Mango123: severe Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction / PSSD

[Mango123]

Hello everyone!

 

I started on 25 mg Sertraline in April 2021 and increased the dose to 50mg after two weeks. I got prescribed the drug for premenstrual syndrome, which is ridiculous given to what disaster happened.

 I took this med for 2 1/2 months and decided to taper down again, as Sertraline made me anhedonic, emotionally numbed an decreased my libido significantly. When I told my psychiatrist about these side effects, she told me that they could persist. Okay, thanks, why did she not tell me that before I took the drug? Would have been nice to weigh risks and benefits myself.

 

Of course these side effects did not resovle after discontinuation, they just improved a little. Unfortunately I made the mistake to start taking Saint Johns Wort (900mg) in September 2021 as I could not find any information that it can make PSSD worse. So gradually my libido decreased even more and in Winter 2021 I got panic as I recognised that my genitals lost their sensitivity. In despair about this fact I needed to go to the psych ward in April 2022. Because of my bad experience I did not want to take any more meds, but I got forced by the professionals and by my family. So I took Wellbutrin 150mg for 2 weeks. This made very anxious and increased my resting heart rate to 120. Because I could not sleep like that and did not feel tired at all, they gave me Tavor and Promethazin to calm down. 

Even after stopping Wellbutrin, this symptoms persist. Furthermore I suffer from extreme emotional numbness (can not cry properly) to a point that I feel like a zombie. I dont have any positive emotions left, neither can I feel connected to my surrounding, family and friends. Beside these debilitating symptoms, I suffer from complete genital numbness and zero libido/ feeling of attraction. The emotional symptoms did improve a little over the last weeks, but still I dont feel alive. I is so scary what happened to me. I can't make sense of that.

I was a highly emotional, sensitive young woman (who even did not have depression) and ended up like this. I can't imagine going back to my master studies, neither can I work in my job as I am a social worker, because I can't feel empathy. 

 

I would be very grateful to hear from people who had similar experiences with a severe form of PSSD and got better or improved to 100%. I know Violet who fully recovered, but she is the only one and I guess recovery is on the rare side.

I wish nothing more than getting my life back.

Thank you and thanks for reading

Malu

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @Mango123

 

When you started sertraline, what happened in the first month? When was the last time you took a psychiatric drug? What drugs are you taking now?

 

We have seen people very gradually recover from drug-induced sexual dysfunction as well as the emotional anesthesia.

 

To help us out, follow these instructions Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

[Mango123]

On 10/13/2022 at 9:49 AM, Altostrata said:

Welcome, @Mango123

 

When you started sertraline, what happened in the first month? When was the last time you took a psychiatric drug? What drugs are you taking now?

 

We have seen people very gradually recover from drug-induced sexual dysfunction as well as the emotional anesthesia.

 

To help us out, follow these instructions Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

Hey @Altostrata, thanks for your response !

The first month on Sertraline was great as I did not have the bad mood swings anymore. But as longer as I have taken the drug, my emotions got more numb and libido decreased.

But the worst was my crash in April this year.  I took Bupropion only for 2 weeks. Because it was so overstimulating, I needed to take Promethazin and Tavor from time to time. Anxiety, tension and insomnia was never a problem for me before I started to take psych drugs.

For 4 months I haven't taken anything any more..

But to be honest it feels like my life has ended in April.

Even my skin is numb and I can't feel tiredness or hunger properly, neither can I cry.

So you think it's permanent brain damage?

I have read so many stories of people suffering from this symptoms over years and years, which makes me feel so hopeless.

 

 

[Altostrata]

Do you drink alcohol?

 

Not sure what we can do as peer counselors. If you had adverse reactions to the drugs you took after October 2021, you'll have to let them settle down. 

 

Emotional blunting is a common effect of antidepressants that may persist after you go off. Sexual dysfunction is a common adverse effect of antidepressants that may get worse after you go off. (The two may be related.) We have seen both of these very gradually resolve over many months, as long as you don't upset your nervous system again with more drugs or alcohol (antibiotics can cause this upset, too).

