Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with sideeffects

Tell me about your experience on Citalopram (Celexa / Cipramil).

SebastianKnight — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:58:53 -0800

I'm about to start a course of Citalopram (Celexa / Cipramil). What should I know in advance? Despite some serious misgivings I've decided to try antidepressant medication for some ongoing depression/anxiety issues. I've been prescribed 20mg of Citalopram to be taken every morning and will be seeing my GP (in the UK) for supervision at regular intervals. I'm hoping that after a few weeks my sleep pattern will be back under control and my judgement less impaired by low mood, anxiety, and exhaustion. If that works out then I'll be in a better position to tackle any underlying issues and generally stop making so many dumb decisions. Here's hoping, anyway.

If you have any experience on Citalopram (Celexa) or similar SSRIs, is there anything you wish you'd known before starting? I'm aware of the potential side-effects and withdrawal symptoms and at this point I'm prepared to take my chances. I'm most interested in your thoughts on the first 8 weeks or so of being medicated. If you'd like to add a comment anonymously, send me a mefimail and I'll paste it in below.

I'll take the first dose this Saturday after asking a GP friend for a second opinion. Can you think of anything I should ask that hasn't been covered above?

(I'm not seeing a therapist, but I am going to start working through Feeling Good as soon as I can. Previously I've used online CBT but found it overwhelming. If you want to talk about therapy, could we do that by mefimail instead? My diet and exercise regime are okay and pretty crappy, respectively. My family/social support network is good.)

Loss of libido with Levlen/Levora?

roxie110 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:32:13 -0800

Has anyone taking the birth control pill Levora/Levlen had a loss of libido? I've been taking this pill for a year now, and (along with some weight gain that kicked in about 6 months later, yuck) I've noticed a pretty steep drop in my libido.

This is the first time I've ever been on the pill, and I'm trying to figure out whether this may be related to the pill itself, or whether I'm just not that attracted to my boyfriend anymore (it's been 6 years)!

Any info or advice would be welcome.

Help save my hair!?!

gilsonal — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:24:35 -0800

Post-surgery hair loss? Anybody have experience with this? How long does it last? Does it grow back on its own? Do I need to see a doctor? I'm female, 25 years old. I had surgery about three months ago, and my hair has started falling out rapidly. To the point that I'm losing more hair in a day than I would naturally over the course of a couple weeks. My ponytail is already smaller. I don't see any spots, but I do have long hair.

My surgery removed part of my small intestine, but my vitamin levels are okay and I'm injecting those that I can no longer absorb naturally. So i don't think deficiencies are at fault. It appears that the stress from surgery can cause hair loss, and I'm pretty sure that is the case here. They say it happens 3 to 4 months after, and that's pretty much on schedule with what I'm experiencing.

I'd really love to hear some personal experiences about this. I'm trying not to worry or be too self-conscious, but I'm losing what seems like tons of hair and I'm starting to panic lol. What was your experience? How much hair did you lose? How long did it last and is there anything I can do to make it stop sooner? Is a doctor needed or is this just going to resolve on its own?

Beta Blockers for Anxiety?

Wroksie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:06:58 -0800

Looking for information and anecdotes about your experience and knowledge of beta blockers for anxiety. I was diagnosed ages ago with Generalized Anxiey Disorder, which I am usually able to handle with exercise and CBT techniques, but not always. I recently went to the GP for a short-term (less than a month) prescription to deal with some intense anxiety-inducing circumstances in my life- I was expecting a few weeks worth of low-dosage Xanax, which is what I got from my doctor in the US a few years ago in similar circumstances - but I now live in the UK and apparently Xanax is not available on the NHS. I wasn't really comfortable with the diazepam (aka valium) the GP offered to prescribe, nor was I comfortable with his second offer of anti-depressants (I don't remember which ones). So he suggested a beta blocker, specifically one 80 mg sustained-release propranolol caplet per day. I filled the prescription this morning but i haven't taken one yet

I'd really like to hear other people's experiences of beta-blockers for anxiety - does it work, and if so, how? I've read that it's long been a well-known secret among performers to curb stage fright, but my anxiety doesn't feel like panic or active fear - it just feels like a kind of constant, low-grade dread with intense spikes when I have to deal directly with my current unpleasant circumstances. Will the beta blocker help with this? Will it make me feel spacey or disconnected or narcotised, like the xanax sometimes did?

