Why does Zoloft (and other SSRI's) cause sexual side effects? Are they easil!
Question: Why does Zoloft (and other SSRI's) cause sexual side effects!? Are they easily reversible!?
I've been prescribed Zoloft for OCD (the OCD is killing my lifestyle)!. I don't mind having a diminished libido while I'm on the drug, as I may only need to be on it for 6 months or so, but what scares me is this:
http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/PSSD
And other accounts of ongoing sexual side effects because of SSRI's with a large support community!. Frankly, I don't want to be part of this community, especially because I'm a 22 year old male who hasn't even had sex yet!. The angst would be unbearable if I lost something like this now, and yet, the OCD is becoming unbearable also!.
My real question is, if I go on the drug, will the side effects most definitely reverse!?
It would help to know why the hell it causes sexual side effects in all people, and why it doesn't reverse in some people as well!. True statistics say that when people were asked the sexual side effects were more like 60-80%, the other 20-40% would have been so depressed and/or anxious to have even noticed!. ThanksWww@Answer-Health@Com
http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/PSSD
And other accounts of ongoing sexual side effects because of SSRI's with a large support community!. Frankly, I don't want to be part of this community, especially because I'm a 22 year old male who hasn't even had sex yet!. The angst would be unbearable if I lost something like this now, and yet, the OCD is becoming unbearable also!.
My real question is, if I go on the drug, will the side effects most definitely reverse!?
It would help to know why the hell it causes sexual side effects in all people, and why it doesn't reverse in some people as well!. True statistics say that when people were asked the sexual side effects were more like 60-80%, the other 20-40% would have been so depressed and/or anxious to have even noticed!. ThanksWww@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
The chances of getting sexual dysfunction while on-drug are probably roughly 55-65%!.!.!. there was one pretty comprehensive study done about a decade ago, that looked at individuals' sexual functioning pre-SSRI, then what happened over the months on-drug!. Generally, independent investigations produce figures roughly in the same areas!. Yes, you will find higher and lower figures!.!.!. a lot of the initial lower figures came where individuals were not specifically asked about sexual dysfunction, and as it's a delicate subject, info wasn't volunteered, and artificially low figures resulted!.
So you may or may not be affected, but shouldn't be surprised if you are!.
If (if) you are sexually affected, then then the likelihood of it not reversing appears to be miniscule!.
Why the sexual dysfunction on-drug!? I don't think anyone's sure precisely why, but the main hypothesis looks at the serotonin-dopamine connection!.!.!.!. serotonin goes up, dopamine goes down; but there are various other possibilities, some more linked to specific types of dysfunction (e!.g!. ejaculation in males) and it could be combination effects too!.
Why doesn't it always reverse!? Good question, one to which more than a few hundred people appear to be seeking an answer - both male and female!. Some people's blood tests may show abnormalities (e!.g!. percentage relationships are okay, but actual figures are not cf!. age; free testerone levels can be off in some people!.!.!.), yet others' tests may look fine despite showing the same form of dysfunction!. Those assessing the epigenetics angle may be investigating a 'warm' area in terms of a culprit, but that's just a personal opinion, nothing more!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
So you may or may not be affected, but shouldn't be surprised if you are!.
If (if) you are sexually affected, then then the likelihood of it not reversing appears to be miniscule!.
Why the sexual dysfunction on-drug!? I don't think anyone's sure precisely why, but the main hypothesis looks at the serotonin-dopamine connection!.!.!.!. serotonin goes up, dopamine goes down; but there are various other possibilities, some more linked to specific types of dysfunction (e!.g!. ejaculation in males) and it could be combination effects too!.
Why doesn't it always reverse!? Good question, one to which more than a few hundred people appear to be seeking an answer - both male and female!. Some people's blood tests may show abnormalities (e!.g!. percentage relationships are okay, but actual figures are not cf!. age; free testerone levels can be off in some people!.!.!.), yet others' tests may look fine despite showing the same form of dysfunction!. Those assessing the epigenetics angle may be investigating a 'warm' area in terms of a culprit, but that's just a personal opinion, nothing more!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
once you stop taking it, the side effects should disappear!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
60% is a good number, 50 I hear more often!. 80 is probably far, far too high, and no they are not just too depressed to get the side effects, they genuinely do not get them and carry on normal sex lives!.
Edit: As for 'why' we don't know, other than that serotonin neurons seem to have some sort of influence over sexual function!.
And honestly!? I've never heard of it persisting indefinitely!. The wikipedia article lists less than a dozen cases!. Given the length and number of prescriptions written, this seems to be an extremely rare side effect - the equivalent of rhabdomyelysis in Statin drugs, or SJS in Ibuprofen!. This is absolutely NOT something you should be worried about!.
