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PSSD Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction


Altostrata

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After using some Isochronic Tones, I noticed a 40% relief in my PSSD and that was after one use.

I am off of all meds as of May 20th, 2013, after 5 weeks on Zoloft and a 4 week taper. Still experiencing: moderate anhedonia & PSSD, I am otherwise mostly healed. 

 

2.1 years off of medication. 

 

"If I walk away, don't hate me. I've got to see where the pain will take me.

 

I found no angels...I found myself."

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After using some Isochronic Tones, I noticed a 40% relief in my PSSD and that was after one use.

 

Whoa! Sweet!

 

The things I have found to help were Buspar, which actually makes me kind of hypersexual. When I was underweight, intense exercise for awhile, and eating a lot of food improved it by like 10%. :/

 

Other ideas are choline + piracetam, huperzine, cabergoline, and as a last resort maybe wellbutrin. These are things that are pretty much proven to help. I haven't tried them though. 

Celexa 20 mg from December 2010 - July 2011. CT. 

Currently taking Buspar for anhedonia.

 

But a mermaid has no tears, and therefore she suffers so much more.

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I've been asked to possibly try Buspar, Remeron, Welbutrin, or ginseg, which is a supplement.

I am off of all meds as of May 20th, 2013, after 5 weeks on Zoloft and a 4 week taper. Still experiencing: moderate anhedonia & PSSD, I am otherwise mostly healed. 

 

2.1 years off of medication. 

 

"If I walk away, don't hate me. I've got to see where the pain will take me.

 

I found no angels...I found myself."

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Currently my PSSD is terrible. I had sexual side effects on zoloft for years which were just ignored by doctors when I mentioned them. They're fairly similar to what I am experiencing now - premature ejaculation, pleasureless orgasms, anaesthesia - but not quite as bad, and I cared less about them. Strangely, erections are now far more frequent than when I was on meds - which is good, I suppose, but fairly pointless as nothing works as normal after this.

 

Like most people, I'm pretty scared the PSSD will be permanent. The only real glimmer of hope is that for the first 3 or so months after stopping zoloft - before withdrawal kicked in, in fact - my sexual functioning returned to about 80% - in fact, each decrease in dosage over my too quick 3 month taper brought a big increase in functioning.

 

I know nobody can say whether it will go away, but is the fact it did almost recover previously any kind of good sign? Or just another unpredictable aspect of the withdrawal rollercoaster?

 

(Apologies if the above is a bit explicit for some people!)

Hi,

 

I too have experienced severe PSSD. About 8 months ago I could not get an erection at all. Had major premature ejaculation issues, delayed ejaculation, major loss of sensation and pleasure less orgasms. Thankfully a lot of that has improved. However my erections still aren't hard enough for intercourse or hard enough all the time, morning erections are back but not as strong as they used to be. I am just wondering if you are still experiencing troubles with your erections, maintaining them, having one strong enough for intercourse as you mentioned your sexual function is at about 80%?

 

thanks.

 

I got to 80% at the 0-3 month point after discontinuing my AD. I'm now at about 10 months out and things worsened after the 3 month point when withdrawal kicked in.

 

Erections are about the only thing that do work for me sexually. Virtually everything else is dysfunctional.

February 2004 - mid 2005 - 50 mg zoloft.

 

Mid 2005 - lexapro 20mg (3 months) Discontinued SSRIs for a few months - withdrawal.

 

20mg paxil towards end of 2005 for few weeks - borderline psychosis - lasted until Nay 2006.

 

Restarted sertraline in early 2006, ending up on 200mg. Down to 100mg in 2009 - stabilised at that dose for a couple of years.

 

Updosed to 150mg for a few weeks in 2012, before a psychiatrist put me back down to 100mg (no taper!)

 

Too fast taper off zoloft 100mg between May/June 2012 and September/October. Withdrawal started end of December 2012.

 

Tried to reinstate zoloft March 2012 50 mg - worsened.

 

Stemetil 5mg during an acute phase of labyrinthitis/vertigo in early 2011. Haven't taken since mid 2012.

