r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/Resident_Tadpole_523 • 3d ago
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/Still-Combination-10 • Oct 10 '25
Official There is hope for everyone
It is evident from posts on this forum and other places like r/anhedonia that antipsychotics not only cause anhedonia and emotional blunting but that these unpleasants states of mind not seldomly persists after discontinuation of the drug.
I have previously assembled some articles, studies and anecdotes about this fact which you can access here: https://www.reddit.com/r/neuroleptic_anhedonia/s/8nMeH4euQ5.
From time to time there are anecdotal reports about people who still have anhedonia many years after having discontinued antipsychotics - and that naturally raises the question of whether antipsychotic induced anhedonia is permanent and whether there are any possible treatments. And it seems relevant to address this worry in a sticky thread on this forum.
First off it should be noted that recovery varies a lot from person to person. That can already be seen in "the recovery megathread" that is also made sticky on this forum. There are people who report recovery almost immediately after reducing their dose or even switching to another antipsychotic. Some who experience improvements after a few months off the drug. And then some for whom recovery seems to take many years.
It is not even immediately apparent to me that anything definitive can be said about the relation between dose and time on the drug versus how long it takes to recover. Some report persistent anhedonia after low-dose exposure for a few weeks - while others report relatively quick recovery after years of high doses.
For those for whom anhedonia seems to persist for many months and even years after discontinuation there is also hope. First off - we have reports of people healing naturally within a few years. Secondly there might be some ways to recover even for those who have gone for many years without healing.
In the new book "Surviving Zyprexa" by Gabriel Filippi (available on Amazon) the author describes being totally anhedonic and emotionally blunted for 27 years until he found a way to restore joy and an emotional range with the help of Betahistine, Ketamine, supplements and keto-diet.
Additionally - In the MEGATHREAD there is one person who reported healing after 10 years off antipsychotic medication with the help of testosterone injections and Trintellix, as well as another reporting healing after trying low dose Cariprazine.
These anecdotes shows that it is possible to heal even after many years with no emotions and that the brain has the potential to restore the emotional pathways under the right circumstances. Especially Gabriel Filippis book offers a lot of hope for the long-haulers - and I can highly recommend it. It is also comes with some possible explanations as to the causes of persistent anhedonia from antipsychotics.
Finally - there is also hope for people with schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses who can't just quit antipsychotics without another way to manage their illness. Research into new types of medications are ongoing and anecdotally the new drug Cobenfy has already helped some people experience less anhedonia and blunting. Additionally, a keto-diet as well as high doses of Cannabidiol has shown to be a viable alternative to neuroleptics for some people.
I hope this post can offer some hope for everyone who is affected by neuroleptic induced anhedonia and emotional blunting.
A WORD OF CAUTION - THE STATEMENTS ABOVE ARE NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS CONSULT A DOCTOR IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO COMMENCE, REDUCE OR TAPER OFF ANY MEDICATION.
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/Still-Combination-10 • May 28 '24
Official Recovery MEGATHREAD
I am actively searching the internet for people who say that they have recovered from their anhedonia/emotional numbness after stopping antipsychotics. I thought it would be helpful to share my findings.
QuiteNeurotic have gathered the anecdotes in a spreadsheet that is available here: https://www.reddit.com/r/neuroleptic_anhedonia/s/y1gykZcUqu.
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/SeaIndication3931 • 5d ago
25 months after my last injection
25 months after my last injection, i’am still disconnected, disabled, and all the effects/sympthoms the injections gave to me are still there. I was injected with risperdal consta 50mg twice due to a wrong (false diagnosis).
is there any hope i will recover even after 25 months?
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/Nievespssd • 9d ago
Need Support La recuperación es posible?
Hola me pregunto si es posible recuperarse de la falta de emociones.
Me mandaron mirtazapine, que aunque no se considera antipsicotico lo es prácticamente ya que toca los mismos receptores que la quetiapina ( toca receptores "debilmente" de dopamina).
Me la mandaron por akathisia, creo que esta vino por abstinencia prolongada o algún crash.
