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Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction

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Re: Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction

#111

Post by m00x »

wayoutthere wrote: post #9

Ugh. Yes. Not meaning to be crude here and I’m incredibly sympathetic to the men I date, but as a woman in her late 30s it’s hard to find a man my age who doesn’t have problems getting / keeping it up. Most of them link back to antidepressant use. What about modern society drives the need for such widespread use of antidepressants? Is that something we should be willing to give up? It hasn’t always been this way, has…

It's not about society, it's about having the option now.

I have severe anxiety and I always just accepted it. After taking 75mg/day of Effexor, I don't have that anxiety anymore and I can function like a normal human. I'm in my mid-30s and I can have sex 3-4x/day easily and it still functions like when I was 15.

I wouldn't blame it all on anti-depressants, since sexual issues for 35+ year old men are common even without them. Blaming anti-depressants is convenient though since no one wants to blame it on genetics/health.

Re: Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction

#112

Post by bduerst »

superflit2 wrote: post #91
symlinkk wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What makes CBD healthier necessarily? Curious of your viewpoint

From the people I know personally. Situation 1. Interview next day. They can't sleep, can't focus. Like they are rolling on their bed all the time but no real sleep. Then on the next day when they have the interview their cognition is exhausted and tired. Solution: CBD helped them sleep better like in 40 min. Situation 2. Meeting or having a situation that they will be anxious. (meeting, new job,etc). CBD before make…

My experience with CBD is that it will knock you out and give you a deep sleep on day 1, but the more you use it the harder it is to sleep without it. Almost like the payday loans of falling asleep.

Re: Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction

#113

Post by n8cpdx »

As someone dating in their 20s, it is getting hard to find people who aren’t having SSRI-related dysfunction. Recently met an older (early 30s guy) and it was seriously cool having a sexual experience that didn’t end with “don’t bother I’m just not going to finish no matter how long we go.” They really seem to be handing out these serious, almost-impossible-to-withdraw medications like candy on Halloween.

They don’t actually solve the problem long term, you can’t really come off them ever (I know a lot of people who have tried; only one who succeeded and they were on an exceedingly low dose to begin with - it took six months before the frightening neurological symptoms subsided), and they permanently damage ability to have human connection (I don’t understand how that doesn’t worsen depression and anxiety long term).

I get that I’m the asshole for suggesting that people take a second look at the side effect profile and consider whether these might be overprescribed. I get that they do make life better overall for some people. I’ve also seen my friends become psychotic and ruin their lives when they try to get off them (because the sexual side effects and weight gain were unbearable). So IDK, it feels urgent enough to raise as a concern. Especially when so many people are taking them.

I see a lot of people given SSRIs for anxiety that could probably be better treated by e.g. not smoking so much weed. It is hard to manage the underlying factors that drive people to alcohol and drug use, but I think probably easier than being rendered impotent by SSRIs.

I get that seemingly everyone is depressed these days, but I really question giving SSRIs, which have poor efficacy and devastating side effects, before demanding lifestyle change. Walking 10k steps and CBT are useful interventions that can be easily monitored by physicians with modern technology.

I guess good for half the 20-something cohort for not being able to orgasm really ever, but it’s not great for building the physical aspect of human connection, which I maintain is important. IDK what society looks like when half the prime age population isn’t able to have a fulfilling or enjoyable sex life.

Re: Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction

#114

Post by batrachos »

ivraatiems wrote: post #87
staticman2 wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I meant cold turkey as a synonym for no longer on drugs, I should have phrased it differently. I never said psychiatrists pressure patients. I said they only treat patients on drugs. If the patient decides to go off drugs that's the natural end of the relationship. You replied and said you saw a psychiatrist when you were still on a anxiety drug and the insurance paid for it. Well, of course they did, you were taking…

> You replied and said you saw a psychiatrist when you were still on a anxiety drug and the insurance paid for it. Well, of course they did, you were taking a drug. The insurance company doesn't know what you are discussing in your sessions and isn't going to let you see or not see a specialist just based on whether they prescribe you meds. That's not how it works - or not how it should be working if your insurer is…

> The insurance company doesn't know what you are discussing in your sessions

That's not true. From what I understand, sessions are coded e.g. "Intake" or "Meds check" when billed to insurance. They know roughly what you're talking about.

> and isn't going to let you see or not see a specialist just based on whether they prescribe you meds.

You can't bill a meds check with no meds.

> That's not how it works - or not how it should be working if your insurer is acting appropriately. I also saw this psychiatrist a couple of times before taking anything. I didn't walk out of my first session with a prescription for buspirone.

And those sessions were probably billed as "intake", "evaluation" or the like. A psychiatrist cannot keep billing intakes and evaluations forever. Talk therapy is coded in its own way, and generally paid at a lower rate.

Re: Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction

#115

Post by thanatos519 »

lost-found wrote: post #94
ljm wrote: post #8

This was one of the factors that made me think twice about going back on anti-depressants, until I made peace with the fact that my ability to orgasm wasn't going to pull me out of the hole I was in. It's a shitty choice but the desire to not be suicidal forces your hand. It's literally like flipping a switch. One day, the plumbing works. The next day, it doesn't. Many times I'd just give up, out of boredom. The side…

You ever look into ketamine for treating depression? Self medicated this past weekend and had some major breakthroughs with my long time depression/suicidal intrusive thoughts. Nice thing is you don’t have to stay on it unlike other antidepressants—I would never do a medication that you have to constantly take.

