Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) cause sexual dysfunction in many people when taken. This is well known and is also in the leaflet. However, only very few people know and what is not warned anywhere: the sexual disorders do not disappear in some people even after the SSRI has been discontinued.
 
In addition to SSRI, at least SNRI (selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) and possibly SSRE (selective serotonin reuptake enhancer [Stablon]) can cause permanent sexual dysfunction.

 This medication damage is called PSSD (Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction, which translates to post-SSRI sexual dysfunction). The following symptoms are typical for PSSD (they may not all be present together, but often there are several):

 
- decreased or nonexistent libido

Impotence or reduced vaginal moisturization

- Difficulty causing an erection or sexual arousal

or uphold

- persistent genital arousal disorder despite missing sexual

arousal

- weak, delayed or missing orgasm (anorgasmia)

- Orgasm is less or not at all satisfactory

(ejaculatory anhedonia)

- premature orgasm

- decreased sensitivity of the penis, vagina or clitoris

- Genital feeling dustiness

- diminished or diminished response to sexual stimuli

Semen volume

- permanent erection (priapism)

- diminished emotions (negative / positive)

 
PSSD can last weeks, months, years, and more after the SSRI is discontinued.

 
The exact cause of PSSD is not yet definitely known. At the moment, however, there are many indications that SSRIs permanently alter the brain at the genetic level (including, among others, the serotonin receptors). In rodents, at least, this defect is proven to be inherited. It can be assumed that it behaves the same in humans. There is a real risk that PSSD will be transmitted to the children.

 
How often PSSD occurs is also not determined. However, these are definitely not absolute isolated cases; There are simply too many PSSD sufferers. Fortunately, only a minority seems to be affected.
 

The vast majority of doctors do not know about PSSD. As a rule, it is simply assumed that the sexual disorders are of a psychological nature. This is partly true, but not with PSSD - a neurological problem.
 

In the meantime, the existence of PSSD has also been recognized in research. There are numerous scientific studies that document PSSD (see the wiki article). Unfortunately, this knowledge does not penetrate, or too slowly to the public. You normally only learn from PSSD when it's already too late. In addition to further research, it is therefore urgently necessary to educate people about PSSD.


There are currently no known therapies / remedies to fix the PSSD. After all, some sufferers recover over time by themselves and others help certain substances (vitamins, amino acids, herbs).

 
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19435548?ordinalpos=130&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum).