Re: my story

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group. I too was duped into being put on medication (Prozac) at the age of 17 and I am 26 now. I can understand your frustration about never having sex. I never had sex prior to going on the medication. I was able to have sex on the meds only a few times and it was not a pleasant experience for me because I have no labido. Now I shy away from any sort of romantic relationship. Anyhow, you found the right group. We are all dedicated to helping each other find ways to overcome the problems that were caused by psychatric medications. There is another helpful Yahoo group called Withdrawal and Recovery. I am using that group right now to help me withdraw off the lithium and klonopin that I am taking now. I would recommend joining that group and posting your story there as well. cmichelle989

wrote: Hello everyone. This post is more of a rant than anything I guess. I don't really have anyone I feel comfortable discussing all of this with so I decided to post here. Anyway, I have PSSD from being put on Paxil when I was 17. I took it for about 4 years before I was finally able to discontinue it; I had really bad withdrawals from stopping it, and I was so glad when I finally succeeded, I assumed that my libido would return to normal afterwards; but of course it didn't. I was discouraged but kept hoping that it

would eventually come back. I have never felt like myself after discontinuing it, not just sexually but emotionally and mentally. I never struggled with depression before, and now I do; I can't help but think it's from the Paxil. Plus, I don't feel as though I should have ever been prescribed it in the first place, as I wasn't depressed; I was prescribed it for mild social anxiety problems, which I think could have been solved fairly easily just with counseling; but I didn't know any better at the time. Last year, after being off Paxil about 8 months, I went on Lexapro due to gradually worsening depression; it helped the depression a lot, but I ended up discontinuing it after about 4 months since I wanted to have some chance of regaining my sexuality. All that to say...I'm just so angry and sad at what these drugs did to me. I'm 23, and I've never had sex; prior to going on antidepressants, I abstained from sexual

activity for religious reasons. Now I'm afraid I'll never be able to experience sex the way it's supposed to be; I could go out and have sex tonight, but what would be the point, I know I wouldn't enjoy it. And I want to get married someday, but I can't imagine being married and never wanting to have sex, I don't see how that could ever work. In addition, my depression is starting to get bad again and I'm having a hard time dealing with life in general, so I'm thinking about going back on the Lexapro even though I don't want to(I still have some left). I called my doctor today to see about getting wellbutrin, but I won't be able to see her until next week. I'm sorry this is so long; thanks for reading, I just needed to vent a little.

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[Guest guest]

>

> Hello everyone. This post is more of a rant than anything I guess. I

> don't really have anyone I feel comfortable discussing all of this

> with so I decided to post here. Anyway, I have PSSD from being put on

> Paxil when I was 17. I took it for about 4 years before I was finally

> able to discontinue it; I had really bad withdrawals from stopping it,

> and I was so glad when I finally succeeded, I assumed that my libido

> would return to normal afterwards; but of course it didn't. I was

> discouraged but kept hoping that it would eventually come back.

> I have never felt like myself after discontinuing it, not just

> sexually but emotionally and mentally. I never struggled with

> depression before, and now I do; I can't help but think it's from the

> Paxil. Plus, I don't feel as though I should have ever been prescribed

> it in the first place, as I wasn't depressed; I was prescribed it for

> mild social anxiety problems, which I think could have been solved

> fairly easily just with counseling; but I didn't know any better at

> the time.

> Last year, after being off Paxil about 8 months, I went on Lexapro due

> to gradually worsening depression; it helped the depression a lot, but

> I ended up discontinuing it after about 4 months since I wanted to

> have some chance of regaining my sexuality.