 

Many people find fish oil and magnesium supplements helpful, see

 

https://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/

 

https://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

You might try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you. Please let us know how you’re doing.

[Mango123]

10 hours ago, Altostrata said:

Do you drink alcohol?

 

Not sure what we can do as peer counselors. If you had adverse reactions to the drugs you took after October 2021, you'll have to let them settle down. 

 

Emotional blunting is a common effect of antidepressants that may persist after you go off. Sexual dysfunction is a common adverse effect of antidepressants that may get worse after you go off. (The two may be related.) We have seen both of these very gradually resolve over many months, as long as you don't upset your nervous system again with more drugs or alcohol (antibiotics can cause this upset, too).

 

Many people find fish oil and magnesium supplements helpful, see

 

https://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/

 

https://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

You might try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you. Please let us know how you’re doing.

No I never drank alcohol before pssd, neither do I drink today.

 

I think the worst mistake was that I took Wellbutrin.  I refused to take it, but got forced in the ward and by my family. It's very traumatic and I really hope that my brain will heal from that crash.

Have you heard from such severe PSSD cases who crashed and improved significantly afterwards ?

 

I take omega 3 and Magnesium for weeks...don't know if that makes a difference.

Thanks a lot @Altostrata and the community for being there.

[Altostrata]

We have seen PSSD cases very gradually improve over many months. Try not to dwell on it, get good exercise, fresh food, make your body healthy so it can repair itself.

[Mango123]

@Altostrata would you mind to send me the links of the recovery stories of PSSD sufferers? I can't find any except the one of Violet.

I am in a really dark place at the moment, it feels like my life is ruined forever.

But I really do hope that it's possible to recover.

[Altostrata]

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/forum/28-success-stories-recovery-from-psychiatric-drug-withdrawal/

[Annaaa]

@Mango123 hey I’m going through something similar as you after only taking one antidepressant, I got the zero libido, skin numbness as well as too the point we’re I feel no pain when getting hit or my son’s bite his 1 year old so his in that stage lol I also don’t feel hunger cue , or tiredness. I’m also emotionally blunted there’s days where I can feel a little bit . But most of the time I feel like a zombie. I wanted to ask how your doing now ?

[Mango123]

Hey @Annaaathanks for reaching out.

I am so sorry you are suffering the same symptoms I do.

I made some very little improvements..but that's it. Unfortunately I am still in hell and losing hope.

I have read your thread and I want to tell you, you are just in the beginning and as it seems you only took one pill, which is good!

I also saw that you have tested your cerebrospinal fluid, so you did a lumbar puncture right? 

Did you test for IgG and leucocytes?

I am planning to do a lumbar puncture as well as there is a pssd patient who had abnormal levels and his team of neurologists said that PSSD could be an autoimmune reaction.. So I am very curious to hear what you tested for exactly!

And of course I wish you a speedy recovery, I know how hard it is..but we have to keep hope that we will get better.

 

[Annaaa]

@Mango123 yes I only took one pill which I find it so hard to read other stories with just one pill once I took it a hour later I got emotional numb and a huge burning sensation like someone was pouring boiling water on my inside of my body. And yes I got MRI’s on brain with contrast and no contrast I got MRI’s on my spinal with contrast and no contrast everything looked good they did work test everything was good , and the only I had was TMI a uti but other then that they say everything is good I have another appointment with a neurologist on march . 
How is your tiredness and hunger going ? 

[Mango123]

Good that you will see a neurologist! I hope you will taken seriously.

Indeed my feelings of hunger and tiredness improved. But still they are very muted though.

Have you seen any kind of improvements in the last month?

