I am in perimenopause and just started taking a really low dose of Paxil for depression. I know it dries out my mouth, but I am also experiencing some discomfort in that area as well? Could this be related to this medication? Any personal experience with this? My doctor said, "Maybe", but I would like to hear if anyone else had experienced this uncomfortable side effect?

Yes it could be. I was on lorazapam for a couple of years i had vaginal dryness. It went away right after i got off of it.

SSRI's - Give me a break - Just tell me if these things can cause permanent sexual side effects, or not?

I showed the PSSD page on Wikipedia to my psychiatrist, who has been in the business for a long while and hasn't even heard of PSSD! Which is "Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_SSRI_ ... ysfunction

Basically everyone who has complained about this side effect being irreversible, responsible for writing that Wikipedia article, along with buggered medical professionals who wrote an essay or two about it, are member of the Yahoo support group.

A group with 1600 members.
One THOUSAND six HUNDRED!

Wow.

And this is out of the how many million that have been prescribed and taken off this medication in the US alone?

It does sound like a coincidence to me.

This whole thing frustrates me because I need to take Zoloft for OCD, but I have these *possible* losers, who are discouraging people from taking the medication who really need it, like myself. I just don't know what to do; my psychiatrist basically said "How many causes of sexual dysfunction are there? Something to blame for these people? Perhaps unintentionally?"

Frankly, if this thing with "PSSD" holds no merit, then the few medical journals about it and that Wikipedia article which states it as fact, with a fancy name and abbreviation to it too, should be taken off. They can keep their precious little support group for the next loser who wants to blame SSRI's for their ongoing sexual dysfunction.

“Q: Will these side effects go away when I stop the medications?

A: As far as we know, these SSRIs do not cause any permanent changes. Usually once people stop taking them, they return to their previous state. There have been rare cases where people have complained of persistent changes in their sexual functioning after taking SSRIs. Because they are so infrequent it is difficult to know whether these changes occurred because of the medicines or some other, co-incidental reason.”

http://www.modernpsychiatry.org/sexual_ ... _ssris.htm

Damn, see how torn up I am about this? These people have created DOUBT and doubt is sometimes all a person needs to not do something, even something he knows he SHOULD be doing. I’ll probably end up taking it anyway, but if I do, I’ll have this constant fear because of these *possible* impotent losers who are saying all this.

Wikipedia is a source of good and real bad information.Any body can enter anything to it and it is never really monitored,but to me it seems that the more ignorant you are the more value you give to the so called info there.
I never believe a thing of any medical info on there.If I have a question about medical issues I go ask my Dr.or specialist and not some fancy made up story.
I can see your doubts,but would not pay attention to it.
Even the 1600 people who claim they suffer from it because of the medicines ,can have had it anyway.There are more reasons to suffer from sexual dysfunction:but it is easier to blame it in your pills.
If I were you,would just take them.And pay no more attention to it.
Success:Planets.

Are SSRI'S Phamacuticals doing anything to find out why these pills have Notorious sexual side effects?

I have been on paxil and it was awful packed with sexual side effects makes you feel asexual, now on such a low dose of lexapro 5 mg and it has Notorious sexual side effects, and i didn't even expect to have them with this drug.Barely any orgasm sometimes nothing ,no desire and numb genital feelings.Do these Pharmcutical companies care to find out whats causing this or as long as they fill there pockets there happy.If you going to defend pharmacutical companies get lost and i don't want you comment.

I'm just going to say hear-hear.deciding to have
numb genitals or to be able to get oob in the morning is a tough decision. they probably don't want to say anything because they are working on female viagra

Are there GAD medications that don't have sexual sexual side effect or at least Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction?

Does anyone know of any prescription GAD medications that don’t have sexual side effects listed as a known side effect or are at least not known to cause Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction, i.e. ongoing sexual side effects after the discontinuation of treatment? Thanks

Most Benzodiazepines don't have sexual side effects.. such as Lorazepam, Oxazepam, Clonazepam... Antidepressvia such as Effexor on the other hand have often a massive effect on Sexual dysfunction... happens a lot more with anti depressiva than with GAD meds..

I am on Clonazepam.. I have no side effects.. that is a Benzodiazepine also know as Rivotril.... I have no side effects but I had side effects from some anti depressant..

that's very ironic .. because Effexor is not taken for GAD it is an antidepressiva and it had severe sexual disfunction in me.. and people never take it for GAD... it is against DEpression which is not the same as Generalized Anxiety Disorder.. I would ask for a Benzodiazepine.. they are harmless or less harmful ... Effexor had the most terrible effects on me plus weight gain.. no sexual interest and it is taken against depression not against anxiety
Effexor causes often severe sexual disinterest.... but that is an antidepressant.. I didn't need it and it only gave me negative effects.... xxx

Does anyone take an SSRI that does not have the sex side effect? Does anyone take an SSRI that does not have the sex side effect?

The most commonly used class of antidepressants called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have quickly risen to the top of the charts for their effective ability to treat depression However, there is one big problem: SSRIs have a negative effect on a woman's normal sexual functioning. In fact, many women experience these negative effects to such a severe extent that it results in them ending treatment altogether. Luckily, this negative side effect has been recognized and a variety of options have been developed to deal with this problem.

