Retatrutide and mood changes

[dandam]

I’m planning to start retatrutide right after the holidays and I’d really like to hear about your experiences with mood. I’ve read that it can cause anhedonia or emotional flattening. Based on your experience, is this side effect usually temporary or persistent? Is it generally manageable, or can it become too difficult to tolerate?

I’m worried about feeling depressed and unmotivated. Is there anything that can help mitigate this side effect? I’ll be starting at 0.5 mg per week, does this issue tend to appear at that dose?

Thank you to anyone who shares their experience. I truly need to start retatrutide, but I’m very concerned about this potenti al side effect.

Thanks,

Larissa

 

[Mastodon]

0.5 is tiny dose

Answering your question, I don't know. I take other meds that might cause low mood so can't really tell if it's reta specifically

 

[aquis]

I’m planning to start retatrutide right after the holidays and I’d really like to hear about your experiences with mood. I’ve read that it can cause anhedonia or emotional flattening. Based on your experience, is this side effect usually temporary or persistent? Is it generally manageable, or can it become too difficult to tolerate?

I’m worried about feeling depressed and unmotivated. Is there anything that can help mitigate this side effect? I’ll be starting at 0.5 mg per week, does this issue tend to appear at that dose?

Thank you to anyone who shares their experience. I truly need to start retatrutide, but I’m very concerned about this potenti al side effect.

Thanks,

Larissa

I've been on Reta for 7 months and have not experienced any mood changes. I haven't even heard this side effect mentioned before, but I'm sure if you look hard enough you can find all sorts of side effects.

.5mg is pretty low and 1.0mg is a more common starting dose. It's good to be cautious, but you should feel very comfortable starting at that dose. Like most people, I am sure you will be pleased. Keep us posted!

 

[miss-sanne]

Oh, man anhedonia is a real thing and quite a bitch. But I felt it very strong on tirz, high dose 11 mg, but not on Reta, now I'm on 8 mg

It's difficult to say, how it will be for you, you just have to try it out.

 

[ambot88]

I can only offer anecdotal experience but I didn't notice anything negative moodwise. I think I'm in a better mood because I feel better in almost all measures, My body is smaller and my joints don't hurt and my skin is better and it cured my reflux. Big fan, do it. I started at 2mg and am now at 5, 4 months later. (43/f)

 

[Chili777]

Oh, man anhedonia is a real thing and quite a bitch. But I felt it very strong on tirz, high dose 11 mg, but not on Reta, now I'm on 8 mg

It's difficult to say, how it will be for you, you just have to try it out.

I've have that to some degree. It's not a feeling of being depressed, but more a feeling of, " Nah, I don't feel like doing that right now.", even though I probably should. I've resorted to putting a list together and not stopping until I knock everything out. But, it's a small price to pay for all the other benefits I've received on Reta.

 

[GeraltRedhammer]

In the opinion of a large number of doctors, GLP-1 analogues have a slight mood-altering effect.

Anhedonia is also a frequently reported side effect. I wonder, however, whether this must necessarily be associated with a lower mood? I tend to experience it as a reduction in impulsiveness and the need to prove anything to anyone. A very unpleasant consequence of this may be a lack of motivation to act...

 

[Mc_ppka_tp]

I don't think I had mood changes based off taking retatrutide directly. I did have low energy in the beginning while I sorted out my diet, macros and calorie deficit. Once I had diet corrected my energy improved and so did my "mood". Going to the gym 4-5 times per week helped a lot too. I find the gym cheaper than therapy.

 

[dandam]

I don't think I had mood changes based off taking retatrutide directly. I did have low energy in the beginning while I sorted out my diet, macros and calorie deficit. Once I had diet corrected my energy improved and so did my "mood". Going to the gym 4-5 times per week helped a lot too. I find the gym cheaper than therapy.

So in your case the low mood and fatigue were only at the beginning? Can you tell me how long they lasted and at what doses?

 

[Mc_ppka_tp]

So in your case the low mood and fatigue were only at the beginning? Can you tell me how long they lasted and at what doses?

Correct, looking at my notes the fatigue and low mood were during my first 3 weeks of using Reta. During those three weeks my dose was 2mg taken once per week.

Also, at the beginning of the 3rd week was when I got very strict in tracking my macros. I started my calorie intake being 40% protein, 40% carbs and 20% fats. By the end of week 3 I felt good enough I was able to get back to the gym. Once I started training again that seemed to create a positive feedback loop improving my mood and energy levels. Hope that helps.

 

[mdapsey]

Correct, looking at my notes the fatigue and low mood were during my first 3 weeks of using Reta. During those three weeks my dose was 2mg taken once per week.

Also, at the beginning of the 3rd week was when I got very strict in tracking my macros. I started my calorie intake being 40% protein, 40% carbs and 20% fats. By the end of week 3 I felt good enough I was able to get back to the gym. Once I started training again that seemed to create a positive feedback loop improving my mood and energy levels. Hope that helps.

