on a daily basis, but only as pre-medication before O. This has to be considered because this has less potential for long-term effects on the brain's neurotransmitters en receptors architecture. Taking an antidepressant daily for years will create a downregulation of receptors and alteration of neurotransmitters equilibrium that occasional use will not ( this will cause withdrawal if abruptly stopped). with occasional use, you can still have side effects, but between doses, your brain has time to, completely or in part, to go back to its natural physiology. From there, it is up to the patient and the doctor to evaluate the risks and side effects vs the benefits. That is why each member is responsible for what decisions he or she makes for managing his/her POIS symptoms. It is ok for BoneBroth and you to not be interested in this treatment for yourselves, and it is ok to express your concerns about this treatment. And, it is also ok if Hurray and Jan choose to go on with this method of relief because they consider that, for themselves, the benefits outweigh the risks and drawbacks. Their doctors are also there for supervision, so this can add a level of safety, even if not total protection, of course.
It is clear that this use is an off-label use ( any use of any medication for POIS is off-label - POIS does not exist in pharmacological treatments yet), but considering the current state of medical knowledge about POIS, this method is one among others, just like using niacin, propranolol, Mytelase, or other drugs or supplements. You mention avoiding sex totally, but in the case of men, total abstinence may be just partly possible, because of nocturnal emissions occurring after some time, depending on your age and your usual time interval. Do women with POIS have POIS symptoms from erotic dreams? I have no idea. But it is easier for men to have a planned, voluntary ejaculation at a known time after a known interval of time, with a preventive relief method to control symptoms, than ending up with a NE at a totally inappropriate time. What a nightmare to have a NE the night before a busy day or an important meeting or else !
