F
Paroxetine
August 7, 2026··
I have been taking paroxetine (Daparox) for several years. I was stable on 20 mg for a long time and did not have these symptoms.
After reducing the dose, and particularly after a previous reduction and subsequent restart of the antidepressant, I began experiencing symptoms that I had never experienced before. These include genital numbness/anesthesia, reduced or absent sexual desire, loss of sexual arousal, lack of spontaneous and morning erections, emotional blunting/anhedonia, brain fog, and a strong feeling of detachment from my mind and emotions.
The genital symptoms are especially concerning because I previously had normal sexual sensation and strong arousal. I am worried that these symptoms could be related to antidepressant withdrawal, a persistent post-drug effect such as PSSD, or another neurological mechanism.
I am currently taking sertraline (Zoloft) while gradually reducing paroxetine, and I am concerned about whether continuing sertraline could worsen these symptoms. I would like to understand whether my symptoms could be caused by withdrawal, medication changes, PSSD, or another condition, and what the safest approach to my medications would be. I NEED HELP PLEASE I CAN T LIVE LIKE THIS
Paxil — 11mg — 3 years — actively tapering | Zoloft — 50mg — 2 weeks — planning taper | without clinician
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