Myasthenia Gravis Support Group
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability. The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Although myasthenia gravis may affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and...
Hello All,
Warning: this post contains Adult Themes.
I'm trying to get some information out there into cyberspace. This is a problem which I cannot find documented anywhere - I'm hoping writing about it will encourage people to talk about it or investigate it. It is a rather unpleasant subject, and I have never discussed it with anyone.
I'm a 33 year old male, and I've had MG for 15 years. I have been on varying doses of Mestinon for all of that time, and I've been on azathioprine for 13 years. I did have plasmapheresis and Intragam earlier on, but not in the last ten years. I had a thymectomy for a thymoma at the start. On the bright side, I'm doing well. Really no problems except some ongoing mild facial weakness.
In my opinion, Mestinon causes erectile difficulty. Impotence is probably too strong a word it just makes make things more difficult. I have found that mestinon causes some problems attaining and maintaining an erection.
Getting an erection apparently involves changes in blood vessels of the front bottom, under the influence of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Mestinon, as a side effect, activates muscarinic receptors in the body (part of the parasympathetic system), so it makes sense that this would alter the normal processes in some way.
I cant think of a reason why Azathioprine would be causing the trouble, and I dont think Ive got any relevant psychological problems.
In my experience, things work somewhat better when my Mestinon dose has worn off (late at night).
Hopefully someone will see this post and do some proper research in this area.
Warning: this post contains Adult Themes.
I'm trying to get some information out there into cyberspace. This is a problem which I cannot find documented anywhere - I'm hoping writing about it will encourage people to talk about it or investigate it. It is a rather unpleasant subject, and I have never discussed it with anyone.
I'm a 33 year old male, and I've had MG for 15 years. I have been on varying doses of Mestinon for all of that time, and I've been on azathioprine for 13 years. I did have plasmapheresis and Intragam earlier on, but not in the last ten years. I had a thymectomy for a thymoma at the start. On the bright side, I'm doing well. Really no problems except some ongoing mild facial weakness.
In my opinion, Mestinon causes erectile difficulty. Impotence is probably too strong a word it just makes make things more difficult. I have found that mestinon causes some problems attaining and maintaining an erection.
Getting an erection apparently involves changes in blood vessels of the front bottom, under the influence of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Mestinon, as a side effect, activates muscarinic receptors in the body (part of the parasympathetic system), so it makes sense that this would alter the normal processes in some way.
I cant think of a reason why Azathioprine would be causing the trouble, and I dont think Ive got any relevant psychological problems.
In my experience, things work somewhat better when my Mestinon dose has worn off (late at night).
Hopefully someone will see this post and do some proper research in this area.
A myasthenia type disease called LEMS does have this symptom. Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is another autoimmune disorder of neuromuscular junction with several distinct clinical features. Its earliest presentation is usually difficulty in rising from a chair due to proximal leg weakness. Symptoms in LEMS tend to improve with exercise. Autonomic symptoms such as erectile dysfunction or dry mouth are frequently observed. Brief exercise and RNS at high stimulation rate (20-50 Hz) produce a marked increase in motor nerve amplitudes otherwise known as an incremental response in LEMS patients in contrast with MG patients who demonstrate a decremental response. Antibodies to P/Q type calcium channel are detected in more than 90% of cases, and approximately half of patients have small cell lung cancer.12
Good Luck
Russ