A man who has lost his libido due to post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD) describes it as feeling “chemically castrated”. Hamish, a 33-year-old from London, is speaking out about his experience in the hopes of preventing others from going through the same thing. He explains that since taking an anti-anxiety medication in May, he has lost his sex drive, experiences suicidal thoughts, and suffers from brain fog.
SSRIS, SNRIs and tricyclics were found to be the most common antidepressants trigger sexual side effects
Hamish describes himself as a “heterosexual living in an asexual body” due to PSSD. He only took the anti-anxiety medication once before experiencing panic attacks and immediately stopping. Two weeks later, he noticed numbness in his genitals. He explains, “I took the tablets for anxiety, only to come out worse off. I used to be hypersexual, but now I feel like I’ve been chemically castrated. It affects me mentally, not just sexually”. He also reveals that he has experienced suicidal thoughts and depression as a result of PSSD.
Coping with PSSD has been challenging for Hamish. Along with the loss of libido, he also struggles with brain fog and insomnia. He says, “Since there’s no cure, we hold onto hope that it will get better, but some people have not seen improvements for decades. Even if there is a recovery, it may not be complete. The reminder of genital numbness when going to the toilet is upsetting”.
While antidepressants can be life-changing for some, they are associated with side effects, including sexual dysfunction. The use of these medications has increased significantly in recent years. However, for some individuals, sexual dysfunction persists even after discontinuing the medication. Ruben Dewitte, co-founder of the support platform PSSD Network, highlights the lack of informed consent regarding PSSD as a major issue. He states, “People are not informed about it. They would think twice about taking the medication if they knew the risks”. Dewitte also points out the absence of information about genital numbness as a symptom of PSSD in medication labels.
A man who lives with PSSD says condition is like ‘being chemically castrated’
The 33-year-old from London says he’s been stripped of his libido and that his sex drive has disappeared (stock photo)
Dewitte emphasizes the prevalence of sexual side effects caused by certain antidepressants, particularly SSRIs, SNRIs, and tricyclics. However, there are alternative medications, such as atypical antidepressants, that can increase levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, or serotonin without causing the same sexual side effects.
Individuals with PSSD often report a loss of sexual and romantic attraction, as well as emotional numbness. Both men and women experience difficulty reaching orgasm, and if they do, it is weak or without pleasure. Many have seen their relationships suffer and have missed out on the opportunity to have children. Some have never experienced pleasure during sex and worry they never will.
While the experiences of PSSD patients are recognized in medical literature, there is limited evidence linking these symptoms definitively to antidepressant use.
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