PSSD

Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction

Research

u/Bubzoluck (PharmD)

The Reddit user Bubzoluck has posted results of his/her PSSD survey. Findings include:

• Two thirds were male. 80 responses received.
• Young demographic. (It is unclear if this is a reflection of the Reddit demographic?)
• Most people were on their PSSD med for less than a year
• Most people reported having PSSD for >1 year since stopping their med
• SSRIs were the most common cause of PSSD (82.5%). 3 medications were the most common- Zoloft/sertraline (30%), Lexapro/escitalopram (20%), and Prozac/fluoxetine (12%).

Core symptoms were:

• Sexual Symptoms
  • Difficulty generating or sustaining an erection
  • Reduced genital sensation
  • Pleasureless or weak orgasms
  • Reduced response to sex stimuli
  • Vaginal dryness
• Cognitive Symptoms
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Short an/or long term memory impairment
  • Loss of creativity and visualization inside mind
  • Speaking, reading, writing, solving slower
  • Difficulty understanding information
• Mood Symptoms
  • Depression and low moods
  • Feelings of emptiness or helplessness
  • Loss of energy and insomnia
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Lower self-esteem and lack of pleasure

Sheetrit et al.

Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction; Clinical Characterization and Preliminary Assessment of Contributory Factors and Dose-Realted Relationship by Joseph Ben-Sheetrit et. al Journal of Clin Pharm, 06/2015. DOI:10.1097/JCP.0000000000000300

The paper is available here.

This 2015 paper makes an argument that PSSD is a real condition.

Despite the aforementioned limitations, the current investigation adds to the emerging evidence that SSRI/SNRI-induced sexual dysfunction persists in some patients beyond drug discontinuation and suggests that this phenomenon may not be fully explained by alternative non-pharmacological factors, including depression and anxiety.