I think I've had PSSD for the past six years

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DWF
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I think I've had PSSD for the past six years

Unread post by DWF »

Hi there, I'm new to this forum and looking for help and answers. In brief, seven years ago a quick succession of stressful events plunged me into depression. After about six or seven months of dealing with this I went on Sertraline (Zoloft) at 50mg. At this dose I became hyper sexual and, at the age of 45 was as rampant as a teenager. After investigating online (in forums like this) I discovered this was a known side effect for a small percentage of users and that the effects would change when dosage was increased. Sure enough, my libido died when I increased dose to 100mg and up. My libido never came back. I discontinued use of Sertraline about a year later. My libido was dead and and has stayed that way ever since. For several years I felt no sexual pleasure, would not experience any spontaneous erections of any kind, didn't masturbate except rarely and more as a pipe-cleaning exercise. I became celibate partly due to that and partly due to choice and circumstance. Now, seven years later, I've met someone and have really clicked. Everything is there except for the sex. Viagra and Cialis do not help. I achieve half-hearted, brief erections at best. There is no lust, no energy, no nothing. I feel like the part of my brain responsible for sex drive has had a lobotomy. At best, I feel that something, somewhere is trying to make a connection somehow but all I experience is a headache in both side of my temples. Given my history I am willing to accept there is a level of psychosexual dysfunction and have booked in to see a therapist. But, having read up on the subject I feel I also have PSSD. Any help, any advice, any treatment options gratefully received. Many thanks
ryjoseph97
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Re: I think I've had PSSD for the past six years

Unread post by ryjoseph97 »

Hi there! I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing all of this heartache. PSSD is truly traumatizing and it doesn't help that it is often dismissed by medical professionals. I am fairly new to the forum as well and I am no chemist, so my input here is solely for encouragement. I don't want for your post to be left without any responses. I am on this forum a lot now and I want you to know you can direct message me any time.

As far as advice, I think @Ghost has provided some really important insight as to things to do and not to do. The main point of his that I will echo is don't read the sob stories. They will only make things worse. I think you getting connected to this forum is an excellent start to your journey. I can't promise you'll recover 100% but there are many people here who devote much of their time to researching and experimenting with treatments. Also, don't rush to the vitamin store as soon as you hear about a treatment that has been effective for one person. There are treatments that carry less risk than others.

I'll reach out again soon. But for now, I just want to welcome you and know that I am here for you.
Vercingétorix
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Re: I think I've had PSSD for the past six years

Unread post by Vercingétorix »

DWF wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:18 am Hi there, I'm new to this forum and looking for help and answers. In brief, seven years ago a quick succession of stressful events plunged me into depression. After about six or seven months of dealing with this I went on Sertraline (Zoloft) at 50mg. At this dose I became hyper sexual and, at the age of 45 was as rampant as a teenager. After investigating online (in forums like this) I discovered this was a known side effect for a small percentage of users and that the effects would change when dosage was increased. Sure enough, my libido died when I increased dose to 100mg and up. My libido never came back. I discontinued use of Sertraline about a year later. My libido was dead and and has stayed that way ever since. For several years I felt no sexual pleasure, would not experience any spontaneous erections of any kind, didn't masturbate except rarely and more as a pipe-cleaning exercise. I became celibate partly due to that and partly due to choice and circumstance. Now, seven years later, I've met someone and have really clicked. Everything is there except for the sex. Viagra and Cialis do not help. I achieve half-hearted, brief erections at best. There is no lust, no energy, no nothing. I feel like the part of my brain responsible for sex drive has had a lobotomy. At best, I feel that something, somewhere is trying to make a connection somehow but all I experience is a headache in both side of my temples. Given my history I am willing to accept there is a level of psychosexual dysfunction and have booked in to see a therapist. But, having read up on the subject I feel I also have PSSD. Any help, any advice, any treatment options gratefully received. Many thanks
I became hypersexual with citalopram (but for me it was a high dosage), and some people here don't want to believe me. The weird thing is that it made the inverse when you increased the dose, ssri's effects are really strange sometimes.

Have you tried to reinstate sertraline 50mg ?
Buspirone, wellbutrin ?
DWF
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Re: I think I've had PSSD for the past six years

Unread post by DWF »

Just wanted to say thank you to ryjoseph97 (you're very kind) and Vercingétorix (I'm going to discuss sertraline etc with my doctor)
Jaxx
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Re: I think I've had PSSD for the past six years

Unread post by Jaxx »

Hi DWF, sorry to hear your story, it definately has similarities with the stories of others here on the forum.
If i understand you correctly, you suffer mostly from sexual issues, but do not experience anhedonia or other mental issues? (Anhedonia is often part of PSSD, although not always. Even scientific journals often neglect this part).

As for advice, there is no silver bullet for PSSD, unfortunately.
In general, everything that increases serotonin is a risk to experiment with, as it can worsen things for some. (esp. SSRI's and 5HTP). In any case, i would say dont go bold with any experiment, but move slow.
Some people log their experience, so others can learn of share experiences, which is always appreciated.

