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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by anhedonia2013 on January 1, 2013, at 1:56:07
Hello everyone. I don't have emotions, thanks to taking Prozac a few years ago for 6 months straight. Ever since, I have not experienced emotions.
I do not feel sad/happy/mad... or anything. I just don't feel anything. I can't feel love for my family... knowing that I will not have a normal life is heart breaking.
Is there anything I could do? Could MRI's or something show brain damage?
So, can anything be done, or am I a vegetable?
Posted by Phillipa on January 1, 2013, at 9:38:57
In reply to SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by anhedonia2013 on January 1, 2013, at 1:56:07
Are you saying that you took prozac for six months only and this was your only med ever? And now you are in remission and on no meds? Phillipa
Posted by anhedonia2013 on January 1, 2013, at 14:51:28
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions. » anhedonia2013, posted by Phillipa on January 1, 2013, at 9:38:57
> Are you saying that you took prozac for six months only and this was your only med ever? And now you are in remission and on no meds? Phillipa
No, I tried Effexor for two weeks in November 2012, but all it did was make me tired.I also began Wellbutrin two weeks ago, but my hair is starting to become thinner/losing hair... so I don't think I should continue using Wellbutrin. But yeah, after Prozac, I was never the same. SO MANY people experience the same thing.
How depressing is it when you can't feel emotions? btw, I took the prozac in 2009.
Posted by SLS on January 1, 2013, at 15:16:28
In reply to SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by anhedonia2013 on January 1, 2013, at 1:56:07
> Hello everyone. I don't have emotions, thanks to taking Prozac a few years ago for 6 months straight. Ever since, I have not experienced emotions.
>
> I do not feel sad/happy/mad... or anything. I just don't feel anything. I can't feel love for my family... knowing that I will not have a normal life is heart breaking.
>
> Is there anything I could do? Could MRI's or something show brain damage?
>
> So, can anything be done, or am I a vegetable?
What was it that you were feeling such that you felt the need to be treated with Prozac?
- Scott
Posted by anhedonia2013 on January 1, 2013, at 20:56:56
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions. » anhedonia2013, posted by SLS on January 1, 2013, at 15:16:28
Because I was feeling sad... hopeless.. etc. So I guess, brain damage is better than having any emotions whatsoever.
I don't know, it just seems like you think I'm lying or something. Why would I waste my time lying? What benefit do I get out of this? I just want my emotions back... that's all.
Posted by metamorphosis on January 2, 2013, at 7:38:51
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by anhedonia2013 on January 1, 2013, at 20:56:56
SSRI's can cause frontal lobe apathy. Effects include both behavioral apathy and emotional blunting. I was eventually diagnosed with this syndrome by my pdoc after 1 1/2 yrs on Lexapro.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2989833/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1820592/
http://www.theannals.com/content/46/3/e8.short
Posted by SLS on January 2, 2013, at 8:44:00
In reply to SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by anhedonia2013 on January 1, 2013, at 1:56:07
> Hello everyone. I don't have emotions, thanks to taking Prozac a few years ago for 6 months straight. Ever since, I have not experienced emotions.
>
> I do not feel sad/happy/mad... or anything. I just don't feel anything. I can't feel love for my family... knowing that I will not have a normal life is heart breaking.
>
> Is there anything I could do? Could MRI's or something show brain damage?
>
> So, can anything be done, or am I a vegetable?In what ways is your present condition different from the original depression that you were initially treated for? Did you not have emotional blunting and flattened affect as part of the depression?
How would imaging your brain change your approach to correcting any anomaly that exists?
I doubt an MRI will show anything. Maybe a fMRI? You would need a PET scan or possibly a SPECT scan to show anything that indicates neurotransmitter function. Of course, it would be experimental, and I doubt that there are any established indications of the type of dysfunction you think you have to compare your images to at this time. Your images might not look too much different from the depression itself, although I think this could be resolved by looking at areas other than the PFC to see if they, too, show depressive dysfunction.
What to do?
I don't know.
If you have waited more than six months for this thing to resolve, perhaps you can intervene with other drugs. Perhaps Wellbutrin or Focalin. Maybe even desipramine.
Can you exercise?
There are websites devoted to post SSRI side effects. Maybe you can find information at these.
- Scott
Posted by metamorphosis on January 2, 2013, at 13:39:23
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by SLS on January 2, 2013, at 8:44:00
> > Hello everyone. I don't have emotions, thanks to taking Prozac a few years ago for 6 months straight. Ever since, I have not experienced emotions.
