What causes Anhedonia?

Specifically and not so specifically, please. Like, what in the medications cause it, and what medications/kinds of medications cause it?

I don't know of the exact mechanisms but medications do work on altering chemicals in the brain which changes the way the brain works. Many doctors who are critical of psych meds liken them to a "chemical lobotomy" in that they slow down parts of the brain making them less active. It makes sense since on of the theories of mental illness is that some parts of the brain are overactive. Id first try to ask myself why those parts of the brain are overactive to begin with. Supposedly the meds fix a chemical imbalance that caused to over activity in the first place buts its never been solidly proven.

As for the meds that can do it Id say nearly all meds can have that side effect. I know I have seen anti-psychotics do it a lot. On high enough dosages you even see having that "zombie" look.

I ask because I'm on the highest dosage of Geodone (160 MG), which was explained to me is the weakest anti-psychotic prescribed today. I would like to know if it causes it or not.

Zyprexa gave me anhedoina , music had no kick whatsoever and stepping on the gas in the car even up a really cool hill had no "yee ha" feeling at all. Nothing in life did and my motivation was completely trashed too. T.V T.V and more T.V didn't or coulden't even care. Anhedoinia sucks.

I never took Geodon, it was offered to me in the hospital when I ended up there sick from the horrible Zyeprxa withdrawals I was enduring cause I quit it once I figured out it was the cause of the anhedonia.

That hospital didn't do the needle threat coercion thing, I just took Ativan the whole time till it was over and went back to being benzo dependent on that stuff. The take it or have anxiety attacks benzo lifestlye but at least I could feel and I needed it for the Zyprexa withdrawals from hell.

Zyprexa was weird, it insidiously caused anhedoina it like built up and got worse with time , unlike Seroquel that has that like hungry zombie stoned effect but just wears off and goes away when its over.

Apparently, even Aspirin can cause Anhedonia. That was a surprise for me. From what I read online, Geodon can cause it, but those who have experienced, for the most part, experience it for less than a month. I mean, I've been on it for over a year, as I have been with my Lexipro. This study that I'm reading, which didn't survey a whole lot of people, said that no one experienced it with Geodon for more than six months.

Is it something that's immediate? Does it come on as the medication is used more? The side effects that I do experience, with both medications, are starting to go away completely. I mean, one of the ones I discovered earlier this year, with the Lexipro, is that I couldn't get an erection. I mean, it scared the hell out of me whenever I started to realize whenever I woke up without an erection. I learned in school of all the negative things that go along with that happening, and it horrified me. My psychiatrist told me that is was a common side effect to the Lexipro. A little over a month ago, I woke up, and well, I no longer experience the side effect.

I'm also noticing the sedation of the Geodon is going away. I mean, I'm young, I sleep a lot. But I used to take my medicine at night, and I was out within a half an hour. Now, sometimes, I'm up for a few hours after taking it. I still experience withdrawal immediately if I don't take it within 24-26 hours after I last took it, and one of those withdrawal symptoms is insomnia. I can't sleep without it, but thankfully, I'm on a consistent work schedule now, so I thankfully get the right amount of sleep, and I know when to take my medicine now,

Tyler77 wrote:I ask because I'm on the highest dosage of Geodone (160 MG), which was explained to me is the weakest anti-psychotic prescribed today. I would like to know if it causes it or not.

It could be. Anti-psychotics are powerful meds to start, but its difficult to say as lots can cause it.

Apparently, even Aspirin can cause Anhedonia. That was a surprise for me. From what I read online, Geodon can cause it, but those who have experienced, for the most part, experience it for less than a month. I mean, I've been on it for over a year, as I have been with my Lexipro. This study that I'm reading, which didn't survey a whole lot of people, said that no one experienced it with Geodon for more than six months.

Studies are unfortunately a small sample that look good on paper. Studies on medication by large pharmaceuticals are geared to make it look good, especially if those meds are popular. If you ever read the SSRI studies alone generally you wont walk away thinking that some people have had or are going to have serious side effects from them. But later on those reports of serious reactions did start flooding in. Im willing to bet that in the studies, anything that was iffy was pushed aside considering how the real world use turned out.

But truth be even a study with a billion people wont say how every single individual person will react since everyone is different. Chances are is a study didn't include you personally, its not known how you will react...its true

Is it something that's immediate? Does it come on as the medication is used more? The side effects that I do experience, with both medications, are starting to go away completely. I mean, one of the ones I discovered earlier this year, with the Lexipro, is that I couldn't get an erection. I mean, it scared the hell out of me whenever I started to realize whenever I woke up without an erection. I learned in school of all the negative things that go along with that happening, and it horrified me. My psychiatrist told me that is was a common side effect to the Lexipro. A little over a month ago, I woke up, and well, I no longer experience the side effect.

Id say it varies from person to person but generally most meds start to take effect in about a week. After that if any side effects exist, some people over time get used to them or their body adapts to the point side effects no longer exist.

I'm also noticing the sedation of the Geodon is going away. I mean, I'm young, I sleep a lot. But I used to take my medicine at night, and I was out within a half an hour. Now, sometimes, I'm up for a few hours after taking it. I still experience withdrawal immediately if I don't take it within 24-26 hours after I last took it, and one of those withdrawal symptoms is insomnia. I can't sleep without it, but thankfully, I'm on a consistent work schedule now, so I thankfully get the right amount of sleep, and I know when to take my medicine now,

Yup, its interesting. Once you body adapts to something the side effects go away, but when you stop taking them your body has to adapt back without them! Really cool scientific theory, but its the way the body works.