Best of luck!
IHateProzac
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Re: I think I've had PSSD for the past six years

Unread post by IHateProzac »

Vercingétorix wrote: Sat Jul 24, 2021 8:43 am
DWF wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:18 am Hi there, I'm new to this forum and looking for help and answers. In brief, seven years ago a quick succession of stressful events plunged me into depression. After about six or seven months of dealing with this I went on Sertraline (Zoloft) at 50mg. At this dose I became hyper sexual and, at the age of 45 was as rampant as a teenager. After investigating online (in forums like this) I discovered this was a known side effect for a small percentage of users and that the effects would change when dosage was increased. Sure enough, my libido died when I increased dose to 100mg and up. My libido never came back. I discontinued use of Sertraline about a year later. My libido was dead and and has stayed that way ever since. For several years I felt no sexual pleasure, would not experience any spontaneous erections of any kind, didn't masturbate except rarely and more as a pipe-cleaning exercise. I became celibate partly due to that and partly due to choice and circumstance. Now, seven years later, I've met someone and have really clicked. Everything is there except for the sex. Viagra and Cialis do not help. I achieve half-hearted, brief erections at best. There is no lust, no energy, no nothing. I feel like the part of my brain responsible for sex drive has had a lobotomy. At best, I feel that something, somewhere is trying to make a connection somehow but all I experience is a headache in both side of my temples. Given my history I am willing to accept there is a level of psychosexual dysfunction and have booked in to see a therapist. But, having read up on the subject I feel I also have PSSD. Any help, any advice, any treatment options gratefully received. Many thanks
I became hypersexual with citalopram (but for me it was a high dosage), and some people here don't want to believe me. The weird thing is that it made the inverse when you increased the dose, ssri's effects are really strange sometimes.

Have you tried to reinstate sertraline 50mg ?
Buspirone, wellbutrin ?
SSRI can have that effect. I became hypersexual on Prozac. But it also ended up being the reason for my PSSD.
IHateProzac
Posts: 230
Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2015 7:37 am
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Re: I think I've had PSSD for the past six years

Unread post by IHateProzac »

DWF wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:18 am Hi there, I'm new to this forum and looking for help and answers. In brief, seven years ago a quick succession of stressful events plunged me into depression. After about six or seven months of dealing with this I went on Sertraline (Zoloft) at 50mg. At this dose I became hyper sexual and, at the age of 45 was as rampant as a teenager. After investigating online (in forums like this) I discovered this was a known side effect for a small percentage of users and that the effects would change when dosage was increased. Sure enough, my libido died when I increased dose to 100mg and up. My libido never came back. I discontinued use of Sertraline about a year later. My libido was dead and and has stayed that way ever since. For several years I felt no sexual pleasure, would not experience any spontaneous erections of any kind, didn't masturbate except rarely and more as a pipe-cleaning exercise. I became celibate partly due to that and partly due to choice and circumstance. Now, seven years later, I've met someone and have really clicked. Everything is there except for the sex. Viagra and Cialis do not help. I achieve half-hearted, brief erections at best. There is no lust, no energy, no nothing. I feel like the part of my brain responsible for sex drive has had a lobotomy. At best, I feel that something, somewhere is trying to make a connection somehow but all I experience is a headache in both side of my temples. Given my history I am willing to accept there is a level of psychosexual dysfunction and have booked in to see a therapist. But, having read up on the subject I feel I also have PSSD. Any help, any advice, any treatment options gratefully received. Many thanks
- No libido
- No erections
- PDE5i like Viagra, Cialis, etc, don't work
(Can you elaborate on how exactly these meds don't work? I mean, do they fail completely or is there partial efficacy?)

To me this sounds like a PSSD and not too far from my own PSSD related predicaments.

I agree with Jaxx that you should avoid bold experiments. The temptations for quick fix is just too much to handle for PSSD patients. I am not psychologist but let me tell you that desperation is your enemy here and some would feel as if they are running out of time. Having said that, do not despair. There are mitigations that could help.
DWF
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Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2021 4:50 am
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Re: I think I've had PSSD for the past six years

Unread post by DWF »

Jaxx wrote: Sat Jul 24, 2021 11:18 am Hi DWF, sorry to hear your story, it definately has similarities with the stories of others here on the forum.
If i understand you correctly, you suffer mostly from sexual issues, but do not experience anhedonia or other mental issues? (Anhedonia is often part of PSSD, although not always. Even scientific journals often neglect this part).

As for advice, there is no silver bullet for PSSD, unfortunately.
In general, everything that increases serotonin is a risk to experiment with, as it can worsen things for some. (esp. SSRI's and 5HTP). In any case, i would say dont go bold with any experiment, but move slow.
Some people log their experience, so others can learn of share experiences, which is always appreciated.

Best of luck!
Thank you. I forgot to mention that. Yes anhedonia is a part of this. I did not know this and did not notice this until I micro dosed on LSD and experienced joy for the first time in years. Sadly that only lasted whilst I was dosing and had no effect on my libido
DWF
Posts: 13
Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2021 4:50 am
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Re: I think I've had PSSD for the past six years

Unread post by DWF »

ryjoseph97 wrote: Fri Jul 23, 2021 3:25 pm Hi there! I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing all of this heartache. PSSD is truly traumatizing and it doesn't help that it is often dismissed by medical professionals. I am fairly new to the forum as well and I am no chemist, so my input here is solely for encouragement. I don't want for your post to be left without any responses. I am on this forum a lot now and I want you to know you can direct message me any time.

As far as advice, I think @Ghost has provided some really important insight as to things to do and not to do. The main point of his that I will echo is don't read the sob stories. They will only make things worse. I think you getting connected to this forum is an excellent start to your journey. I can't promise you'll recover 100% but there are many people here who devote much of their time to researching and experimenting with treatments. Also, don't rush to the vitamin store as soon as you hear about a treatment that has been effective for one person. There are treatments that carry less risk than others.

I'll reach out again soon. But for now, I just want to welcome you and know that I am here for you.
Hi there. I did try to PM you but the message is just sitting in my outbox for some reason and I can't send it
Jaxx
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Re: I think I've had PSSD for the past six years

Unread post by Jaxx »

Outbox here means the recipient hasnt read it yet
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