> >
> > I do not feel sad/happy/mad... or anything. I just don't feel anything. I can't feel love for my family... knowing that I will not have a normal life is heart breaking.
> >
> > Is there anything I could do? Could MRI's or something show brain damage?
> >
> > So, can anything be done, or am I a vegetable?
>
> In what ways is your present condition different from the original depression that you were initially treated for? Did you not have emotional blunting and flattened affect as part of the depression?
>
> How would imaging your brain change your approach to correcting any anomaly that exists?
>
> I doubt an MRI will show anything. Maybe a fMRI? You would need a PET scan or possibly a SPECT scan to show anything that indicates neurotransmitter function. Of course, it would be experimental, and I doubt that there are any established indications of the type of dysfunction you think you have to compare your images to at this time. Your images might not look too much different from the depression itself, although I think this could be resolved by looking at areas other than the PFC to see if they, too, show depressive dysfunction.
>
> What to do?
>
> I don't know.
>
> If you have waited more than six months for this thing to resolve, perhaps you can intervene with other drugs. Perhaps Wellbutrin or Focalin. Maybe even desipramine.
>
> Can you exercise?
>
> There are websites devoted to post SSRI side effects. Maybe you can find information at these.
>
>
> - Scott
>Good idea on the Wellbutrin. I added it to my Lexapro and it really helped for a while. I used the 300mg XL. After I lost my insurance, I had to switched to the SR and the faster release was way to stimulating for me. It increased my anxiety.
Posted by poser938 on January 2, 2013, at 16:18:10
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by metamorphosis on January 2, 2013, at 13:39:23
Yes welbutrin was a good idea. Is it helping your mood get back to normal? I actually have the same problem as you. I have had a few meds screw with my brain longterm. Did you ever have any kind of brain injury in the past? I had encephalitis in 2001 and my doc and I think this is why meds have bad longterm effects on me.
I want to let you know, people think there is a stigma on people that seek mentl health treatment.. and there is. But there is an even worse stigma on people that end up having bad longterm effects from these meds. Many in the mental health community don't believe people like you and I. They look past the fact that there are different levels for depresion. That someones depression can go from bad to unbearable with these meds and then leave you in that condition long after stopping that med. And yes there are people on this site that won't believe you.
My advice is if you get your brain and emotions back, to stay from any further meds. Don't take these dopamine increasing meds longer than you need to. Another medicine you could try is Cyproheptadine. And a med that I've been interested in is low doses of Selegiline. Then there are stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin. I know from experience with these that they can brighten your emotions.
But as I said, any med you take, only take it long enough until you know your emotions are back for good.
Posted by SLS on January 2, 2013, at 17:38:16
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by poser938 on January 2, 2013, at 16:18:10
Cyproheptadine and selegiline are interesting choices. What is it about them that you find potentially helpful? What attracts you to them?
- Scott
Posted by anhedonia2013 on January 2, 2013, at 19:35:18
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by SLS on January 2, 2013, at 8:44:00
Hey everyone, thank you for replying. This is so tragic... and it feels like my life is over. The past two weeks I've been laying down in bed. Even though I don't have emotions, just knowing something like this happened to me... and knowing that I will never have a GF/WIFE/FAMILY and have a normal life is tragic. I don't know what to do anymore... the passion, the excitement and the joy are all gone. I can physically cry, but I do not feel ANYTHING. It's so hard to continue existing knowing that nothing matters anymore, knowing that your life has been ruined.
@ metamorphosis - It's tragic that these "meds" are even allowed to the public. Have you regained your emotions back... or no?
@ SLS - Well, I was just very, very sad... I didn't want to go to school anymore, didn't want to see anyone. I couldn't concentrate, etc... but after Prozac, I do not have ANY emotions. I just want to lay in bed and die, knowing that my life has been ruined. I can exercise, but is there any benefit in doing so? If I could have my emotions back, I would be the HAPPIEST PERSON in the world.
@ metamorphosis - when you used Wellbutrin, did your emotions come back? What positive effects did you feel?
@ poser938 - So far, no... it's done nothing. Only thing I noticed is that I used to have headache's and had one dream that was real and very colorful.
I never had any brain injury in the past. It's sad to see that people think we are lying or something... why would I lie about this? What benefit do I get? I am just looking for help... it's already hard to live and know that you're hopeless... and then people say "Oh yeah, well you're lying... blah blah blah, we can't help you".
