- Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) is a growing concern among young adults who have experienced long-term sexual and emotional side effects after discontinuing antidepressant use.
- Testimonials from various individuals highlight the severe and persistent impact of PSSD on their sexual function, emotional well-being and overall quality of life.
- The condition affects both males and females and can lead to complete loss of sexual sensation, emotional numbness and a general lack of enjoyment in life activities.
- The National Health Service (NHS) in the U.K. acknowledges the potential for long-term sexual side effects from SSRIs, such as loss of libido, difficulty achieving orgasm and erectile dysfunction, even after discontinuing medication.
- Despite not being officially recognized by health authorities, PSSD is raising awareness and prompting calls for more cautious prescribing practices among medical professionals, particularly for young patients.
In recent years, a growing number of young adults have reported experiencing long-term sexual and emotional side effects after discontinuing the use of antidepressants, a condition known as post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD). This phenomenon is raising concerns among medical professionals and patients alike, prompting calls for more cautious prescribing practices.
Nick, now 27, was first prescribed Trintellix, an antidepressant, at the age of 19 to treat his moderate anxiety and depression. After six years on the medication, he decided to discontinue its use. However, he soon noticed a significant change in his sexual function, experiencing a loss of genital sensation that never returned. (Related: Antidepressants do not make people happier, study finds.)
"I wasn't at risk of taking my own life or anything like that … I still had a hell of a lot of fun in life … I think I definitely should have [done] therapy first and foremost," he said. "Now there's just no enjoyment in anything, like hobbies or hanging out with my girlfriend or watching a movie or playing video games, my favorite thing to do, it's all exactly the same. It's like watching a brick wall.”
Similarly, Phillip, a 19-year-old from Maine, experienced sexual numbness and muted emotions after discontinuing Prozac, which he had been prescribed for depression following the discontinuation of Vyvanse, a stimulant used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
"All the positive emotions are almost completely gone. I don't feel the highs any more, but I felt all of them before the pills," Phillip said. "I think it just messed with my developing brain. Since I was going through puberty, it changed my blueprint."
Elliott Blaise, a 24-year-old dishwasher from Atlanta, Georgia, was prescribed Zoloft at age 18 for emotional regulation, a symptom of ADHD. After six months on the medication, he stopped, immediately noticing the typical PSSD symptoms.
"No one can really comprehend what it's like. You lose all spark in life, all enjoyment of things, everything just becomes bland and gray," Blaise said. "It almost feels like I'm dead inside."
PSSD is not limited to males. Rebekah Kane, now 24, was prescribed Zoloft at age 15 for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). After discontinuing the medication, she experienced complete genital numbness and emotional numbness.
"There was no therapy or anything like that. It was just immediately medication," Kane said, feeling like she was lobotomized, like the complete atmosphere of the world has gone.
These cases highlight the potential long-term effects of antidepressants, particularly on young people.
WARNING: Antidepressants could really have permanent sexual side effect
In May 2024, the Daily Mail published an article to warn millions of British taking antidepressants, advising them to be aware of potential long-term sexual side effects that could persist even after they stop taking the medication.
The most common class of antidepressant drugs in the United Kingdom, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are relied upon by approximately 8.6 million British people dealing with mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
SSRIs – such as citalopram, fluoxetine and sertraline – are prescribed under brand names like Cipramil, Prozac and Lustral. However, research has linked their use to long-term and even permanent sexual dysfunction.
The National Health Service (NHS) has acknowledged that side effects like a loss of libido, difficulty achieving orgasm, lower sperm count and erectile dysfunction "can persist" after taking SSRIs. Patients have reported feeling "carved out" and experiencing relationship damage as a result of these side effects.
The condition known as PSSD affects both men and women and has been described by users as a feeling of being "asexual." Although not officially recognized by U.K. health authorities, PSSD could have a lasting impact on patients' sex lives, even after they have stopped taking the medication.
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