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)?
United States
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?)
Google
What is your current age, height, weight?
22, 5”10’, 250 lbs
What specific drug did you use (finasteride, dutasteride, saw palmetto, isotretinoin/Accutane, fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram, leuprorelin, etc…)?
Sertraline
What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?
25-100 mg per day for 6 months, then 50 mg for two days.
What condition was being treated with the drug?
MDD and GAD
For how long did you take the drug (weeks/months/years)?
6 months, then reinstated for 2 days.
How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start the drug?
21, not sure about dates.
How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?
22
How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
CT
How long into your usage did you notice the
onset of side effects?
Immediately after reinstating.
What side effects did you experience that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
Anhedonia, Muscle Wastage, Joint Pain, Cognitive Problems like trouble focusing and memorizing things, Suicidal Ideation, Sexual Dysfunction, Gastro Issues
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
[ ] Complete Impotence
[X] Loss of Morning Erections
[X] Loss of Spontaneous Erections
[X] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[ ] Watery Ejaculate
[X] 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
[X] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[X] Severe Depression / Melancholy
[X] Suicidal Thoughts
Physical
[ ] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[X] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[X] Testicular Pain
[X] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[X] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Weight Gain
[X] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[X] Muscle Wastage
[X] Muscle Weakness
[X] Joint Pain
[X] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
[X] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[ ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[X] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[X] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[X] Tinnitus (ringing or high pitched sound in ears)
[ ] Hearing loss
[X] Increased hair loss
[X] Frequent urination
[X] Lowered body temperature
[ ] Other (please explain)
What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?
None.
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)?
Only had a basic blood panel immediately after noticing my symptoms. Everything is fine in regards too that.
Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your symptoms?
Tell us your story, in your own words, about your usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.
Took sertraline for about 6 months last year for depression/health anxiety issues, and it really helped. Discontinued for a bit, then had another massively stressful event happen to me quite recently, and I was advised to reinstate sertraline at 50 mg/day, and then consult with my doctor after a couple weeks. The morning after my second pill, I had the worst anxiety attack I’ve ever had, and it’s difficult to describe how bad it was. It was an inhuman feeling, and immediately contributed it to the sertraline. After the attack wore off with help from my mother, I realized that seemingly overnight the muscles I had on my arms had thinned/deflated, and I was absolutely terrified. Additionally, I had the worst stomach cramps I had ever had, and horribly dry skin and hair. Went back to my GP immediately, told me I was anxious and to come back in a week once the drugs were out of my system. Well, it’s been about a week now, and while I’ve gotten better in some facets, I’m afraid that I’ll get worse or be stuck in this shell for the rest of my life. I just need some support right now.
Thanks a lot.