> All that to say...I'm just so angry and sad at what these drugs did to

> me. I'm 23, and I've never had sex; prior to going on antidepressants,

> I abstained from sexual activity for religious reasons. Now I'm afraid

> I'll never be able to experience sex the way it's supposed to be; I

> could go out and have sex tonight, but what would be the point, I know

> I wouldn't enjoy it. And I want to get married someday, but I can't

> imagine being married and never wanting to have sex, I don't see how

> that could ever work. In addition, my depression is starting to get

> bad again and I'm having a hard time dealing with life in general, so

> I'm thinking about going back on the Lexapro even though I don't want

> to(I still have some left). I called my doctor today to see about

> getting wellbutrin, but I won't be able to see her until next week.

> I'm sorry this is so long; thanks for reading, I just needed to vent a

> little.

>

Your situation is nearly identical to mine. Even the sequence of meds

you went on, I was perscribed paxil at age 15 because of depression

and social anxiety, which I believe was caused by the drug adderall.

And now knowing the consequences of using paxil I to feel that the

perscription wasn't necessary and my problems could have been dealt

through other ways. I also went on lexapro after paxil, which just

made me emotionally numb, socially disconnected, just wasn't me. Most

my problems consisted of mental problems, not really feeling like

myself anymore, emotions just out of wack, and I started having the

sex drive problems recently. The last ad I tried was prozac and I

couldn't tolerate these meds anymore so I went off..That's when I

first noticed sex drive problems. I am 19 and also haven't had sex,

mostly due to social anxiety issues, not finding anyone I guess.. but

I don't know if I can forsee any in the future. I've been off for

almost 200 days, and really I don't know if I see much improvement. I

have almost no motivation or passion anymore, on or off the drugs

really. It's just been a huge nightmare.

[Guest guest]

Thank you all for your responses. I'm glad I found this group; it

helps knowing I'm not the only one.

> >

> > Hello everyone. This post is more of a rant than anything I

guess. I

> > don't really have anyone I feel comfortable discussing all of

this

> > with so I decided to post here. Anyway, I have PSSD from being

put on

> > Paxil when I was 17. I took it for about 4 years before I was

finally

> > able to discontinue it; I had really bad withdrawals from

stopping it,

> > and I was so glad when I finally succeeded, I assumed that my

libido

> > would return to normal afterwards; but of course it didn't. I

was

> > discouraged but kept hoping that it would eventually come back.

> > I have never felt like myself after discontinuing it, not just

> > sexually but emotionally and mentally. I never struggled with

> > depression before, and now I do; I can't help but think it's

from the

> > Paxil. Plus, I don't feel as though I should have ever been

prescribed

> > it in the first place, as I wasn't depressed; I was prescribed

it for

> > mild social anxiety problems, which I think could have been

solved

> > fairly easily just with counseling; but I didn't know any better

at

> > the time.

> > Last year, after being off Paxil about 8 months, I went on

Lexapro due

> > to gradually worsening depression; it helped the depression a

lot, but

> > I ended up discontinuing it after about 4 months since I wanted

to

> > have some chance of regaining my sexuality.

> > All that to say...I'm just so angry and sad at what these drugs

did to

> > me. I'm 23, and I've never had sex; prior to going on

antidepressants,

> > I abstained from sexual activity for religious reasons. Now I'm

afraid

> > I'll never be able to experience sex the way it's supposed to

be; I

> > could go out and have sex tonight, but what would be the point,

I know

> > I wouldn't enjoy it. And I want to get married someday, but I

can't

> > imagine being married and never wanting to have sex, I don't see

how

> > that could ever work. In addition, my depression is starting to

get

> > bad again and I'm having a hard time dealing with life in

general, so

> > I'm thinking about going back on the Lexapro even though I don't

want

> > to(I still have some left). I called my doctor today to see

about

> > getting wellbutrin, but I won't be able to see her until next

week.

> > I'm sorry this is so long; thanks for reading, I just needed to

vent a

> > little.

> >

>

> Your situation is nearly identical to mine. Even the sequence of

meds

> you went on, I was perscribed paxil at age 15 because of depression

> and social anxiety, which I believe was caused by the drug

adderall.

