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During the meeting of PRAC (Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee) of 3-6 September 2018, EMA (European Medicines Agency) held a preliminary scientific discussion on Post SSRI/SNRI Sexual Disorders and on 26 October 2018 the minutes were published on those that will be the next steps to address the problem.
Given the amount of reports and the Citizen Petition advanced by David Healy, the signal was considered worthy of further investigation, through review of literature by the EMA and evaluation on the feasibility of a pharmacoepidemiological study.

In the PRAC meeting of 29-31 October 2018, SSRI and SNRI pharmaceutical companies were asked to investigate the persistent sexual dysfunction following suspension. The revisions by the pharmaceutical companies will have to reach the EMA within 60 days.

During the PRAC meeting of 13-16 April 2019, the EMA discussed the forthcoming publication of a Recommendation concerning the signal of SSRI / SNRI persistent sexual dysfunction. Recommendation that is published on June 11, 2019: all SSRI and SNRI drug manufacturers will have to update the information leaflets within 2 months with the wordings that sometimes sexual dysfunctions persist despite discontinuation.  All details at This link.


Antonei Csoka and colleagues have been investigating for years the genetic and epigenetic aspects related to PSSD. In a new study they explored epigenetically mutated genes from citalopram, which could explain the persistence of certain disorders.


Recent reviews available on PubMed have expanded the medical literature on PSSD emphasizing the importance of deepening the study of persistent sexual dysfunctions caused by SSRI / SNRI antidepressants, understanding the etiology and finding a cure.

Dr. David Healy, psychiatrist and psychopharmacologist in the UK, is working since 2012 to collect testimonies from patients who report iatrogenic disorders, and has posted on his blog RxISK.org various investigations on the PSSD, advancing hypotheses and possible therapies (see the articles).

In September 2017 RxISK announces a Prize for those who will find a valid cure for PSSD, launching a fundraiser to which anyone can contribute with donations.
He also hypothesizes, as a cause, a possible peripheral neuropathy of small fibers (see articles 1, 2).

In 2018 Healy publishes a new article of 300 cases of persistent sexual dysfunction following the use of antidepressants, finasteride and isotretinoin, and a Citizen Petiton highlighting the urgent need for the competent institutions to update the labels of SSRIs and SNRIs about the risk of PSSD.

In Italy Dr. Roberto C. Melcangi, Professor of Neuroendocrinology at the University of Milan, already engaged to investigate through clinical and experimental studies, the Post-Finasteride Syndrome (similar to the symptoms of PSSD) and bringing important evidence of altered levels of neurosteroids in the liquor (or cerebrospinal fluid) of patients with SPF, he begins to devote himself to the study of PSSD (to fill in the questionnaire contact him here).

In 2018, publishes a review that makes PSSD and SPF comparison and start, thanks to the important financing of an Italian boy suffering from PSSD and following ministerial approval, an experimental study on laboratory animals, in order to identify changes caused by taking SSRIs.

Fiammetta Cosci (see website), psychiatrist doctor, associate professor in clinical psychology at the University of Florence, is engaged in research on the phenomenon of withdrawal abstinence or reduction of antidepressant drugs. Founder, along with G Chouinard, V-A Chouinard and GA Fava, of The Diagnostic clinical Interview for Drug Withdrawal 1 SSRI and SNRI, an instrument that allows to carry out a specific assessment of withdrawal syndromes suspension or reduction of antidepressants.

In 2018 she provides a questionnaire for all patients with PSSD in order to contribute to the knowledge of this syndrome.