I have a question about medications and dopamine/seratonin balance.

I currently take the medication EMSAM (selegiline) which increases dopamine(primarily), phenylethylamine(the reason why chocolate can increase libido) and seratonin(some, but not as much) in the brain.

Is there anything else I can do to improve this ratio in the diet? I work out daily, consume 2000mg EPA/1000mg DHA (my weight is 150lb male), and consume about an ounce of dark chocolate daily, and avoid alcohol and caffeine (except green tea). I am trying to improve my sex life, mainly because I have had sexual problems from antidepressants (surprize!) and this is the only one that doesn't cause major ones. I am thinking about talking to my doctor about moving to a lower dose so that it is more selective for dopamine.

Any ideas or general tips? I loved the book but haven't gotten a chance to read it in more detail.

How much green tea are we talking about?

According to wiki, you shouldn't be drinking caffeine or eating chocolate on that medication. Since it reacts with other SSRI's, I am assuming it does increase serotonin.

My advice is to cut out caffeine entirely and stop the chocolate. How long have you been taking the high-dose fish oil?

I usually drink 2 cups of green tea a day.

I have been taking the fish oil for a few months, I noticed amazing benefits right away, and then they sort of tapered off. An interesting point to note is that I initially started taking omegabrite (which has 350mg EPA/50mg DHA per pill- I took 3-5 per day) and then I switched to another brand. This didnt make sense now that I think about it.I think I didn't like the cost, but you pay for what you get, right? Any thoughts on EPA vs DHA? from

I am basically trying to build a healthy lifestyle so that I can minimize the effects of antidepressants or get off them at some point(or try for a minimal effective dose with my doc). I'm a 22 yr old male and value sexuality but haven't had an ideal time with it so far. I've explored the aneros (and had mild success, I was able to get to orgasm a few times from it) and key sound multiple orgasm meditation, with also mild success. I am interested in tantra and have noticed a lot of things characteristic with emotional issues coming up in the process, and sort of an awakening to it. I just dont quite know where to go at this point, and I've been very interested in diet recently. But obviously mind/body techniques and physical fitness play a roll too.

Any other advice would be appreciated and considered.

At 22 you should be jerking off daily, sometimes twice a day, unless you are doing some sort of tantric practice. I recommend you get a Fleshlight with a textured insert, men generally find that more pleasurable than masturbation by hand. I'm saying get the basics in good working order before you fool around with tantra.

If Omegabrite gave you initial results, it is a depression issue. EPA helps with brain health and depression, DHA is more for the libido.

With what I read about your antidepressant, I think you should cut out the tea. Here's a link on green tea

http://www.japanesegreenteaonline.com/faq3.htm

and that medication is amplifying the effect.

Since you are trying to get off an antidepressant, I would spring for the higher quality fish oil if you can. Also try to have a brisk 45-minute walk or slow jog outside in the sunshine every day, best if you can do it at noontime.

Also, I'm going to pimp my book. I think you should read it because I think there might be something going on in your diet that is sabotaging your effects too.

So since the MAOI basically lowers the body's ability to break down the important neurotransmitters (seratonin, dopamine, norepinephine, etc)- then caffine, a seratonin increasing agent would have a more pronounced effect?

That certainly seems to make sense in my mind despite a lack of complete knowledge of neurobiochemistry. Whenever I have caffine I feel great, but sex is usually hindered. I have a fairly high sex drive, I usually ejaculate 2-4 times a day despite the medication. Orgasm is usually good, but it would be nice to not last for a few seconds, you know? Only once in a while do I have that feeling where I say to myself, in essence 'oh my god I don't know if I can feel any better right now!' So that is what I am going for.

I went for the green tea because it has less caffine than coffee by about 1/3, and it has many powerful antioxidants and polyphenols. I don't see a problem with avoiding it for a few weeks to see how I do.

I actually went with my girlfriend to the bookstore to take a look at it! haha. I tried to find it in the diet section but it wasn't there- it was in the sexuality section! I scanned it over, and I would have bought it if I didn't have to go to class soon after.

But out of curiousity, besides
1) fish oil
2) no caffeine
3) dark chocolate
4) workout
5) supplements
6) low-carb and no simple carbs

is there much more to get out of it? Maybe you could do a version for men, too. I'm interested in tantra but don't really know what to do with it. We'll see I guess.

You ejaculate two to four times a day and you think you have libido problems! I love men!

Fish oil speeds up orgasm in men and women, particularly the DHA. If you are trying to get off antidepressants take a high EPA low DHA product. Get the Stamina Training Unit Fleshlight and practice, practice, practice. You need to practice edging. Barbara Keesling's book, Sexual Pleasure, has good edging technique. Cut back to one orgasm a day and make it a good one, spend a long time peaking.

I guess I don't understand the point of edging. Is it to maximize peak time or ejaculation control, or both? Orgasm and ejaculation are separate events although they usually correlate, right? Can you give me a little more explanation about how edging highly recommended in my sexual growth? haha. =)

Also, do you think naturally decaffinated green tea would be good? I think that the nutritional benefits of it are too good to pass up. ECGC and polyphenols are great.

I bought your book in paperback for 8 bucks.

I think I need a better idea of what's going on with you to give you advice. Is the issue premature ejaculation and not much pleasure from the orgasm?

The issue is that it takes a long time to orgasm, yet it is not that pleasurable. Somewhat strange.

High serotonin, low dopamine. Then you should be on my diet, and cut back on the caffeine, etc.

Also try to cut back to once a day for the most part. That will make it easier to orgasm, and should make it more pleasurable.

At your age, the erection should come first, without touching yourself and without porn (fantasy is fine). Once you have an erection you can of course look at porn to finish, but you shouldn't have to be dependent on it to get an erection. Let your body take the lead, not habit.

I decided to switch to decaffinated green tea, because according to

http://www.web-us.com/l-theanine_anxiety_reducer.htm

(yes it is an internet source, unreliable but I will continue to search for an academic or more reliable source)

" L-theanine has a significant effect on the release or reduction of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, resulting in improved memory and learning ability. L-theanine may also influence emotions due to its effects on the increased release of dopamine. L-theanine reduces brain serotonin concentration by either curtailing serotonin synthesis or increasing degradation in the brain."

I dont think your book mentions this. What do you think?

No, my book doesn't mention it. Of course there are many many substances that affect dopamine and serotonin in the brain. I chose to focus on foods, or supplements derived from foods (like vitamins, minerals and fish oil).

If you try it, let me know what happens.