Dark0047: Why hasn't my libido recovered after stopping Prozac and Clomipramine?

[Dark0047]

I used to take two kind of antidepressants for 2 weeks. Prozac (Fluoxetine 10) and Clomopramine 10. I stopped taking them as soon as I found out they have negative sexual side-effects.

It's been 60 days I haven't taken them but my libido is not like it was in the first place before taking them. I am too worried about it. I have been suicidal over it. I have read that it can be a permanent effect which drives me crazy when I think about it.

 

I talked to my doctor but he rudely refused to give me a straight answer since I stopped taking the pills he prescribed me. I talked to other doctors too. They said my libido should have returned in 3 weeks but I can't see any improvements since then.

 

So, my question is, if you have any experience of taking such pills, tell me how long you took them and if your libido returned after stopping taking them or not, if so, how long did you wait till your libido improved completely. Am I suffering from PSSD (Post-SRRI Sexeual Dysfunction)? if so, won't I ever get my libido back? Is there any treatment for this?

Edited July 16, 2017 by scallywag
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[scallywag]

Dark0047 -- Welcome to Surviving Antidepressants (SA)

 

Some people do experience negative effects, including decreased libido and sexual dysfunction (which, by the way, are different symptoms), after only a brief exposure to these medications. Your doctor's prescription was an unusual one, 2 antidepressants: Prozac, an SSRI; and, clomipramine (Anafranil), a tricyclic. Although the prescribed dose of each was lower than the typical starting dose, there is still a risk of serious interaction between the two.  Was your doctor a psychiatrist or a personal care physician?

 

People who have undesirable effects from the medication after a brief exposure usually recover completely.  The time it will take to reach that point is unpredictable.  Some recover significantly in 3 weeks, as the other doctors suggested. Others take many more months to reach what they consider 100%.

After handling survival drives such as hunger and thirst, the next strongest human impulse is to reproduce. It is extremely likely that your libido (sex drive/desire) will return. 

 

Are you experiencing symptoms affecting your sexual functioning, the "plumbing" aspect? Please note this is a yes/no question, not an invitation to post graphic descriptions of your symptoms. (I apologize for having to be so specifically directive. Sometimes a person's distress about such symptoms leads them to post details that are upsetting to others.)

 

This experience has taught you, if you let it, that you may be very sensitive to drugs that act on your CNS (central nervous system). You would be wise to carefully study the information about any drug a doctor prescribes for you in the future and to ask that doctor and a pharmacist any and all questions you have.

 

I hope you'll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation. I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but am glad that you found us.  Please post any questions that you have here in this topic as a reply. We'll do our best to point you to the most helpful information we have.

 

 

Edited July 15, 2017 by scallywag

[Madeleine]

Lots of people have that side effect and it goes away eventually. It takes time for it to get back to normal. Try not to worry about it. 

[Dark0047]

Moderator note:  topics merged 

 

Hi, so I used to take two kind of antidepressants 85 days ago. Fluoxetine 10 and Clomipramine 10 for 14 days. Then I stopped cold turkey and it's been almost 70 days that my libido is low and I have numb genital. So, my question is, what meds did you take and how long did it take for you to regain your sex drive back. Is there anybody who waited more than 2 months to get their sex drive back here? Because I am worried about the permanent sexual dysfunction of these drugs. If there is anybody who got their sex drive back after more than 2 months here, it would be so hopeful for me. I have already talked to many doctors. They told me I should have regained my sex drive in 3 weeks after having stopped the drugs. So I really need your personal experience

Edited August 7, 2017 by mammaP
added note

[mammaP]

Hi Dark, welcome to SA. Everyone is different so we can't give you a time scale for recovery. Your body will recover in it's own time but you need to take care of yourself while youare healing from the drugs. Your nervous system is affected and has to regain normality. You can help yourself by eating healthy food and avoiding stimulants like caffeine and energy drinks, food additives and alcohol.  The most important thing of all is not to try and force things. Trying to force the feelings to come back will only lead to frustration and disappointment. Leave things alone and it will get better. Do you take any other prescription drugs or supplements?  

We have a PSSD forum where you can read about others' experiences, also read the success stories, where people tell hoe they have recovered.  

 

Many people here find fish oil and magnesium are very good for an unstable nervous system caused by the drugs and withdrawal. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/?view=findpost&p=100596&hl=magnesium

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1300-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

 

We ask all our members to fill in their signature with details of the drugs taken, doses and when started and stopped. This link will take you to the signature settimgs, fill in the information and click 'save'. 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/settings/signature/

 

PSSD 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/52-post-ssri-sexual-dysfunction-pssd

 

Success stories

http://survivingantidepressants.org/forum/28-success-stories-recovery-from-withdrawal/

[Dark0047]

MammaP, so you mean there are lots of people who heeled after like 4 months? I mean, do people eventually heal from these side effects even though they don't heal in the first few weeks? I read about PSSD it freaked me out. There were people who claimed they have been suffering from PSSD for 15 years and there were no improvement. What if I am one of them?  If the drugs damaged my brain, it makes sense that recovery is so unlikely. Please tell me you have seen lots of people who healed after some months 

[Dark0047]

Hi guys. So, I took Clomipramine 10 and Fluoxetine 10 for 14 days 129 days ago. It's been morethan 100 days I am off the meds but I still have numb genital. How can I cure my genital anesthesia? Is there anything that can help? Can Wellbutrin help?

