Arahant intro - My experience with PSSD - treatment log.

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arahant
Posts: 564
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2019 11:54 am
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Arahant intro - My experience with PSSD - treatment log.

Unread post by arahant »

Hello Guys,

I have been following this forum since 2015, and I decided to share my experience with PSSD.

I recommend everyone to answer https://rxisk.org/experiencing-a-drug-side-effect/.

My score was 13.

It helped to prepare my intro to this forum.

Family Background
Mother - Generalized anxiety disorder
Father - Severe OCD.

Background

Diagnostic of ADHD, and Anxiety/OCD like behavior, obsessive thoughts about numbers, rituals to leave home, obsession for Sex and Pornography. I also had substantial genital and nipples sensitivity before experiencing PSSD.
I took Buproprion and Ritalin from 2007 to 2015.

I from 2014 to 2015, I was involved in a branch of Osho "sex" Cult (The Documentary "Wild Wild Country" ).
While inside the cult, I stopped Ritalin and bupropion ( Medicines are demonized inside cults).
And, I was involved in a lot of dissociative practices like Hyperventilation, "scream therapy" and tiring and painful exercises (Osho "Dynamic Meditation" is an example).

My Anxiety, sex obsession, and OCD like symptoms got too worse that I quit going to the cult.

Then I started taking Sertraline (25 - 150 mg/day) alongside Buproprion (150 mg/day that was supposed to "boost" the treatment and alleviate the sexual side effects).

But I had genital and nipple numbness just after started and orgasms without pleasure. I got Erectile dysfunction after 75 mg per day. No libido, no sexual drive. My Doctor prescribed Cialis, but I rejected, I suspected that the ED was due to loss of sexual sensations and numbness. I started doing Mindfulness meditation to alleviate my anxiety, which resulted in reducing the sertraline dose to zero after six months of daily practice ( 20 min - 60 min per day). My Anxiety/OCD symptoms were gone, my ADHD symptoms continued, and my Psychiatrist basically ignored my complaints of low sexual sensations and desire, and put me back on Buproprion and Ritalin (Wich improved my ADHD a lot), and I have no more ED.

Then I moved to another country, and I got to visit a younger psychiatrist (Resident under supervision) at a University Psychiatric Center. Then I started my journey of trying to treat my PSSD symptoms.

Warning, do not mess with psych drugs, be careful !!!

First try:

They kept methylphenidate 30 mg/day (ADHD) and increased my bupropion (doses between 150 to 450 mg/day) to try to improve my sexual experience. It failed tremendously, my anhedonia got worse, and I got severe jaw clenching, neck stiffness, suboccipital muscle pain, and severe tinnitus (without hearing loss). Also, I spent a lot of money on CHIRO/PT/ENT visits (people in the USA know how expensive Health Care is there), I am still recovering from the head and neck muscle pain and tinnitus (95% better). I had to stop bupropion and methylphenidate, and the doctor introduced buspirone (There is literature supporting the use of Buspirone as an antidote for antidepressant-induced bruxism https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/a ... 3817317169)

It resolved the jaw clenching that was bugging me 24/7 immediately. But the inconsistent "side" effects of buspirone started to appear. I started with 5 mg 3x/day (total of 15 mg), I got drowsiness 30 min after taking it, and spontaneous penile erections 1 - 1.5 h after taking it, which I found interesting because I was not fantasizing about sex.

Drowsiness is supposed to fade away after time, and I was told that, on average, it takes a week or so. Mine took more than three months, and I still get a bit tired after taking it. After a few months taking started 40 mg/day, something strange happens.

My old friend, yes, the fucking anxiety/claustrophobia/OCD like symptoms started to appear again, the symptoms were so intense that I thought about giving up reversing my PSSD.

Current try:

Today, I am visiting another doctor, and I am on methylphenidate again a schedule of buspirone (40 mg/day) and Hydroxyzine (12.5 mg/day). I got a small improvement in orgasms, but I still have delayed ejaculations that require a lot of vigorous masturbation, and I still have genital and nipple numbness.

I am going to put here a few things that I researched.

The time of peak concentration (Tmax) matters a lot for me. Buspirone has an average of 1 h to peak, and Hydroxyzine around two hours, and it varies a lot among people (It may explain a lot of inconsistent results). Then, I tried to match both peaks by taking buspirone one hour and Hydroxizyne 2 h before sex or masturbation, and voila!

