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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Economist on March 18, 2010, at 0:04:29
Anyone experience pure chronic boredom (without accompanying feelings of sadness) and lack of interest that persists throughout the day no matter what you do? I don't mean apathy caused by SSRIs, antipsychotics, or other medications.
I imagine this has something to do with low dopamine levels, which I am currently trying to treat with EMSAM/selegiline.
I have been bored since 2008. It is a chronic boredom not caused by medications since I was off all medication for the entire year of 2009.
Has anyone treated this with medication?
Posted by SLS on March 18, 2010, at 1:01:21
In reply to Chronic, excruciating boredom not caused by meds?, posted by Economist on March 18, 2010, at 0:04:29
> Anyone experience pure chronic boredom (without accompanying feelings of sadness) and lack of interest that persists throughout the day no matter what you do? I don't mean apathy caused by SSRIs, antipsychotics, or other medications.
>
> I imagine this has something to do with low dopamine levels, which I am currently trying to treat with EMSAM/selegiline.
>
> I have been bored since 2008. It is a chronic boredom not caused by medications since I was off all medication for the entire year of 2009.
>
> Has anyone treated this with medication?
I think your suspicion that a DA deficit anhedonia might be a fundamental contributor to your boredom may be accurate. I think boredom may occur when there is a lack of interest and reward while adequate amounts of mental energy exist. I don't know if any studies have focused on this issue. You may be suffering a low-grade depression or are responding only partially to antidepressant treatment. For me, the emergence of boredom is a good sign that the depression is lifting. I am normally too anergic to desire activity. As my mental energy begins to return, I no longer want to do nothing. However, there is nothing that I want to do. There remains a lack of interest with no anticipation of reward.I don't know that ignoring serotonin is the way to tackle boredom. Effexor and Lexapro can help increase interest. Their effects on DA activity may be indirect. It will be interesting to see how you respond to selegiline.
How do you respond to Prozac? Perhaps you should look for a drug that serves to block 5-HT2a/c receptors. Geodon might be interesting to look at. Also, a combination of Abilify and agomelatine.
- Scott
Posted by Economist on March 18, 2010, at 2:32:10
In reply to Re: Chronic, excruciating boredom not caused by meds?, posted by SLS on March 18, 2010, at 1:01:21
For me, taking SSRIs (Lexapro) or SNRIs (Cymbalta) was like taking nothing at all. Wellbutrin and Abilify (standalone) also did nothing. Haven't been on Prozac, but I'm afraid of further experiments with anything serotonin-based, as I've heard many reports of anhedonia worsening with them.
Perhaps the irritating sensation of boredom is only alleviated when dopamine hits the right places at the right amounts. And if you have low levels of dopamine/damaged dopamine pathways, you'll experience chronic boredom.
At this point I'd be satisfied if the EMSAM/selegiline can just lift the chronic, unpleasant boredom feeling (supply me with more dopamine?). No joy, no sadness, no anxiety, no anger is something I can be forced to live with, but the chronic boredom just makes me want to rip my eyes out.
Posted by SLS on March 18, 2010, at 7:47:39
In reply to Re: Chronic, excruciating boredom not caused by me » SLS, posted by Economist on March 18, 2010, at 2:32:10
> No joy, no sadness, no anxiety, no anger is something I can be forced to live with, but the chronic boredom just makes me want to rip my eyes out.
Wow. That sounds intense.
I guess you can always experiment with DA agonists like Mirapex or Requip. If they work even temporarily, at least you will know that you are on the right track. It's too bad that the Abilify didn't help. It would have made an ideal solution.
- Scott
Posted by rnny on March 19, 2010, at 17:52:50
In reply to Chronic, excruciating boredom not caused by meds?, posted by Economist on March 18, 2010, at 0:04:29
I haven't treated it with meds but I have felt chronically bored. It is not a good feeling to say the least.
Posted by meltingpot on March 25, 2010, at 8:41:45
In reply to Re: Chronic, excruciating boredom not caused by meds?, posted by SLS on March 18, 2010, at 1:01:21
Scott,
You've summed up so well how I tend to feel on antidepressants with your statment below, so I know that I am only partially responding. Have you found anything to deal with this? Because I too feel really bored all of the time, I keep busy but there is this sense of nothingness, like no matter what I do, I still feel the same, no highs, no lows just this constant kind of Blah felling. I'm sure I could be parachuting, hang gliding, bungee jumping and I'd still feel pretty much the same.
"For me, the emergence of boredom is a good sign that the depression is lifting. I am normally too anergic to desire activity. As my mental energy begins to return, I no longer want to do nothing. However, there is nothing that I want to do. There remains a lack of interest with no anticipation of reward".
Denise
This is the end of the thread.
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