[Annaaa]

@Mango123 thank you I really hope so my first neurologist was so nice and kind, I thought I had MS at first because I didn’t know a pill could have caused me a adverse reaction but after getting everything ruled out I read some similar stories on here and noticed my symptoms added up not all but some. 
I have had 3 days of eating good and sleeping 6 hours . But i still can’t till when I’m tired even when I do activities or work . Before the pill by the end of my work shift I was already exhausted it’s like my body it’s tired but my brain is active . 
the thing that frustrated me the most is not feeling physical pain and my emotions being all over the place . 

[Mango123]

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. I also can do a lot of exercise, being in the nature and still do not feel tired in the evening..

But what do you mean with 'your emotions are all over the place?'.

Are they so intense? If so, there is a good chance that you dont suffer from PSSD. Mine are still very flat 😕

[Annaaa]

@Mango123 yes that’s exactly how I feel. And well the only emotion I have been able to feel and that’s rarely sometimes happy because of my kids and I’m able to cry only a little bit though before I was such a sentimental person and I feel frustrated. But i can’t seem to express my emotions for long there’s days  I just feel like a zombie .

[ThroughTheForceField]

I feel bad for people who end up having PSSD. I've been on 3 different SSRIs and 1 SNRI and while I did have sexual dysfunction at high doses, it went away pretty quick (few days) once the dosage was reduced. I've been on Escitalopram for the last 8 years with no sexual side effects (but that's because of the low dose).

 

I talked to a guy who went through PSSD. He told me that the drug Buspirone reversed his PSSD significantly (by about 70% he said; but he also said he felt like he should have continued it for longer for more improvement). Just conveying hearsay in case it has useful information. Something to inquire about.

 

I never heard about the drug (Buspirone) before the aforementioned conversation and have no knowledge about it apart from that. Consult other knowledgeable members of this site and your doctor of course.

[Altostrata]

On 2/1/2023 at 3:34 PM, Annaaa said:

I have had 3 days of eating good and sleeping 6 hours . But i still can’t till when I’m tired even when I do activities or work .

 

@Annaaa, as we explained to you in your Introductions topic, the post-drug symptoms will slowly and gradually fade over months, not days or weeks. A little bit of improvement is a good sign of the beginning of your recovery. You will need to be patient.

[Mango123]

@AltostrataAs far as I know did you suffer from PSSD as well, didn't you?

Did you also have complete loss of genital sensitivity and zero libido?

How long did it take for you to get better?

 

A bit of my emotions and physical symptoms (like sweating, hunger, thurst and ability to get goosebumbs) got better, but not the sexual symptoms by now.

I am feeling very hopeless atm and can't find many pssd recovery stories here. Neither do I think that we will get more research soon to find a cure.

It feels like my life ended almost one year ago..

[Altostrata]

Yes, I had full-blown PSSD from going off paroxetine too fast. It took several years for sensation to gradually return.

[Mango123]

@Altostrata thanks a lot for your reply!

Did you also have libido loss and emotional numbness? 

Did it all return to 100%?

[Altostrata]

I had the full range of PSSD and everything related to it. It did eventually resolve.

[Kristyb1130]

Hello 

I have been talking with Annaaa and I have many of the same issues l. Do you have yhe same problems?   How long have you had Symtoms?

[Elaine5]

Hi @Mango123- hope you are doing okay. Things will get better. Sending hugs 

[Mango123]

Hey @Altostrata and others.

I am losing more and more hope.

Even one year after my severe crash from Bupropion I am stuck in this emotionless state and suffer from severe sexual dysfunction (still genital numbness and zero libido).

 

I can't put into words how much my grief is that my family and the psych ward forced me to take Bupropion. Before that I only had a mild form of PSSD.

Since my crash, my life is literally ruined. I had to move to my hometown again, stopped my Master studies, lost my relationship and am just living in hope to be alive again at some point ! Will that ever be possible?

In the literature its not written that its possible to recover from such a severe form of pssd.

How can I keep up hope? 

 

Thanks so much to everyone who leaves some hopeful words here... I urgently need them to survive.

