Symptoms: Sexual dysfunction
After being prescribed Sertraline for anxiety, I took my first pill and immediately felt unstable on my feet. It was the strangest thing, but I immediately felt a strong zap-like sensation in my head, which was odd and quite scary. For a couple of days afterwards I persisted to take the medication, but I was now experiencing extreme nausea. In addition, my genitals were extremely numb, which literally felt like they had directly been injected with anesthesia. All things considered, I thought this is intolerable, so I stopped taking the drug after less than a week.
Although the nausea went, I noticed days after that my genitals were still completely numb. At first, I didn't think much of it and just concluded that the drug was still in my system and would work its way out over the course of the week. I waited a week... then a month... then another month... then a year... then another year. I have now had genital anesthesia (post-SSRI sexual dysfunction) for three and a half years. My genitals have no feeling, and although I can get an erection, it is like still being able to eat but having no taste buds. I can have sex, but it's devoid of any feeling.
The psychological pain and torture of going to the doctors for help during a time of vulnerability and being given drugs that do nothing for this, but instead numb your genitalia, potentially long-term, is beyond description. Being unable to feel any kind of sexual touch, having anorgasmia and no libido is tragic for you but also your partner (in my experience). I appreciate that there are many people that take antidepressants who do not suffer such post-SSRI effects, but for the ones that do, this really does need quantifying and investigating.
After a couple of years, I finally had the courage to go to the doctor about this, and he thankfully referred me to a urologist. After another year's wait for a urologist appointment, the urologist informed me she was aware of such a condition but it is rare. She also regretfully informed me the condition is not "reversible." If I was told that Sertraline could cause long-term sexual dysfunction, I would never have taken the drug. I did not have informed consent.