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Things worsen before they get better, don't forget.

I am off of all meds as of May 20th, 2013, after 5 weeks on Zoloft and a 4 week taper. Still experiencing: moderate anhedonia & PSSD, I am otherwise mostly healed. 

 

2.1 years off of medication. 

 

"If I walk away, don't hate me. I've got to see where the pain will take me.

 

I found no angels...I found myself."

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SlimNum, we support  a lot of people here who have taken various supplements in the hopes they might help, and gotten worse instead. People with withdrawal syndrome often have very sensitive systems. Even a small alteration in aldosterone could have serious effects.

 

Anything should be tried very cautiously, in very small amounts. If you wish to urge people to try licorice root, I hope you stay around to support those who have a bad result.

 

Of course.  My only problem was with you telling people to stay away from it, ignoring the evidence that it may offer relief.

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From the above linked website:

 

 

In this thread I intend on posting all the most useful anecdotal evidence of what is known so far about PSSD. I will try to find common denominators among sufferers. I hope to do this in such a fashion as has never been seen before on the internet.

 

Alrighty then!

If you have a problem using anecdotal evidence, that's fine.  But it looks like anecdotal evidence is all that you got.  I don't see any scientific studies revealing any potential cures for SSRI withdrawal.

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Slim,

Is the licorice root still working for you? Do you have any idea WHY this would help with PSSD? What specifics problems has this best found to help -- anorgasma?, impotence?, arousal disorders?

"Well my ship's been split to splinters and it's sinking fast
I'm drowning in the poison, got no future, got no past
But my heart is not weary, it's light and it's free
I've got nothing but affection for all those who sailed with me.

Everybody's moving, if they ain't already there
Everybody's got to move somewhere
Stick with me baby, stick with me anyhow
Things should start to get interesting right about now."

- Zimmerman

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SlimNum, we support  a lot of people here who have taken various supplements in the hopes they might help, and gotten worse instead. People with withdrawal syndrome often have very sensitive systems. Even a small alteration in aldosterone could have serious effects.

 

Anything should be tried very cautiously, in very small amounts. If you wish to urge people to try licorice root, I hope you stay around to support those who have a bad result.

 

Of course.  My only problem was with you telling people to stay away from it, ignoring the evidence that it may offer relief.

 

Alto is correct, we don't really know the long term effects of this supplement are, and what if it makes things worse then what? Then you are worse

off then when you started, more depressed and miserable. Is it worth the risk?

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ignoring the evidence that it may offer relief

 

There is a link in the first post in this topic. That is what I researched and commented upon. I should have kept my big fat fingers shut.

 

I did a little more research on the topic yesterday and I was shocked at what I found. I am definitely keeping my big fat fingers shut on THAT one.

 

Out of all of the bajillion results my search term returned, why in the world did I click on the one I did? Gah.....

What happened and how I arrived here: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4243-cymbaltawithdrawal5600-introduction/#entry50878

 

July 2016 I have decided to leave my story here at SA unfinished. I have left my contact information in my profile for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I have a posting history spanning nearly 4 years and 3000+ posts all over the site.

 

Thank you to all who participated in my recovery. I'll miss talking to you but know that I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, suffering and rejoicing with you in spirit, as you go on in your journey.

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True.

 

How often is this permanent? I took zoloft for more than 8 years.

 

It's so cruel, because with each dosage decrease, I gained more and more functioning. Logically, I thought this would mean functioning would return completely when I stopped them - and it almost did. Only for it to then disappear again! Yes, I get erections, but there's not much point to them when nothing else functions.

 

I know there's no real research data on PSSD, but anecdotally from here and the other forum, I'm presuming most people do recover sexual functioning (to a greater or lesser degree?) Can anyone add anything to this? The internet is littered with stories of people who still have PSSD years out - actually, how common is this?

February 2004 - mid 2005 - 50 mg zoloft.

 

Mid 2005 - lexapro 20mg (3 months) Discontinued SSRIs for a few months - withdrawal.

