Low Dose SSRI (Reinstatement)

[AdvencedResearchPL]

Hello, supporters of low doses SSRI. I wonder why nobody has tested the natural SSRI which is KANNA, ZEMBRIN (Sceletium tortuosum).

It serves as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor with less prominent inhibitory effects on phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4).[3] In an in vitro study, a high-mesembrine Sceletium extract showed monoamine releasing activity by upregulation of vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2)

Mesembrenone on the other hand serves as a more balanced serotonin reuptake inhibitor and PDE4 inhibitor.

https://drugs-forum.com/threads/kanna-a ... on.217610/
What do You think about it?

[Takemeback]

Let me clarify a bit on the story (I'm 90% sure on this but he is really busy and I haven't had the time to sit down with him and confirm it all yet - but we will craft a comprehensive report when we do):

My friend took Lexapro for anxiety back in 2012. He took it for 3 days at a low dose. At this time he stopped and had PSSD until a few months ago. People can say that it's not a "cure" because he is still on a low Zoloft dose, but I would trade take his situation in a heartbeat if I had the chance. He plans on eventually tapering off of the Zoloft but he wants to let his body stabilize first. Also, our previous knowledge suggests that when he does taper that the recovery will remain if he tapers slowly. He's terrified (rightfully) of changing anything at this time.

He didn't even tell me about the Zoloft until after he was on it because he was taking it for anxiety and it was NOT for PSSD. He was doing it because he felt hopeless about anxiety. Around 2 months after starting the Zoloft the anxiety got better and PSSD symptoms were stable and not improved.

I was studying for my MCAT and we didn't talk much during the winter and early spring. He noted things were better than before but it was nothing wild.

6 weeks ago we talked and he told me he was at 90% for the past month having lots of sex. He told me that he waited to tell me because he didn't want to get my hopes up. Then I spoke with him last week after my exam and he's at least 100% now, and he claims it's maybe even better than that. He's back to hyper-sexuality and full emotion. This is as legit as it gets. There are only a few people that I know as close as him with PSSD and our friendship goes back several years. He has seen Dr. Goldstein and all the rest. Just not an active forum member because he is(was!) quite private about PSSD.

Getting back into the PSSD community after a few month hiatus is overwhelming but I'm doing it. I appreciate the patience as I do so. There are a lot of things I need to catch up with.

Any updates on his story? Is he still recovered? i will probably try this in the future. but i want to know more about his situation first.

[north4]

Let me clarify a bit on the story (I'm 90% sure on this but he is really busy and I haven't had the time to sit down with him and confirm it all yet - but we will craft a comprehensive report when we do):

My friend took Lexapro for anxiety back in 2012. He took it for 3 days at a low dose. At this time he stopped and had PSSD until a few months ago. People can say that it's not a "cure" because he is still on a low Zoloft dose, but I would trade take his situation in a heartbeat if I had the chance. He plans on eventually tapering off of the Zoloft but he wants to let his body stabilize first. Also, our previous knowledge suggests that when he does taper that the recovery will remain if he tapers slowly. He's terrified (rightfully) of changing anything at this time.

He didn't even tell me about the Zoloft until after he was on it because he was taking it for anxiety and it was NOT for PSSD. He was doing it because he felt hopeless about anxiety. Around 2 months after starting the Zoloft the anxiety got better and PSSD symptoms were stable and not improved.

I was studying for my MCAT and we didn't talk much during the winter and early spring. He noted things were better than before but it was nothing wild.

6 weeks ago we talked and he told me he was at 90% for the past month having lots of sex. He told me that he waited to tell me because he didn't want to get my hopes up. Then I spoke with him last week after my exam and he's at least 100% now, and he claims it's maybe even better than that. He's back to hyper-sexuality and full emotion. This is as legit as it gets. There are only a few people that I know as close as him with PSSD and our friendship goes back several years. He has seen Dr. Goldstein and all the rest. Just not an active forum member because he is(was!) quite private about PSSD.

