madman
Super Moderator
ABSTRACT
Depression and anxiety are common, with one in six people experiencing symptoms in any given week. Of these people, 8.32 million are prescribed antidepressants. People living with HIV are likely to experience psychiatric disorder, with one in three experiencing depression and anxiety, and being at greater risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Sexual side effects of psychotropic medication are very common, cause distress, and can persist even after the medication has been withdrawn. Antidepressants are powerful drugs and can have severe interactions with many other substances. This article seeks to raise awareness of sexual side-effects of psychotropic medications and draw attention to ethical issues related to post selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor sexual dysfunction (PSSD). Additional risk factors and interactions between psychotropic medications and recreational drugs are identified. Recommendations are made to improve care and clinical outcomes through the development of therapeutic alliances.
Conclusion
Antidepressants are powerful drugs, with significant interactions, which are prescribed to over 8 million people in the UK alone. People living with HIV are more likely to experience depression, anxiety or PTSD, and are likely to be offered SSRIs as treatment for these conditions. Clinicians have a duty of care to ensure that all medications are prescribed safely, and this is paramount with regard to the prescription of SSRIs due to the propensity for severe interactions with recreational drugs, and over-the-counter medicine. PSSD is a rare, but potentially long-lasting, consequence of SSRI use, and healthcare ethics dictate that those being offered antidepressants must be made aware of the risks.
Chemsex is associated with a higher incidence of mental illness, and care must be taken to ensure that individuals seeking mental health care are not prescribed antidepressants if they are consuming recreational stimulant drugs. Nurses play a key role in forging supportive and non-judgemental therapeutic alliances, so that the individuals they support feel safe to discuss aspects of their life that have historically been associated with stigma.
Depression and anxiety are common, with one in six people experiencing symptoms in any given week. Of these people, 8.32 million are prescribed antidepressants. People living with HIV are likely to experience psychiatric disorder, with one in three experiencing depression and anxiety, and being at greater risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Sexual side effects of psychotropic medication are very common, cause distress, and can persist even after the medication has been withdrawn. Antidepressants are powerful drugs and can have severe interactions with many other substances. This article seeks to raise awareness of sexual side-effects of psychotropic medications and draw attention to ethical issues related to post selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor sexual dysfunction (PSSD). Additional risk factors and interactions between psychotropic medications and recreational drugs are identified. Recommendations are made to improve care and clinical outcomes through the development of therapeutic alliances.
Conclusion
Antidepressants are powerful drugs, with significant interactions, which are prescribed to over 8 million people in the UK alone. People living with HIV are more likely to experience depression, anxiety or PTSD, and are likely to be offered SSRIs as treatment for these conditions. Clinicians have a duty of care to ensure that all medications are prescribed safely, and this is paramount with regard to the prescription of SSRIs due to the propensity for severe interactions with recreational drugs, and over-the-counter medicine. PSSD is a rare, but potentially long-lasting, consequence of SSRI use, and healthcare ethics dictate that those being offered antidepressants must be made aware of the risks.
Chemsex is associated with a higher incidence of mental illness, and care must be taken to ensure that individuals seeking mental health care are not prescribed antidepressants if they are consuming recreational stimulant drugs. Nurses play a key role in forging supportive and non-judgemental therapeutic alliances, so that the individuals they support feel safe to discuss aspects of their life that have historically been associated with stigma.
