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Remicaid and sex drive

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/2/2014 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hello all,

I'm new to this but hoping for some suggestions or support. My significant other was on Remicaid a few years back and his sex drive has all but disappeared since. This is something we struggle with constantly. I see others here are struggling with this as well. Is there anything anyone has found that has helped? His testosterone levels are normal. BTW his ulcerative colitis was not helped either. Remicaid only did damage in his case. Thank you.

Delia

Posted 1/2/2014 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
Did he get his vitamin D levels checked? Optimal levels hover somewhere around 50-80 ng/mL.
Posted 1/2/2014 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
I personally don't think it really had anything to do with Remicade. It's not always easy to think about sex while in a flare. I think he just got in a flare rut and hasn't been able to climb out. Are you able to communicate with him about it?
Posted 1/3/2014 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
Gary is right. Uc and flareups of it reduces sex drive; not the medications we take for uc. None of the uc meds or clinical studies list sexual side effects. Anti-depressants do have such side effects, if he is on any of those.
Uc is an embarassing disease, it reaks havock on one's self-image and body. When one is constantly pooping, worrying about accidents, and rapidly gaining or loosing weight due to medications, the last thing we feel is attractive. Flareups can cause a lot of abdominal discomfort (aching, soreness, and sometimes pain), so intimacy isn't always high on our list when we are at our worst.
The best thing you can do is get your significant other's uc under control either through medication or surgery if needed. And do what you can to remind him that he is attractive, as we tend to forget that, or doubt that after all this disease does to us both physically and emotionally.
Posted 1/3/2014 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks all! Actually, I left out this important piece of info. He seems to be in remission, or has totally cured himself of UC. It hasn't been active in about 2 years. He has no flares, no problems. Prior to that, he had struggled with it for about 10 years. Now, he just has ZERO sex drive which I assumed was from the Remicaid because I can't imagine what else it could be from. No problems before taking it.
Posted 1/3/2014 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
I think some people are just wired differently than other people. We have had some posters who were knowledgeable on this subject, one was tank89 and the other is aguywithtuc. You may be able to do some searching and find more info.
Posted 1/3/2014 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
I assume you mean he is still on Remicade. Drugs have different effects on different people and it is always possible that this could be effecting him even though that is not a known side effect. Maybe he just needs to be jump started again. Guys are very visual so you might want to start hitting him with the visuals if possible. Buy some magazines from the checkout stand and leave them around the house. I believe the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition comes out sometime in February. Try renting some movies you know show a lot of skin. Bombard him with as many visuals as you can. Start out innocently and work your way up to more and more provacitive things. Contrary to what most women believe, we are not comparing our wives to these "perfect" women but it can help light the fire and you can take advantage of that. Communication is still important.
Posted 1/3/2014 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
He has been off remicade for about 3 years now. So it either totally killed his sex drive or it's something completely unrelated. Thanks all!
Posted 1/3/2014 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
something completely unrelated. either residual UC self-image, or maybe endocrine issue.
Posted 1/3/2014 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
I will advise him to get his vitamin D levels checked as well.
Posted 1/4/2014 4:53 AM (GMT 0)
I'm on Remicaid and can't keep my hands off my fiancee, lol. When I was on antidepressants I was almost impotent and had no drive... but I'm fine when I'm not on those!
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