> And now knowing the consequences of using paxil I to feel that the

> perscription wasn't necessary and my problems could have been dealt

> through other ways. I also went on lexapro after paxil, which just

> made me emotionally numb, socially disconnected, just wasn't me.

Most

> my problems consisted of mental problems, not really feeling like

> myself anymore, emotions just out of wack, and I started having the

> sex drive problems recently. The last ad I tried was prozac and I

> couldn't tolerate these meds anymore so I went off..That's when I

> first noticed sex drive problems. I am 19 and also haven't had sex,

> mostly due to social anxiety issues, not finding anyone I guess..

but

> I don't know if I can forsee any in the future. I've been off for

> almost 200 days, and really I don't know if I see much

improvement. I

> have almost no motivation or passion anymore, on or off the drugs

> really. It's just been a huge nightmare.

>

[Guest guest]

I do believe there is a psychological component as well. Perhaps our brains only remember how it feels on the drugs and forgets to reprogram itself because the drugs make us more relaxed and happy so the brain says this is a better state than when depressed. but, it is all conjecture. I am also on Lipitor for cholesterol and there is a web site that deals with the sexual side effects that are un-reported as well. Like i said earlier, i have a strong back ground in medicine and none of this makes sense. Why just our sex organs. why dont we remain depression free as well if the brain is remaping our sex drive. well enough of this. not good to harp on it for too long. IraJack Webb wrote: I have been on these drugs for 15 years off and on (OCD) and I can not honestly say that they have done anything to my sex drive. Sure, when I am on them they do, but I tend to cycle on and off them, so that when I'm off them or on a low dose, I don't have too much effects. I also have prostatitis and that can definitely effect your sex drive. My semen is reduced, but I'm 49, and that happens as you get older. I don't really have any numbness or any of that. I don't have any problems ejaculating at all, nor in general do I have impotence problems except on some of the drugs. A recent gf told me that most men my age are impotent anyway, so I figure that as long as it works, hey, it's all good.Right now I am on

Celexa and of course have no drive at all, but I'm having a really bad OCD attack or caffeine intoxication (Luvox made my caffeine levels go through the roof) episode, so I need something. It's too bad because I still had a good drive on the Luvox. When I cycle off the drugs or reduce the drugs, the drive always comes back. Does this happen to everyone? How many people are effected?Is it possible that I was on these drugs for 15 years and was not effected?

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[Guest guest]

I think 3 1/2 years. After that, I cycled on and off all the time. The other night I had strong erections all night long, and that's not uncommon at all. I started on at age 33 and now I'm 49, so my drive is not what it used to be, but still, I figure that is just normal. In particular, the weakened orgasm many are complaining about seems to increase with age in men. Also the semen volume lowers.I must say that this is a really terrible condition. Now, since I have OCD, I am probably going to start worrying that I am going to get it.> >> > I have been on these drugs for 15 years off and on (OCD) and I can > not> > honestly say that they have done anything to my sex drive. Sure, > when I> > am on them they do, but I tend to cycle on and off them, so that > when> > I'm off them or on a low dose, I don't have too much effects. I also> > have prostatitis and that can definitely effect your sex drive.> > > > My semen is reduced, but I'm 49, and that happens as you get older. > I> > don't really have any numbness or any of that. I don't have any > problems> > ejaculating at all, nor in general do I have impotence problems > except> > on some of the drugs. A recent gf told me that most men my age are> > impotent anyway, so I figure that as long as it works, hey, it's all> > good.> > > > Right now I am on Celexa and of course have no drive at all, but I'm> > having a really bad OCD attack or caffeine intoxication (Luvox made > my> > caffeine levels go through the roof) episode, so I need something. > It's> > too bad because I still had a good drive on the Luvox. When I cycle > off> > the drugs or reduce the drugs, the drive always comes back.> > > > Does this happen to everyone? How many people are effected?> > > > Is it possible that I was on these drugs for 15 years and was not> > effected?> >>

[Guest guest]

