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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by vic80 on March 9, 2010, at 3:53:16
Do ssri side effects like apathy/anhedonia develop over a short time or a long time use.
(in question escitalopram 10mg upped to 15 mg recently)
(By short time I would mean 8 weeks...)
Would a lack of initiative, indifference, inability to feel surprised/moved, lack of motivation, inability to feel moved by remembering past events, inability to look ahead to the future, inability to feel inspired and blank thoughts (especially blank thoughts) qualify as "apathy". (no dysphoric/depressed moods anymore).
Or would this be simply residual depression?
Posted by manic666 on March 9, 2010, at 4:29:43
In reply to SSRI-induced Apathy - short OR long term use?, posted by vic80 on March 9, 2010, at 3:53:16
last time you posted you said you were on 10 mg ,so when did you start the other 5mg ///an why 5 an not 10mg ///drifting along on low meds for your discribed illness for months// is only going to prolong the recovery.////let me tell you in a simple way///drink 1 beer you feel a slight buzz , drink 4 you feel cool an chilled ,,drink 20 beers an you are hammered an sick/// you have got to get you meds to the 4 beer stage //at the moment your still on 1 beer,, i hope that makes sence to you///because its given me a sh*t headace.
Posted by Phillipa on March 9, 2010, at 12:03:01
In reply to Re: SSRI-induced Apathy - short OR long term use?, posted by manic666 on March 9, 2010, at 4:29:43
Have you talked to the doc? Sounds like depression. Most ad's rev me up or do nothing. Phillipa
Posted by Justherself54 on March 9, 2010, at 13:14:22
In reply to SSRI-induced Apathy - short OR long term use?, posted by vic80 on March 9, 2010, at 3:53:16
Could be a little bit of both. SSRI's are famous for apathy, and some of the symptoms you describe sound like SSRI induced apathy. I found that Alertec helped give an extra boost to get some energy and motivation going. Might be worth running by your doc.
Posted by bleauberry on March 9, 2010, at 15:55:54
In reply to SSRI-induced Apathy - short OR long term use?, posted by vic80 on March 9, 2010, at 3:53:16
If everyone who has experienced ssri induced apathy were to try to describe it, it would be described exactly as you said.
For years on ssris, my doctor would give me the depression questionaire survey to monitor how I was doing. I always scored extremely well on all the topics except for the one about enjoyment of activities and hobbies. On that I always scored the worst possible. I was not at all depressed, quite functional, high achiever at work, all that, but had absolutely no enjoyment of anything. My emotions were basically flatlined.
Depression emotions were gone, but all excitement emotions were also gone.
This began, for me, within 2 weeks of starting an ssri and only got worse with time. For other people it could start immediately, or it might creep in over a period of weeks. In some cases people feel fine for a few months, and then months later realize how flat they have become. So it varies from person to person.
All the ssris did this to me. Probably the least offensive was prozac, but there was still considerable apathy with it. Just not quite as bad as all the others. Zoloft might have been a little bit less mind numbing as well. Paxil and lexapro were the worst for me.
I did not experience the apathy syndrome with nortriptyline or amisulpride or ritalin. Odd, but wellbutrin gave me horrible apathy as well as worsened depression. That is not its overall reputation, but with these meds anything can and does happen.
> Do ssri side effects like apathy/anhedonia develop over a short time or a long time use.
>
> (in question escitalopram 10mg upped to 15 mg recently)
>
> (By short time I would mean 8 weeks...)
>
> Would a lack of initiative, indifference, inability to feel surprised/moved, lack of motivation, inability to feel moved by remembering past events, inability to look ahead to the future, inability to feel inspired and blank thoughts (especially blank thoughts) qualify as "apathy". (no dysphoric/depressed moods anymore).
> Or would this be simply residual depression?
Posted by linkadge on March 9, 2010, at 17:15:29
In reply to SSRI-induced Apathy - short OR long term use?, posted by vic80 on March 9, 2010, at 3:53:16
SSRI induced apathy can be hard to destingush from depression. I think the best way to tell is whether a lower dose actually improves the state.
If you feel worse on 15mg, go back to 5mg and see how that does.
Linkadge
Posted by connor on March 12, 2010, at 10:50:13
In reply to SSRI-induced Apathy - short OR long term use?, posted by vic80 on March 9, 2010, at 3:53:16
I have these and I am convinced they were induced by the use of antidepressants. Before I was just depressed, now all my emotions are gone forever.
Posted by Laney on March 12, 2010, at 15:51:59
In reply to Re: SSRI-induced Apathy - short OR long term use?, posted by connor on March 12, 2010, at 10:50:13
Connor,
You can't really mean that? Gone forever. Please don't because I'm really looking forward to having emotions again. How long have you had this and what have you tried to get it to remit?
Thanks!
Laney
Posted by manic666 on March 13, 2010, at 6:27:29
In reply to Re: SSRI-induced Apathy - short OR long term use?, posted by connor on March 12, 2010, at 10:50:13
all imotions gone forever,wwwwwwwwwhooa how high is you meds. standard dose,s //nuke your mind when you start an when they kick in.//but lets think back to what you were like before the meds///pretty bad i expext of you would not have ventured into ad,s//the hole idea is to chill your brain is it not, ,//so if you feel apathy then its doing its job an numbing the depression so you may heal//slowly as the med becomes one with your body you become more awear //your never going to be mister on the button //your on a med an that mean,s side effects ,,part of the deal im affraid.
Posted by sukarno on March 16, 2010, at 3:46:18
In reply to Re: SSRI-induced Apathy - short OR long term use?, posted by manic666 on March 13, 2010, at 6:27:29
SSRIs cause apathy in the long term in many folks because, by boosting serotonin through reuptake inhibition, the number of dopamine transporters increases by up to 50% about 4 weeks into treatment.
This lowers the amount of dopamine in the synapse.
Basically, SSRIs can have a neuroleptic-like effect in the long term.
This is what causes weight gain, apathy, loss of libido and even movement disorders.
This is the end of the thread.
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