Hard Times
Dear Dr. Dick,
I never thought it would happen to me, but I think I've got a bad case of crystal dick. No matter what I do, I can't get it up anymore. I've heard about this happening with other guys who shoot crystal, but I've been partying for years and never had a problem before. I tried Viagra, but that didn't really help. I'm super embarrassed... Is this a permanent thing?
- One Panicked Penis
Dear Panicked,
Ah, good ol' crystal dick! Speed's little practical joke isn't so amusing when it happens to you, is it? Not all crystal users will develop erection problems, but it does happen more often with long-term or high-dose users. And you guessed it - that usually means injectors. Erection problems are one of the real downsides of shooting crystal, but you do have some sex-saving options!
Your garden-variety erection happens when specific brain chemicals (mostly serotonin and dopamine) react to things that turn you on. When you see a hot guy or he starts rubbing your crotch, your brain sets off signals to the muscles and blood vessels in your pelvis that cause you to get hard. The rest, as they say, is history.
There are many things that can affect your ability to get hard. Your testosterone or hormone levels may be low, especially if you have HIV or AIDS. Levels can also be low if you are taking certain medications or have other health problems. And, erection problems become more common as we get older. Your medical provider can help sort it all out. But back to crystal - it is the factor we're most concerned about here.
Crystal causes huge changes in dopamine and serotonin. Over time, your brain can have trouble sending the right messages to your penis. Regular crystal use also puts stress on parts of your nervous system that regulate normal blood flow between muscles and the tissues of the penis. Finally, crystal shrinks your blood vessels, making the problem even worse. Using more crystal will NOT fix the problem!
SELF-MEDICATING = DANGER
Boner-uppers like Viagra aren't the answer to fixing crystal dick either. Viagra is designed to treat specific health conditions that you may NOT have--so you should never take Viagra without a prescription. It's also very dangerous to mix boner-uppers with poppers. The strain on your heart could cause a heart attack. The combination can be fatal!!! Click here to read more: Crystal, Poppers & Boner-Uppers
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
The best solution for you may be to lay off crystal for a while. Most men see their erections return once they take a sizeable break from speed or seriously cut down their use. It's hard (pardon the pun) to say how long it will take for your dick to rise again. The recovery time varies, but the results are usually positive. Unless you have other health issues, this type of impotence is usually not permanent once crystal is out of the picture.
For some guys, it's not an option to quit crystal. You might be able to cut back though.
If cutting down or taking a break from speed doesn't help, then definitely talk with your doctor. Otherwise your little soldier should be saluting in no time!
Sincerely,
Dr. Dick