UK Political Action Update

Last year the MHRA and the Commission for Human medicines conducted a review into the long term sexual side effects (PSSD / Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction) caused by antidepressant medications. The review aimed to determine whether warnings detailed in patient information leaflets were sufficient and whether other action was required.

This was the result of longterm lobbying from people such as Dr David Healy, Joanna Moncrieff, members of PSSD network and also members of the UK PSSD community who wrote to their MPs to ask for help. Members of PSSD network attended a meeting with the expert working group in May of last year, we provided this document to outline our views.

The outcome of the review is detailed here.

The conclusions and follow up actions related to the review are not quite what we had hoped for. Therefore, PSSD Network are arranging to publish a letter of concern / complaint.

To maximise the impact of the letter, members of the community are asked to contact their MPs to request that their MPs sign the letter to show their support. Please help us to follow up on all the hard work to date with this important action! We want to publish the letter as soon as possible, so please take action as soon as you can.

Use the email template below to write to your MP, cc to Lord Alton (altond@parliament.uk) and Daniel from PSSD network (daniel@pssdnetwork.org) and attach the letter of concern. Download the letter of concern here.

“Dear (MP's name)

Do your own short introduction here.

Then include the text below:

I wanted to let you know that the MHRA recently concluded an expert working group on antidepressants and the results are disappointing (The outcome of the review is detailed here.). Several British people suffering from irreversible Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) would like their MPs to sign a public letter written by the PSSD network (registered charity for the condition), that expresses concerns with the MHRA’s recent actions.

Lord Alton (CC’d) and Esther Mcvey have agreed to help with this, and the shadow Health minister Lord Kamall might also take part. The draft copy of the public letter is attached.

Please let me know if you would be able to help me by signing it.

Thank you

Your constituent, (then your name).“