Anhedonia / Loss of Pleasure/Interest / Feeling "Flat" / Apathy
Users on Reddit have reported experiencing anhedonia, loss of pleasure or interest, feeling "flat," or apathy while taking GLP-1 medications. These experiences are often linked to the medication's impact on dopamine and reward pathways.
Experiences with Anhedonia / Loss of Pleasure/Interest / Feeling "Flat" / Apathy:
The alteration of dopaminergic transmission is a suspected cause. A commenter noted, "I would guess GLP1 agonist-related mood disturbance in some people is somehow secondary to alteration of dopaminergic transmission. This is, ironically, probably related to the mechanism by which the medicine is helpful for decreasing a sense of reward from eating and has emerging evidence to help with substance use disorders. "[2]
Another user described an "'apathy' syndrome at the highest doses where people complain of low motivation and difficulty concentrating that is likely due to effects on dopamine neurons but I wouldn't say that this is the same as depression. "[3]
The loss of pleasure can extend beyond food. A user mentioned their friend's wife stopped GLP-1s because it "took the joy out of food and meals with friends/family". [12] Another user shared, "Since I didn't eat a lot before, I lost complete interes in food, chocolate or vanilla things with a lot of sugar that used to be appealing no longer were... the food is mostly uninteresting, sometimes eating feels like a waste of time. "[5]
One user on Ozempic for 11 months mentioned an "extra added benefit it has also greatly suppressed my appetite a for drinking alcohol and smoking weed. "[8] This reduction in reward-seeking behavior is a common theme. A user stated, "These meds are reducing reward seeking behavior in types of addiction (food, alcohol, cocaine). I could see how in some people, the seeking behavior could be turned down so much that it becomes anhedonia or depression. "[4]
A user with Fibromyalgia on Mounjaro described their mood as "kinda blah mood and felt less creative. " This side effect went away when they later tried Zepbound. [10]
Another user with Fibromyalgia on Ozempic reported increased suicidal ideation. [11]
A user described their experience as, "It's like you are skinny but add on a complete new struggle of a joyless life. Since ADHD already has a hard time with motivation, not getting a reward from doing even healthy activities, makes it much harder to do anything at all. "[7]
Remedies and Preventions Recommended:
Nutritional Supplementation: One commenter suggested that issues like loss of joy might be related to malnutrition, specifically B vitamins and electrolytes. "Daily supplementation with a good B Complex and electrolytes can do wonders. Many folks perk up right away with this change. "[6]
Focus on Protein Intake: A user experiencing anhedonia and lack of motivation mentioned, "I will try for another month or so. And try to remember to eat enough protein... maybe it will get better with keeping up on protein etc. "[7]
Awareness and Lifestyle Changes: One user highlighted the importance of using the medication as a tool to learn new habits: "You can form new habits and understandings of yourself with it, its a great tool. But the hard work comes in when you wean off and have to police your behavior and your dopamine again manually. "[9]
It's important to note that experiences vary, and some users report mood improvements or no negative mood effects.
Experiences with Anhedonia / Loss of Pleasure/Interest / Feeling "Flat" / Apathy:
- Some users directly report anhedonia.
Remedies and Preventions Recommended:
- Discontinuation or Dose Adjustment: Some users found relief by stopping the medication.
It's important to note that experiences vary, and some users report mood improvements or no negative mood effects.