 

20mg paxil towards end of 2005 for few weeks - borderline psychosis - lasted until Nay 2006.

 

Restarted sertraline in early 2006, ending up on 200mg. Down to 100mg in 2009 - stabilised at that dose for a couple of years.

 

Updosed to 150mg for a few weeks in 2012, before a psychiatrist put me back down to 100mg (no taper!)

 

Too fast taper off zoloft 100mg between May/June 2012 and September/October. Withdrawal started end of December 2012.

 

Tried to reinstate zoloft March 2012 50 mg - worsened.

 

Stemetil 5mg during an acute phase of labyrinthitis/vertigo in early 2011. Haven't taken since mid 2012.

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Although I have no idea how common this is, most people improve within a period of 1-5 years. However, that is an average and your recovery may vary.

I am off of all meds as of May 20th, 2013, after 5 weeks on Zoloft and a 4 week taper. Still experiencing: moderate anhedonia & PSSD, I am otherwise mostly healed. 

 

2.1 years off of medication. 

 

"If I walk away, don't hate me. I've got to see where the pain will take me.

 

I found no angels...I found myself."

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What is your source for that information, theelt?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Just an average of success stories I've read on places like PP.

I am off of all meds as of May 20th, 2013, after 5 weeks on Zoloft and a 4 week taper. Still experiencing: moderate anhedonia & PSSD, I am otherwise mostly healed. 

 

2.1 years off of medication. 

 

"If I walk away, don't hate me. I've got to see where the pain will take me.

 

I found no angels...I found myself."

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  • 4 weeks later...

According to a study, Ginkgo may be helpful:

 

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleID=174132

 

"A 1-month trial of ginkgo biloba was prescribed for 22 consecutive patients (nine men and 13 women) seen in a private psychiatric office who complained of SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction. The gingko biloba was purchased at a local health store, and the prescribed dose was 300 mg t.i.d. Oral consent was obtained; written consent was not obtained because the results of this study were not initially for publication. SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction was defined as a new impairment in sexual desire, arousal, or orgasm appearing within 4 weeks of beginning treatment with an SSRI. Ratings of improvement were based on clinical interviews by the patient’s treating psychiatrist."

I am off of all meds as of May 20th, 2013, after 5 weeks on Zoloft and a 4 week taper. Still experiencing: moderate anhedonia & PSSD, I am otherwise mostly healed. 

 

2.1 years off of medication. 

 

"If I walk away, don't hate me. I've got to see where the pain will take me.

 

I found no angels...I found myself."

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True.

 

How often is this permanent? I took zoloft for more than 8 years.

 

It's so cruel, because with each dosage decrease, I gained more and more functioning. Logically, I thought this would mean functioning would return completely when I stopped them - and it almost did. Only for it to then disappear again! Yes, I get erections, but there's not much point to them when nothing else functions.

 

I know there's no real research data on PSSD, but anecdotally from here and the other forum, I'm presuming most people do recover sexual functioning (to a greater or lesser degree?) Can anyone add anything to this? The internet is littered with stories of people who still have PSSD years out - actually, how common is this?

I would read the recovery stories on this site. There are two stories specifically which should help regarding PSSD.

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Like withdrawal syndrome in general, I assume the rate of recovery from PSSD is a bell curve. At the left side, a small number of people who recover quickly. At the right side, a small number of people who take a very long time to recover (and at the very end, a small number of people whose recovery is indefinite). The majority are in the middle, recovering in some number of months to a few years.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Any update? I wish people wouldn't post something that really helped and then just dissapear.

Paxil 10mg 2004-2011

7.5mg 4months

5mg. 4months

2.5mg.8 months no wd issues

Dropped pax 4-10-12

5-9-12 started prozac to alleviate symptoms (no relief)

5-22-12 reinstated paxil 2.5mg

5-28-12 5mg pax (couldn't tolerate sides)

6-22-12 Pax 2.5

6-30-12 Pax O

Cerebrolysin to help with wd at 29 months. Horrible decision much worse.