So, poser, what has worked for you in order to get your emotions back? Did you even get your emotions back?
I'm confused, I don't know whether I should just wait for years, and hope my brain can recover... or if I should try more medication... after all, the reason I'm like this, is because I used a "drug" (SSRI antidepressant).
IF ANYONE has had this problem after taking SSRI antidepressants, and found a cure or something that works, please let me know... please post something. I don't want to live the rest of my life with no emotions. This is a TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE feeling. I cannot even explain in words how T-R-A-G-I-C being emotionless is.
Posted by Phillipa on January 2, 2013, at 20:50:33
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by anhedonia2013 on January 2, 2013, at 19:35:18
I know and also know add loss of smell & taste to the equation and why I continue no idea at all other than stubborn. I wonder if hypnosis could help you? I know nothing about it. Just thinking as write. Phillipa
Posted by poser938 on January 3, 2013, at 11:33:21
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions. » poser938, posted by SLS on January 2, 2013, at 17:38:16
I have a bit more complex problem than just SSRI induced anhedonia. Whil I have that I had made it worse after trying to fix it with Mirapex.
Believe the problem that ssri's can cause is when they change the balance between dopamine and serotonin in your brain. Serotonin basically depletes dopamine. Cyproheptadine has helped me with the problem mirapex caused. Mirapex only acts like dopamine but it does not reverse the dopamine/serotonin imbalance caused by many antidepressants. And it basically told my brain it did d not need to make its own dopamine anymore. So I can't recommend that med. But cyproheptadine has somewhat helped me with reversing some of the effects mirapex caused. Making me feel more pleasure and more emotions. So possibly it could help with anhedonia by blocking the effects of serotonin while being stimulating by increasing dopamine release when the 5ht2c receptor is blocked.And with selegiline, it could reverse the serotonin/dopamine imbalance caused by prozac.
There is also another med calked Tianeptine. A serotonin reuptake enhancer that you can't get in America. But it can be ordered online. I used to know as good site to order it online but it was shut down. Maybe you could ask others on psychobabble if they know a good site to order it from. Or make an account on socialanxietysupport.com. someone on tht forum might know a good site to order it from.
And when you do get yourslf feeling back to normal, don't take any meds longer tan needed to avoid further unnatural changes in your brain. Good luck! All is not lost.
Posted by anhedonia2013 on January 3, 2013, at 13:35:35
In reply to SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by anhedonia2013 on January 1, 2013, at 1:56:07
I'm just scared to try more "drugs", I'm scared that it will make it even worst. I don't know what to do anymore... because waiting can be a risk (wait for years, for nothing), or taking more drugs can be a risk.
Posted by poser938 on January 3, 2013, at 15:39:49
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by anhedonia2013 on January 3, 2013, at 13:35:35
> I'm just scared to try more "drugs", I'm scared that it will make it even worst. I don't know what to do anymore... because waiting can be a risk (wait for years, for nothing), or taking more drugs can be a risk.
I understand exactly what you mean.
Out of the few meds I mentioned, I think Cyproheptadine would be your safest choice. I have taken it in extremely high doses. It is also an antihistamine. Kinda like benadryl, and the only side effects was some pretty intense drowsieness from its antihistamine effect.There is a supplement called Tyrosine that you could try.
Posted by anhedonia2013 on January 3, 2013, at 20:53:50
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by poser938 on January 3, 2013, at 15:39:49
Poser, did you regain your emotions though?
Posted by poser938 on January 3, 2013, at 21:06:01
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by anhedonia2013 on January 3, 2013, at 20:53:50
> Poser, did you regain your emotions though?
No I haven't. But my situation is a bit more complicted than yours. Like I said, Mirapex messed me up too. So I have the emotional numbing from an antideprssant plus mirapex screwing me up. Because of mirapex I can't feel the effects of antipsychotic. Nor can I feel the effects of adderall. I
m sure you would be able to feel the effects of meds like those, which means right now your situation is a bit less complicated.I've been scared to try new med too. But a few months ago I found a doctor that would let me try a lot of meds that many doctors wouldn't. That's how I found out I can't feel the effects of many.
But just start out easy. Maybe start out with tyrosine. And then maybe cyproheptadine. One idea is to try tyrosine along with selegiline. Selegiline keeps your body from breaking down tyrosine too fast, giving your brain the fuel it needs to make dopamine again.