I got food cravings and increased orgasm time. It remembered that I had a similar experience after smoking marihuana during my teenager age; I also used to smoke Salvia Divinorum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_divinorum), a potent opioid (kappa-opioid) receptor agonist and D2 receptor partial agonist.

I stopped smoking both weeds because it increased my anxiety/paranoia and ended up visiting a doctor (Here, my journey of visiting a psychiatrist started).

Lessons I learned:

Be careful while combining prescriptions. It can be painful.
Be aware of every drug peak time for maximum concentration, and try to match them.

Methylphenidate seems only to reduce my ADHD symptoms.

Because It seems that my OCD like symptoms are related to abnormalities on the 5-HT system, and the availability of the 5-HT2A in the brain https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-018-0128-4, and I took Sertraline which seems to mess around the 5-HT system.



My second attempt to alleviating my PSSD is matching the combination of:

Buspirone - Targeting 5-HT1A and in 5-HT2A
Hydroxyzine - Targeting 5-HT2A receptor
Supplement Capsaicin - Trying to improve genital and nipple numbness.

I might change Hydroxyzine to shallow doses of Cyproheptadine to target 5-HT2A, I am not sure, it seems to have gigantic side effects.

That is it!
I will keep you posted, and I would be glad to answer any questions.
Last edited by arahant on Tue Sep 01, 2020 4:04 pm, edited 7 times in total.
Wellbutrin (2007 - 2018)
Wellbutrin + Sertraline (2015)
Wellbutrin + Ritalin (2016 - 2018)
Wellbutrin + Ritalin + Sertraline (3 months in 2018)
Buspirone (Feb 2019 - Today)
Ritalin + Buspirone (Nov 2019 - today)
lw77
Posts: 89
Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2018 11:29 am
Contact:

Re: Arahant intro - My experience with PSSD

Unread post by lw77 »

Hi Arahant, welcome on the forum, sorry you have had to go through all this. Btw as you know, we have started a cooperation with the site propeciahelp, it would be really useful to participate to the survey they have created, is a very important wat to produce results to be used by scientists in the future, it regards people suffering from persistent side effects after drug use (it includes also.sufferer's from pssd)
You can follow the link with instructions,

https://forum.propeciahelp.com/t/post-d ... pate/34482

Best Lw
arahant
Posts: 564
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2019 11:54 am
Contact:

Re: Arahant intro - My experience with PSSD

Unread post by arahant »

lw77 wrote:Hi Arahant, welcome on the forum, sorry you have had to go through all this. Btw as you know, we have started a cooperation with the site propeciahelp, it would be really useful to participate to the survey they have created, is a very important wat to produce results to be used by scientists in the future, it regards people suffering from persistent side effects after drug use (it includes also.sufferer's from pssd)
You can follow the link with instructions,

https://forum.propeciahelp.com/t/post-d ... pate/34482

Best Lw
As I scientist I understand the importance of aggregating good data.
Then I registered but I am still waiting the invitation to answer the survey.

Regards.
Wellbutrin (2007 - 2018)
Wellbutrin + Sertraline (2015)
Wellbutrin + Ritalin (2016 - 2018)
Wellbutrin + Ritalin + Sertraline (3 months in 2018)
Buspirone (Feb 2019 - Today)
Ritalin + Buspirone (Nov 2019 - today)
Gameclay
Posts: 232
Joined: Fri Dec 29, 2017 6:23 pm
Contact:

Re: Arahant intro - My experience with PSSD

Unread post by Gameclay »

arahant wrote:
lw77 wrote:Hi Arahant, welcome on the forum, sorry you have had to go through all this. Btw as you know, we have started a cooperation with the site propeciahelp, it would be really useful to participate to the survey they have created, is a very important wat to produce results to be used by scientists in the future, it regards people suffering from persistent side effects after drug use (it includes also.sufferer's from pssd)
You can follow the link with instructions,

https://forum.propeciahelp.com/t/post-d ... pate/34482

Best Lw
As I scientist I understand the importance of aggregating good data.
Then I registered but I am still waiting the invitation to answer the survey.

