If you require my help, please read this

[Meso]

Hello guys and gals.

Since I'm nearly done with step 3, I'm taking a short break from my other thread and will be focusing instead on helping you guys/gals on a more personal basis. Instead of sending me PMs, please start a thread providing these info so every one would benefit if they are in a similar situation as you.

(I won't reply to PMs again, so that everyone would benefit from reading the help on a public forum.)

This is the info I need:
1- What is your gender?
2- Why did you take antidepressants in the first place? and for how long were you on them? which med?
3- How was your sexual and emotional function before antidepressant intake?
4- What are your symptoms exactly and when did they start? sexual dyfunction alone, or cognitive/emotional/hedonistic as well? which symptom is bothering you the most?
5- What meds/suppplements have you tried so far? and for how long each?
6- Do you have access to meds without prescription (buy online), or would strictly require a prescription for meds to try?
7- Can you tolerate galicky foods? what about proteins?
8- Have you done any blood testing? what were the results?

I will reply when I find time, so please be patient and thank you for reaching out. Cheers.

[Jaxx]

Very nice initiative! Looking forward to see if it will help others

[Snake]

Hello guys and gals.

Since I'm nearly done with step 3, I'm taking a short break from my other thread and will be focusing instead on helping you guys/gals on a more personal basis. Instead of sending me PMs, please start a thread providing these info so every one would benefit if they are in a similar situation as you.

(I won't reply to PMs again, so that everyone would benefit from reading the help on a public forum.)

This is the info I need:
1- What is your gender?
2- Why did you take antidepressants in the first place? and for how long were you on them? which med?
3- How was your sexual and emotional function before antidepressant intake?
4- What are your symptoms exactly and when did they start? sexual dyfunction alone, or cognitive/emotional/hedonistic as well? which symptom is bothering you the most?
5- What meds/suppplements have you tried so far?
6- Do you have access to meds without prescription (buy online), or would strictly require a prescription for meds to try?
7- Can you tolerate galicky foods? what about proteins?
8- Have you done any blood testing? what were the results?

I will reply when I find time, so please be patient and thank you for reaching out. Cheers.

1) male
2) major depressive episode, too much pressure and stress before the high school leaving exams
vortioxetine for 2 weeks - no effects
then venlafaxine for 4 months starting with 75mg and ending up with 225mg per day
venlafaxine caused insomnia which I treated with opipramol before sleep
also it caused mood swings and that's why I was prescribed buspirone and lamotrigine, but I took it once or twice, because then I decided to quit all drugs
I discontinued venlafaxine by lowering the dose and after 1,5 week I was completely off
In conclusion, I should had taken those drugs, my problems were so small that it's a joke I was given ssri, I just needed some support from my family.
3) I was hypersexual, wanted to have sex 24/7 and easily masturbated 5+ times in a row, because it was always ultimate pleasure, never had any sexual problems in my life
I was also very emotional person, always crying after reading a good book or watching a movie, always quite a romantic person, my life goal was to find a love in my life, I've loved all my ex girlfriends sooo much
4) while taking the drugs, the first symptom was being unable to climax, then after weeks with bigger dose, I started to not be able to maintain erection
so basically that were my only 2 symptoms while taking those drugs
after I quitted:
Firstly, no spontaneus nor morning erections. Lowered libido. Maybe something with emotions because I broke off with a gf that I loved crazy strong. That was my first year. After half a year after discontinuation I had sex, I couldn't maintain an erection.
Then, I started to develop symptoms like depression, insomnia and inability to cry. Orgasms very still quite fine.
1,5 year after dyscontinuation, I crashed with buspirone (single dose), major anxiety out of nowhere, very weak erections, zero libido, crap orgasms, insomnia, night terrors.
Now, I started noticing that my short term memory is impaired to, I'm often thinking about something and then I forget about what. Emotions are very limited, I want to cry so much because of what happened but it's somehow blocked. Anxiety is not so enormous anymore, but in its place came big derealization, I'm like in a video game, things around me are so strange like I was just an observer and not a living person. Small tinnitus is also around, erections are quite bad (after PSSD I never had even once as good erection as pre-PSSD), it's impossible to maintain them. Orgasm are weak and unsatisfying. Depression, small anxiety from time to time. Libido non-existent, for example I was touching girl's breasts with no sexual response. Genital anesthesia, my nipples are for example numb too. No mornigs woods, no spontaneus erections, soft glans always. I'm still quite smart but derealization in braing fog make it difficult, it feels like my body is here, but myself is 2metres above. Anhedonia is also present, but I'm still enjoying some things. Also my palms and feet are sweating - weird and never happened before.
The worst are sexual symptoms connected with that terrible derealization and lack of feelings - the worst is that I'm unable to feel love.
5) trazodone for 2/3 weeks - no results
18 g inositol alone for 6 weeks - diarrea, strange dreams and after discountination PSSD slightly worsened (especially erections and orgasms)
single dose buspirone - like an atom bomb, next months after it completely nightmarish, night terrors, major anxiety etc
bacopa + maca+ magnesium + d3 - nothing
clonazepam - helps so much with sleep and anxiety but taken it only few times, it's too dangerous
opipramol - my favourite AD, helps with sleep, no side effects, but I'm not using now
so called edovis (maca+muira+damiana+tribulus+l-citrulline+folic acid) - no effects
6) I would require a prescription but if I knew it will help - then I would get it one way or another
7) I have no problems with food, I'm eating everything but I'm not enjoying carbs as I used to
also coffeine for example boosts my anxiety and makes it a lot harder to fall asleep
8) I've done some basic test twice, testosterone, free testosterone in norm, prolactin in norm, only thing above the norm was cholesterol (I've gained 15kg after discontinuation)