[potions]

Hi Dark,

 

I have this as well, as do many others who have taken SSRIs, yet the drug companies and some doctors refuse to acknowledge the existence of PSSD. The symptoms occur due to changes in serotonin receptors (serotonin downregulation) which affect dopamine pathways involved in pleasure and reward. This reason is why many people who report PSSD also report feelings of "apathy" or "anhedonia". People do report recovery over a period of months to years, and you can read some recovery stories here actually. These stories have filled me with hope, as it's been a year since I've taken zoloft and still have this issue. Recovery likely would come from re-sensitization of the serotonin receptors after a prolonged period of being antidepressant-free. I personally spoke to someone who took a series of SSRIs throughout her teen years and took about a year to recover from PSSD. Others say they recover over three years, two years, five years, etc. I've read about some people who haven't recovered at all after six or more years and this startled me so I looked into ways to fix it. If you are at all open to taking drugs again, here is a website that provides options for you to potentially reverse the PSSD:

 

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/430614_5

 

I don't believe Wellbutrin will help you, as it is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor and does nothing for the damage to the serotonin receptors that your drugs did to you. Mianserin is a 5HT1A and 5HT2A receptor antagonist, which may help re-sensitize these receptors over a period of time, although since it is a psychiatric drug and antidepressant as well, it might do more harm than good. Louisyfer reported complete reversal of PSSD after taking mianserin 30 mg over a period of 9 months and these effects have continued upon discontinuation. I personally am looking into maybe taking mianserin and hoping for the best, because I am young and do not need to be dealing with these sexual issues now. But if you are looking for a psychiatric remedy, look for a serotonin antagonist, not a dopamine drug.

 

Then again, people do report natural improvement over time, so maybe the best and safest option for you is to wait it out.

 

One more thing: the supplements inositol and licorice root have been reported to help lessen PSSD symptoms. I take them both daily and there is improvement although PSSD is still there.

[oskcajga]

There isn't anything you can really do to fix this problem. 

[Dark0047]

Hi, I took prozac and clomipramine for 14 days 6 months ago. It killed my libido and gave me genital anesthesia and erection dysfunction. I read about PSSD (Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction) and I got worried then stopped taking them. I thought my sexuality would come back but it didn't. The sexual side effects persisted since then. Although I have seen some improvements in my erection and a bit of my libido, still the sexual side effects exist. A few weeks ago I had a "window" when I was horny for a couple of days and I think my genital sensitivity was like 50% of what it used to be. Soon after these improvements faded away and here I am. I have almost no morning erection etc. Now, I wanna know if recovery in PSSD possible and this "window" I experienced is a good sign of recovery? Please tell me if you had PSSD and it recovered over time. How long did it take, what your symptoms were, what med you took everything please. I am suicidal over this. Please inform me with everything you know about this condition. Doctors are ignorant and don't believe me and I feel neglected. My only source of knowledge is the people who probably had PSSD and hopefully they recovered. I also want to know how rare this condition is. How often do ADs cause PSSD. Thank you in advance 

[Altostrata]

We are all very sad to see Dark0047 has passed away.

 

On 7/21/2018 at 11:26 AM, potions said:

Hey everyone. I am here to inform you that Dark0047 has passed away by suicide. He couldn’t take PSSD anymore. I was his close friend and am in shock. He told me to post to the forums if it happened to help the pssd community. So here I go. Please pray for him and remember him.

 

 

On 7/24/2018 at 4:01 PM, Spruce30 said:

Just to let everyone know I have some sad news. 

 

Dark0047 who had PSSD and was a member of the PSSD Facebook group took his own life a few days ago.

 

He told a number of people just before taking his own life, that he couldn't deal with living with PSSD anymore.

 

I feel so bad for him; he was only 23. 

 

Please people stay safe. There is hope we can all recover from PSSD with enough time. Let's remember Ali by being determined to stay the course and recover from PSSD.

 

[Martina23]

Oh my God, that is terrible news. I wished there was someone with him /for him before he decided to commit suicide. It is really very sad. So many good people already died on this.

[jozeff]

I almost cried when I read this. I have had the  kind of the same sexual problems in the past but recovered. He must have had  terrible times. I wish his family and loved ones all the best. My hart goes out to him and his family.