PSSD
Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction
Summaries
PSSD Lab / Ghost
- Video explaining the 5-HT1A Autoreceptor Desensitization theory.
Research
u/JacobCook715 (Recovery stories)
While this Reddit user's account is suspended, the research is available online.
- Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/PSSD/comments/12g5u0n/pssd_recovery_database_100_full_partial_recoveries/
- Excel document: https://1drv.ms/x/s!AsSCWpHHo6fMg4U7iP7gb61d2praow
The PSSD Lab (Wordpress blog) is one source of data used in this compilation.
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.