Still suffering sever Brain fog, Confusion, slow thinking,And just feeling sick and weird (hard to explain),facial twitching, weakness, shaking and jerking

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  • 2 months later...

Hello,

 

I'm suffering from PSSD, I wrote this in my introduction:

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/5250-nella-can-only-3-pills-ruin-life/?p=67642

 

My symptoms are having no libido (really not a little bit, no arousal possible for me, feeling completely asexual) and its really painfull if we try to have sex. So we didn't have sex since 6 month and it doesn't seem to get better. I love my husband so much and it's hard not to have erotic feelings any more with him. I hope really that we can handle this, losing him would be very painful for me..

 

is it possible to recover, even if there is no improvement after several month?

 

If there will never be an improvement, can a relationship last and be happy without having sex, how do you live with it? are there any experiences from PSSD sufferers?

 

-Nella

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I had sexual dysfunction while taking SSRIs and complete PSSD after I stopped taking Paxil in 2004.

 

At that time, I was 54 and post-menopausal.

 

Gradually, sexual sensation did come back. In the last year or so, I would say orgasm is close to normal.

 

Libido, not so much -- but I am post-menopausal. I believe my age also caused recovery to be slow.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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that makes hope, thank you! So perhaps it takes a while untill I can see first improvements. I really hope my husband can wait no matter how long it will take..

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi, I'm a 39-year-old male. Was on Cymbalta for just over a month. Started on 30mg (which helped lift my mood a little), then was put on 60mg. I had the usual symptoms: headache, dry mouth, tired, manic, insomnia, no appetite. As soon as I was on 60mg my sex drive disappeared. No sexual thoughts or desire, not turned on by visual stimulation, no erections and unable to relieve myself for two weeks. That was a deal-breaker for me.

 

Then I recently met a lovely lady. I want to be with her completely and match her level of passion, but the drugs have neutralized all sexual desire and function. I flushed the rest of the Cymbalta out of frustration to try and get my mojo back as soon as possible. There's no way a full relationship is possible with a penis that does not work.

 

It's been two weeks since I stopped taking Cymbalta. For the first week I had terrible vertigo and didn't feel like myself at all. I masturbated with great difficulty (and no hardness) by the end of week two because I needed to know something was still working. Sometimes at night I get semi-erections, but nothing much to speak of. This second week I still have no real sexual desire or thoughts, and even pornography is just a bunch of pictures. When I'm with my lady friend intimately, I cannot get aroused and I'm just very aware of nothing happening down there. All I can do is apologize and give the (true) excuse of the drugs affecting my ability, this isn't me normally.

 

I'm concerned the Cymbalta has done permanent damage to my sexual function and that in itself is very depressing; that I'll never be a whole man again. I don't know if I just need to give the withdrawal more time. But by then I think I will have lost my new relationship.

 

I hate these drugs.

Depression, social anxiety, SI, alcohol dependence.

 

2000s

Avanza

Effexor

Xanax

Valium

 

2013

Cymbalta 30mg (1 month), 60mg (2.5 weeks)

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Hello Maxbeta; you were on the poison a short time.

You've been off a short time too.

Give it time;witdrawal can be cruel but it is not forever.

Try not to resist it.

Be patient, it will be alright.

4 years aprox. on 150mgs.Effexor for situational major depression.No AD before.
Tapered 150-0mgs in 3 months.

Tapered Quetiapine,Xanax in the last 18 months.NO med of any kind anymore.
First 3 months off acute w/d
Protracted w/d ever since.
Symptoms:Anxiety,anhedonia,insomnia,tinnitus,PSSD

04/13/2014 Awful Relapse.Recovered fairly fast.

3 years and 4 months off.

waves and windows.Very much recovered.

November 2015,health issue.Setback.
 

 

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Hello Maxbeta; you were on the poison a short time.

You've been off a short time too.

Give it time;witdrawal can be cruel but it is not forever.

Try not to resist it.

Be patient, it will be alright.