I'm also interested in the side effects - including reactions to alcohol. Google says I probably should avoid it, but I can't find any specific effect that it will have - i.e., does it cause an additional, unpleasant effect, or does alcohol just cause the beta blocker not to work as well? The GP didn't mention this contraindiction at all - he just told me that I might have cold hands and feet and vivid dreams.

Finally, as I don't want to take this indefinitely, what will happen when I stop taking it? I know I need to step down the dose and not quit all at once, but will I have a rebound effect with my anxiety where it's more intense for a period of time?

Sorry for all the mini-questions within this larger question, if you can only speak to a small part of what I've asked, please answer anyway - I'm pretty desperate for information!

Can I stop taking Tamiflu?

emmling — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 05:41:43 -0800

I was diagnosed with type-A influenza with a "high possibility" of it being H1N1 on Monday. I have been holed up in my apartment since then, taking the Tamiflu the doctor gave me. But it's making me feel worse - after I take it, I become dizzy, headachey, and nauseated. Can I stop taking it, or should I finish up the pills I've been given now that I've already started on it? YANAD, YANMD (and my doctor only speaks Japanese).

Spitefulness is very effective as birth control

specialagentwebb — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:26:35 -0800

How do I keep Yaz from wrecking my relationship? Hoo boy, this is going to be a multi-part question.

I started taking my first HBCP (Yaz) almost a month ago. My doc recommended it because it's low-estrogen (unless I'm mistaken, one of the lowest doses out there), clears up acne, and is generally good for first-timers. I understand that it's supposed to take about 3 months for your body to adjust to these things.

Week 1 was an absolute mess (mostly gastrointestinal) as I got used to the pill. Week 2 was better, physically. The issue that I'm having is that since Week 1, I have been a nasty, spiteful, irritable, hateful, miserable bitch. This is not PMSing mood swings. This is 100% of the time being in a bad mood. Someone passes me on the road, I get angry. Somebody stops in the supermarket to look at the types of soup, I see red.

Unfortunately, since he's the person that I interact with the most, my boyfriend takes the brunt of it. I yell at him for anything and everything; he gets dressed too slow, he lets his alarm ring too long, his music is too loud, he's not attentive enough to me (and by now, who could blame him?). It's been a month of this already. I don't know if he can stand another two months, and it hasn't been easy on me either. YANMD, and I'll be talking to my gyno about this later in the week. I understand that every woman is a special snowflake, but I'm looking for personal experiences. So here are my questions:

1. How long does it really take for your emotions to level out after you start taking the pill? After a month, is it likely that I'll get through this phase?

2. Apart from being a bitch, I enjoy Yaz. I really do. No weight gain, shorter period, clear skin. But if I need to switch to another pill (or a hormonal or non-hormonal alternative), which are likely to have the tamest side-effects?

3. If I really do need to "tough it out" until my hormones regulate, is there anything I can do to put a lid on my temper? Meditation, counting to 10, whatever? I guess it's too much to ask, but is it possible that there is a nutrient that I'm lacking (like a B-vitamin for low libido)?

Thanks in advance. My boyfriend thanks you too.

Dealing with a sore tongue and hair loss: advice from the hive mind?

elfgirl — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:00:52 -0800

I'm coping with two different side effects from two different medications--hair loss and sore tongue/dry mouth. Any advice from the hive mind? Teal deer explanation and questions inside. I'm taking two medications for ADHD/Anxiety management: Strattera and Vyvanse. Both are causing side effects that, while tolerable, are annoying enough that I'd like to help counteract them if possible. Both side effects are fairly common for the types of meds they are, so I'm hoping others have had the same issues and have advice on helping alleviate them.

Hair loss: This is Strattera's fault. I know it's a common side effect of many SSRI/SSNRI/NRI type medications and I had it when I tried Wellbutrin several years ago. Right now, stopping the Strattera isn't an option. It's the best thing I've taken to help with my anxiety and has the added benefit of helping me focus, too. Frankly, as far as positive benefits from psychoactive medications, this is one of the best meds I've ever been on. The hair loss, though, is annoying as I have very fine, thin hair naturally. I've seen stories of people losing over half their hair, and I'd like to get a handle on it before it gets to that point.

