Post SSRI Syndrome
Post SSRI syndrome (PSS) is a health condition that includes a variety of symptoms that appear after taking an SSRI.
The condition may appear after increasing or decreasing SSRI dose, or after long time use or discontinuation of an SSRI. It may appear after taking only one dose.
In some cases, the condition persists indefinitely after stopping the medication. Currently, not much is known about the condition or how to treat it.
Some common symptoms
Loss of sensitivity in the body
Memory problems
Anhedonia
Aphantasia (difficulty imagining)
Chronic fatigue
Muscle weakness
Sexual dysfunction
Loss of sensitivity in the genitals
Erection problems
Tingling in the extremities
What is an SSRI?
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) have become one of the most commonly prescribed treatments worldwide for conditions such as depression, anxiety, phobias, and other mental health–related disorders.
SSRIs are a class of antidepressants whose main mechanism is to increase serotonin levels in the brain by blocking its reuptake by neurons. This can improve mood, reduce anxiety, and help stabilize certain disorders. Some of the most well-known SSRIs include sertraline, fluoxetine, escitalopram, paroxetine, and citalopram.
Although each one has chemical differences, they all share the ability to influence the serotonergic system—a system that regulates not only mood but also biological functions such as sleep, appetite, body temperature, and sexuality.