Loss of libido plus other withdrawal symptoms of common antidepressant drug - anyone here suffer this?

[MisterM]

Yesterday afternoon I saw a psychiatrist for the first time and he wrote me a script for a common anti depressant medication  my GAD/Social anxiety and mild depression. Reluctantly and with great apprehension I went to the pharmacy and purchased this drug. My psychiatrist assured me this is a well tolerated drug and I shouldn't be concerned.

However after reading an article on this drug I am worried, especially this claim: "discontinuation, particularly abruptly, may cause certain withdrawal symptoms such as "electric shock" sensations[39] (also known as "brain shivers" or "brain zaps"), dizziness, acute depressions and irritability, as well as heightened senses of akathisia." Electric shock symptoms what the?

I have also read last night on many mental health forums online where many people posted to say they have no libido whilst on this particular anti depressant as well as delayed orgasm, no orgasm, and painful erections which causes relationship issues.
What alarmed me was many people posting online claiming to never have gotten their libido back after a long period after withdrawing from the drug.

I get the idea that this appears to be a permanent irreversible outcome from using this drug.

I spoke to my pharmacist this morning and she  assured me that the libido thing is very rare at about 5% of users having those issues but not being irreversible, and that this is a common drug they supply to patients without anyone raising issues.

I will need to call my psychiatrist today to ask him these questions.
I was meant to take my first ever dose this morning but will hold for now.

Unfortunately I cannot return the medication and get a refund, should have thought about it more, but then again I need to sneak the medication into my room as I am hiding this from my parents and yesterday was my chance to do so as they were out of the house.

Has anyone here had these libido and electric shock sensation side effects that I mentioned above? And also what if any other side effects?

Guys, any of you have erectile dysfunction or loss of sensation downstairs?

[Beltane]

Hmm, i totally get how you're feeling. it took me years to really get help for my issues- i didnt really want to admit i had problems, and it seemed way way way too hard. You know when you just sort go into denial because everything seems too hard? I did that with my anxiety for years. I got given that many different prescriptions and referrals to psychologists, but i never gave anything a fair go. I'd go to a psychologist once than refuse to go because it hadnt helped- well of course its not going to help after one session.

And i did exactly what you're doing- i'd make myself literally sick over the idea of taking them. i'd stare at the box for weeks on end, getting myself all worked up over it, to the point where i'd panic and freak out about it, and make myself feel sick and panicked, breathing fast and sweating over it- you know, full on panic mode.

In the end i got to a point where i was REALLY depressed and trapped in my home because of anxiety. So in the end, it felt to me like it couldnt possibly get any worse by taking the tablet. All those years worrying, and the worst that tablet did to me was make me a bit sleepy the first few days cos i took it at night. I was on it for 2 years and it really helped. But I have bipolar, so while it helped the anxiety, it didnt help with my mood swings etc and that was the reason i changed. I got a bit nauseous coming off it because i tried to come off too quickly, so i slowed the rate down and i was fine.

Anywho, heres a few ideas. You could ask your doctor if you could start on half the tablet or something- tell him you're feeling nervous. Ask if you should have it with food- often that reduces any chance of nausea. You could even ask if you could have a short-term anxiety drug to keep you calm the day you start, if its that bad. Start it on a weekend off work, just in case....

Why dont you ask your doctor about these sexual side effect concerns? I'm almost positive there are a few antidepressants, particularly the newer ones, who are supposed to not have that side effect.

its worth noting that i am someone with a liver problem-i cant metabolise half the psych drugs properly- AND i was misdiagnosed. and yet the worst side effect ive ever had was feeling sick and having a nasty headache- i returned to my GP and she told me to stop the drug, and the symptoms stopped by the next day. so yeah, thats pretty interesting i think.

[MisterM]

Hi Beltrane,

Thank you for typing all that.

I am meant to start on half a tablet for three days, then slowly build it up to two days.

I am currently unemployed so can rest up if not feeling okay.

I was thinking how all these years I have suffered bouts, time to make a big step.

Aiming to take my first dose tomorrow morning.

[Beltane]

Awesome to hear. Don't forget about backing it up with therapy etc.

but good on you for trying something. At best, it'll work awesomely, at worst at least you gave it a shot.

 try to keep yourself busy tomorrow so you don't stress yourself out after your first dose- hire a couple of good movies, catch up with friends, don't let yourself get all anxious basically. Make an appointment with your GP for during the week to talk about your first few days on it- you should see your doc weekly while adjusting to a new med, just to make sure you're starting to see the benefits and talk about any side effects.

remember that any side effects will be short lived and soon will disappear after a week or two, and full benefits of he med will be seen in 6-8 weeks. 

Good  luck and keep in touch!

[MisterM]

Hi Beltrane,

I only have one friend.

We catch up when we can. Caught up yesterday.

I was feeling really anxious and a bit down this morning and afternoon but now I am okay. At times I feel like I don't need medication. It's confusing.

I have one more follow up with my psychiatrist then my gp will get a report from my psychiatrist for ongoing management.

I can't afford to pay for therapy. Not when unemployed and on my own with a mortgage.

Thank you.

[MisterM]

I finally found the courage to take my first dose just before midday.
I had to call Beyond Blue to ask for help to get me over my fear.
All morning I kept getting my medication box and looking at it then putting it away, this went on all morning.

Withing 10-15 minutes I felt a bit funny, like floating sensation, mild headache and itchy skin.
Don't know if I am imagining this or not.

Beyond Blue also gave me a contact number for a free psychology service nearby as it was strongly recommended to combine medication with therapy.
Unfortunately I cannot afford to pay for therapy.
It is at a university and would be provided by grad students under supervision.

[MichaelB]

yes. I find it next to impossible to achie ve orgasm now. where as i used to have no problem at all. Im a 30 year old male with no kids. so its scary to think i may not be able to ever have them now.

[MichaelB]

i remember my 1st time i took it too, took me about 3 weeks to finally take it. I felt so bad, my stomach ached, but i went to sleep and woke up and felt fine.

looking back, im about 99% sure that it was all in my head, like i had worked myself up over it.

I now take a dose that is 4x the amount i started on, and besides not been able to orgasm ( i can but its alot harder to achieve now) i have no other side effects.

The 1st pill is the hardest, you got that one out of the way, you will be fine now with taking them, infact, in a few weeks you  will most likely be as scared of not taking them as you where of taking them haha i am anyway!

All the best my friend