Welcome to our community. Please fill in the following template as a way of introducing yourself, and helping others to understand your background and situation.
Where are you from (country)?
US
How did you find this forum (Google search – if so, what search terms? Via link from a forum or website – if so, what page? Other?)
PSSD forum
What is your current age, height, weight? 37, 5’4 126 lbs
What specific drug did you use (finasteride, dutasteride, saw palmetto, isotretinoin/Accutane, fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram, leuprorelin, etc…)?
Every SSRI, Zoloft started "mild’ PSSD, Prozac made it much worse
What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?
20mg Prozac
What condition was being treated with the drug?
OCD, anxiety, depression
For how long did you take the drug (weeks/months/years)?
18 years on and off
How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start the drug?
I was 18 when I first took SSRI
How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?
36, January 2018
How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
Just quit
How long into your usage did you notice the onset of side effects?
Almost immediately noticed low libido and anorgasmia
What side effects did you experience that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
No libido, erectile dysfunction, penile shrinkage, no emotions, genital numbing, numbness all over body, dry skin and eyes, loss of taste and smell, severe insomnia
Check the boxes that apply. You can save your post first, then interactively check/uncheck the boxes by clicking on them. If your symptoms change, please update your list.
Sexual
[x] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[x] Erectile Dysfunction
[x] Complete Impotence
[x] Loss of Morning Erections
[x] Loss of Spontaneous Erections
[x] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[x] Watery Ejaculate
[ ] Reduced Ejaculate
[ ] Inability or Difficulty to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility
Mental
[x] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[x] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[x] Confusion
[x] Memory Loss / Forgetfulness
[x] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[ ] Slurring of Speech
[x] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[ ] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[ ] Severe Depression / Melancholy
[x] Suicidal Thoughts
Physical
[x] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[x] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[ ] Testicular Pain
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[x] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[ ] Muscle Weakness
[ ] Joint Pain
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
[ ] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[ ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[x] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Tinnitus (ringing or high pitched sound in ears)
[ ] Hearing loss
[x] Increased hair loss
[x] Frequent urination
[ ] Lowered body temperature
[x] Other (please explain)
Dry skin and dry mouth
What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?
All supplements and vitamins, Lyrica and benzos for sleep
If you have pre or post-drug blood tests, what hormonal changes have you encountered since discontinuing the drug (please post your test results in the “Blood Tests” section and link to them in your post)?
LH-7.3 (1.7-8.6)
DHT-53 (30-85)
FSH-6.1 (1.5-12.4)
Prolactin-23.7 (4.0-15.2) High
Estradiol-29.4 (7.6-29.4)
Prostate-specific Ag 0.4 (0.0-4.0)
Testosterone 734.8 (264.0-916.0)
Sex Horm Binding Glob 34.6 (16.5-55.9)
DHEA-Sulfate 218.1 (102.6-416.3)
Progesterone 0.3 (0.0-0.5)
TSH 0.946 (0.450-4.500)
T3 79 (71-180)
T4 1.20 (0.82-1.77)
Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience?
Tell us your story, in your own words, about your usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.
I am now 37 years old. My life has been filled with mental and physical problems and the damage done by the medications used to treat these conditions far surpassed the damage of the original problem. I’ve been on and off antidepressants, and other drugs, since I was 18. I was also on benzos, opiates, and a host of other drugs for various conditions. I took Accutane for severe acne and wound up with ulcerative colitis. I also had a pilonidal cyst that didn’t close for 7 years because of the inflammation from UC and required multiple surgeries. I was given Cipro during this time and wound up with terrible tendon and joint pain in my hands and feet and lost feeling in both my hands for two years. Later I was given other antibiotics during this time and wound up with almost deadly C.Diff twice. I was given opiates for the pain and wound up abusing the shit out of them. I also was on benzos for my severe anxiety and abused them too. I was self-medicating. If I successfully sued drug companies for damage done to me I would likely be a millionaire.
But the drugs that caused the most damage were the the so-called “safe” SSRIs. I was given Paxil at 18. I was struck young with the pure obsessional form of OCD. Intrusive thoughts and all. I also was anxious generally and socially. I remember the commercial for Paxil talking about how good it was social anxiety. I went to a psychiatrist and discussed it. They never mentioned ruined sexuality as a side effect. I remember losing my virginity not long after being on Paxil. I couldn’t orgasm and had way less sensation. This happened multiple times. I even tried to “fake it” once. It makes me sick that I put up with these effects for so long. I would then go on and off these drugs for the next 18 years. And while they worked for awhile for pure obsessional thinking, they weren’t that effective and the side effects were often overwhelming. One side effect that was both good and bad was the emotional blunting. Never get too low but also never feel to happy. These medications raise serotonin but they also inhibit dopamine. That greatly effected my abilty to feel pleasure. No wonder I chased other drugs to feel “high”.