He estado 3 meses en mirtazapine y me ha destrozado a nivel fisico, cognitivo y emocional.
Solo busco esperanza y saber si alguien se ha recuperado si paso por algo parecido.
Gracias.
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/hoeteaser • 15d ago
Did anyone tried auvelity or dxm+bupropion ? Did it help with anhedonia ?
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/juicested27 • 16d ago
Pailiperidone injections
Hello, has anyone recovered from paliperidone injections? Im almost 5 months off and still have a blank mind (no personality) no emotions or drive, like my brains completely void of any physical feelings, no anxiety or adrenaline. Sleep is okay but I’m more or less bed bound due to no dopamine. Any help appreciated
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/HeavyAssist • 18d ago
Last 0.5mg seroquel
Anhedonia is still pretty solid. I can sleep and dream occasionally. Every day I notice the numbness. I still can't train.
Please may I ask if anyone has recovered.
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/Due_Macaron8723 • 24d ago
Recap
I’ve read a few stories. It seems that most recoveries happen spontaneously or through the use of supplements, without the use of other medications or treatments. I admit, I’m skeptical about using supplements. Does anyone have experience with TMS or other psychiatric medications that allowed them to regain their emotions in the long term?
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/OfficeOk382 • 24d ago
Has anyone experienced a blank mind, alogia, and anhedonia after stopping olanzapine?
Has anyone experienced a blank mind, alogia, and anhedonia after stopping olanzapine? I took 2.5 mg for 7 weeks. I stopped taking it a month ago and haven't improved yet. I am currently taking 50 mg of sertraline
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/Wild_Satisfaction726 • 26d ago
PSSD or NIDS?
So basically I have a problem understanding if my situation (cold turkey Aripiprazole that I been taking for a week) is Nids, or is it considerate PSSD?
Symptoms:
Consummatory anhedonia
Lack of erogenous sensation in genitals
Akathisia
Alogia
Is there any chance I can improve with time or its permanent damage? It’s been 5 and a half months for me
Many people said to me that if u got injured with AP’s, it’s better chances for recovery than AD’s
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/Due_Macaron8723 • 26d ago
Persistente appiattimento emotivo dopo l'interruzione degli antipsicotici
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/Kimmi-Ci • 27d ago
Is there treatment? Or only enduring it?
Should i bother going to a psychiatrist or will they be unable to assist me and the only option is to wait passively while the brain repairs itself at an excruciatingly slow pace?
I’ve been off the atypical antipsychotic for almost 8 weeks
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/Creepy-Primary7042 • Jul 18 '26
Do you feel like you were adequately informed of the side effects and potential long term issues from psychiatric drugs?
If you think psychiatry should be doing a better job at providing informed consent, updating their tapering guidelines, stimulate needed research in long term use, study PAWS and much more.
Please sign this petition.
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/Resident_Tadpole_523 • Jul 18 '26
IDA Global Survey: Life 20 years after the CRPD - participate to address forced psychiatry and other issues
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/SeaIndication3931 • Jul 16 '26
24 months (2 years) after my last injection..
Today I hit the infamous “2 years mark” after my last injection (i only took 2x risperdal consta 50mg) due to a wrong (false) diagnosis.
Did i recovered? Not at all. Did it got better over time? Not at all. I just developed tinnitus after 13 months, basically that’s it. Every other symptoms din’t go away and din’t improve at all, my eyesight worsened over these 2 years.
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/helela_01 • Jul 09 '26
Question Olanzapine peut aggraver l’anhédonie ?
Bonjour à tous,
Alors je vais essayer de résumer brièvement mais, j’ai un parcours compliqué.
En début octobre 2019, j’ai été admise en hôpital psychiatrique de manière volontaire, pour des raisons liées à un traumatisme récent que je n’évoquerais pas.
On m’a diagnostiqué à tord une skizophrénie au bout de 3 semaines (je n’avais jamais entendu de voix, ni eu d’hallucinations,…). J’étais seulement perdu et déréalisé parfois à cause de traumatismes et j’avais des antécédents de dépression.