 

Thank you, I need to hear that. I feel I've lost part of myself at the moment. Annoyed with myself for taking the stuff in the first place. And worried because I think I've done damage.

 

I'll just have to give it more time, as you said.

Depression, social anxiety, SI, alcohol dependence.

 

2000s

Avanza

Effexor

Xanax

Valium

 

2013

Cymbalta 30mg (1 month), 60mg (2.5 weeks)

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Give it time, Max. Please start a topic for yourself in the Introductions forum so you can track your progress in it.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Hi Altostrata,

 

You mention that "Probably most people recover functioning fairly quickly". Just curious, do you happen have any evidence that backs up your statement?

 

I am tapering off my meds and have not seen a consistent improvement in sexual performance yet. I am starting to be concerned that when I am off these drugs I will have pssd. To be honest, it is giving me some suicidal thoughts and would love to know that chances are I will not have pssd.

 

Thank you in advance.

Serzone (Nefadazone) and Wellbutrin (Buoproprin) for over ten years
Nefazadone Starting Point 150 mg
12/2 135 mg, 12/16 130 mg, 12/21 125 mg, 12/24 120 mg, 1/5 110 mg, 1/26 100 mg, 2/9 90 mg, 3/1 80 mg, 3/22 70 mg, 4/12 60 mg
5/3 50 mg, 5/15 55 mg, 8/15 70 mg, 10/15 90 mg, 11/1/12 100 mg, 10/1/13 90 mg, 10/15/13 85 mg, 10/20/13 90 mg, 3/29/15 16 mg

Buproprin Starting Point 300 mg

5/1/13 270, 5/15/13 240, 6/1/13 230, 6/15/13 200, 7/1/13 185, 7/20/13 170, 8/20/13 185, 3/29/15 170

Completely off Serzone: 10/1/17; Completely off Buprioprion 5/21/18

 

 

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greenwell, given the millions on these drugs, and the millions who go off them, it's a fraction who end up looking for answers on the Web. Most have few problems going off drugs. We have to accept this.

 

Most likely, the amount of difficulty going off psychiatric drugs is a normal curve, with a fraction at the left side having no problems at all, a fraction on the right side having almost insurmountable difficulty, and the largest population in the middle with symptoms that do not last long.

 

However, the fraction who do have great difficulty are not insignificant, and this demands more recognition by medicine.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • 1 month later...

At almost 18 months since my last dose of Effexor, I've hit a plateau regarding my wd symptoms.

Today is my 5th day in a row of clear window regarding anxiety, neuro-fear and dysphoria.

With very low levels of anxiety, the levels of tiredness wax and wane, but much better.

Almost no physical symptoms, just a little tinnitus.

What really concerns me right now is broken sleep and PSSD.

I wake up constantly; I've learned to cope with it, but it is very annoying to say the least.

PSSD in the form of premature ejaculation, is really bad.

I just hope that with time, it will improve too.

It's really incredble the damage these damn drugs do.

4 years aprox. on 150mgs.Effexor for situational major depression.No AD before.
Tapered 150-0mgs in 3 months.

Tapered Quetiapine,Xanax in the last 18 months.NO med of any kind anymore.
First 3 months off acute w/d
Protracted w/d ever since.
Symptoms:Anxiety,anhedonia,insomnia,tinnitus,PSSD

04/13/2014 Awful Relapse.Recovered fairly fast.

3 years and 4 months off.

waves and windows.Very much recovered.

November 2015,health issue.Setback.
 

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Alto - do you think irreversible PSSD is very rare? (I know, for example, that Healy seems quite pessimistic about its reversibility). Sometimes, I THINK it's improving, but the improvements seem so slight and transient that I question whether they were ever really there. Maybe that just mirrors withdrawal in general.

February 2004 - mid 2005 - 50 mg zoloft.

 

Mid 2005 - lexapro 20mg (3 months) Discontinued SSRIs for a few months - withdrawal.

 

20mg paxil towards end of 2005 for few weeks - borderline psychosis - lasted until Nay 2006.

