What is Post-SSRI syndrome?
Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD) is a condition in which patients continue to have sexual side effects after discontinuation of SSRI use. The prevalence of persistent sexual side effects after discontinuing SSRIs is unknown.
Is Post-SSRI syndrome real?
In 2006, reports appeared of a condition now termed Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD), in which the genital numbing, pleasureless or absent ejaculation/orgasm, and loss of libido remain and may become more pronounced after treatment stops. PSSD can persist for decades afterward.
How do you treat PSSD?
There is still no definitive treatment for PSSD. Low-power laser irradiation and phototherapy have shown some promising results. Conclusion: PSSD is a debilitating condition that adversely affects quality of life.
How long does it take for serotonin levels to return to normal after SSRI?
In cases where serotonin syndrome is only present in a mild form, symptoms may be alleviated within 24 hours of discontinuing the medication causing the uptake in serotonin. However, some antidepressants can cause symptoms to last longer as serotonin levels may take weeks to return to normal.
What are the side effects of SSRIs?
Common side effects of SSRIs can include:
- feeling agitated, shaky or anxious.
- feeling or being sick.
- indigestion.
- diarrhoea or constipation.
- loss of appetite and weight loss.
- dizziness.
- blurred vision.
- dry mouth.
Which antidepressant is least likely to cause impotence?
Antidepressants with the lowest rate of sexual side effects include:
- Bupropion (Wellbutrin XL, Wellbutrin SR)
- Mirtazapine (Remeron)
- Vilazodone (Viibryd)
- Vortioxetine (Trintellix)
Can antidepressants permanently change your brain?
They work by immediately increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain and by causing long term changes in brain function. However it can take weeks of treatment before a patient feels any effect and both beneficial effects and side effects can persist after treatment is stopped.
What does it mean to have post SSRI sexual dysfunction?
Post-selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) sexual dysfunction (PSSD) is a new clinical entity occurring after the antidepressant intake, and it is characterized by the fact that patients continue to present sexual side effects after the discontinuation of the drugs.
Are there any side effects after stopping SSRI’s?
Waldinger et al also reported other rare sexual side effects that might start with SSRI treatment and continue after stopping the medication; these include restless genital syndrome and persistent genital arousal disorder.
How long does a SSRI stay in your system?
Various studies have reported PSSD effects in those taking SSRI medication for as short as 9 days and as long as 9 to 10 years. As evidence of PSSD mounts, it is becoming more accepted as a true medical condition that needs to be treated to reduce or eliminate symptoms.
Are there any SSRIs that inhibit serotonin reuptake?
Isotretinoin (Accutane) which is used as a treatment for acne [ 18, 26 ], and is also serotonin reuptake inhibiting. The use of SSRIs or SNRIs, and often their withdrawal, has consistently been reported as one of the triggers of persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) [ 10 ].