Try 2F-DCK. Many benefits but no K-hole.

Re: Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction

#116

Post by yosito »

hellojesus wrote: post #106

I want to kill myself every second of every day, and it's been that way for 15ish years now. The only thing, fleeting as it may be, that I find worthy of doing in life is sex, and these ed side effects have kept me from exploring the potential for a world in which I don't to cease to exist or murder in the sake of nihilism. I'd rather destroy the lives of those around me or others' randomly than live without sex. It'…

I'm sorry you feel that way. It sounds difficult. I believe there are many things that could help you find more pleasure in life and also find more fulfilling sex. I recommend searching for those things, and looking for people who can help you. But I'm actually commenting to point out that sex with a prostitute doesn't have to be risky, despite stereotypes. Most prostitutes are frequently tested for infectious diseases, and most will have no objection if you ask to see a recent clean test. Very very few prostitutes will have unprotected sex. And you could even find a less active prostitute who doesn't have sex with many people. The biggest risk is probably legality, depending on where you're based. But, assuming you have legal access to it, I would recommend seriously considering it. It's a fair exchange of something you have, for something you need that could really help you get what you want out of life. As long as it's between consenting adults, there is no problem with safely exploring this option. One note that I would recommend if you do pursue it is to also pursue personal growth at the same time, because few people find that sex with a prostitute was what they really wanted, and you may find that what you really want in life will take a lot of work to achieve.

Re: Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction

#118

Post by FFRefresh »

n8cpdx wrote: post #113

As someone dating in their 20s, it is getting hard to find people who aren’t having SSRI-related dysfunction. Recently met an older (early 30s guy) and it was seriously cool having a sexual experience that didn’t end with “don’t bother I’m just not going to finish no matter how long we go.” They really seem to be handing out these serious, almost-impossible-to-withdraw medications like candy on Halloween. They don’t…

I do wonder if there's a culture-wide bug/meme with regards to mental health (and beyond) that makes it hard to push for lifestyle changes at scale.

I think one such meme is around agency, with the underlying meme being that humans have no control over their circumstances or mental state. They have anxiety or they have depression. It's part of their identity, and these seem to be thought of as immutable diseases.

And it's a social faux pas to suggest to someone with anxiety (particularly someone you are not super close with) that if they altered their behavior and consciously tried to work on their thought patterns, that they could get better. In our culture now, that gets translated as 'blaming the victim', because with a victim mindset, such a suggestion implies that it's the fault of the person.

It's an unfortunate state of affairs. It feels like we are increasingly leaning into concepts such as an 'external locus of control' and 'learned helplessness' as a society. I don't know how we can push back on these ideas at scale, but if we don't, it's hard not seeing mental health issues and the externalities of the easy pharmacological solutions expand.

Re: Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction

#119

Post by hvs »

Jaruzel wrote: post #22

My personal anecdote: I'm on Venlafaxine which is an SNRI (also cited in the article), and I definitely suffer some of those side-effects. It sucks. At times it makes me want to shy away from sex completely. Other times I think I'm doing OK, only to find out I can't finish, or I finish weakly with no adrenalin rush. So my choices are, come off the pills, and emotionally go down a dark well I may not come out of, or k…

I had the same problem with Venlafaxine (Effexor XR). My psychiatrist had me switch to Duloxetine (Cymbalta) and my problems went away (but it worked as well as Venlafaxine for GAD and depression). FWIW I'm in my mid-40's but I had this problem about 10 years ago (when I switched).

Re: Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction

#120

Post by hellojesus »

yosito wrote: post #116
hellojesus wrote: post #106

I want to kill myself every second of every day, and it's been that way for 15ish years now. The only thing, fleeting as it may be, that I find worthy of doing in life is sex, and these ed side effects have kept me from exploring the potential for a world in which I don't to cease to exist or murder in the sake of nihilism. I'd rather destroy the lives of those around me or others' randomly than live without sex. It'…

I'm sorry you feel that way. It sounds difficult. I believe there are many things that could help you find more pleasure in life and also find more fulfilling sex. I recommend searching for those things, and looking for people who can help you. But I'm actually commenting to point out that sex with a prostitute doesn't have to be risky, despite stereotypes. Most prostitutes are frequently tested for infectious diseas…

Thank you for your response. I appreciate it.

The problem I have concerning diseases and prostitutes is that, although many get tested often, almost all testing excludes hsv and hpv unless specifically requested. And since ~12% of the population carry hsv-2, which can shed asymptomatically and be contracted from skin-to-skin groinal contact, it seems that it's an eventuality if I pick up prostitution long term, and then it's for life.

Condoms help, but they're not perfect. I asked on a forums once if prostitutes would be okay if I wore condom shorts such as the following link, and I was told that (1) the hobby was not for me, (2) the probability of contraction given the use of condoms is low enough not to be a consideration, and (3) the item probably wasn't tested under the same standards as condoms so probably isn't as safe (I figure latex material such as this would be a find physical barrier).

https://m.aliexpress.com/item/1005001595057592.html?spm=a2g0...

I'm still contemplating it but am having trouble digesting the sti risk. The legal risk doesn't bother me.

Edit: auto-correct

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