David Healy - Seeking a Cure for Protracted, Medication-related Sexual Dysfunction

This week we interview Dr David Healy.

Dr Healy is an internationally respected psychiatrist, psychopharmacologist, scientist, and author. A professor of Psychiatry in Wales, David studied medicine in Dublin, and at Cambridge University. He is a former Secretary of the British Association for Psychopharmacology and has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed articles and 20 books, including The Antidepressant Era and The Creation of Psychopharmacology and his latest book, Pharmageddon, published in 2012.

David is a founder and CEO of Data Based Medicine Limited, which operates through its website RxISK.org, and is dedicated to making medicines safer through online direct patient reporting of drug side effects.

In this interview, we discuss Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) and Dr Healy's novel and innovative approach to finding a cure.

A recent email to Dr Healy starkly highlights the problem:

I took X for 16 years without any side effects. Stopped 7 months ago and all hell broke loose. Some of the side effects I got in the first week after quitting are: no libido, cold testicles/penis, pain around penis and anus, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, tingling, numbness...

Life is not very good these days.

I am married with beautiful children. They have lost their father. If I can do anything to help, don't hesitate to get in touch. I would like to give you my biggest thanks for what you are doing and wish you all the best with the fundraising.

In the episode we discuss:

• How Dr Healy came to set up Data Based medicine and RxISK.org.
• Why RxISK are focussing on Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD).
• That genital numbness can occur very quickly upon taking an ssri antidepressant and can also be triggered by drugs such as Roaccutane (isotretinoin) and Propecia (finasteride).
• What led to setting up the RxISK Prize.
• How people can get involved with the campaign.
• That it's often people not involved with healthcare who get motivated to take action.
• How empowering it is to enable people harmed by pills to be part of the solution.

To get in touch with us email: podcasts@madinamerica.com

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