Sore tongue/dry mouth: Vyvanse has gifted me with energy and motivation without depression--but a really, really dry mouth. The dry mouth (I think) has led to glossitis. Soreness that initially came and went is now pretty constant and occasionally affects my speech.

So, for either or both of these symptoms, my questions are:
Has anyone else dealt with these side effects from these types of medications?
Did they slow or stop over the course of taking the medication?
Did you find a solution or something that would help counteract the side effects (other than simply stopping the medication)?

Thanks!

Changing SSRIs - how long will this last?

different — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:27:26 -0800

You are not a doctor. How long did it take you to adjust to a new SSRI? YANAD, YANMD. I am under the supervision of a good psychiatrist. I am currently changing over from taking Cymbalta to fluvoxamine (Luvox) and am experiencing the usual side effects (drowsiness, confusion, feeling out of it, a little nausea). I'm seeking anecdotal evidence on how long this is going to last. I know that everyone reacts differently to different drugs, but it sure would help to hear some other experiences.

If you changed from one SSRI to another, I would really like to hear your experience - did you have any side effects? If so, how long did they last?

I have been taking Cymbalta for several years now and any side effects had long since worn off. I'm not sure how long I can deal with these new problems (the drowsiness is really knocking me out, and it's only been three days). Hearing your experience will help me to pace myself.

Will prednisone give me a big round face?

telegraph — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:18:07 -0800

Is my length of prednisone treatment long enough to justify freaking out this much about side effects? I'm on prednisone right now to treat a seemingly completely random outbreak of giant hives. My doctor has me on a tapering regimen, starting from 40 mg/day, for about three weeks. Is this a high enough dosage and a long enough treatment for me to develop some of the scarier [aesthetic] side effects of prednisone treatment? I'm thinking specifically of "moon face" and "truncal weight gain." Also, if I do develop these side effects, are they likely to go away on their own after I stop treatment? Anything I can do in the meantime to prevent or lessen their progression?

Can't I be happy AND be able to have an orgasm?

The Dutchman — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:57:53 -0800

Argh. So, a while back I was diagnosed with dysthymia (which is a clinical term for long-term moody, irritable, melancholy, anxious...while not quite clinically depressed and not quite having anxiety disorder). I've felt this way forever, and I'm trying to figure out my next step. I was in therapy for at least 10 years and made a lot of progress on a personal level, but it never really translated to a higher happiness baseline or less anxiety. I tried CBT for a while, but didn't find it particularly effective. About 8 months ago, after contemplating it for most of my adult life, I finally decided to try anti-depressants. As far as my mood goes, they were great! They made me feel a lot less down, a lot more like the self I want to be and a lot more in-line with the very good state of my life. They weren't quite as effective with the anxiety, but it was still an improvement -- at least acceptable.

I would still be on them, were it not for the side effects. Zoloft gave me tremors, made me jittery, made it hard to settle down and get to sleep at night, and gave me delayed or non-existent orgasms, so I switched to Lexapro. That was much better with the tremors and the jitteryness, and I was on it for about 6 months. However, I still had the sexual side-effects. My psychiatrist added some Wellbutrin to combat those, but instead they made them much worse. My sexuality is very important to me and, when soon after I started dating my girlfriend, it just became intolerable and kinda gave up on the meds and tapered them off.

That was a couple of months ago. My sexual response has returned (thankfully!), but so has my moody, melancholy, anxious blah blah crappity crap.

So...what now? Go back to trying various meds (I would go to a new psychiatrist as I wasn't thrilled with my previous one)? Or, the naturopathic doctor my friend saw for her post-partum depression and liked a lot? I feel pretty done with talk therapy and pretty confident that this is a chemical/physiological issue.

I would be happy to be on the Zoloft or Lexapro for ever and ever if not for the intolerable sexual side effects.

I guess I'm also feeling a bit discouraged...so if anyone wants to say, "Hey, I had a similar thing and kept working at it and finally triumphed, so keep it up!" I'd appreciate that kinda thing, too.

Thanks!

The eyes have it.

disillusioned — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 04:30:04 -0800

How concerned about glaucoma should I be? I have chronic ezcema on my eyelids and right at the inner and outer corners of the eye.

I've had this since I was about 6 (following a case of pink eye, actually) and have treated it, since I was 6 with Elocon (0.1% mometasone furoate) ointment.

