Trazodone and Priapism.

Hello Everyone. I hope I can get help here.

I've been struggling with depression and anxiety on and off for the last few years. Once in a while, when it gets too heavy, I temporarily take medication for it. I spoke to my doctor last week, and explained I do not want to use a SSRI, as I have restless Legs and SSRI's have been known to exacerbate it.

She prescribed me Trazodone, as well as Ativan for when needed. Upon reading the possible side effects of Trazodone, I found out about Priapism, a painful erection that does not go away. The odds of this accuring are very low (about 1/6000), but when it does happen, 33% need surgical intervention, and for a fraction of those, the priapism resulted in permanent erectile dysfunction.

I can deal with priapism. I can deal with going to the ER and having something injected into my penis, hell I can even deal with surgery if that needs to happen, but PERMANENT ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION????? I am only 24 years old, and if my penis dies, I am not kidding, i will no longer want to live. I could not live without my penis. Period.

Basically, my question is the following: For the people who have had priapism that resulted in permanent damage, was there some sort of circumstance accompanied with it (i.e. waiting too long before seeking medical attention)? If I do happen to get priapism, and i seek medical attention as soon as I need to, is there a possibility that it might still end up in permanent dysfucntion?

I am really hoping to be able to take this medication in order to improve my quality of life, but if there is a risk that my little warrior will die, I am simply not willing to take it.

Thanks,

Nic