If you've been on SSRI-s, how was your experience?

[SamIam96]

Did they improve your situation?

Talk about your benefits and side effects if you had any.

Updates

1 y

The responses to my question have been so kind and thoughtful. Thank you!

Please DM me if you're more comfortable trading info in private.

Updates

1 y

I asked the question because SSRIs thoroughly removed my masculinity. It was a long chore with little pleasure to get a barely passable erection.

It's sensual response was similar to rubbing my arm. It didn't hurt, but it didn't feel good.

I never orgasmed. Not once.

[Crimsyjo]

I don't like taking medication so when I was prescribed them for depression I didn't like it and was worried about the rumours that once on them it's hard to come off them. I can't remember much now. I think I didn't feel any different. Certainly no better. so weaned myself off them.

I think doctors sometimes forget that it's a person's situation that is the problem, not their body, and no amount of medication is gonna change the cause of the problem.

[SamIam96]

If you don't mind, what was it that made you decide to go off of them?

Doctors are so overworked. I work hard trying to educate myself for when I have an appointment and still things fall through. I can't imagine how anyone that can't spend days on the internet researching their conditions gets quality care.

[Crimsyjo]

My mum and sister have been on them long time. Never did them any good. Well. To be fair I think my sister said she felt better. But only in that zombie "don't care now" way. No thank you!
I'm not big on changing my body. Taking contraception is bad enough. Which I stopped recently and feel a thousand times better. The real me again.
But yh... with the SSRI I had an episode where I punched holes in the wall with a knife my emotions were so fucked. That's when I decided to wean off them. Maybe it's a "stage" you have to get through? But no thank you!!
I'm pretty sure now I have seen research that says cause of depression is so unknown it's not even 100% fact that SSRI is "fixing" the right thing?

[SamIam96]

fixing the wrong thing wouldn't be surprising. when I was on them, I was less depressed. Not quite a zombie, but I can imagine that. I certainly wasn't myself.

The first time I went off, it was cold turkey. The mood spikes were frightening.

[Ez-Bri-Z_v2]

I had terrible reactions when I took any SSRI's. Turns out I have serotonin syndrome. Now I'm on meds that don't make me absolutely insane thankfully.

[SamIam96]

If you're comfortable, would you share what your reactions were?

[Ez-Bri-Z_v2]

It made my panic attacks much worse with me also including hurting myself at the end of them for one of them. For another one, it made me super hyperactive and talking a mile a minute and unable to sit still. After that I was diagnosed with serotonin syndrome and taken off them.

[SamIam96]

wow. thanks for sharing that.

I hated when I was on them.

[Skinhead-1979]

Not good. Turned me emotionally into a Zombie, I got a lot of side effects, and most of my suicide attempts have been while being on them.

Sertraline was the worst one... I think I eventually stopped at 150mg; then I went to Citalopram and went up to 40mg; last I had Mirtazapine (Not a SSRI though), can't remember which strengths I have had.

[SamIam96]

Shit, man. I hear you. Are you doing well? Do you have meds that help?

[Skinhead-1979]

I still have a long way to go... but I have been doing better since I went 'Cold Turkey' on the anti-depressants about 2 years ago. I'd be lying if I say they have been completely useless, though I do strongly feel anti-depressants only serve a purpose in combination with Therapy. On their own they will not 'cure'/ treat you. You will only get used to them, maybe even addicted, and thus they will lose their effectiveness over time. Medication as good as always comes with side effects, so that is not different with the SSRIs. I am under impression, after talking with many other people who suffer from mental health conditions (or have been victims of abuse), that especially Sertraline is brutal; Citalopram was less noticeable, but I did get side effects.

Receiving therapy is difficult in the UK because our healthcare service is at the point, or passed it already, of collapse due to decades of underfunding. The decline in healthcare services has especially become noticeable in the past 10 years. Even after 5 suicide attempts of which 4 were while I was Mirtazapine, I still did not receive the therapy I need. We value our public services... especially the free at the point of delivery healthcare... but due to a failing healthcare system, politicians are trying to force an American styled insurance system on us. As you may know, in the US healthcare in unaffordable for many people; it will be the same here... There is 2x as much poverty in the UK than US; 22% vs 11%; ordinary people can't afford private healthcare. Thousands of people simply slip trough the ' Healthcare net'... I am one of them.

I live a very sheltered life, a life of a 'hermit'; My 2 Ferrets (They give a me a purpose), Weed and regular tattooing sessions are currently how I deal with my mental state... it's not perfect, but better than nothing of course.

[Skinhead-1979]

I have looked into Medically Prescribed weed, the only weed which is legal in the UK, it is 200% more expensive than on the 'black market' and that doesn't include consultation yet. I spend already £400-£500 a month, and it only covers 2-3 weeks; would I go private, and thus it would be legal, I can cover even less of a month; probably not even 2 weeks. It is that expensive.

It's not the police I worry about; they don't care people smoke especially if it is for medical purposes... But I do want to protect myself against landlords and, would I be ready for employment in the future again, employers.

[SamIam96]

I agree 100% with your observations wrt the need for therapy in combination with meds. Also with how ridiculously broken the US healthcare system is. I'll write more in another question about my transition from SSRIs to an NDRI.

[Skinhead-1979]

If I come across that 'Question', I will certainly read it and comment if I feel I can add something to it.

Yes, our healthcare is system is a bad state too and nearly collapsing... but I do still believe it is better than how it is in the US; just for the simple fact already that healthcare is free at the point of delivery and thus I will never receive medical bills which I will have to pay out of my modest income.

I thought Poverty in the US was bad.. 11% of the American Population lives in Poverty; it is far worse here in the UK, 22% of the population lives in poverty

[Skinhead-1979]

The information you have added in an 'Update' regarding erections... Yes, I had that problem with Sertraline. I could not get an erection anymore and it was the main reason why I requested to go on a different anti-depressant.

I had said to my doctor that while I don't expect to have sex any time soon (4.5 years and counting now), I do still want my equipment to work.

I may have had a similar problem on the other 2 anti-depressants... Ok, it still came up... but wasn't as firm as it was prior to going on the anti-depressants.

[Anonymous]

Am taking one for social anxiety. It helps pretty good but not perfect. I can walk into a business without having to build up my courage but hasn't helped me talk to women. Side effects, reduced spontaneous erections, reduced sexual sensitivity, not as much of a high when climaxing.

[SamIam96]

My experience is identical. That's why I asked. I'll post details later, in an update.

[Opinion Owner]

I forgot to mention shrinkage. When I started taking the ssri my "size" was about 7.5 inches. Two years later it was 5.5". Many years later it's now 5". Was it the ssri? I can't say, but I'm wondering.🙄

[SamIam96]

That's crazy! Based upon my experience, that is not particularly surprising. Read my update.