If an SSRI is only being taken for acute treatment and the only problem with it is that it causes a decrease in libido, the best thing to do might be to just deal with it during these short time-spans. However, if the drug is being used chronically, the woman will probably want to do something to get rid of this negative side effect. Sometimes, after the body gets used to the drug, a side effect can simply go away. If this does not happen (or if the patient just does not want to wait), here are some other options to consider:

a. Reduce the dosage: Side effects (including loss of libido) are dosage-dependant. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the dosage enough so that the patient's libido will be restored while still maintaining the anti-depressive benefits. Unfortunately, one study showed that 81.4% of patients suffering from SSRI-dependant sexual dysfunction had no improvement even after 6 months.

b. Take a drug holiday: This involves taking some time off from the drug in order to revive the patient's libido for a short period of time. However, this cannot be done with all of the SSRIs; a drug holiday can only be taken from those with a short half-life, which refers to the amount of time a drug will remain in the body before it is eliminated. Prozac is the only SSRI that cannot have a holiday, since its half-life is so long that, even upon stopping the drug; it will remain in the body's system for weeks. Fortunately, a holiday can be taken from Zoloft, Paxil, and Luvox, as their half-lives are all short enough that the body can eliminate the drug fairly quickly (26, 21, and 15.6 hours respectively).

c. Typically, the patient takes the pill on Thursday. Libido resumes on Friday and then it's off you go for the second honeymoon weekend. The next pill is taken Monday. Most patients don't get a noticeable return of depression. A woman should never spontaneously take a drug holiday, though; be sure to consult a doctor first on how to do it.

d.Switch antidepressants: There are some antidepressants that don't have such a negative impact on a patient's libido. Consider ending the use of the SSRI, allowing the body to wash it all out of its system, and then starting up again on a different drug such as Wellbutrin or Manerix. Many studies have shown the positive effects of Wellbutrin on libido. In one study, 81% of patients who had switched from Prozac to Wellbutrin experienced a significant increase in libido. The only problem with Wellbutrin is that it cannot be used for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Therefore, those taking Prozac for this reason cannot make this switch. Manerix also has a positive effect on libido; in one study that involved switching from Prozac to Manerix, all of the patients reported resolution of their sexual dysfunction. Remeron and Serzone also have been recommended.

e. Use antidotes: These are drugs that contain 5-HT2, alpha2 adrenergic receptor antagonists, and dopamine receptor agonists.

f.Increase clitoral stimulation: If the woman is having trouble with her orgasms, it may not be due to the medication at all. A majority of the traditional sexual positions to not supply the woman with enough clitoral stimulation for her to orgasm. The woman should try informing her partner of this and see if it helps.

Before messing with the drug, all patients should be aware that depression and sexual dysfunction often go hand-in-hand. Therefore, loss of libido in someone who suffers from depression may not be due to the SSRI alone. The cause of this loss of libido should be determined before deciding upon a course of action to treat it.

What SSRI is good for both depression/anxiety also doesnt have a side effect of weight gain? What SSRI is good for both depression/anxiety also doesnt have a side effect of weight gain?

Lexapro has been the best for me. Zoloft never made me feel any different. Paxil causes weight gain

Has anyone experienced hostility as a side effect to their SSRI?

I have never taken medication for depression or anxiety until this year. I have trouble remembering to take my dose every day and sometimes I forget to take a few doses in a row (especially on weekends).

I ended up having a panic attack and started to become hostile towards my boyfriend and my puppy - shouting at both of them. I felt like I wanted to just throw everything around the room. I was afraid of hurting either of them and kept telling them both to just "get away, leave me alone!".

Other than remembering to take my medication, how can I curve this issue?

Also, any tips on remembering to take medicine would be great. I haven't had to take medicine on a daily basis in the past, hell I don't even take tylenol for headaches!

Omg yes- when i accidently forgot to take my medication i turned into a super-b*tch. if you have panic attacks you need to tell your doctor so he can also prescribe you something like xanax for your anxiety. this will help because when you see yourself acting irrationally you can take the xanax because they work faster than the anti-depressants. i would keep medication by toothbrush so you see it everyday and remember to take it. (because i assume you remember to brush your teeth everyday)

Hi.

I'm wondering if anyone has been on SSRI/SSNI's or similar medication without having tiredness as a long-term side-effect. (>6 months)

What medication and in what dose was it? Has anyone stopped the medication because of this side-effect?
Thanks bookchick111. I am indeed looking for medicaiton less likely to have this as a side-effect.
sorry, SSNI should be SNRI

Alas many of these anti depressants seem to cause fatigue.

I was on Citalopram and had to stop it after four weeks because the tiredness it caused was so extreme and I was constantly yawning. When I managed to remain awake, that is...!

Prozac was slightly better in this respect; most people find it a more stimulating medication so that's a good one to try, though it has other side effects for some people.

I'm currently on Effexor, which is causing fatigue... surprise surprise!

If you're looking for an anti depressant that doesn't have this as a side effect, then I've only really heard of two. One is Wellbutrin, which many people say is energising.

The other is an MAOI, one of the older anti depressants, it's called Parnate (in the UK it has just a generic name, I think,) and apparently this is really stimulating. BUT with MAOIs you have to avoid many foods and also many medications otherwise it's very dangerous, so get detailed advice if you take this route.

NOTE ON WELLBUTRIN:

Wellbutrin got a bit of bad press when some early studies linked it to risk of seizures. However, later studies contradicted this, and state that in fact this anti depressant has a lower risk of seizures than many other medications in this group. It's also been stated that with Wellbutrin, the risk of seizure is dose-dependant - in other words, higher doses raise the risk level.

You might want to check out all of this for yourself and if you do take Wellbutrin, ensure you start at a low dose, and only increase it very gradually... Good luck!