 

Restarted sertraline in early 2006, ending up on 200mg. Down to 100mg in 2009 - stabilised at that dose for a couple of years.

 

Updosed to 150mg for a few weeks in 2012, before a psychiatrist put me back down to 100mg (no taper!)

 

Too fast taper off zoloft 100mg between May/June 2012 and September/October. Withdrawal started end of December 2012.

 

Tried to reinstate zoloft March 2012 50 mg - worsened.

 

Stemetil 5mg during an acute phase of labyrinthitis/vertigo in early 2011. Haven't taken since mid 2012.

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from David Healy's site

 

Sexual Dysfunction Enduring After Treatment Halts: s-DEATH 

http://davidhealy.org/sexual-dysfunction-enduring-after-treatment-halts-s-death/

 

check out the art work from that page too

Everything Matters: Beyond Meds 

https://beyondmeds.com/

withdrawn from a cocktail of 6 psychiatric drugs that included every class of psych drug.
 

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Interesting. Healy seems a bit more nuanced in this article and seems to suggest people may recover after 5-10 years.

 

 

from David Healy's site

 

Sexual Dysfunction Enduring After Treatment Halts: s-DEATH 

http://davidhealy.org/sexual-dysfunction-enduring-after-treatment-halts-s-death/

 

check out the art work from that page too

February 2004 - mid 2005 - 50 mg zoloft.

 

Mid 2005 - lexapro 20mg (3 months) Discontinued SSRIs for a few months - withdrawal.

 

20mg paxil towards end of 2005 for few weeks - borderline psychosis - lasted until Nay 2006.

 

Restarted sertraline in early 2006, ending up on 200mg. Down to 100mg in 2009 - stabilised at that dose for a couple of years.

 

Updosed to 150mg for a few weeks in 2012, before a psychiatrist put me back down to 100mg (no taper!)

 

Too fast taper off zoloft 100mg between May/June 2012 and September/October. Withdrawal started end of December 2012.

 

Tried to reinstate zoloft March 2012 50 mg - worsened.

 

Stemetil 5mg during an acute phase of labyrinthitis/vertigo in early 2011. Haven't taken since mid 2012.

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Lately as suffering from lots of adverese/reaction withdrawal and got a Lot of hope from you guys thank you so much and i understand it will take time to go away but at the same time one symtoms seems to be troubling and it makes me feel depressed of how i may not be able to ever have a realtionship,marriage or kids in life(I'm 19)..... Just wanting to hear some positive vibes from people who were suffering from PSSD and it got back normal. How long does it normally take to heal. I have been suffering for this pssd dead libido and numb gential from Going cold turkey on ssri on march 2013....

I was reading a bit here and there and on pssd forums for how some people it is permenent and never goes away for them .

 

I have read here too for many people it took years to get it back but what is the probability of pssd being permanent like people say out there ?

Thank you

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I don't think anybody can answer that as I don't think there have been any studies on how many recover and how many don't.  Some people do.  I am not completely numb any more but I was for years.  Still sex is not an issue for me seemingly does not exist in my world any longer feels strange to say that. I did not have function even after the numbness left when occassional function returned kind of with a lot of work... if you know what I mean orgasm came forgive the pun can't resist with a horrid head pain...to the point that it put of sex altogether... yes if you give pain on a particular action the action will decrease and likely stop.  After that brief time of working with pain the feeling just kind of went away again.  I am female not sure if this helps much but I have seen people on boards like this who have regain their sex lives I have been basically celibate for almost 8 years now. 

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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I think it can. My sexual functioning has gradually improved since I discontinued (although it sometimes doesn't feel like it) and I now get almost daily morning erections. Numbness and orgasm strength are still a problem but can be somewhat variable.

 

I think it depends on many things - time spent on the drugs, dosage, etc. If you read one Healy's most recent articles on rxisk he is a bit more nuanced about recovery than previously, whereas before he seemed to think it was permanent.

 

There are stories on the web from people who have recovered 90-100%. It can take a long time though, and the worst thing is the uncertainty.