Getting back into the PSSD community after a few month hiatus is overwhelming but I'm doing it. I appreciate the patience as I do so. There are a lot of things I need to catch up with.

nice and brave move... full protocol would be nice !

[tonyareias]

(from another post but important)

My SSRI experience.

I don’t see differences (Paxil vs Zoloft) after 4-6 weeks (during treatment) but first weeks with Paxil there's a boom of my libido and sexual desire, also arousal (erection and sensations) are high, but is really hard to orgasm (sometimes only another day). After weeks all back to “normal”.

Every time I start Paxil (paroxetine, 10-20mg) that boost my sexual desire and sensations in first weeks. Become hypersexual (but hard to orgasm) on first weeks.

Anyone? And why?

Don’t feel that with Zoloft first weeks.
Maybe a low dose Paxil as need be the best solution.

Note: I have a “minimal” negative sex effects with SSRI that always fade out with a low dose or when stop the med. Maybe not have PSSD at all.

[garycooper]

Hi!
What would be a good "low dose" for Citalopram and other SSRI ? 1/10 of the effective dose? More than that?

[Lost]

Hi gray, i advise against trying ssri's again, no matter what dose. It do alot of damage and worsen you greatly.

[AdvencedResearchPL]

if you have pssd for at least 5 years. I don't believe that taking SSRIs can make it worse. After such a time, I don't believe in "self-healing".

[BlueLeader]

Let me clarify a bit on the story (I'm 90% sure on this but he is really busy and I haven't had the time to sit down with him and confirm it all yet - but we will craft a comprehensive report when we do):

My friend took Lexapro for anxiety back in 2012. He took it for 3 days at a low dose. At this time he stopped and had PSSD until a few months ago. People can say that it's not a "cure" because he is still on a low Zoloft dose, but I would trade take his situation in a heartbeat if I had the chance. He plans on eventually tapering off of the Zoloft but he wants to let his body stabilize first. Also, our previous knowledge suggests that when he does taper that the recovery will remain if he tapers slowly. He's terrified (rightfully) of changing anything at this time.

He didn't even tell me about the Zoloft until after he was on it because he was taking it for anxiety and it was NOT for PSSD. He was doing it because he felt hopeless about anxiety. Around 2 months after starting the Zoloft the anxiety got better and PSSD symptoms were stable and not improved.

I was studying for my MCAT and we didn't talk much during the winter and early spring. He noted things were better than before but it was nothing wild.

6 weeks ago we talked and he told me he was at 90% for the past month having lots of sex. He told me that he waited to tell me because he didn't want to get my hopes up. Then I spoke with him last week after my exam and he's at least 100% now, and he claims it's maybe even better than that. He's back to hyper-sexuality and full emotion. This is as legit as it gets. There are only a few people that I know as close as him with PSSD and our friendship goes back several years. He has seen Dr. Goldstein and all the rest. Just not an active forum member because he is(was!) quite private about PSSD.

Getting back into the PSSD community after a few month hiatus is overwhelming but I'm doing it. I appreciate the patience as I do so. There are a lot of things I need to catch up with.

So glad to have you back Ghost. I know you are busy catching up with everything and your MCATs.
Have you had a chance to speak with your friend? Very eager to hear his story and dosage.
Thank you for all that you do on this forum.

[Ghost]

Let me clarify a bit on the story (I'm 90% sure on this but he is really busy and I haven't had the time to sit down with him and confirm it all yet - but we will craft a comprehensive report when we do):

My friend took Lexapro for anxiety back in 2012. He took it for 3 days at a low dose. At this time he stopped and had PSSD until a few months ago. People can say that it's not a "cure" because he is still on a low Zoloft dose, but I would trade take his situation in a heartbeat if I had the chance. He plans on eventually tapering off of the Zoloft but he wants to let his body stabilize first. Also, our previous knowledge suggests that when he does taper that the recovery will remain if he tapers slowly. He's terrified (rightfully) of changing anything at this time.

