This was originally a comment to a post by ashlanddog, and I decided it was worth using as a post.
Want to know WHY (well, ONE reason why) people, especially teens and twenty-somethings, on SSRI's sometimes become depressed, suicidal, or even violent and insane? Here's one reason:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are associated with a high incidence of sexual dysfunction, with prevalence rates ranging from 25% to 73% in various studies, and up to 80% in some reports.
This adverse effect is a significant concern, as it can impact treatment adherence and quality of life.
The most commonly reported sexual side effects include decreased libido, delayed or absent orgasm, and erectile dysfunction in men.
Among the SSRIs, paroxetine is consistently associated with the highest rates of sexual dysfunction, followed by fluvoxamine, sertraline, and fluoxetine.
The risk is thought to be linked to the drugs' strong serotonergic activity, which may affect the central nervous system by reducing dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway and suppressing spinal ejaculatory centers.
. . . Persistent sexual dysfunction after discontinuation of SSRIs, sometimes referred to as post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD), has been reported in case studies and systematic reviews, with symptoms including loss of libido, genital anesthesia, difficulty achieving orgasm, and persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD).
These symptoms can persist for years after stopping medication, with some cases lasting over two decades.
(more)
The above text is part of the AI response to the query below; the link also provides a listing of studies and other references.
Imagine being a young adult, and having your life wrecked in such a way.
Incidentally: the words "sexual" and "dysfunction" don't even occur in the posted article (EDIT: that is, the one posted by ashlanddog, linked at the top of THIS post). They're keeping this under wraps, apparently.
Would ANYONE take that shit if they were honestly apprised of the NOT UNCOMMON side effects?
because the doctors get paid by pharma companies to prescribe it!
watch the TV commercials they double down. "is your anti depressant not working, just add this other one!"
Renée Kohanski - SSRIs and Youth: The Chicken, the Egg, and the Prescription Pad...Untangling medication effects from the chaos young people already carry.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/12/ssris_and_youth_the_chicken_the_egg_and_the_prescription_pad.html
Fun fact. Women are the number one consumers of SSRIs.
Possibly unpopular opinion: I've been on fluoxetine (Prozac) on and off for two decades... it helps me with maintaining a base level of motivation. I do notice a decrease in libido, but my dosage is low enough that it doesn't bother me too much. SSRI's are definitely over-prescribed in general, but there are those of us with odd brain chemistry who benefit from them.
I am a victim of this loss of sexual feeling. I was on SSRI for 20 years and have been off them for 15 years. these drugs are being misused by the medical field. unless there is weekly monitoring of these by psychiatrists not your family physician these drugs should not be used at all and the ability for the doctor to hospitalize someone on these drugs against their wishes is needed. only in real severe disorders should they be tried not just depresion....if depressed try physical activity 10 times more effective generally then SSRI for depression. I am not saying these drugs do not have there uses as a mentally ill individual for short term yes but long tern I was better off with a gym membership and staying away from stressful interactions....My way of dealing with my illness today is limiting my social interaction with people and exercise,
They came out in '87, the doctors and others talked about a "gold standard for personality" whatever that was, most of the symptoms we know about now where known about back then, especially the one about making people a lot more violent.
When you talk to people you can tell the ones on heavy ssri meds. Flat affect and mono tone voice is a quick give away.