Drained, no energy

Quite a few people said a stretch without ejaculating brought them back: one felt like their old self after just over a week, another had more energy and much less anxiety after 50 days. Some suggested taking a week or two off when symptoms start so hormones don't get out of balance again, and one said they could only ejaculate once every 3 to 6 months to feel little or no effect.

Reports are mixed: six people found it helpful, with energy returning after a few days or all symptoms fading, while four said it wasn't enough — fatigue, brain fog, anxiety or palpitations lingered, or everything came back after the next ejaculation. Some had abstained for months and still relapsed.

Three people said zinc helped: one wrote that 30 mg a day could lessen POIS symptoms a lot, and another listed zinc among the things that help, saying it worked when many other supplements did not. None said which symptoms eased. Personal reports only — check with a doctor before taking supplements.

Three people said zinc helped them: one took 40 mg of zinc picolinate daily and noticed less eczema, fatigue and IBS trouble; another took 20 mg and said sleep, brain fog, fatigue and libido all improved; a third took it alongside vitamin D and omega-3. Personal reports only — check with a doctor before taking supplements.

One person fasted for more than 24 hours several times and said it helped their energy but not their POIS symptoms. Another said fasting helped only temporarily, which they put down to avoiding food triggers, and warned that low blood sugar can happen during an immune reaction.

Two people counted Alpha-GPC, a choline supplement, as helpful: one said that when fatigue is the big problem they reach for Rhodiola, Alpha-GPC and, as a last resort, caffeine (knowing it makes them more anxious), while the other took huperzine A and Alpha-GPC together after ejaculation or when symptoms started. Personal reports — check with a doctor before taking supplements.

Two people listed drinking more water as helpful: one described going from 8 glasses a day to 12, and the other said the same worked for them, though they had to pee frequently. Neither said which symptoms improved.

Two people said antihistamines helped a lot: one took diphenhydramine (Benadryl) as needed once symptoms started, the other said Zyrtec, Pepcid and Benadryl together helped. Neither gave doses or timing. Personal reports — talk to a doctor before using medication.

Two people mentioned a B vitamin complex, one saying it could potentially lessen POIS symptoms by a lot. Neither gave the formula, dose or timing, so confidence is low. Personal reports — check with a doctor before taking supplements.

Two people said coffee gave temporary relief once symptoms began: one felt almost normal for about two hours before it wore off, the other called it nearly the only thing that helped, even briefly. Both described it as temporary, and no caffeine amounts were given.

Two people said 500 mg of L-tyrosine in the morning works well for them, and one added that many others on the forum say it helps a lot, taking it on an empty stomach. Personal reports — check with a doctor before taking supplements.

Two people said niacin worked for them: one took it three times a day plus once 4 hours after orgasm and felt nothing afterwards, the other said niacin before and right after orgasm blocked their symptoms. Personal reports only — check with a doctor before taking high-dose niacin.

Two people said abstaining helped: one slowly recovered over about 7 days, though some tiredness, sleepiness and mild headaches stayed; another said their mind was much clearer during times without masturbation. A third, about 20 days into abstinence, started getting day-long symptoms after sexual dreams even without ejaculation.

One person said that, if you are able, fasting the whole day after ejaculation goes a long way toward bringing energy back. It is a single account and no one else reported back.

One person said fasting reduced their fatigue; the routine was to skip eating from after dinner until the next morning, and the original description also mentioned brain fog easing.

One person said Allegra D, an antihistamine combining fexofenadine and pseudoephedrine, eased their fatigue, without saying how much they took. Personal report only — check with a doctor before trying medication.

One person tried a meat-only elimination diet and noticed big improvements in energy and brain fog in the first week, before the 'keto flu' hit. As described, they ate only meat for at least 30 days, then slowly added other foods back one by one, and later kept going longer.

One person said that taking two capsules of L-tyrosine the morning after an episode helped with their fatigue. It is a single account. Personal report only — check with a doctor before taking supplements.

One person said exercising until they get a runner's high, or a pump while lifting, greatly reduces their POIS symptoms. The catch is they can only do it about once a week or two: if they ejaculate twice after a break, they feel very rundown for the day, and exercising in that state makes it worse.

One person who also described having adrenal fatigue said licorice root seemed good and was “healing” for the adrenals, but warned it can't be taken for long because it raises blood pressure. Personal report only — check with a doctor before taking supplements.

One person said exercising until they get a runner's high or a pump from lifting greatly reduces their POIS symptoms. The catch is they can only do it about once every week or two — after coming twice following a break they feel very rundown for the day, and exercising in that state makes it worse.

One person for whom fatigue was the biggest problem said they reach for rhodiola first, then Alpha-GPC, and caffeine only as a last resort, knowing it makes them more anxious. It is a single report and no dose was given. Personal report only — check with a doctor before taking supplements.

One person who was already prescribed Adderall for attention deficit said they used it to push through extreme fatigue and found it helped. No dose or timing was given, and no one else reported back. Personal report only — stimulant prescriptions are a matter for your doctor.

One person said choline helps with fatigue and that Alpha-GPC is the best form, but it has to be taken in the morning or sleep suffers. No dose or duration was given. Personal report only — check with a doctor before taking supplements.