PENTOX - Side effects

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

MikeSmith

Hello guys,

I've been on Pentox, L-Arg, and Vit E for a litle over two weeks now.  I recently lowered the pentox from 3 to 2 per day because I am trying to figure out what is causing me these weird symptoms.  

My lips are so chapped, I have to use chapstick about 5 times a day (it's not due to the weather...though that doesn't help) and my sleep has been consistently bad - even if I take it 4+ hrs before bedtime w/ food.  I am a light sleeper, but I've been waking up numerous times per night & then too early in the AM & I can't go back to bed.  

I can live w/ the chapped lips, but I've been a bit of a zombie lately & really need some normal sleep.  

I don't know if L-Arg or pentox might be causing this.  I read this article that seems to say that "Reducing Nitric Oxide Gas In The Brain May Help Us Stay Awake"

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060908094456.htm

So, doesn't l-arganine (and viagra) in the PAV cocktail in general increase nitric oxide?  So, wouldn't it make sleep worse?  

Even more confusing, there's a whole thread here (http://www.imminst.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=29573&hl=oxide) where people are saying L-arganine helps them sleep...Do we have a scientist in the house?  This is very confusing.  I am seeing a new doc this week but it's a general uro and I know he's gonna be a pain about all of this (and not know anything).

Anyway, thanks for any thoughts.

Tim468

Are you arousing because of sleep apnea? That in turn could be because of increased nasal congestion (the chapped lips?). If at all congested, try Afrin nasal spray to see if it opens you up enough to sleep better Otherwise no ideas.

Tim
52, Peyronies Disease for 30 years, upward curve and some new lesions.

MikeSmith

Thanks Tim.  I didn't wake up this often before I started the meds.  I might go off for a week and see what happens.  My nose/nasal breathing is pretty much ok.

chiguy

I use a spray system called Neilmed to break up the mucus in my sinuses. It can be purchased at drug stores. You basically shoot salt water in your nostrils.

A lot of people have trouble sleeping with pentox. It is best to take it with an early dinner, not late at night.  

Hightemp

I experienced my first Pentox related sleepless night last night. I have been on it for 4 days now and I have noticed that I always feel as if I need to swallow and that the sensation is as if it will never go all the way down. I have also had what seems like never ending heart burn. It was so bad that even taking a Pepcid AC only knock the edge off for about an hour. Is this normal or does it get better as your body adjusts?

chiguy

I didn't have a problem with the pentox, more so with the l-arginine the first few days. I know it was the l-arginine since I started taking it before the pentox. I had trouble sleeping and felt a little heartburn and headache the first 3 or 4 days.

George999

I hope that you guys are taking your Pentox WITH food and no later than 8PM.  If you are not, that *might* be contributing to the problem.  - George

skunkworks

Arginine definitely helps me sleep, and helps with nocturnal erections.
This is an emotionally destructive condition, we all have it, let's be nice to each other.

Review of current treatment options by Levine and Sherer]

Briden

Greetings,

This is my first ever post  ;)  I cannot tell you how appreciative I am that this forum exists..

I am bi-polar..I have been taking medication for this since July 2009.  Depakote, Seroquel, Klonopin.

For my Peyronies Disease.. Dr. Lue prescribed Pentox...I tried to take Pentox on two different occasions...on both occasions a few days in to treatment I had very strange emotional responses and vivid suicidal thought processes...

Has anyone here ever heard, read or experienced depression, emnotional or suicidal thoughts while taking Pentox?

Thanks for your time,
Prayers to all of you!

-m

Skjaldborg

Hi Briden,

Dr. Lue was one of my urologists as well and I was on pentox for 8 months. I DID NOT experience any psychological issues with this medication. I did have some minor nausea and occasional dizziness if I took the doses too close together.

I have not seen any responses on this forum yet regarding depression or emotional issues while taking pentox. That doesn't mean it can't happen.

Just an aside: could these thoughts have arisen due to the incredible mental stresses Peyronie's disease causes? I certainly felt very angry and, I don't know how to say this but maybe "less concerned with my own safety" when I was first diagnosed with the disease (detachment maybe?). I started feeling better 4 months into taking pentox as my pain during erection started going away. I don't think that my emotional response was due to pentox but due instead to the disease because I was pissed off and angry at the world before I started the medication. I saw a family therapist for a few months to deal with the emotional strain and it was a big help. Just a thought.