What should I start with? Rivastigmine + rasagiline?

[voyteck]

Dear Mesolimbo,
I wasn't sure how to reply but since you wrote "please start a thread " - I just updated my thread:
http://www.pssdforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... eck#p27127.
Looking forward to your reply (and at the same time for part about LIBIDO in your thread The right way: How to address PSSD comprehensively.).
Thank you for all you've already suggested here!

[AnhedonicApe]

Hey man i don't know if you are down but if my iboga course stops working i am willing to pay for private skypehelp if you are able and willing.

[sovietxrobot]

I can start a new thread if need be, I thought it might be easier to keep everything in one place.

1- What is your gender?
2- Why did you take antidepressants in the first place? and for how long were you on them? which med?
3- How was your sexual and emotional function before antidepressant intake?
4- What are your symptoms exactly and when did they start? sexual dyfunction alone, or cognitive/emotional/hedonistic as well? which symptom is bothering you the most?
5- What meds/suppplements have you tried so far?
6- Do you have access to meds without prescription (buy online), or would strictly require a prescription for meds to try?
7- Can you tolerate galicky foods? what about proteins?
8- Have you done any blood testing? what were the results?

1. male
2. extreme social anxiety, chronic depression. I took buspar 60mg for 3-4 years, and citalopram 40mg for 2 years.
3. sexual function was perfect, high libido. emotional function was not so good. I had serious anxiety issues that led to many other problems.
4. all symptoms started when I (accidentally) quit citalopram cold turkey. immediate crash- crippling depression, brain fog, total anhedonia, and complete loss of sex drive.
5. Zoloft (little/no effect), venlofaxine (terrible side effects), lexapro (controls anxiety, no effect on PSSD), Wellbutrin (some improvement). yohimbine improved my irritability and sexual function somewhat. I had a good window on maca, but no noticeable long term effects. dopa mucuna has cured my brain fog and anhedonia, and given slight improvement to sexual function. ashawaghana, zinc, vitamin E, l-theanine all had minor positive effects. NAC, fish oil, vitamin D, vitamin B, had no effect. Magneisum citrate and horny goat weed had negative effects.
6. I will try anything
7. no issues
8. test/free test were normal. prolactin was elevated (just above the 95% confidence interval for normal range).

my thread: http://www.pssdforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=2037

[Knifli]

1- What is your gender?

Female

2- Why did you take antidepressants in the first place? and for how long were you on them? which med?

5 months, sertraline, depression

3- How was your sexual and emotional function before antidepressant intake?

Never had sexual problems, had some emotional problems, felt melancholic very often and was stressed out, but still could feel positive emotions.

4- What are your symptoms exactly and when did they start? sexual dyfunction alone, or cognitive/emotional/hedonistic as well? which symptom is bothering you the most?