Regards.
I believe you have to make a single forum post before you get access to the survey.
arahant
Posts: 564
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2019 11:54 am
Contact:

Re: updates

Unread post by arahant »

I Started supplementing Capsaicin yesterday, and I got no immediate improvement in genital and nipple numbness, so far.
Maybe it is too early to see results from Capsaicin.

buspirone.
I tried a higher dose a few months ago, and I started experiencing my anxiety symptoms back, my doctor decided to put on a lower dose for a few months and added hydroxyzine and the anxiety reduced a lot.

Now I am back on a higher dose of buspirone. If my anxiety increases again, I will try mindfulness to handle it.

Note: Interestingly, a patent for sexual dysfunction treatment protocol using buspirone was submitted a few decades ago:

Reference:
https://patents.google.com/patent/WO1987004621A1/en
Wellbutrin (2007 - 2018)
Wellbutrin + Sertraline (2015)
Wellbutrin + Ritalin (2016 - 2018)
Wellbutrin + Ritalin + Sertraline (3 months in 2018)
Buspirone (Feb 2019 - Today)
Ritalin + Buspirone (Nov 2019 - today)
arahant
Posts: 564
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2019 11:54 am
Contact:

Explosive orgasms are back!!!

Unread post by arahant »

I had my first window of improvement a few months ago while taking 40 mg/day of buspirone (10 -10 - 20).
But my anxiety got back alongside good orgasms.

Then I tried reducing for 35mg/day ( 10 - 10 - 15 ) then I got to my baseline of PSSD without anxiety a week after.

Then on my last appointment ( 3 weeks ago), I started 40 mg/day of buspirone (10-10-20 mg ) again.

Log update 09-12-2019 (Day-Month-Year):

After taking my night dose (20 mg of buspirone), I got something like mild drowsiness for about one hour, followed by a craving for salty food.
Then two hours of taking the last dose and not feeling any drowsiness, I had sex:

During sex, I tried to do more deep breaths with increased frequency (mild hyperventilation);
I notice increased sensitivity while being touched on my nipples and upper arm skin.

I have a post regarding my hyperventilation trial here:

http://www.pssdforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... ion#p33710

Something I got one of the most intense orgasms I have ever had:

Intense muscle spasms, loud groaning, total loss of sense of time and space.
My wife thought I was having something like an "epileptic seizure." But it was so good!

Before PSSD, I could not handle a strong orgasm like this, and I used to get anxious after having an orgasm, then the OCD loop used to start:

Anxiety -> craving for porn/sex -> orgasm -> anxiety -> craving for porn/ sex.

My take-home message is:

Psych meds usually take time to act, and it may vary a lot between people.
I have read a lot of 1-2 week "failed" trials here, maybe it was not enough time to kick in.

It is quite common to get anxious and try to solve it with intense trial and error.
But, My shrink thinks it is better to avoid stacking drugs as possible.
Cyproheptadine will be an option only if I do not respond to higher doses of Buspirone, and after three weeks, I started responding to buspirone, and I still have to check if it will keep working.

Methylphenidate improved only my ADHD symptoms (my previous windows were only taking buspirone).

I have tried capsaicin for a week and It has not helped yet.
I am considering stopping it because my second improvement window seems to be quite similar to the one I got only taking buspirone.

Shilajit: same as above.

References for buspirone:

My shrink sent me this link:

https://www.jwatch.org/jp19950401000000 ... ale-sexual

Patent for treatment of SD using Buspirone (Note that the average dose was about 45 mg/day)

https://patents.google.com/patent/WO1987004621A1/en
Wellbutrin (2007 - 2018)
Wellbutrin + Sertraline (2015)
Wellbutrin + Ritalin (2016 - 2018)
Wellbutrin + Ritalin + Sertraline (3 months in 2018)
Buspirone (Feb 2019 - Today)
Ritalin + Buspirone (Nov 2019 - today)
Fred
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue Aug 13, 2019 12:38 pm
Contact:

Re: Arahant intro - My experience with PSSD - treatment log.

Unread post by Fred »

Buspirone improved your orgasms?
arahant
Posts: 564
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2019 11:54 am
Contact:

Re: Arahant intro - My experience with PSSD - treatment log.