February 2004 - mid 2005 - 50 mg zoloft.

 

Mid 2005 - lexapro 20mg (3 months) Discontinued SSRIs for a few months - withdrawal.

 

20mg paxil towards end of 2005 for few weeks - borderline psychosis - lasted until Nay 2006.

 

Restarted sertraline in early 2006, ending up on 200mg. Down to 100mg in 2009 - stabilised at that dose for a couple of years.

 

Updosed to 150mg for a few weeks in 2012, before a psychiatrist put me back down to 100mg (no taper!)

 

Too fast taper off zoloft 100mg between May/June 2012 and September/October. Withdrawal started end of December 2012.

 

Tried to reinstate zoloft March 2012 50 mg - worsened.

 

Stemetil 5mg during an acute phase of labyrinthitis/vertigo in early 2011. Haven't taken since mid 2012.

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I don't think anybody can answer that as I don't think there have been any studies on how many recover and how many don't.  Some people do.  I am not completely numb any more but I was for years.  Still sex is not an issue for me seemingly does not exist in my world any longer feels strange to say that. I did not have function even after the numbness left when occassional function returned kind of with a lot of work... if you know what I mean orgasm came forgive the pun can't resist with a horrid head pain...to the point that it put of sex altogether... yes if you give pain on a particular action the action will decrease and likely stop.  After that brief time of working with pain the feeling just kind of went away again.  I am female not sure if this helps much but I have seen people on boards like this who have regain their sex lives I have been basically celibate for almost 8 years now. 

Hi btdt thanks for sharing your story. well you were on drugs for such a long time probably from 89 to 07 ? Wow that's like almost two decades ... This is the first time I'm hearing someone being on drugs for so long ...

I believe you must be quite older than  me so age can play a factor here being on ssri.. That long being on drugs can seriously fudge around with anyone.

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I think it can. My sexual functioning has gradually improved since I discontinued (although it sometimes doesn't feel like it) and I now get almost daily morning erections. Numbness and orgasm strength are still a problem but can be somewhat variable.

 

I think it depends on many things - time spent on the drugs, dosage, etc. If you read one Healy's most recent articles on rxisk he is a bit more nuanced about recovery than previously, whereas before he seemed to think it was permanent.

 

There are stories on the web from people who have recovered 90-100%. It can take a long time though, and the worst thing is the uncertainty.

Hi,elbillingino. Thank for posting by ... well good to hear you have improved,.. Yes heard a lot of story of people recoving even after years....well these guys you know when they have it for like 3-4 years go posting around on the internet that its permanent and when they recover they aren't on the forum anymore to post that.. Well I have seen this on pssd forums.....

 

I hope we completely recover man..Admin Altostrata did leaving it naturally and If I'm not wrong it took 6 years ..............I did see your history 8 years on drugs. oh Man  .. But Since you are letting it heal naturally and aren't taking any treamtment for pssd I am sure you'll heal since you're improving. Some ex-pssd sufferer told me the body and brain has amazing healing powers  give it time to get back to its natural state yes it may take years but when it does it'll be permanent on the other hand there are many treatments out there that can give us back our sex life and completely make us normal and horny again . but those are like cancer...as long as we are taking them we'll be ok as we leave them the symtoms will return much worse as the dopamine & norepinephrine receptors build tolerance and stop producing it naturally.. probably these drugs have to be taken for life for sex life to be normal but then they come with their own hellish side effects.. Probably we don't cure the side effect of a drug with another drug. this cycle Goes on .....

 

Since I am 19 and was lexapro,paxil and trifluoperazine(I was mis-diagnosied for schizophrenia) From october 2012 to march 2013 and quit cold turkey(later had an adverse reaction to 1 pill paxil(24th january 2014) -still suffering from side effects of it) I am hoping for complete recovery on pssd and I am very glad I did my own re-search on internet and found this forum as I was going back on ssri due to adverse reaction of 1 pill that caused my anxiety and depression but I didn't thanks to this forum..

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