Malu

[Kristyb1130]

I am hoping for some good news as well. It’s scary. I’m 3 years this September with similar problems 

I actually have no hunger, thirst gag reflex, blink reflex and can’t feel small nerve pain.

it’s been hard. I don’t have good news but I can empathize with you. 

[Mango123]

Do you also suffer from emotional numbness to the point that you even dont care about your loved ones? I feel so inhuman,  flat and disconnected 24/7. Next to that, my sexual dysfunction is very severe.

Why does the medical system and science do not care? We urgently need more research. I had much more hope then.

I am sure you have heard of the Fundraising for Melcangi?

I think every penny counts:

 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/27l8qmes5c

 

[Altostrata]

You have been off your drugs for less than a year.

 

On 10/17/2022 at 1:49 AM, Altostrata said:

We have seen PSSD cases very gradually improve over many months. Try not to dwell on it, get good exercise, fresh food, make your body healthy so it can repair itself.

 

[18yoldoffZoloft]

On 5/10/2023 at 10:13 AM, Mango123 said:

Hey @Altostrata and others.

I am losing more and more hope.

Even one year after my severe crash from Bupropion I am stuck in this emotionless state and suffer from severe sexual dysfunction (still genital numbness and zero libido).

 

I can't put into words how much my grief is that my family and the psych ward forced me to take Bupropion. Before that I only had a mild form of PSSD.

Since my crash, my life is literally ruined. I had to move to my hometown again, stopped my Master studies, lost my relationship and am just living in hope to be alive again at some point ! Will that ever be possible?

In the literature its not written that its possible to recover from such a severe form of pssd.

How can I keep up hope? 

 

Thanks so much to everyone who leaves some hopeful words here... I urgently need them to survive.

Malu

Hi Malu.. I'm suffering from a very severe form of PSSD aswell which wasn't so bad until I added more medications so I think we have sort of similar stories. It's good that you're off medication so from now on you can only heal. I just donated to two PSSD funds and I heard once they get enough donations they're going to start some very promising research, trust me this issue is not being dismissed anymore! I think that one day they'll be a solution so we just have to hang on until there is. You can definitely improve naturally too...Don't give up!! I'm right here with you, and I know its awful. But we can do it ❤️

-Julia

[18yoldoffZoloft]

On 2/5/2023 at 2:25 PM, Mango123 said:

@AltostrataAs far as I know did you suffer from PSSD as well, didn't you?

Did you also have complete loss of genital sensitivity and zero libido?

How long did it take for you to get better?

 

A bit of my emotions and physical symptoms (like sweating, hunger, thurst and ability to get goosebumbs) got better, but not the sexual symptoms by now.

I am feeling very hopeless atm and can't find many pssd recovery stories here. Neither do I think that we will get more research soon to find a cure.

It feels like my life ended almost one year ago..

It's good that certain things got better!! That's a good sign, keep going 

[Fairsome]

How are you, @Mango123? And have you improved. Because ever since my system crashed around 2 years ago, I have not had any improvements at all to the PSSD. Still completely dead and numb genital, just awful to see, along with pelvic floor dysfunction and extremely dysregulated nervous system. I even have massive pain when I touch it down there...

 

Have you checked for the autoimmune issue? Or have you done any blood tests. Your PSSD seems an interesting case, and I find it hard to really understand what's wrong in your body... 

[Kristyb1130]

Hi guys. I had a tiny breakthrough.

Amy daughter is 17 and a senior. She just graduated from her dance class ans I was actually crying during her final performance!  I am so happy I could connect with her for this.  I had real tears. 
it’s only happened 2 times.  I still have zero sense of urgency:(

[Onepillbupropion]

How are you doing now?

[LukeUK]

I am no longer in the same support group as Malu, however last time I spoke to her she was still suffering with severe PSSD.

[Altostrata]

@Mango123, how are you doing?