Now, this flares up about once or twice a month at the very most, and I apply a very thin layer of Elocon to the eyelids and the inner portions. (If I don't, the skin gets red and then constantly burns, and begins to crust and this pain on your eyelids is, I assure you, no party.)

Doctors have always warned to only use Elocon reactively, never proactively, since it's a steroid and "could thin the skin." *Just* what you want to hear when using medicine on the thinnest skin on the body. And the specific section that keeps LIGHT out.

Now I've found that the side effects can also include glaucoma. "But only if applied directly to the eye." Well, shit. I've gotten elocon in my eye so many times it's ridiculous. Again, exceedingly small quantities and not terribly often. But still; when I apply into the corners, it inevitably makes its way into the eye itself. (And burns like an unholy bitch.)

I was tested for glaucoma at my latest eye exam and will make sure that I let my optometrist know I'm technically an elevated risk for it, but my issue is that I *cannot* find any additional data on exposure and causality. "May worsen OR cause" is ridiculously vague, because it's probably one of those contraindications that you just gloss over because, you know, who would put this in their EYE?

Clearly, I'm as careful as I can be. I've also tried non-steroidal options like Elidel. They fail miserably and provide no relief.

So what are we likely talking, here? Lab rats having kilos dumping into their eyes? Or regular, long-term-if-not-terribly-often usage like mine, with just enough exposure to really push me over the edge?

Can I find more detail about the link? Googling just brings the warning, no additional sources or information are available anywhere...

Thanks!

Are the side effects of birth control reversible?

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:30:29 -0800

I want to start taking birth control, but I'm afraid of potential side effects. I really do not want mood swings, weight gain and I especially do not want bigger boobs. What if I start on the Nuvaring and my boobs go up a cup size, if I stop taking it, will they go back to their normal size? Also, how long does it take for any of the side effects to develop, and how long would it take to go away? If I stop taking it for a while, and then go back on, will the same side effects return? I'm 31, fairly petite and slim, and in a long term relationship. Might have kids in the next 5 years, so getting an IUD is out of the question. Also, am completely absentminded, so taking the pill is not an option I want either.

Post-anesthesia for Toddlers?

Dizzy — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:35:02 -0800

My baby boy will undergo general anesthesia Thursday. What should I expect when I get him home? My 20-month-old son will undergo an outpatient procedure to repair 2 inguinal hernias on Thursday.

I'm stressing of course, but the doctors assure me that Henry will be fine. (They've done thousands of these operations; the hospital is excellent and the procedure involved but relatively uncomplicated.)

Parents or Caregivers:
Are there any side-effects, or latent effects of anesthesia I should know about?
What will the 24-48 hours after the surgery be like?
Any secret tips to make him extra-comfortable?
Yikes.

Coping with taking, and hating, Coumadin forever.

juliplease — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:47:32 -0800

What resources are there for dealing with the side effects of Coumadin? I'm not seeking medical advice; I'm seeking suggestions for coping with medication that makes you feel bad. The patient is an otherwise extraordinarily healthy male in his mid-fifties, in the U.S. He took Coumadin for most of last year after a series of medical events that ended in a pulmonary embolism. A genetic clotting disorder further complicated his levels, and he ended up having to take a high dose. (I don't have numbers, apologies.) He was eventually able to go off it, but a blood clot discovered yesterday means he will be back on it, and likely forever. Damnit.

The best way to describe his previous experience is that it made him feel tired, sick, foggy, and forgetful. And he didn't just feel that way, he was.

Do you know of any good, non-medical ways to help him cope with, or better yet improve, his experience? I'd especially love suggestions for mind-sharpening tools or techniques, and most especially from anyone who has been on medication that had a "dulling" side effect. Dietary suggestions, should they come up, must be handled with care because of the medication. I've seen the Wiki and the Coumadin site and a few previous threads/comments, but any and all links are welcome.

He's very depressed to have to go back on Coumadin. I'm sure therapy will be suggested to cope with that aspect, though I doubt he'll pursue it.

at this point I'll keep the smokers cough over the alternative!