Anyway the side effects would usually go away when I stopped the drug. I went on Zoloft in 2016. When I stopped I noticed my libido didn’t come back. I still had one but it felt like I was still on Zoloft. Lack of morning erections as well. But the truth is my morning erections were inhibited for a long time with these meds so I didn’t realize what that meant. But I also had premature ejaculation, even when masturbating. I thought that was weird. Those things don’t usually go together. I certainly didn’t know that was was some kind of brain/nerve damage. I also noticed my erections weren’t getting as big. I thought it was libido related but know I know it may be tissue damage. I even doctors about it and they figured it was depression related. Of course we discussed Viagra but how that wouldn’t bring libido back. One doctored suggested maybe testosterone related and that it could be fixed. I had thought the same thing. If only I had known it wouldn’t be that easy.
In 2017 I really was hooked on benzos and was in a bad spot. I was offered an SNRI in detox. I expressed my concern to the psychiatrist and was told it was not possible and that I shouldn’t worry about it and libido would come back when I felt better. I didn’t know about PSSD and stupidly took it. I also met a girl in around this time so I stopped taking it after a month cause I wanted to have sex. I could still perform somewhat but things weren’t coming back at all. I admittedly was on some confounding substances at this point. Anyway she turned out more messed up than me and it was a disaster break-up. Wound up at a psychiatrist and was given Prozac. I stupidly and to my eternal regret bought into what the doctors were saying and didn’t know how much worse it could get. In fact I only took the drug for a few weeks then stopped. I had enough of the sexual and emotional side effects. I stopped in late January and progressively got worse. A month went by and I noticed I could only get a half-hearted erection with manual stimulation. I then realized my genitals were getting more numb. I also noticed I couldn’t focus on anything but didn’t put that together with the sexual effects. In late May I began being shot awake at 4 am consistently. If I went to bed at 2 I was wide awake at 4. It felt it in my stomach. Even if I took a sleeping pill it didn’t matter. Some people refer to it as a “cortisol awakening”. Then one day in early June, over 4 months since stating antidepressant, I just finished a half-hearted masturbation. I was lying in bed and I felt like my brain actually shifted a or shut off. My body and genitals went completely numb and I could no longer feel emotion. Libido went completely as well. A few days later I noticed the shrinkage. And on and on.
At the moment I have the worst of the syndrome. No emotions, no libido, stopped sleeping naturally completely, genital and body numbness, no taste or smell. dry skin and eyes and mouth, hair thinning, shrinkage and scarring in penis. I am basically a dead person. A fucking zombie. No sexuality, love, sadness, happiness, anger, empathy, or any other human thing. I can’t even perceive the feeling of tiredness. I’ve already tried TMS. Didn’t work for me although it may have helped with derealization and akathisia that I and the first few months. I’ve tried and am still taking some vitamins and supplements but nothing helps. At the moment I have to take large dose of Halcion and Lyrica to sleep. Don’t really dream though. And even in my dreams I have no emotions. This is serious neurological damage.
I am seeing Dr. Goldstein next week. I’m not optimistic though. I also know I will go further down the medication rabbit hole but I don’t give a shit. I’m over it. If this is my life I don’t want it. I’ve suffered enough in life. Ironically a lot of my suffering is due to medication that was designed to ease my suffering 
Truthfully I’m ready to jump in front of a train. But at least they sell nitrogen tanks online for a peaceful ending to this. And what kills me is that I never got to fully enjoy my sexuality due to either mental and physical issues. Much of it medically-induced. I had just signed up to go back to school and was dating some and getting more confident. I had always looked young also but what’s happening is taking a toll physically and will get worse. My last chance at life is slipping away. And honestly I’m tired of life anyway. I’ve been fighting my own brain and body for awhile. And now they have both failed completely. Anxiety had ruined my life. Ironically now my anxiety and OCD are mostly gone. Only at the expense of every other human emotion.
Sorry for the long story but I needed to piece together how I got here. I have so many regrets. I wish I had googled PSSD. But I mainly regret ever taking an SSRI. Although I needed to take something at one point in my life because my obsessional thinking was killing me, it was too much for too long.
Anyway I will keep everyone updated about my visit with Dr. Goldstein.