Best of luck,
Skjald

Fred22

Quote from: Briden on March 18, 2010, 02:44:25 AM
Greetings,

This is my first ever post  ;)  I cannot tell you how appreciative I am that this forum exists..

I am bi-polar..I have been taking medication for this since July 2009.  Depakote, Seroquel, Klonopin.

For my Peyronies Disease.. Dr. Lue prescribed Pentox...I tried to take Pentox on two different occasions...on both occasions a few days in to treatment I had very strange emotional responses and vivid suicidal thought processes...

Has anyone here ever heard, read or experienced depression, emnotional or suicidal thoughts while taking Pentox?

Thanks for your time,
Prayers to all of you!

-m

Briden,

I know at least one member on this forum has reported psychological symptoms similar to yours.  His username is Woodman.  Either run a search of his posts or send him a PM.  He's a very helpful and friendly guy and I'm sure he'd be glad to discuss this issue.  Good luck.

Fred

MikeSmith


ComeBacKid

I had intense agitation and short temperdness at the 3 pills per day.  I'm on 2 a now and don't have that.   If you have suicidal thoughts you should wane yourself off the drug immediately.  I'm not a confrontational person to much, but on three per day I notice I was  becoming very angry at people and agitated with family member habits more than normal.  If your mixing drugs that can cause sucidal or depressive thoughts, these should be taken seriously, I've heard some people say just get over it, don't take this approach!!

Comebackid

Fred22

Mike and ComeBack,

Were you both taking the pentox with food?  I know  George said he always took his with food (the more food the better, I believe he said).  He said he never had any serious side effects and took it for 2 years 3x per day.  Also maybe 2x a day is enough.  I believe they used 400 mg 2x per day in the Iranian study did they not?.  Don't know about the side effects myself, as I've never taken pentox, but I'd gladly give it a try if I could find a uro who would prescribe it.

Fred

Briden


I appreciate the feedback from each of you!

My (2) attempts at taking Pentox were last Aug...then again in Oct...on both attempts I had the very strange emotional thought processes..elevated anxiety, agitation, etc..usually about 3 days to a week into taking the pills. I had never before or since felt these emotions etc..

My psychiatrist and I feel that I have reached balance with my bi-polar condition and have discussed giving pentox a third and final chance...we will do so if Dr. Lue deems that Cochicine alone is not helping...I am in the 3rd week of a 3 month Colchicine treatment..I will see Dr. Lue again for comparisons in progression..

If and when I begin Pentox again for a final test..I will report if I am able to continue and whether or not it happens again..

Thanks again,
Briden

MikeSmith

I tried taking it with food and it didn't really help.    I also tried pycogenol (sp?) but it seems useless and is expensive.

Fred22


alexk

Bipolar disorder could be seen as a fluctuation between blood flow in certain regions of the brain. If your systemic blood flow is suddenly improving due to something other than natural causes (i.e. a pharmaceutical agent) then it could aggravate your bipolar symptoms. Others have suggested lowering the dose and titrating (increasing over time), which is probably a good idea.

wf

Hi All

I just wanted to report some success I have had in treating my peyronies disease with a combination of supplements and medication.

I am currently taking 3000 mgs of actyl l carnatine daily, and 3 doses of pentox, I have been on this regiment for 5 months now. The plaque nodules seem to have reduced in size and become a bit softer (my urologist was pretty impressed with the results). The curvature however hasn't seemed to have changed much. Not a miracle sure but I am pretty sure there has been some adequate improvement.

Another interesting side effect is that immanently after starting the actyl l carnatine I noticed some changes in some benign growths I had on my skin -- these growths started scabbing up, becoming a bit broader but overall smaller in size, softer, colored pink instead of white, and started having hair grow out of them again. These changes continued to escalate (except for the scabbing up which is less common now) and some of the growths have gone from being very pronounced to almost none existent. I found this side effect some how heartening and interesting (since it shows the actyl l carnatine definitely is doing something soft tissue related).

Just wanted to let you all know my findings.

WF

newguy

I noticed in the VED study that there was a mention of those with softer scar tissue making good progress. Maybe as you have noticed positive aspects, but no curvature changes, this could be a good option for you. Alternatively traction might help too. How many degrees are we talking in terms of current curvature?  