After 1 day i got genital numbness and skinnumbness. But i could still orgasm and be aroused in the first month... although i also had a delayed orgasm once. After a month i lost all my emotions and got in a weird dp/dr state, i didn't care about anything. Also my ability to get aroused went away. My cognition got worse and worse on the drug to a point where i couldn't even read. I also lost the need so socialize with people and my empathy. I also had diarrhea on the drug and was(still am) nauseous a lot. Decreased appitite

My most annoying symptom is my cognition problems (can't think anymore, problems with reading and barely can learn new things) and dp/dr + less emotions.

5- What meds/suppplements have you tried so far?

Sjw : regained some emotions because of it (also libido), but also gave me horrible pelvic floor pain and tailbone pain, decreased genital numbness a tiny bit.

Bethanechol : decreased genital numbness, got me aroused.

Muira puama : made me more empathic, increased skin/genital sensetivity.

6- Do you have access to meds without prescription (buy online), or would strictly require a prescription for meds to try?

My gp is willing to prescripe me some 'safer' meds, if he's not willing to, i can try to get it on the internet.

7- Can you tolerate galicky foods? what about proteins?

Yes

8- Have you done any blood testing? what were the results?

Yes, all hormones in range.

http://www.pssdforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2670

[Knifli]

1- What is your gender?

Female

2- Why did you take antidepressants in the first place? and for how long were you on them? which med?

5 months, sertraline, depression

3- How was your sexual and emotional function before antidepressant intake?

Never had sexual problems, had some emotional problems, felt melancholic very often and was stressed out, but still could feel positive emotions.

4- What are your symptoms exactly and when did they start? sexual dyfunction alone, or cognitive/emotional/hedonistic as well? which symptom is bothering you the most?

After 1 day i got genital numbness and skinnumbness. But i could still orgasm and be aroused in the first month... although i also had a delayed orgasm once. After a month i lost all my emotions and got in a weird dp/dr state, i didn't care about anything. Also my ability to get aroused went away. My cognition got worse and worse on the drug to a point where i couldn't even read. I also lost the need so socialize with people and my empathy. I also had diarrhea on the drug and was(still am) nauseous a lot. Decreased appitite

My most annoying symptom is my cognition problems (can't think anymore, problems with reading and barely can learn new things) and dp/dr + less emotions.

5- What meds/suppplements have you tried so far?

Sjw : regained some emotions because of it (also libido), but also gave me horrible pelvic floor pain and tailbone pain, decreased genital numbness a tiny bit.

Bethanechol : decreased genital numbness, got me aroused.

Muira puama : made me more empathic, increased skin/genital sensetivity.

6- Do you have access to meds without prescription (buy online), or would strictly require a prescription for meds to try?

My gp is willing to prescripe me some 'safer' meds, if he's not willing to, i can try to get it on the internet.

7- Can you tolerate galicky foods? what about proteins?

Yes

8- Have you done any blood testing? what were the results?

Yes, all hormones in range.

http://www.pssdforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2670

[Jaxx]

Posted my details in my initial introduction thread, thanks for helping!
http://www.pssdforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... 136#p27136

[naiverat]

This is the info I need:

1- Male

2- Panic disorder/agoraphobia and GAD. I took Fluoxetine for about a year and discontinued pretty abruptly without any noticeable withdrawal symptoms. It wasn't overnight that my sexual function went to hell. It seemed like it slowly became worse after discontinuing, until it hit something of a plateau, from which I've made some minor improvements perhaps.

3- Pre-PSSD, I was very easily aroused and excited. My penis often became erect just from looking at a girl or non-sexual touch, such as holding hands. I would desire sex multiples times a day (could easily do 6+ times).

4- Symptoms began after starting fluoxetine/Prozac, but became much more pronounced upon discontinuation. Sexually, my libido and erection quality are both shitty, and I do not experience morning wood regularly (with some exceptions - sildenafil and prazosin will give me nocturnal erections, as does naltrexone). I definitely feel less connection with women (no feeling of "love" anymore) and less emotion in general. The most common emotions I experience are anxiety, irritability, and emptiness. Happiness and excitement are much less common.