He didn't even tell me about the Zoloft until after he was on it because he was taking it for anxiety and it was NOT for PSSD. He was doing it because he felt hopeless about anxiety. Around 2 months after starting the Zoloft the anxiety got better and PSSD symptoms were stable and not improved.

I was studying for my MCAT and we didn't talk much during the winter and early spring. He noted things were better than before but it was nothing wild.

6 weeks ago we talked and he told me he was at 90% for the past month having lots of sex. He told me that he waited to tell me because he didn't want to get my hopes up. Then I spoke with him last week after my exam and he's at least 100% now, and he claims it's maybe even better than that. He's back to hyper-sexuality and full emotion. This is as legit as it gets. There are only a few people that I know as close as him with PSSD and our friendship goes back several years. He has seen Dr. Goldstein and all the rest. Just not an active forum member because he is(was!) quite private about PSSD.

Getting back into the PSSD community after a few month hiatus is overwhelming but I'm doing it. I appreciate the patience as I do so. There are a lot of things I need to catch up with.

So glad to have you back Ghost. I know you are busy catching up with everything and your MCATs.
Have you had a chance to speak with your friend? Very eager to hear his story and dosage.
Thank you for all that you do on this forum.

Funny you ask. I spoke with him today for a while and was going to post an update.

We've spoken since the original post I made with both good and bad updates. Thing would change but largely stay good - or better than before Zoloft.

2 weeks ago we talked after not speaking in depth for a month and he told me that he was feeling terrible. Most of this was worsened anxiety but the PSSD had come back a bit too. He asked what he could do for the anxiety. PSSD was largely an afterthought at this point as the anxiety was ruining his life and career. Well, as many of you know, I've been in 10+ months of depression remission from Ketamine, and hallucinogens/disassociatives are something I think can really help people in the right context. Anyways I talked him into trying ketamine and his wife was on board too. We found a good clinic near his house and then work got busy for us both and we hadn't talked in 2 weeks. That was until today when he texted me saying we needed to talk.

So review of the timeline - last october is when he started the 50mg Zoloft. Then fast forward til this spring and things start getting better. He stays on Zoloft as it's working for anxiety and PSSD. Then PSSD benefits wear off and anxiety comes rushing back. He ups the dose to 75mg and things just get WORSE. All around. Anxiety and PSSD. This came to a head 2 weeks ago when we talked about Ketamine. So after we talked he started tapering off of the SSRI in prep for the K. I want to clarify that this was not my suggestion to him, he decided that on his own. At this point PSSD was an afterthought compared to the anxiety. The Zoloft was also giving him tinnitus.

So around a week and a half ago he tapered from 75 to 50mg. Then waited a few days. Down to 25. He stayed at that a few days too until quitting fully 4 days ago. He noticed 3 days ago that sex was a bit better, and then 2 days ago he said he was back to that 90-100% he felt before, but this time it was STRONGER. He said he forgot how strong it can be. Also this time the sensitivity of the penis was back and erections came fast like the old days. Needless to say he and his wife have been putting it to good use the past 2 days. He's also terrified it will go away. He said however that this now is the best he's been since 2012 when he got PSSD. Like, it was good before when I posted, but this was BETTER.

So, that's the update. We have plans to actually meet up in real life soon and I can sit down with him and write up a few page doc that's PERFECT with details - assuming things last improvement wise.

[fablecloth]

Funny you ask. I spoke with him today for a while and was going to post an update.

*snip*

Thanks for the update, Ghost!

Reinstatement of a SSRI... I await your write-up with horrid fascination! A few other people have reported benefits from reinstatement, so... perhaps there's something to this?

Would you ever consider trying reinstatement yourself? I've made small gains over the past couple of years, and I'd be very frightened of losing that.