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I wanted to post here because it is very rare to find someone else who was on Viibryd, let alone on a low dose, and is having similar symptoms. I’ve noticed via other PSSD forums and the comment sections of PSSD articles that those of us who took Viibryd seem to have the worst of sexual dysfunction appear after discontinuation. Others with PSSD from traditional SSRIs simply have a continuation of symptoms that were present while on their medications. I am not sure if this is in some way related to the 5HT1a partial agonist function of the medication.
I was on 10mg for 10 months and it was sufficient despite my very serious acute depression due to the loss of my partner (by the way, 5mg is the lowest I’ve heard anyone take..that’s literally half the pill of the starter dose). While on it, I had on and off issues with insomnia, the common gastro issues, and pretty mild sexual dysfunction (noticeably numb penis when erect with pleasureless orgasm for the first few weeks, then an ~80% return to baseline for the remaining 9 months). I tapered for 2 months, cutting pills, and came off the Viibryd without any difficulty.
3 months later, my symptoms started to worsen. Instead of returning to baseline from 80% functionality, I’ve dropped to ~50% functionality. I have no libido, significant reduced semen volume, and while I am able to orgasm with manual stimulation, I have a very hard time maintaining an erection during intercourse. Even with manual stimulation, the second I stop, I lose the erection within a few seconds. I’m trying to be balanced and consider psychological factors such as stress not anxiety, but I am actually in a good place in my life right now.
By the way, did you have any periods of itchiness/stinging sensation after discontinuation? I had a couple of such windows and it was hell!
Given the low prevalence or at least disclosed low prevalence of our symptoms, and the complexity of the symptoms, I doubt any major work will be done. Mayo is know to have a great publicity machine, hence this forum and many other Mayo interfaces, but our concerns will just get lost. I live in NYC and have attempted to work with neurologists and neuropsychiatrist affiliated with Cornell Weill and they looked at me like I was making things up.
Replies to "I wanted to post here because it is very rare to find someone else who was..."
You are right on several things. One, you don’t hear from many people that were on viibryd. I was on I believe 10mg, although I think at one point I was on 20mg. I was on it for years and quit it cold turkey. I also had no issues while taking it. Everything started when I stopped it. About 2-3 weeks after stopping and it progressively got worse and it’s been up and down since. I initially had tingling all over the body, muscle twitches constantly and a sensation in my throat when swallowing along with sexual issues. I can orgasm just fine but I have the same erection issues. When I can manually get an erection it goes away quick. A lot of times I have a hard time even getting an erection. I have numbness and loss of pleasure there. I can’t get an erection a lot of the time masturbating or sex without viagra or cialis. I did just have full blood work up and my hormones are jacked up now from it I think. My Testosterone and free testosterone are below normal and I’m 37. I’m exploring this route and had some improvement first week but second week I got worse than I was prior to starting treatment. I’m not sure what to do. Your right doctors don’t want to believe us. I hear depression thrown around a lot and I’m in a good spit in my life beyond this. I wander if we reached out to places as a group if we could get anywhere? I’m in Tennessee. I’ve seen neurologists as well and for no where. I’ve also recently developed weird shrinkage when flaccid and shrinkage in scrotum like I’m in cold water or something all the time that comes and goes. I guess it could be lack of blood being sent there with no libido and some numbness.. how long have you been like this? I’m at about ten months..
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That does indeed sound like PSSD. Your experience with medical professionals is unfortunately the norm, most doctors are completely dismissive and will tell you that what you are experiencing doesn't happen. Its truly disheartening.
I never had any itching or stinging.