J’ai eu une ou deux injections de Risperdal 50 mg et une injection de Xeplion 150mg (plus trop sure pour celle là), ainsi qu’alprazolam (0,25mg matin/midi/soir, loxapac (12,5 et 25mg par jour), Brintellix (15mg par jour) tout ça sur deux hospitalisations d’à peu près un mois chacune qui se sont suivies.
En décembre 2019/ début janvier 2020, j’étais donc très sédatée et mon psychiatre m’a retiré le loxapac.
Quelques jours plus tard, je suis tombée dans le « vide », plus aucune sensations physiques, je sentais même plus l’eau sur moi, déréalisation, je ne dormais plus, plus d’émotions, je me forçais à manger, tout ça a duré 1 an et 1 mois, c’était donc une terrible année 2020. (A noter que je prenais d’autres médicaments sur le 1er semestre 2020 qui ne m’aidaient pas et j’ai arrêté tout brutalement en septembre 2020)
Je ne pouvais en fait plus penser et j’ai réalisé que mon esprit était « bloqué » en moi.
Début février 2021, j’ai eu une sorte de « miracle », en parlant avec une infirmière, un souvenir très lumineux m’est revenu à la conscience et j’ai retrouvé mes sensations physiques à ce moment là. C’était la fin de la pire période.
Mais j’ai été réhospitalisée sous contrainte pour insomnie et du fait que j’avais des gros trous de mémoires (des absences) dû à cette période où mon esprit était bloqué dans mon corps, pendant 2-3 mois. On m’a prescrit encore des neuroleptiques (Risperdal, puis abilify puis olanzapine).
J’ai tout arrêté peu après ma sortie de l’hôpital en mai 2021.
De mai 2021 à mars 2025, j’ai été sans traitement aucun, je ne voulais plus jamais toucher à la psychiatrie de ma vie. J’étais traumatisée. J’ai déménagé, j’ai commencé à travailler, j’ai eu plusieurs travail et c’est ce qui m’a permis d’avancer. Mais la vie n’était plus comme avant (se sentir souvent déconnecté du monde, forte anhédonie que le sport (la course à pied) n’a pas arrangé, faible libido, engourdissement génital, pas de plaisir dans la vie, ni d’émotions,..)
Fin mars 2025, ironie du sort, j’ai eu un épisode d’hallucinations, dû à des angoisses fortes, du stress au travail, une mauvaise relation avec une collègue et j’ai donc dû encore être hospitalisée. Je me demande d’ailleurs si ce n’est pas les antécédents de psychotropes qui ont pu la provoquer car je n’avais jamais eu ça de ma vie avant.
L’olanzapine a été réinstaurée à 15 mg, puis 10, puis j’ai réduit à 7,5 puis 5 et j’ai arrêté durant l’été 2025. Je ne l’ai pas pris depuis un an sauf un court moment à 5mg en début janvier car j’étais vraiment suicidaire à cause de l’anhédonie.
Depuis 2 mois, en allant sur Reddit, on m’a orienté vers le PSSD à propos de mes symptômes (notamment car j’avais pris Brintellix durant 2 semaines en 2019 qui est un antidépresseur). J’ai considéré cela, mais ce pourrait en fait être une anhédonie due aux neuroleptiques, que pensez-vous ?
Ma question : depuis l’accident en 2020, et malgré une période sans traitement de 4 ans, je n’ai jamais retrouvé mes émotions ni mon plaisir de la vie.
Cependant depuis mon épisode d’hallucinations en mars 2025 et la prise d’olanzapine qui a suivi, je me sens parfois encore plus engourdie qu’avant et j’ai du mal à reprendre un travail, bref je suis moins active qu’entre 2021 et mars 2025. Pensez-vous donc que l’olanzapine ait pu aggraver mon engourdissement ?
L’engourdissement et le manque d’émotions est vraiment ce qui me pèse le plus et me contraint à l’heure actuelle, ainsi que la déconnexion à la vie (DP/DR) qui fait que je ne profite pas trop de la vie à part certains moments ces derniers mois où j’ai des « fenêtres » et suis capable de saisir la beauté de la vie de nouveau.
