smartestblonde Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Has anyone experienced emotional blunting while on Abilify? I have been taking 5 mgs since May (along with 20 mgs of Lexapro and 72 mgs of Concerta) to help with irritability, and I have lost complete interest in just about everything....I'm experiencing true anhedonia, no enjoyment whatsoever. I've been researching this but haven't found much.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nibblerd Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Could it be depression? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartestblonde Posted October 24, 2010 Author Share Posted October 24, 2010 Could it be depression? Yes, I have depression too, low grade dysthmia for the past 10 years. But I have NEVER experienced this level of anhedonia, not even close. Even with the dysthmia, I have always been a funny, generally happy person....I feel like a totally different person, I can't even find enjoyment with my 2 young kids. The timing of this conincides with when I started the Abilify, which is why I'm suspicious..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nibblerd Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Could it be depression? Yes, I have depression too, low grade dysthmia for the past 10 years. But I have NEVER experienced this level of anhedonia, not even close. Even with the dysthmia, I have always been a funny, generally happy person....I feel like a totally different person, I can't even find enjoyment with my 2 young kids. The timing of this conincides with when I started the Abilify, which is why I'm suspicious..... "Low grade". There's your answer. Something about your routine has changed and pushed you from low grade to moderate, or maybe severe. Talk to your pdoc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneMarie Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Did you start feeling this way when you started Abilify or did it happen over time afterwards? Have you talked to your pdoc about this at any length? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koali777 Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 I notice a lot of people on here say the blunting is the disease itself or depression, but from my personal experience (and other experiences of some friends I have), antipsychotics CAN cause emotional and cognitive blunting. On Geodon and Risperdal I was unable to read, I couldn't have fun doing anything, and was generally depressed. If it had been the illness, I wouldn't have gotten better when I got off the antipsychotics like I did. But I did. I'm not saying they're evil. But it seems like they make some people flatter than others. The weight gain and the hunger and sleepiness I could handle, but the inability to enjoy anything was fucking UNBEARABLE. So I totally understand what you're saying! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nibblerd Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 I notice a lot of people on here say the blunting is the disease itself or depression, but from my personal experience (and other experiences of some friends I have), antipsychotics CAN cause emotional and cognitive blunting. On Geodon and Risperdal I was unable to read, I couldn't have fun doing anything, and was generally depressed. If it had been the illness, I wouldn't have gotten better when I got off the antipsychotics like I did. But I did. I'm not saying they're evil. But it seems like they make some people flatter than others. The weight gain and the hunger and sleepiness I could handle, but the inability to enjoy anything was fucking UNBEARABLE. So I totally understand what you're saying! I didn't mean to imply that it was only her illness, I said something about her routine has changed -- that could be anything from lack of exercise to medication change. The important part is that she talk to her pdoc! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpladybug Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Yes, I think an AAP could cause emotional flatness. Definitely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snoozzinsuz2 Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 I am trying Abilify for the second time... I HATE it... I am going to the pdoc tomorrow and telling her no more! I am having the EXACT same things.... I feel like a slug-- I do the things I HAVE to in order to function and keep my job but other than that I could care less if the house came falling down around me.... she started me on it when she thought I might be tipping toward manic so I KNOW I was not/am not depressed... the only logical thing seems to be the damn Abilify... I have about 2 hours a day... which coincidentally are like RIGHT BEFORE I would be taking my next dose... it's like it kinda gets out of my system a bit and then boom... put more bag in-- go to sleep and wake up a slug! I totally get what you are saying! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spokety Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 What do you take Abilify for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narshe81 Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 I notice a lot of people on here say the blunting is the disease itself or depression, but from my personal experience (and other experiences of some friends I have), antipsychotics CAN cause emotional and cognitive blunting. On Geodon and Risperdal I was unable to read, I couldn't have fun doing anything, and was generally depressed. If it had been the illness, I wouldn't have gotten better when I got off the antipsychotics like I did. But I did. I'm not saying they're evil. But it seems like they make some people flatter than others. The weight gain and the hunger and sleepiness I could handle, but the inability to enjoy anything was fucking UNBEARABLE. So I totally understand what you're saying! I totally agree with you. I was surprised how many people were jumping up and down telling me that it wasn't the antipsychotic that caused my anhedonia and that it was my illness itself. My anhedonia started a week or so after the first injection and just continued to get worse and worse. The same thing happened to a guy I met at the hospital who started the injection program at around the same time as me. I have been depressed before in my life, but this is nothing like it. When I was depressed I could still enjoy cigarettes, alcohol, or other substances that gave pleasure and euphoria. Now nothing works! No activity or substances can change how I feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spokety Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 Yah same here, but you should really try switching medications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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