Here's hoping that you continue to see positive changes with the pentox and ALC!

nebula

I started Pentox yesterday and I am definitely experiencing some heightened indigestion, which I know isn't all that unusual with this medication. I'm just wondering if an antacid like Prilosec would be alright to take or is there something else that would be better to take? I know some antacid's can affect the absorption of some medication's so I just want to be sure. I don't want to take something that wouldn't get me the full affect of the Pentox.

BrooksBro

I ALWAYS take it after eating about half of my meal, and I don't have any discomfort.  NEVER on an empty stomach or before eating.

Quote from: nebula on October 22, 2010, 07:42:14 PM
I started Pentox yesterday and I am definitely experiencing some heightened indigestion, which I know isn't all that unusual with this medication. I'm just wondering if an antacid like Prilosec would be alright to take or is there something else that would be better to take? I know some antacid's can affect the absorption of some medication's so I just want to be sure. I don't want to take something that wouldn't get me the full affect of the Pentox.

user of no names

I had taken pentox from 2004-06 and it helped with my peyronies.I had a bad back and was taking 12-20 ibuprofen pills a day.In short i ruined my stomach with all these pills and developed gastritis.I have been taking prilosec twice a day for 2 years while taking one pentox pill a week before masturbation.The pentox seemed to help with pain short term.I am trying to get back on the pentox but was wondering if anyone has taken it while having an ulcer or severe stomach issues like gastritis?As far for other side effects does anyone get headaches or very light headed taking it, to the point they feel completely out of it even after eating food?I took the pentox for years with no issues until i had stomach problems.I am trying to find out other people's experiences with side effects especially if they have stomach issues.thanks
jesse

newguy

It's sad to hear about your stomach problems. Taking too much of any drug can become an issue. I've posted a few times about how I believe that topical ibuprofen is a better choice, as much less of it enters the rest of the body, but it's just as effective. That's according to knee pain studies at least - there are no peyronie's specific studies.

I'm unsure of how these issues will impact your ability to take pentox on a more frequent basis. Hopefully somebody else can chip in, on this issue. I have my fingers crossed for you. Out of curiositiy, did pentox help you with your curvature at all, or solely the pain?


crashbandit

I had some issues with disturbed sleep. I would wake up at about 4-5am and couldnt get back to sleep right away. But that seemed to have dissapeared within the first 2 weeks.

Also some good side effects to report. The pain seeems to have gotten alot better since starting pentox (knock on wood). I just seem to not be bothered by it as much lately, and feeling much more hopeful for the future. Still no plaque or curve, thank god.
Cheers

pichou

Has anyone had any success using Pentox for ED ?
20 years Peyronies Disease, tried VED, pills, Trimix & more
ED 15 years.
Hour Glass at base 30 bend left at glans
Penile Implant 7/19/21 Dr. Andrew Kramer
Penoscrotal approach
AMS CX 18cm 2CM RTE

newguy

Quote from: pichou on December 21, 2010, 11:30:48 AM
Has anyone had any success using Pentox for ED ?

It's hard to know what has and hasn't helped me with regard to ED. I did have weak erections and a lack of night time erections, and now that is much improved. Pentox likely helps but I also took cialis, pycnogenol and l-arginine for an extended period of time (and still occasionally), and I think the ability to achieve strong erections over that time has helped me after that. There are a few studies that show pentox to be useful in combatting ED.

Italiano

Here my personal experience with pentox (trental 400): I tried in 3 occasions to use trental;first I took for about 8 weeks 3pills a day but I suspended cause a sense of acid at/from my stomach(10years ago I suffered for gastritis so I know its symptoms). Passed some time I tried again: 2pills a day; I gave up for the same reason after 1month. Last time I gave up (definitively!) after only 2 weeks.
I never noticed some effect on my (actually not good) capacity to substain erections. In any case, I generally don't fell real pain for peyronie but a sort of swarming, more restlessing than painful. Very recently I don't even feel swarming but I am not sure about reason for. I take now (only1month) magnesium and I am waiting to comb it with pycnogenol and ubiquinol.
Buona fortuna a tutti!
Italiano  

crashbandit

Italiano, did you take your trental with big meals? I think this is key to avoiding stomach problems with pentox.

