JULIAN

Age: 38 | Germany

"Last year, I had to go to the hospital because of my depression. I had already been taking paroxetine, but they suggested I switch to bupropion. When I started bupropion, I faced issues like premature ejaculation and watery semen, which worried me. As a result, they changed my medication to Cymbalta (duloxetine).

After taking the first Cymbalta pill, something odd happened. My glans tingled, I got an erection, and I found myself laughing and crying simultaneously – it felt like tears of joy. At night, I experienced something like flashes in my brain. The following day, I noticed problems like erectile dysfunction and a numb glans (genital numbness).

From that point onwards, it felt like my body was shutting down, and things got worse over time. Although I stopped taking the medication more than a year ago, I still suffer from issues like genital numbness, severe erectile dysfunction, a soft glans, watery semen, premature ejaculation, penis shrinkage, and low semen volume. Additionally, I experience anhedonia, which means I lack motivation for almost everything. I lost interest in my old hobbies, even though I used to have many. I used to be a smart guy, but now it feels like I've lost my entire personality, as if I've become someone else. There's very little that still brings me joy. My emotions are numb. Watching a movie or listening to music no longer affects me. Hugging my loved ones doesn't make me feel anything either. I don't respond to alcohol or coffee anymore.

It's as if all the good things in life have been taken away from me. It's a terrible condition, and doctors don't provide much support. They say it's still my depression and that it's all in my head, even though the medication is no longer in my system. All I hope for is that there will be a cure soon."