Posted by poser938 on January 5, 2013, at 3:36:19
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by anhedonia2013 on January 3, 2013, at 20:53:50
The reason I wanted to know if you've ever had a brain injury is because I had a brain injury about 11 years ago. Specifically encephalitis . A brain infection and my doctor and I have figured this is why antidepressants effect me permenantly. Along with having some very intenese side effects.
I'd like to know what you and I have in common that causes meds to effect us longterm. Do you have high blood pressure?
And if you do, have you been taking any medication to make it normal?
Posted by anhedonia2013 on January 5, 2013, at 23:07:31
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by poser938 on January 5, 2013, at 3:36:19
No. I don't take any BP medication... I'm just trying Wellbutrin but it's doing nothing. I honestly don't even know how long I can continue living this way... this isn't even living anymore, this is simply existing (aka vegetable). I don't feel alive, but I don't feel dead.
I prefer to sleep then be awake.
As for long term effects... I think I was just unfortunate and unlucky (what a surprise).
There's another guy who suffered from the same problem after taking Prozac... 7 years later his emotions still didn't return, forgot his name, but he's around here on this site.
I don't even understand how I can continue living like this. I'm probably going to visit a psychiatrist, but I don't think they'll even help... as I'm like this because of Prozac (SSRI antidepressants).
I have never seen anyone recovering from anhedonia with NO emotions... I think this is permanent brain damage unfortunately... I try to hope that I can live again, but I think it's impossible.
Posted by poser938 on January 5, 2013, at 23:43:39
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by anhedonia2013 on January 5, 2013, at 23:07:31
Well to be honest, wellbutrin doesn't increase dopamine all that much. For me, it actually decread my sex drive and made me feel more detached. It has a much stronger effect on norepinephrine. This effect masy be causing the problem with your hair.
Just keep in mind the other ideas I suggested.
Posted by poser938 on January 6, 2013, at 0:02:31
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by anhedonia2013 on January 5, 2013, at 23:07:31
But do you know if you have high blood pressure?
Posted by anhedonia2013 on January 6, 2013, at 0:59:48
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by poser938 on January 6, 2013, at 0:02:31
Poser, I don't have high blood pressure. as for your suggestions, you mean Ritalin or adderall right?
your saying it may give me my emotions back? because i feel NO emotions or anything... just nothing.
i don't know, i'd love to have my emotions back, but I don't think it's possible.
You never see anyone recovering from anhedonia with no emotions.
Posted by poser938 on January 6, 2013, at 1:48:06
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by anhedonia2013 on January 6, 2013, at 0:59:48
> Poser, I don't have high blood pressure. as for your suggestions, you mean Ritalin or adderall right?
>
> your saying it may give me my emotions back? because i feel NO emotions or anything... just nothing.
>
> i don't know, i'd love to have my emotions back, but I don't think it's possible.
>
> You never see anyone recovering from anhedonia with no emotions.What you have to do is look at how prozac works. It increase serotonin in the brain. When serotonin is increased, dopamine decreases. The 2 level each other out.
I myself have gotten some of my emotions back. Not all of them, but it is an improvement that I'm very thankful for.
Posted by anhedonia2013 on January 6, 2013, at 18:45:40
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by poser938 on January 6, 2013, at 1:48:06
Poser, what emotions do you feel, and what did you take in order to regain them?
Do these emotions feel REAL... like genuine, and not artificial? What about feeling empathy/love?
People take emotions/feelings for granted... until you lose them, you have no clue how important it is in life.
Posted by poser938 on January 6, 2013, at 21:06:51
In reply to Re: SSRI incuded Anhedonia... no emotions., posted by anhedonia2013 on January 6, 2013, at 18:45:40
> Poser, what emotions do you feel, and what did you take in order to regain them?
>
> Do these emotions feel REAL... like genuine, and not artificial? What about feeling empathy/love?
>
>
> People take emotions/feelings for granted... until you lose them, you have no clue how important it is in life.Cyproheptadine is the only thing that helped me longterm. I think it helped mostly with what mirapex did to my brain. And honestly, no they don't feel like genuine emotions. But at the end of the day I have to do my best with what I got. But I won't ever be able to stop trying to get all my emotions back. It is like when you are normal, you are aslways trying to find love. But now I am always trying to find the ability to love, because I don't have that ability either. Not much empthy either.
I don't think of it as brain damage. In some cases it may be. But in our cases, it is simply our brain working differently.
This is the end of the thread.
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