5- I've tried almost every popular supplement on this sub, as well as numerous drugs. Unfortunately, I've often trialed many drugs together (this becomes an obsession, and I currently have a girlfriend, so I try to put together perfomance cocktails), so it's hard to pick out individual effects, but I keep a daily supplement/drug log and these are the trends I've noticed:

SIldenafil (viagra) - works most of the time to become erect and seems to help a bit with libido. Often it provides rock-hard erections; other times it seems to do very little.

Prazosin - definitely helpful. Obviously receive more blood flow to penis. This in combination with sildenafil seems quite effective for getting an erection.

Naltrexone - recently trialed this. Immediate nocturnal erections (which are otherwise extremely rare) upon starting. Very good ones, at that. Definitely felt more libido in the morning. Facial hair grew faster. I think this has some serious potential.

Inositol - definitely felt a lot of benefit from this when taking 18g+ per day. I started taking other drugs for my anxiety, which perhaps set back the progress I made with this, or maybe it was just a window altogether? I'm unsure.

CDP Choline - This seemed to offer some benefit. I don't think it led to any permanent improvement though.

NAC - there was a period where this markedly improved sexual function. I think it has led to some degree of lasting improvement, if the effects aren't as pronounced as they were when I initially began using it.

MSM - another supplement recommended on here. Definitely noticed benefit when starting it (also in combination with NAC). The mechanism behind why this might confer some benefit is baffling. But it did help! I have not taken it in a while. I was taking way too many drugs/supplements and I'm not trying to simplify things to get a baseline.

Ginkgo - unsure. I was taking NAC and MSM with this (which created a great long-lasting window), but ultimately unsure of how advantageous it is on its own.

St. John's Wort – when I first started, there was a 2-day window or so of great erections and libido. Effects did not last.

Ashwagandha - unsure. Not any noticeable improvements.

Alcohol - almost always seems to be helpful (both the night of and the next morning. I've definitely had my best erections and libido while drinking large quanitites of alcohol. When I started drinking daily, the benefit did not last, however.

Moclobemide (when first started) – this plus alcohol gave me insanely good boners – raging hard from just talk of sex. NPT and morning boners night after heavy drinking + moc. On its own, it didn't seem to do much (I was mainly trialing it for my still heavy anxiety, for which it didn't really work). Verdict is still out on this one. I have a lot left.

Pramiprexole - Potentially small improvement in erections. Made me nauseous, tired, and killed appetite.

Rasagiline and selegiline - selegiline sent my anxiety through the roof, and rasagiline didn't seem to do much (although, I admit, I haven't trialed it for long).

mirtazapine - no noticeable improvements. I think this one actually set my baseline back (wanted to use for anxiety and potentially PSSD b/c of the 5ht2a and 5ht2c antagonism.

gabapentin - seemed neutral. Maybe a slight benefit. I discontinued this recently (was using for anxiety), and my condition temporary became MUCH worse. Interesting. I seem to be headed back to my baseline now, though.

Hydroxyzine - seemed to help at times. Inconsistent results.

cyproheptadine - seemed to make things worse, but I was also combining it with other drugs (not clean testing).

Tianeptine - sometimes seemed to boost erections. I ran into addiction problems with this drug and began taking large doses, which obviously were NOT helpful (mu agonism will destroy T levels).

Kratom - When used occasionally, it gives me an initial boost of libido and strong erections. But after a few hours, and especially after days of use, my libido and EQ seem worse than baseline.

6- I am comfortable buying meds online. The last few -- dopamine agonists and MAOIs -- were bought from online pharms.

7- Yes, I believe I can digest garlic well.

8- I have not done any testing for hormones, but I believe my testosterone and DHT levels are probably fine. When I workout, I'm able to build muscle quite easily. I'm also experiencing some slight recession at the hairline (male pattern baldness), which is allegedly associated with higher testosterone to DHT conversion.

I've had my a metabolic panel and blood panel done, and all my numbers were in range. My TSH was ~1.5 (which was in range for thyroid).

THANKS so much for the help! We really appreciate having you here. I have just returned from a hiatus and am reading your work. My supplement/med log is such a mess (so many variables - diet, sleep, amount, timing, combinations, etc.) that it has only led to basic trends. I hope you can make some more sense of it than I can.