What is the longest someone on this site has been off the SSRI and still has the side effects? Ira"Vornan-19 (moderator)" wrote: Not everybody gets PSSD. There is probably genetic variablity in the ability to reverse the effects after quitting. You may be one of the lucky ones.What is the longest continuous time that you were ever on an SSRI without taking a break? It's possible that if you only taken them for a few months at a time,

tha you could avoid persistent effects. Although it can happen in as little as a few weeks for some people.Vornan>> I have been on these drugs for 15 years off and on (OCD) and I can not> honestly say that they have done anything to my sex drive. Sure, when I> am on them they do, but I tend to cycle on and off them, so that when> I'm off them or on a low dose, I don't have too much effects. I also> have prostatitis and that can definitely effect your sex drive.> > My semen is reduced, but I'm 49, and that happens as you get older. I> don't really have any numbness or any of that. I don't have any problems> ejaculating at all, nor in general do I have impotence problems except> on some of the drugs. A recent gf told me that

most men my age are> impotent anyway, so I figure that as long as it works, hey, it's all> good.> > Right now I am on Celexa and of course have no drive at all, but I'm> having a really bad OCD attack or caffeine intoxication (Luvox made my> caffeine levels go through the roof) episode, so I need something. It's> too bad because I still had a good drive on the Luvox. When I cycle off> the drugs or reduce the drugs, the drive always comes back.> > Does this happen to everyone? How many people are effected?> > Is it possible that I was on these drugs for 15 years and was not> effected?>

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[Guest guest]

I think a failure to reprogram is the heart of the problem. Though I

think it's more likely to be gene expression than psychological.

There are probably different parts of the brain involved in the

antidepressive effects and the anti-sexual effects and they may not

reprogram together, in synch. Even the various aspects of sexual

function are probably occurring in different parts of the brain so

you may recover from some of the sexual side effects, anorgasmia say,

but not others such as libido.

As a nurse practitioner, have you ever had a complaint of PSSD from

any of your patients?

Lipitor can certainly cause sexual side effects. How long have you

been on it?

> I have been on these drugs for 15 years off and on (OCD)

and I can not honestly say that they have done anything to my sex

drive. Sure, when I am on them they do, but I tend to cycle on and

off them, so that when I'm off them or on a low dose, I don't have

too much effects. I also have prostatitis and that can definitely

effect your sex drive.

>

> My semen is reduced, but I'm 49, and that happens as you get older.

I don't really have any numbness or any of that. I don't have any

problems ejaculating at all, nor in general do I have impotence

problems except on some of the drugs. A recent gf told me that most

men my age are impotent anyway, so I figure that as long as it works,

hey, it's all good.

>

> Right now I am on Celexa and of course have no drive at all, but

I'm having a really bad OCD attack or caffeine intoxication (Luvox

made my caffeine levels go through the roof) episode, so I need

something. It's too bad because I still had a good drive on the

Luvox. When I cycle off the drugs or reduce the drugs, the drive

always comes back.

>

> Does this happen to everyone? How many people are effected?

>

> Is it possible that I was on these drugs for 15 years and was not

effected?

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

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> in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q & A.

>

[Guest guest]

>

If it were the case that the brains of people with PSSD were

preferring to stay set as they were when they were on the SSRIs

because they had the effect of improving mood then we would expect

that people with PSSD would have benefitted from taking the SSRI in

some way.

In my case I took Prozac because I was `coerced` into it and not

because i felt the need to.There were no positive effects of the

drug for me with regards to feeling more relaxed ,happy or anything.

I did nt expect to become impotent on it and i fully expected to

return to normal after i stopped taking Prozac.

However i was rendered impotent within days of beginning to take

Prozac,was nt on it for many months,and have not had a single proper

erection since ,11 years later.

I really dont take seriously the psychological-cause theory for PSSD

in people who had no problems with sexual dysfunction prior to

taking the SSRI.