Table 2 Top three emotional descriptors reported by key side effect
Key side effect | Top three emotional descriptors | Representational comments from participants |
|---|---|---|
Problems enjoying sex | Frustrated | “The lack of the positive things that come with satisfactory sexual relationships” “I no longer feel to be a man, I do not trust myself, I no longer have my virility and I feel frustrated, useless, done for as if my life had stopped, the ugliest thing is my resignation to this situation” |
Ashamed/embarrassed | ||
Dissatisfied | ||
Gaining weight | Lack of confidence | “Basically, too big to move. I lose my breath walking from the front door to the letter box. I cannot stand up long enough to wash more than 2 dishes” “It is hard for me to walk, go upstairs, in my wardrobe I have clothes of all sizes because I still hope to lose weight someday” |
Ashamed/embarrassed | ||
Frustrated | ||
Feeling drugged or like a zombie | Frustrated | “It makes me feel like a zombie, so talking to people is a real effort” “Feels like I have no energy to do things” “It’s difficult to perform everyday things like washing, cooking, etc.” |
Dissatisfied | ||
Hopeless | ||
Sleepy during the day | Frustrated | “Going to visit friends who think that I am not interested because I appear to be asleep” “Just very low self-esteem. I hate the way that people think that I am being rude, disrespectful or not caring when I fall asleep. The fact that they think it is deliberate destroys me” “It affects me being able to get to classes on time” |
Dissatisfied | ||
Impatient/irritated/angry | ||
Restlessness | Frustrated | “I feel like I need to do something important, but my family is content to stay at home watching their tv and computer screens” “It creates (gives) me anxiety and I cannot understand why, it scares me and prevents me from continuing to do any work” |
Impatient/irritated/angry | ||
Dissatisfied | ||
Difficulty sleeping | Frustrated | “When I don’t sleep well, I am not as sharp the next day” “It is really alarming to wait to get to sleep, I cannot, despite taking drugs to sleep, because I do not get tired enough, I do not go out, I do nothing all day, I cannot read any more” |
Impatient/irritated/angry | ||
Dissatisfied | ||
Shaky hands or arms | Frustrated | “It embarrasses me, so I don’t like meeting people or going to appointments” “To get dressed I take more time and also to do many other things” |
Ashamed/embarrassed | ||
Dissatisfied | ||
Feeling dizzy/fainted | Frustrated | “Absolutely nothing that I can do well… Also my boss is bullying me because of my symptoms. I find it all overwhelming and unfair because doctors and psychologists don’t believe me when I tell them that I think my symptoms are related to the medication” “I sit down, and I wait that they pass off” “I have difficulties to plan the jobs to do because my head is spinning, and I don’t feel safe” |
Confused/doubtful Overwhelmed |