Unread post by arahant »

Fred wrote:Buspirone improved your orgasms?
Yes, but it took a while. It gave me only drowsiness at the beginning, even if I was taking low doses.
The dose was increased, month after month.
It also has a short half-life, then I always try to have sex around 1-2 h after taking a pill.
Wellbutrin (2007 - 2018)
Wellbutrin + Sertraline (2015)
Wellbutrin + Ritalin (2016 - 2018)
Wellbutrin + Ritalin + Sertraline (3 months in 2018)
Buspirone (Feb 2019 - Today)
Ritalin + Buspirone (Nov 2019 - today)
arahant
Posts: 564
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2019 11:54 am
Contact:

Re: Explosive orgasms are back!!!

Unread post by arahant »

arahant wrote:I had my first window of improvement a few months ago while taking 40 mg/day of buspirone (10 -10 - 20).
But my anxiety got back alongside good orgasms.

Then I tried reducing for 35mg/day ( 10 - 10 - 15 ) then I got to my baseline of PSSD without anxiety a week after.

Then on my last appointment ( 3 weeks ago), I started 40 mg/day of buspirone (10-10-20 mg ) again.

Log update 09-12-2019 (Day-Month-Year):

After taking my night dose (20 mg of buspirone), I got something like mild drowsiness for about one hour, followed by a craving for salty food.
Then two hours of taking the last dose and not feeling any drowsiness, I had sex:

During sex, I tried to do more deep breaths with increased frequency (mild hyperventilation);
I notice increased sensitivity while being touched on my nipples and upper arm skin.

I have a post regarding my hyperventilation trial here:

http://www.pssdforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... ion#p33710

Something I got one of the most intense orgasms I have ever had:

Intense muscle spasms, loud groaning, total loss of sense of time and space.
My wife thought I was having something like an "epileptic seizure." But it was so good!

Before PSSD, I could not handle a strong orgasm like this, and I used to get anxious after having an orgasm, then the OCD loop used to start:

Anxiety -> craving for porn/sex -> orgasm -> anxiety -> craving for porn/ sex.

My take-home message is:

Psych meds usually take time to act, and it may vary a lot between people.
I have read a lot of 1-2 week "failed" trials here, maybe it was not enough time to kick in.

It is quite common to get anxious and try to solve it with intense trial and error.
But, My shrink thinks it is better to avoid stacking drugs as possible.
Cyproheptadine will be an option only if I do not respond to higher doses of Buspirone, and after three weeks, I started responding to buspirone, and I still have to check if it will keep working.

Methylphenidate improved only my ADHD symptoms (my previous windows were only taking buspirone).

I have tried capsaicin for a week and It has not helped yet.
I am considering stopping it because my second improvement window seems to be quite similar to the one I got only taking buspirone.

Shilajit: same as above.

References for buspirone:

My shrink sent me this link:

https://www.jwatch.org/jp19950401000000 ... ale-sexual

Patent for treatment of SD using Buspirone (Note that the average dose was about 45 mg/day)

https://patents.google.com/patent/WO1987004621A1/en

Log update 12-12-2019 (Day-Month-Year)

Sexual:

I am still having intense orgasms.
Erotic dreams (started a few weeks ago).
Morning erections.

General:

I am experiencing chills and tears while listening to music that I love.
My extreme anxiety/OCD is not back like my previous windows, but I am practicing mindfulness, preventively.


That is it!
Wellbutrin (2007 - 2018)
Wellbutrin + Sertraline (2015)
Wellbutrin + Ritalin (2016 - 2018)
Wellbutrin + Ritalin + Sertraline (3 months in 2018)
Buspirone (Feb 2019 - Today)
Ritalin + Buspirone (Nov 2019 - today)
arahant
Posts: 564
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2019 11:54 am
Contact:

Re: Arahant intro - My experience with PSSD - treatment log.

Unread post by arahant »

Log update 14-12-2019 (Day-Month-Year)

Same as 12-12-2019, but adding:

Sexual:


I felt sexual arousal and noticed increased heartbeat by just looking at pics of "fitness Instagram-models".
Which I think is better than watching hardcore porn, I try to avoid it as possible.

General:

It is good to enjoy music again.
Noticed a little increase in irritability.

I stopped taking capsaicin and Sihajit last week because I did not notice any difference. I got the same improvements by just taking higher doses of buspirone a few months ago.
Wellbutrin (2007 - 2018)
Wellbutrin + Sertraline (2015)
Wellbutrin + Ritalin (2016 - 2018)
Wellbutrin + Ritalin + Sertraline (3 months in 2018)
Buspirone (Feb 2019 - Today)
Ritalin + Buspirone (Nov 2019 - today)
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