So I went on an SSRI today. Have to do it , I can barely get out of the house most days. If I dont I’ll prolly off myself.
Will this further damage me?
Prozac has definitely helped me stave off thoughts of suicide, although possibly in conjunction with other ongoing forms of therapy.
I don’t think one should be as scared of SSRIs as many here make out, they are taken by inifnitely more people than propecia/proscar - 22 million in the US alone - and the PSSD (post ssri sexual dysfunction) forum seems to have fewer active members than ours.
I never took them before but had times in my life when I was more than moderately depressed and needed a lift, perhaps I would have avoided fin if they had lifted my neurosis.
The penultimate time I stopped finasteride a couple of years ago I had a big anxiety attack and was deeply depressed for a few days. I avoided anti-depressants through fear of sides as I’d read an article about someone with severe withdrawl symptoms and big pharma distortions (shame I never even thought about finasteride as a big pharma revenue chaser - that’s blind self-medication for you), and possibly stigma. I truly believe I would have avoided this mess had I gone on them, would certainly have been more apt to check proscar’s range of side effects, and probably less bothere about my hair.
Of course drugs have side effects and we have already been burnt but if you have serious depression it has to be controlled somehow.
I took citalopram initially and didn’t like it though.
Lux,
May I ask - Have your sides improved at all over the last 2 yrs? Have you done bloodwork or seen any docs?
Im approaching the 6 month mark. At times it almost feels as if my body is attempting to get itself back to Pre-Fin but I really cant tell. Shrinkage, ED and depression are still pretty bad ATM. At this point is there really no chance for a resolution of the sides?
Bad idea. Now you won’t be able to prove to doctors or lawyers if any of your issues are due to Finasteride since you are now introducing extra variables into the equation.
SSRIs have also been associated with causing suicidal ideation and persistent sexual dysfunction , there are forums just like this one dedicated to the issues of permanent ED, loss of libido etc
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-SSRI_ … ysfunction
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1457
I’d drop it if I were you, take up fish oil and other natural supplements like St. John’s Wort, and cardiovascular excercise.
Sides have calmed down following the initial bomb which sent me to hell for months. Cognitive dysfunction has improved, still feel spaced out and less talkative a lot. As I said prozac has helped with depression and mood. Fatigue is a bit better but I’m yawning a lot at times. Not so much joint pain but feel very stiff for the first half hour after I get up.
Sexually I am still at a very low point, perhaps even worse than ever. I haven’t been taking any supps though, and did notice that ZMA when I took it gave me morning wood and easier erections. Of course I haven’t been seeking a partner to practice on as the other sides are my priority. Interestingly I got a couple of mild spontaneous erections around a woman I like so maybe I’m not totally dead downstairs.
I have no libido or desire to look at pornography whatsoever. Even at my worst ON fin would still go to youporn or whatever, even if erections required some stimulation and were less durable in retrospect. Libido seems to be the most difficult thing to get back unfortunately.
Have seen uro, endo, neuro. Uro put me on androgel, no one else seemed interested. Before TRT my levels were right at the bottom, TRT put them in range but with no benefit. I’m trying to figure out my next move, likely try to treat thyroid/adrenals.
Mew you said your depression cleared up after discontinuing fin so you are not the right guy to ask about this.
The Celexa is an old script from way BEFORE the Fin so if I continue on it or not I have no idea to be honest. I havnt renewed the script but I have about a months worth left from before. I NEVER TOOK CELEXA WHILE ON FINASTERIDE. In fact, I hadnt taken Celexa in a few years.
Not to be overly dramatic but suicide is a daily consideration much less getting out of bed and running my business. I have been on SSRI’s in the past years before Fin so I guess a Merck attorney would say it could be the SSRI’s I took. Although I never had any issues at all on them sexually or physically and ALL my symptoms and timelines are pointing directly at Finasteride.
Mew, you seem to cope with this well and I take my hat off to you. For some of us it isnt that easy.
It’s not easy for anyone. But the crucial trick is rejecting the easy solution happy pills these corrupt bastard corporations peddle to people, disconcerned with the multitude of pitfalls the drugs will individually cause, just like with Propecia. Personally, I don’t care how useless and despondent I feel, because I won’t play with fire again - especially with a drug that has documented long-term side effects (that are rarely discussed and treated, sound familiar?).
You want to be like the majority who choose to medicate, that’s fine. Just don’t disregard what you’re doing, because - especially in the case of SSRIs - you’re nearly walking the same tight rope you walked while on Propecia. Irregardless of how many millions ingest SSRIs, there are just as many who are completely disconnected from managing and monitoring their health.
I don’t mean to be stern or judgemental, but suggesting that SSRIs are a good solution is just something I have to objectively disagree with. My advice is to accept the constant shortcomings and nervous, incompetent moments you’re likely to deal with in your new life as a post-finasteride victim. It’s better to live through the arduous road step by step than to speed down it drunk.
I hope it improves your functioning and alleviates your symptoms, but you are gambling the same game.
Take 50mg of 5-HTP pills every other day and 400mg of sAME (daily). That’s ok for depression…SSRI’s arent the way to go man…
I will give myself a little more time I guess before I hit the meds. I went back to almost normal a few weeks ago. Basically totally sexually dysfunctional right now and shrunken up. Going to see Jacobs and Shippen to see what they can make of my blood test, etc. I guess that will tell me where I go from here.
Yeh man the ssri’s are going to scramble the already cracked egg. So far i have turned down two doctors and constant pressure from family members.