Do your special interests become muted on medication?

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08 Aug 2013, 1:47 pm

This one's obvious.
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Lately, I feel like my love for sports has been somewhat muted because of the Wellbutrin I am on. Is this common for some interests to go away with medication? I hope I can get it back.

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BuyerBeware
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08 Aug 2013, 2:42 pm

Mine didn't just become muted. They died completely. I miss the enjoyment I used to get from it, but it's better to be interested in things like keeping a tidy car and making sure the house is perfect.

Enjoyment is gravy in life.

We'd all be healthier if we cut out the gravy.

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ak_born
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08 Aug 2013, 6:35 pm

Antidepressants took away my ability to hyperfocus which also took away my interets and left me feeling like a robot. I didn't get "stuck" thinking about topics anymore, but I also interacted much more poorly with others and even lost the interest to acknowledge others when they said "hello".

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08 Aug 2013, 11:38 pm

Abilify gave me anorgasmia (made me completely unable to, that is)
So much for that special interest, I really miss it

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Last edited by Belfast on 08 Aug 2013, 11:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

equestriatola
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08 Aug 2013, 11:39 pm

Belfast wrote:

Abilify gave me anorgasmia (made me completely unable to, that is)

What is that?

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08 Aug 2013, 11:40 pm

equestriatola wrote:

Belfast wrote:

Abilify gave me anorgasmia (made me completely unable to, that is)

What is that?

Inability to orgasm

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equestriatola
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08 Aug 2013, 11:41 pm

That sucks.

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08 Aug 2013, 11:50 pm

Over the past year my Risperdal has been increased by about 3 mgs. That's a lot for such a powerful drug.

Also within the past year, I seem to have completely lost my ability to have special interests.

My previous special interests were already beginning to fade by the time my Risperdal got upped, so it's hard to say whether or not it's just a coincidence.

I do know that my mom frequently uses the word "zombie" to describe me though.

Last edited by IdahoRose on 08 Aug 2013, 11:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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08 Aug 2013, 11:50 pm

For me, they have had no effect. If anything, my special interests are stronger, since I don't have as many emotional distractions.

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08 Aug 2013, 11:51 pm

I went without a special interest for over a year when I was heavily medicated and floridly psychotic. I was too fatigued and foggy to do much of anything. Although my obsessiveness can be distracting and irritating at times, I'm extremely happy to have a special interest again. My special interests bring me joy in ways that nothing else can.

I've lowered my medication a lot to be able to get to this point. I would be sleeping most of the day if I was on the dose that my former psychiatrist wanted me on. My current psychiatrist is much more accommodating and says that I should be on the lowest dose that works for me.

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09 Aug 2013, 5:16 pm

Quote:

We recognize that the special interest can provide a source of extreme pleasure for the person with Asperger’s syndrome. However, several adults who have been prescribed medication to treat anxiety, depression or problems with anger management have described how the medication has ‘lifted’ their mood, but ‘flattened’ their enjoyment of the special interest. The clinician may need to consider and explain the advantages and side effects of medication on mood in general, including its effect on the pleasure gained from engaging in the special interest.

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09 Aug 2013, 5:32 pm

neobluex wrote:

Quote:

You got that right ^

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09 Aug 2013, 5:37 pm

Belfast wrote:

You got that right ^

I don't. Tony Attwood does

(It's from his book).

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09 Aug 2013, 5:40 pm

neobluex wrote:

Belfast wrote:

You got that right ^

I don't. Tony Attwood does

(It's from his book).

Figured it was a quote from someone, but I couldn't identify it.
I have both editions of his Complete Guide but none of it's memorized.
Thanks for succinctly summing up the quandary.

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09 Aug 2013, 10:18 pm

Just before medication, actually one of the reasons I got medication for depression, I lost my hyper focus and thus most of my enjoyment in me special interest. However after getting medication for depression, Celexa 20 mg, I regained a good amount of my hyperfocus and pursuit of a special interest. though it wasn't as strong as it was pre-depression, it was much stronger than it was while having untreated depression. It gradually increased again. After about 3 years it is back to how it was pre-depression. I am still taking the medication.

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megocode3
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10 Aug 2013, 12:48 am

I have very obsessive special interests. My doctors have been trying all kinds of different meds to lessen the obsessiveness. Nothing has worked.

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