Post SSRI Syndrome
Post SSRI Syndrome (PSS) is an iatrogenic condition in which sexual, sensory, emotional, cognitive, and/or physical symptoms begin during or after exposure to a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI, SNRI, or related serotonergic agent) and persist after the drug is stopped.
It can appear after a single dose, a dose change, long-term use, or discontinuation. In some people it lasts months, years, or indefinitely. There is no established cure.
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.
Post-SSRI Syndrome (PSS) vs Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD)
Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) refers to sexual symptoms that persist after discontinuation of an SSRI or SNRI antidepressant, including genital numbness, loss of libido, erectile or arousal dysfunction, and weak or pleasureless orgasm.
Many patients, however, report symptoms beyond the sexual domain, such as emotional blunting, anhedonia, memory impairment, body numbness, paresthesia, fatigue and muscle weakness. Post-SSRI Syndrome (PSS) is the broader term used to describe this wider clinical picture. It is not yet a formally recognized diagnosis.
PSSD is therefore considered a subtype of Post-SSRI Syndrome. A patient may present with PSSD alone, or with PSS when other persistent symptoms are also present.