Kellydamnit — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:51:04 -0800

Zyban/ Wellbutrin side effects... how long did they last for you? So, I'm trying to quit smoking. Did the patch, turns out I'm allergic (fun), the lozenges made me feel ill, did cold turkey and made it, um... six hours?.
So, my doc prescribed wellbutrin (instead of chantix partly because of the cheaper copay and partly because she has noticed a lot more in terms of serious negative side effects with chantix, and likes to go with wellbutrin first.)

I've been taking 300 mg a day, in two 150 mg doses, since Friday. I've now had a headache for three days. Not so bad I can't function, but bad enough that I didn't sleep last night (which is, in and of itself, keeping me from functioning). Oh, and I can't sleep, too, even when I manage to drug the headache into submission!

Bundle that in with, well, vomiting a couple times since Saturday... which could be tied into the headache/not sleeping (it isn't an unusual reaction when I get severe headaches or go more than 30 or so hours without any sleep), and I'm ready to say screw it.

Did anyone else have similar reactions? If so, did they go away (like, soon), or stick around? I have called my doctor, she said they're "not unusual side effects" and we should wait and see how I feel after a full week on the meds. Some people feel better... others, the same. So I was hoping for some antidotal data to make me feel like sticking it out.

At this point I feel like I'll be out of work after a week of this, since I don't think I can go another night on no sleep without someone at work noticing that I'm useless and lapsing in and out of consciousness at my desk!

What have all these prescription drugs done to me?

Drohan — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 16:26:04 -0800

What has a decade anti-anxiety medication done to me? You name it, I've probably been on it at one time or another--Serzone, Topamax, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, BuSpar, Gabitril, Provigil, Klonopin, Ativan, Lexapro, Seroquel...the list goes on.

I've gone from my early 20s to my early 30s constantly on some combination of medication to combat Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Some of the drugs I've been on have been to combat the major side effects (weight gain & sexual dysfunction) of the main drugs. I've also been in therapy the whole time.

At this point, I'm still experiencing anxiety, which I hope to deal with with yet another cocktail of drugs/therapy. I'm on 20mg of Cymbalta and 2mg of klonopin a day. I'm trying to go off the Cymbalta because it doesn't seem to be working. I just went off Seroquel because it was making it impossible to wake up and I had a feeling it was causing a huge explosion in weight gain.

My question: Will I ever be "normal" again? Now that I've gone off the Seroquel, will I have an easier time losing weight? Will I ever get my sex drive back? Before all these drugs, I had a really healthy sex drive. Even in the few months between being on SSRIs etc. over the past decade, my sex drive hasn't magically come back. Am I doomed to be overweight and sex-drive-less from an early adulthood of pharmacological roulette?

How long does it take for the hormones to leave my system?

schroedinger — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 18:52:18 -0800

What can I expect from taking a break from hormonal birth control? How long does it take the hormones to clear out of your system? Which hormonal birth control side effects disappear and which stay? Factual and anecdotal advice welcome! I am currently on NuvaRing and have decided to take a break from hormonal birth control for at least a few months. I would like to let it all clear from my system and see how my body and mood changes when everything is "normal", then possibly start again-- though probably with the Mirena IUD. I'm wondering what to expect from this "off" period. How long does it take for the cravings and moodiness to stop? Will my boobs shrink immediately? When will my period go back to pre-BC flow? Is this a gradual process or abrupt? Will these BC side effects disappear at all? Does it depend entirely on my individual chemistry?

I would love to hear your experiences on going off, and whether or not you went back on and why.

Is itching an okay side-effect for Bupropion?

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:04:54 -0800

I'm on day three of medicating with Bupropion (Wellbutrin generic), 150mg once daily, sustained release. This is my first time on any sort of anti-depressant, and I've started itching. I'd rather not call a doctor (I realize that's silly, but humor me), and webpages I've looked at seem split about whether itching is a rare, Stop Medicating Immediately side-effect or a common nuisance. Please advise? The itching started last night. It's on-and-off, and seems to only happen in joint areas like the back of the knees/elbows or where my legs meet my torso, usually just one location at a time.

The webpages that call itching (or rash) a serious issue say it indicates an allergic reaction. Some of these sites only list "serious rash/hives" or "blistering rash" under that heading, and I'd say mine isn't blistering or very rash-like (unless I scratch a lot, which irritates the skin and looks rash-like). Others just list itching/rash under that "serious/cause-for-concern" heading.