I've been on trental for 2 months now @ 2x a day. I eat them with a big hearty meal in the morning and at supper. No issues with stomach or erection problems what so ever.

Cheers

Skjaldborg

Italiano,

I took pentox for 8 months with very few problems. The only time I had problems was when I took it with acidic food like orange juice, vinaigrette salad dressing or the red sauce used in Italian food :( However, breads or pastas with cream sauce was fine!

-Skjaldborg

Italiano

Frieds, I don't generally eat too mach: I am diabetic and my breakfast and supper are restrained. In the morning I eat aroun 35 grams of complex carboidrates with a short cup of milk and then espresso, at evening  75 grams of bread with protein, vegetable and fruit. At lunch I have a little revenge and I can eat pasta(around80grams),protein,bread(50grams),vegetable and fruit(in this period I don't even drink my favorit red wine). Most of times I avoid acid foods for preventing gastritis. I still avoid fat foods for a problem of "fat liver", caused by combo diabet and meds.
So, I think you are rigth about the opportunity to absum trental with big meals but for me it is really important to have the best glicemic control and it is difficult eat enaugh to protect stomach. The good thing of mediterrean diet is presence of foods rich of vit E and C and other important elements. Very good for general health, not risolutive for aur specific problem.
In any case I diden't notice some help of trental for my erections.
Italiano

nebula

I'm just wondering if there is any known correlation between taking Pentox and experiencing Hair Loss? I've had some shedding issues this past year but they seem to have accelerated around the time I started taking Pentox, which was two months ago. They could be totally unrelated, but I just wanted to see if anyone else has experienced this or knows of any potential correlation.  

newguy

I can't say that I've noticed this. Could it be stress related? Maybe others can chime in.

ComeBacKid

I haven't seen one piece of info describing hair loss as a side effect of pentox.  When I was on pentox I noticed the following side effects: increased sweating, minor constipation/dry crap, mild dry mouth every morning and a thirst for water all day, some dry skin, headaches daily due to something with my sinuses, post nasal drip in the morning especially, shortness of breathe going up stairs or working out.

After awhile I got used to the side effects, but when I went off the drug for a break it felt good to get rid of some of these nuisance side effects, however the results were def. worth tolerating them cause this drug actually works.

Comebackid

nebula

I was looking around the web for information on Hair Loss and I stumbled upon this:

QuoteHair Loss from Blood Thinners

Blood thinners are commonly used in many types of surgical procedures. These anti-coagulants help save many lives. Unfortunately, they often have several side effects. One of these is medical hair loss.

Hair loss from blood thinners occurs because the scalp isn't receiving the blood flow it needs to remain healthy. As a result, the hair begins to fall out. It's similar to what patients taking chemotherapy go through. Of course, hair loss from blood thinners is only a temporary condition. It usually subsides when the patient stops taking the treatment.

- hairlosstreatment.net

So, if there is any truth to this, I guess it is possible that Pentox is (at least partly) the reason I've been losing so much hair lately.

I'm torn; I kind of want to stop the Pentox for a little while and see if the hair loss slows down at all because it's starting to become fairly noticeable but at this point I'm about 3 months into it and being that it's one of the most effective treatments against Peyronie's Disease right now, I don't really wanna give up on it.    

MikeSmith0

I don't think it is considered a blood thinner really...not at the level of coumadin or heparin.  I don't think it's even in that drug class.  It improves blood flow but not via those mechanisms.

George999

Vitamin E is a blood thinner also and it certainly is *not* known to cause hair loss.  So the problem is specific to CERTAIN blood thinners that have specific effects on circulation.  - George

nebula

Yeah, I wasn't implying that I believe EVERY blood thinner could potentially cause hair loss, I was just saying that I've read there is a correlation with some and being that Pentox is considered to be a blood thinner, I thought it MIGHT have something to do with it. You guys are probably right when you say it's doubtful Pentox would cause hair loss...it's just that I'm getting desperate so I'm looking at every single thing in my life that could be causing it. I just couldn't help but notice that my shedding increased right around the time I started taking the Pentox, although I realize this could also just be coincidental.  

skunkworks

Doesn't Pentox slightly suppress the immune system? If so it would be good for treating hair loss, rather than bad.
This is an emotionally destructive condition, we all have it, let's be nice to each other.