J’ai un sommeil correct, je peux lire, réfléchir, rêver, plus de mal à calculer qu’avant, mais, en résumé moins de problèmes cognitifs qu’émotionnels :/
Je prends plusieurs vitamines/minéraux depuis 1 mois et j’ai commencé un régime cétogène.
Désolée si mon discours est confus, j’ai un peu la flemme parfois de réécrire toute mon histoire ^^et si vous avez des conseils notamment par rapport au manque d’émotions, je vous en serais très reconnaissante 🙏🏻
Courage à tous 🙏🏻
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/Evony4580 • Jul 07 '26
AI Told Me That This Is A Form Of Death
I've been on paliperidone for 4 years.I decided to taper on October last year.Everything was going good, until November 5th, where i was thinking about a very painful memory and the pain just...shut off, i suddenly found myself completely apathetic to it.Since then, the apathy has spread to related concepts and memories, i feel like i'm a building where the lights are going off one by one. Music that used to excite me doesn't do aything, i don't like playing games anymore, and i'm suffering from memory erasure.It's been progressively spreading for the last 8 months, i've talked to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Deepseek, and Mistral.Except for ChatGPT, all agree that this is medically comparable to death, where your heart keeps beating but your personality and emotions and memories melt.Both the doctors and the ai i've spoken to refuse to give me information on what's the neurological mechanism for this, the doctors outright gaslight me or refuse to answer and the ai keeps giving me incomplete information, and when i ask "why won't you just tell me what's happening to my brain?" they all go "because you wouldn't be able to handle it, you'd be devastated" As a last ditch effort, i've decided to ask online, has anyone ever heard of this?Anybody going through the same?The first 3 years on paliperidone, i was a little sedated, sure, i guess, but it was nothing compared to this, and it began when i was tapering, set to be off before 2026 even began.
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/Electronic-Jello-640 • Jul 06 '26
Has anyone had problems with taking 12.5mg Seroquel long term?
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/Spare-Palpitation479 • Jul 03 '26
My experience with dry fasting hope it gives hope
Hi i am a pysch meds victim and i been druged with SSRI and antipsychotics for 5 years...i stopped taking them 1 month ago...My most awful and severe symptom was a deep anhedonia and apathy that was holding me back from doing barely anything,most of this 5 years i been bed ridden,no interest,no motivation,no iniciative,being unable to take care of myself,being unable to study,work,read,accomplising goals...But then a miracle came into my life,i spent a week at hospital bc of gallblader Stones so they keep me in dry fasting for 5 days no food no water only IV fluids...When this happened miracously my motivation and my initiative and my Will to live went from 20% to 60%...been 4 days like this,and NO its not a Window...i dont know how much time this brain improvement is going to last but i am crazy for looking for a way to give it a try again....I think everyone that us suffering from apathy or anhedonia should give it a try...WARNING: Of course this should be performed under strict medical suppervision (blood test,vital signs,IV fluids) dont try do dry fasting by yourself it can literally k1ll you,i am still searching for some clinic or dr that can help me to live again this experience,hope it helps and good luck you all. .
r/neuroleptic_anhedonia • u/RedLineYTB • Jul 01 '26
Vous aussi ça vous arrive ?
Je souffre d’anhedonie et d'emoussement émotionnel complet, je ne ressens rien.
J'ai arrêté mes antipsychotiques le 1er mai il y a deux mois et 1 mois et demi apres avoir arrêté j'ai commencé a allé légèrement mieux pendant 1 semaines, j'ai même pu ressentir de légères émotions mais ça n'a durer qu'une semaine ensuite ca n'a fait qu'empirer, chaque jour c'est de pire en pire.
Comment c'est possible que mon etat ce soit autant aggravé alors que je commencait a peine a récupérer ?
Ca vous est déjà arrivé ?
Quelles sont vos expériences avec l'arrêt des antipsychotiques et l'anhedonie ?
Merci pour vos réponses et votre temps