These are the only cases I've ever seen where the sexual dysfunction does not go away!. The fact that one of these cases wasn't reversed by alprostadil, a drug that!.!.!. well it's a 'urethral suppository'!. Yes, you put it -in there-!. That means something very far out of the ordinary is going on!. And yes, they are a big deal when you are on the medication, people tend to forget how important sex is in maintaining a happy life, and not having it can make depression worse!. Also, remember that you are not guaranteed to get sexual dysfunction on any of these meds, and getting dysfunction on say, Zoloft, in no way implies that you will get it on Celexa, or Lexapro, or Luvox!. You can always try another one!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Edit: As for 'why' we don't know, other than that serotonin neurons seem to have some sort of influence over sexual function!.
And honestly!? I've never heard of it persisting indefinitely!. The wikipedia article lists less than a dozen cases!. Given the length and number of prescriptions written, this seems to be an extremely rare side effect - the equivalent of rhabdomyelysis in Statin drugs, or SJS in Ibuprofen!. This is absolutely NOT something you should be worried about!.
These are the only cases I've ever seen where the sexual dysfunction does not go away!. The fact that one of these cases wasn't reversed by alprostadil, a drug that!.!.!. well it's a 'urethral suppository'!. Yes, you put it -in there-!. That means something very far out of the ordinary is going on!. And yes, they are a big deal when you are on the medication, people tend to forget how important sex is in maintaining a happy life, and not having it can make depression worse!. Also, remember that you are not guaranteed to get sexual dysfunction on any of these meds, and getting dysfunction on say, Zoloft, in no way implies that you will get it on Celexa, or Lexapro, or Luvox!. You can always try another one!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
There is anecdotal evidence, at least that it does not reverse in some
http://health!.groups!.yahoo!.com/group/SSR!.!.!.
These are real people who are having persistent problems!. Will they reverse in time, who knows!?
However, in medical circles, it is doubtful that a single physician (who prescribes SSRIs and could be liable) will concede even to the possibility that it causes long-term problems!.
I was on Zoloft as well as other SSRIs and have P!.A!.N!.E!.S!. (Persistent Adverse Neurological Effects) that have not gone away since stopping the medication!. It may have to do with the down regulation of serotonin receptors over time, being burnt out due to the excitatory effect of drenching the brain in serotonin due to delayed reuptake!.
There are two books: Toxic Psychiatry and Your Drug May Be Your Problem that you may find interesting!. However, it is a very controversial issue - many people believe SSRIs do not alter the brain at all!. However, I go by my own experience and am positive that I am not the same person as I was prior to beginning medication over 3 years ago!.
However, to give you a balanced perspective, there are many people who seem to have done fine on SSRIs and experience no problems at all!. There seems to be anecdotal evidence on both sides - however I would not discount anecdotal evidence, even though it is a form given almost no weight or value in any community!.
Weigh your decision carefully!. There is a lot of pressure to believe that SSRIs are completely harmless, and people that have had bad experiences get drowned in the roar of folks who think they are whacko for questioning what a doctor will prescribe!. There are other treatments for OCD, such as ERP (exposure and response prevention) that according to several studies change the brain as effectively as medication would over time, as long as you are adherent to the treatment!. It is part of CBT and does not involve medication!. You would need to consult an OCD specialist!.
However, perhaps you do need medication if your OCD is unbearable and you don't have the resources for the alternative treatment!. Either way, weigh the options, you know yourself the best!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
http://health!.groups!.yahoo!.com/group/SSR!.!.!.
These are real people who are having persistent problems!. Will they reverse in time, who knows!?
However, in medical circles, it is doubtful that a single physician (who prescribes SSRIs and could be liable) will concede even to the possibility that it causes long-term problems!.
I was on Zoloft as well as other SSRIs and have P!.A!.N!.E!.S!. (Persistent Adverse Neurological Effects) that have not gone away since stopping the medication!. It may have to do with the down regulation of serotonin receptors over time, being burnt out due to the excitatory effect of drenching the brain in serotonin due to delayed reuptake!.
There are two books: Toxic Psychiatry and Your Drug May Be Your Problem that you may find interesting!. However, it is a very controversial issue - many people believe SSRIs do not alter the brain at all!. However, I go by my own experience and am positive that I am not the same person as I was prior to beginning medication over 3 years ago!.
However, to give you a balanced perspective, there are many people who seem to have done fine on SSRIs and experience no problems at all!. There seems to be anecdotal evidence on both sides - however I would not discount anecdotal evidence, even though it is a form given almost no weight or value in any community!.
Weigh your decision carefully!. There is a lot of pressure to believe that SSRIs are completely harmless, and people that have had bad experiences get drowned in the roar of folks who think they are whacko for questioning what a doctor will prescribe!. There are other treatments for OCD, such as ERP (exposure and response prevention) that according to several studies change the brain as effectively as medication would over time, as long as you are adherent to the treatment!. It is part of CBT and does not involve medication!. You would need to consult an OCD specialist!.
However, perhaps you do need medication if your OCD is unbearable and you don't have the resources for the alternative treatment!. Either way, weigh the options, you know yourself the best!.Www@Answer-Health@Com