Other webpages list itching as a common side-effect and not as cause to be alarmed.

I realize the proper thing to do is to call a doctor, but that's not currently an option. My inclination is to continue for a couple more days and see if it gets worse or better. By doing so, am I actually putting myself at serious risk?

For others on Wellbutrin (Bupropion), has itching been a side effect and was your doctor concerned about it? Did it go away eventually or is it just something you've had to deal with?

Have you ever used Tazorac? How did it go?

otherwordlyglow — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:01:36 -0800

Do the side effects of Tazorac ever go away? I'm 39 and female. Have had some form of acne almost my entire life. I've been on antibiotics before (didn't really help), Retin-A (sorta helped but really thinned out my skin), Accutane (worked really well but effect didn't last), benzoyl peroxide (can't stand bleaching all my towels by accident), and lately sprinolactone/aldactone (worked like a charm - I was thrilled with the results).

I've been on the spironolactone for about 4 years now. I used to take it every day but started taking it less frequently and my skin still seemed to be okay. Last time I saw a dermatologist, he suggested trying to take me off the spironolactone, and suggested I try Tazorac. He won me over by suggesting that the Tazorac would improve skin texture and I figured not taking an oral drug every day was probably desirable and if I could get even BETTER skin, well, why not?

So now I've been applying the Tazorac (0.1% cream) every other night for about 3 weeks after washing my face and applying the moisturizer I've used every day for like 10 years (Kiehl's Sodium PCA - love it). I also mix in a little moisturizer with the Tazorac (as suggested by the doc). I've had insane amount of peeling and flaking and generally really gross dry skin every since. It has gotten slightly better in the last week but it's still pretty awful. I generally have to reapply moisturizer a couple times a day and still end up looking like my face is peeling from a sunburn quite often. I have a follow-up appointment in about 2 months.

Does this scaly, peeling dryness ever end? Will I adjust? I've been reading some accounts online and reviews seem mixed so I thought I'd ask the good folks here. What's your experience with Tazorac been?

Is NuvaRing giving me an unstoppable period?

schroedinger — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 09:16:52 -0800

Is my NuvaRing making my period wonky, and will it eventually stop? Has anyone had similar side-effects from starting on the Ring? Womanly cycle details inside. I was on Ortho TriCyclin Lo until the end of April. I stopped because it was making me crazy and crave chocolate all the damn time. I used no hormonal birth control during May. This month I began NuvaRing. A week-and-a-half ago my period started (though three days late). On the second day of flow I inserted the Ring, as per its official instructions booklet. Now my period has yet to stop, though for the past week the flow has been very light.

Previous to OrthoLo I usually menstruated six to seven days. I had no initial side-effects switching to OrthoLo, and when I was on it my periods lasted about five days or less, and were much lighter than previously. This whole ten-day period thing is an entirely new and unwelcome development.

Has anyone experienced similar side-effects from switching to the Ring or birth control in general? Do I need to wait it out or see a doctor? It is going to stop some time, right? God, I hope it will stop.

ssri's and permanent side-effects

Anonymous — Tue, 01 May 2007 22:07:11 -0800

Long, complex, embarrassing question about SSRI's and permanent sexual side-effects. This will be long and detailed, so here's the summary: 35 year old male, spent about 2 years on and off different combinations of Zoloft and Wellbutrin, experienced sexual side effects, have been off all meds for 2 1/2 years, side effects still remain.

And now the details:
After many years of depression, at 31 I saw a doctor and reluctantly went on Zoloft. It worked wonders and made me feel great almost instantly. Only problem was the sexual side effects. It was almost impossible to ejaculate, and when I finally did the orgasm was hardly what it used to be. I barely felt anything, more of a relief that it was over. The doctor added Wellbutrin but that didn't seem to help much. About 6 months in, I started dating a girl so I went off the Zoloft but kept taking the Wellbutrin. I was able to ejaculate but the feeling was still about 20% of what it used to be. Eventually I went off of everything, relationship ended, side effects seemed to go away, but mood of course went south. After about 6 months I started up Zoloft again. Side effects returned. Doctor had me ween off the Zoloft after a few months and added a stronger dosage of Wellbutrin. The Wellbutrin just didn't work for the mood, so he upped the dosage, then upped it again. Eventually I realized this wasn't the way to go so I weened off all meds. This was 2 and 1/2 years ago.