Helpful information for perspective, we know everyone can be different but nice details of your experience.

 

[holydiver]

Im 22 days on Reta started at .5mg / twice a week now up to 1.5mg / twice a week. I noticed mood changes pretty quickly. I don't feel depressed really I just feel a little dull, I would imagine this is what people feel like on anti depressants?

I can still carry on like normal but am defiantly not getting the regular dopamine hits I would from most everyday life. Its strange though I feel more motivated at the gym.

 

[Winnifer]

I haven’t noticed any major changes in mood although I would say I am maybe a little bit more sensitive to things, like I notice my emotions more?

I don’t necessarily think this is a bad thing, I was definitely an emotional eater before starting reta and now I guess I’m not getting that dopamine hit from food so I’m more aware of my emotional state.

I’m choosing to see it as a positive and learn new ways to express & manage emotions rather than run to the sugary foods!

 

[Foggy-Hollow]

Is it generally manageable, or can it become too difficult to tolerate?

That is going to be up to the user, and the degree it's affecting them. With my "old" body chemistry, at one point with sema my anhedonia was sagging into dark-black places, very unlike my usual MDD - at a microdose (half dose IIRC), so I stopped.

Tirz was far better for me. Still a bit flat-feeling but if I was more present in life, it wasn't a problem per se. And it certainly wasn't "sagging" my mood where my first GLP went.

Reaction will be extremely individual. Some people report their depression going into full remission. Others claim there's "no way" a body can have such a negative reaction to such a small dose All I can do is share my n=1. It's likely I was pre-dispositioned &/or sensitive. Definitely glad I was easing in.

I have had some large adjustments to my endocrinology in recent months so am jumping back in 2/1 with Tirz. If I can make myself behave and wait that long.

I don't feel depressed really I just feel a little dull, I would imagine this is what people feel like on anti depressants?

It depends. I've been on 7 different formulas over the past ~13 years. Cymbalta was very numbing and I had no feelings, none. Might be what's needed for some.

 

[mdapsey]

I have also been having this feeling for a couple weeks, I started very low at .5mg and then 1 and now 2mg, about 4 weeks at each level. Have felt it noticeable at 1mg and seems little more prevalent now at 2mg. I hope it may go away as I am excited to see some good weight loss results.

I agree it feels like a numb or dull mood, some lack of motivation, but at the same time maybe a little more "chill" when dealing with stressful situations (maybe a positive, or at least trying to think of it as a positive)

 

[black_tweets]

I've been on reta for 8 months now and started REALLY low at 0.5mg and now I'm planning to stay at 3mg (maybe even go down). I posted about completely losing my sex drive and that's where I learned about emotional flatness and that explained EXACTLY how I had been feeling. It's not that I'm not happy....I have kids - they make me laugh. But I'm not generally excited about things. We planned a last minute vacay over Christmas and normally I would have been SO excited but I wasn't....I just didn't "feel" anything. Same with any upcoming life events....I just feel blah. Don't get me wrong, I'm not sad....I'm just not excited. Losing my libido has been difficult which is one reason I'm thinking of cutting back. On the flip side though, the stressful situations aren't freaking me out as bad as they used to either.

 

[Pablito]

Could it be diet related? Are you getting enough nutrients and hydrating enough?

 

[randompersonrandom]

Dunno about reta, but it's a thing on tirz. I sort of suspect that when they do a bunch of science about it, they'll come back with "it's not real anhedonia, it's just that when you take a human who's used to chasing hits of dopamine with food, and give them a drug that stops those dopamine hits from working, the human just sort of drifts around for awhile, confused and dull, until they get used to 'no dopamine there, look somewhere else' and picks up hobbies." That happened to me. I'm playing the kalimba as we speak, have been learning the tongue drum since December, and feel excited all the time again.

 

[Foggy-Hollow]

As opposed to... fake anhedonia? You're calling a feeling "not a real feeling" which makes no sense. We're all basically chemical soup here, starting at different states.

Just a heads up Dear Readers --Anhedonia is a component to MDD diagnosis- so while yes, for some, flat feelings is an inch of water to be waded through, for some there could be a 10' dropoff they don't see. Add it to the mental list of keeping an eye on as it could bite you in the ass. Or maybe a real list if you're tracking your research.

Anhedonia is defined in the DSM-5 as a lack of enjoyment from, engagement in, or energy for life’s experiences, indicating deficits in the capacity to feel pleasure and take interest in activities. It is a core symptom of major depressive disorder and can also be associated with other mental health conditions.

 

[JFinHK]

I didn't experience it, but I read about anxiety attacks being a thing on Reta. Will try to find those posts about it (FB group) and follow up here.