Review of current treatment options by Levine and Sherer]

hornman

For the past several weeks I have been off center with a fluish like sick feeling in my head.  I'm tired all of the time.  I think it must be from the pentox or ubiquinol.  Has anyone else experienced this?
Hornman

newguy

Are you on any other medications? I've had no problem with either. Maybe others have had similiar experiences though?

MikeSmith0

Quote from: hornman on March 03, 2011, 08:40:46 PM
For the past several weeks I have been off center with a fluish like sick feeling in my head.  I'm tired all of the time.  I think it must be from the pentox or ubiquinol.  Has anyone else experienced this?
Hornman

yeah, the pentox is not letting you get quality sleep... half a dozen people mentioned this here already.  you can go down to 800 mg but it's not really therapeutic below that.  not sure it is even therapeutic at that level.  it never seemed to help me much... just messed up my sleep making me tired all the time - just like you described. are you noticing more frequent awakenings at night?  you might not notice it but it's showing up in your daily mood.

i havent experienced any ubiquinol side effects to my knowledge.

George999

I believe there are things that can greatly reduce medication side effects.  Like taking CoQ10 along with them AND by making sure your vitamin D levels are 50ng/ml or higher.  Many medications actually cause side effects in part by lowering serum levels of these nutrients and thus cause a cascade of nutrient deficiencies.  So if you are having problems tolerating meds, you might want to look into these issues.  They are NOT the solution in every case, for sure, but they can often be helpful in solving side effect problems.  - George

Skjaldborg

I was on pentox for 8 months and I did notice occasional sleep disturbances and kind of a strange fuzzy/dizzy feeling but only when I took the dosages too close together. Try to take them 6 hours apart and always with food. Try to limit caffeine too as pentox plus coffee can make you jittery.

Pentox was beneficial for me and I think it's worthwhile to stick with the full dose for at least a few months and then go to a lower dosage after that. Talk to your doctor about the details, of course.

-Skjald

hornman

Thanks for your replies.  I must have been incubating the flu.  I've been sick in bed for the past 3 days.  It's good to know it probably wasn't from the Pentox.

Hornman

George999

For the past week I have been using a product called Stabilium 200 which is marketed as a solution for anxiety.  Years ago I took Klonopin/Clonazepam for anxiety and never have found anything as effective since.  But Klonopin is essentially a controlled substance and getting a doc to prescribe it is nearly impossible.  They much prefer Xanax or Valium, neither of which were helpful for me.  Things like Valerian did the job, but nowhere to the degree of Klonopin.  But now I have found something, which seems to actually be *better* than Klonopin.   Stabilium 200 immediately lowered my blood pressure significantly, which for me is a marker of significantly decreased anxiety.  It also has improved my sleep noticeably.  As such, it might be worth a shot if you have anxiety issues with Pentoxifylline.  ADDITIONALLY, I believe that anxiety and stress aggravate Peyronie's directly, so it might help in more ways than one.  A very concise description of what this substance is can be found on ehow.com for those of you who might be interested.  - George

crashbandit

I'd be interested in this product as I do have problems with anxiety. The problem is that I already feel like a walking pharmacy. My current regime looks like this:

- Pentox 3x a day
- ubiquinol 3x a day
- NKO (nuptune krill oil) 3x a day
- cialis 2.5mg daily at night

I really need something like stabilium 200 to help with my anxiety but think I have to drop something. I'm thinking about ditching the ubiquinol as I am still having a problems with pain anyway. Can I take the stabilium 200 with my pentox and krill oil? Would my insurance possibly cover stabilium (I'm thinking no)? If I can get Klonopin prescribed, is it as good as stabilium 200? and is there any sides you know of with klonopin?

Thanks
Cheers

George999

Stabilium consists of fish peptides, not likely to seriously conflict with anything else.  Insurance will not pay since its a supplement.  The problem with Klonopin is that it is potentially addictive and tends to develop tolerance.  - George

crashbandit

Thanks George,

Since Stabilium 200 lowers blood pressure, is it safe with pentox and cialis, which these both can lower blood pressure as well?  
Cheers

George999

It would only be a problem for those with hypertension.  These kinds of substances usually do not lower BP for normotensive people.  I have never heard of Pentox lowering BP, in fact if anything, it raised mine.  Cialis can lower BP when used with certain heart meds, but I don't think it lowers BP on its own.  - George