Its now been over 2 years and the side effects remain. It is devastating. To sum my symptoms up, I have the physical ability to have sex but I feel nothing. Somethings wrong with my brain due to SSRI's, but I don't know what it is. Erections have never been stronger, but it takes forever to ejaculate since I feel nothing. I feel almost numb. When I finally do ejaculate, the orgasm is nothing. Just a rush of blood to the head, but the part of my brain that controls the pleasure now feels dead.

I've searched around the internet and have found that I'm not the only one. They've called it PSSD. There's a page on Wikipedia, and also a Yahoo group devoted to this that has 1200 members. The group is helpful in that I know I'm not alone, but there aren't any solutions. Just a bunch of people that are pissed off at their doctors and the drug industry. No one has any helpful answers.

I saw a urologist just to rule out anything physical, but he didn't take me seriously and once he heard the word depression, he seemed to assume that it was all in my head. He did some basic tests but I felt like he was blowing me off.

I saw a therapist (which I think I should have done before I started any of the antidepressants) for about a year. It was helpful but ultimately I realized there wasn't anything she could do for me for this particular issue, which is now the main cause of my problems.

This whole issue has made my depression ten times worse than it ever was. Before it was manageable. Now it is not. I have withdrawn from family and friends and now have a lot of anger built up over the whole thing. You can imagine how hard this is to talk about, and the few people I've told have a hard time believing it. It has helped to ruin a couple of relationships, and I now have no desire to go out and try to meet girls. I pretty much just go to work and thats it.

The irony is that now I feel like I should just go back on Zoloft, because that worked wonders for my mood and the damage is done now anyway.

It's hard to ask one specific question. Has anyone ever heard of this before? Know anyone who has experienced it and recovered? Could a physical symptom cause this? Should I try another urologist? Should I seriously consider going back on medication? Just try to accept it?

Feel free to give me your thoughts on any of those questions, but I'm really just looking for general advice on what to do next.

Thanks

Chantix and it's side affects

Megafly — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 15:29:57 -0800

Chantix....Have you stopped smoking with it or had any experiences with it? My Doc wants me to start on it and I will. I just want to get some Idea of how it will actually affect me and the side effects lists are useless because they don't give me any idea of how common each side effects is.

Antidepressant side effects?

anotherpanacea — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 07:24:56 -0800

How frequently do antidepressants create behavioral abnormalities like OCD, low impulse control, or mania? How does that work? Is it due to misdiagnosis, drug interaction, or abnormal drug tolerances? I've had a number of students and a couple of friends claim that a period of unusually bad behavior was due to weird side-effects from antidepressants: sometimes they seem to become drunk after a single beer, other times they say they became unable to control themselves and started engaging in really risky behaviors. One guy said, "It was like the moment I considered something I was already doing it." In his case, 'it' was heroin, and a disaster.... I'm curious about how this works from the neurological perspective. Are some drugs (SSRIs, for instance) more likely to create this problem than others? Perhaps related is the FDA study that showed teenagers were more likely to commit suicide when prescribed antidepressants.

I'd be satisfied with some sense of what this is called or how to google for it. I haven't been able to find anything in the morass of mental health information and advertisements, but I'm guessing this is due to over-broad search terms.

Can Wellbutrin cause problems with verbal communication?

tarthur — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 08:20:58 -0800

Can taking Wellbutrin XL cause an occasional inability to quickly verbalize cohesive thoughts? I've been taking 300 MG of Wellbutrin XL for a few weeks now and have found that I have often found myself at a loss for words. I'll trip up on even simple statements and it destroys comedic timing completely. Could this be a side effect of taking this antidepressant? This is really frustrating because I can hear myself destroying what I'm trying to say as it comes out of my mouth and I feel it makes me seem uneducated.

Ways around Nuvaring side effects?

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 11:17:46 -0800

Problems with the NuvaRing. What can I do? I started the NuvaRing two weeks ago. I had sex for the first time (on the ring) last night and I immediately felt an intense burning in my vagina that didn't go away for 45 minutes. I did some investigation and it seems that other people have complained about this in various forums but the only solution seems to be to take out the ring during sex. Are there any other ways around this? Also, when looking at the side effects, I saw sinusitis listed. I've had a cold that I can't shake for a week. Related?