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Anhedonia and fatigue on Reta

20 replies9 peopleMay 26, 2026☆ Follow
Summary

Why does retatrutide cause anhedonia, emotional blunting, and fatigue, and what helps?

Users report emotional dullness, low motivation for enjoyable activities, and tiredness on reta even at modest doses like 2-5 mg weekly. Some link it to being lean and in a deficit, while others note similar effects on sema or tirz via dopamine pathways. Protein intake, hydration, dose splitting, and lowering the dose often ease symptoms for some; others try semax or stop the drug. Experiences vary widely, with some feeling fine at 1 mg and others hit hard at the same level.

What this discussion establishesWhere people disagree

Some attribute the mood issues mainly to calorie deficit or low carbs, while others see it as a direct drug effect on the brain regardless of diet.

Still open

Whether semax, dose cycling, or other additions reliably reverse the symptoms long-term.

Nothing here is advice.

20 replies · 9 people
RustSignal22archiveopening postMay 26

I've been trying this medication for about four weeks now. Recently I increased to two milligrams every five days for the past three shots, equaling roughly two point eight milligrams weekly. My appetite feels reduced to about a five point five out of ten compared to how it was prior. Meals satisfy me quicker, perhaps from maintaining a calorie shortage. Yet cravings return within two to three hours after consuming what seems like a large meal from a small serving, though it's more tolerable. I'm considering raising it to four milligrams per week to gain more from the glucagon effect. However, since I've become quite slim and tired from restricting food, or maybe both, I've noticed a flat emotional state recently. Gaming in the evenings, once my favorite part of the day, no longer appeals to me. This isn't true depression but rather a drained, low-motivation feeling similar to being exhausted without the actual hunger sensation. Has anyone else noticed this effect from the drug?

IronLantern24archiveMay 27

Over the past several months I've been experiencing this sensation. Activities that used to bring me pleasure no longer appeal to me. For the past couple of weeks I've taken 2.5 milligrams on an alternating schedule every three and a half days and this lack of interest has begun to improve slightly. Tiredness fluctuates yet maintaining steady protein intake across all meals rather than limiting it to one or two sessions helps reduce that drained feeling.

RustSignal22archiveMay 27
↳ replying to @IronLantern24

That catches my eye for sure. What kind of upsides does five milligrams each week seem to bring in your experience?

IronLantern24archiveMay 27
↳ replying to @RustSignal22

At the start, for about fourteen days, this left me nauseous. I had been injecting once every seven days until I tried breaking the amount in half, which resolved it. Lately, the lousy sensations only hit if my meals or fluids fall short.

ClearMeadow73archiveMay 27
↳ replying to @RustSignal22 (opening post)

For me it feels more like a lack of drive than an inability to feel pleasure. After looking up what that other term actually means I notice I still experience happiness from activities but lack the push to start them. One time after the baby arrived I sent my significant other a note about how happy labeling makes me during my handmade projects and that showed me enjoyment is still possible so the label probably doesn't fit. Even so I recognize this as an issue. Bloodwork showed low vitamin D so I'm taking supplements now and expecting some change from that. Tomorrow I'll restart the cycle with that compound. These small steps might bring a bit of progress. I also realize my protein intake stays too low and should focus on fixing it though I'm the main one holding myself back haha

ClearMeadow73archiveMay 29

The day before yesterday marked the second day into my latest round with semax. Came from a new place this time around. Felt incredibly focused and knocked out a bunch of tasks that had been waiting forever. Wonder if that earlier batch from the one-bottle guy was no good after all. Really hope this productivity sticks around.

AmberAlder67archiveMay 29

I went through something similar and stopped taking that stuff for about thirty days until I started feeling okay again. Someone else started a fresh thread on this exact issue and I wrote a more detailed response there plus a few other people chimed in. Not everyone gets affected by it but I sure did. Plus my amount was small and I'd only been doing it for eight weeks before the problem showed up.

BlueKettle52archiveMay 29
↳ replying to @RustSignal22 (opening post)

I fill up quickly too, much like your case. Once that happens I'm set for an entire day without issues. Our experiences probably differ because of that. Hunger doesn't return right away for me either. On top of it all I've stuck with one meal daily for years. Starting reta kept the same daily fast going yet my overall intake fell sharply since a few mouthfuls leave me satisfied. I take one milligram each week and have held there for seven weeks without raising it since that amount suits me perfectly. Your tiredness could stem from too few carbs based on what I've seen in my own trials. Since beginning reta my energy the next day has tracked closely with how many carbs I ate. Fifty grams left me wiped out even without hunger while one hundred fifty to two hundred twenty grams restored normal feelings. I log all intake so the totals can match exactly but the carb split from the prior day still shifts how I feel. Daily weight training stays steady with one hundred five to one hundred ten grams of protein. Only fat and carbs shift around. Raising carbs the day before cleared up that drained state for me. Both of us stay fairly lean and at very low intake with appetite gone from reta the carbs made a clear difference in how I felt mentally and physically.

RustSignal22archiveMay 29
↳ replying to @BlueKettle52

This situation has definitely been intriguing. Honestly my daily carb consumption sits at over 200 grams with portions taken prior to training sessions and others afterward mainly to rebuild glycogen stores. Protein stays at no less than 150 grams each day as I continue through my cut. Perhaps there's not enough body fat available for fuel at the moment causing some resistance. Things should become clearer once I move into maintenance calories or a lean bulk phase.

BlueKettle52archiveMay 29
↳ replying to @RustSignal22

I was wondering about your stature and mass. A couple hundred grams of carbohydrates would probably handle your stamina requirements. Also wondering if you're experiencing any chill. Perhaps, since it hinges on your leanness level.

BrightBeacon40archiveMay 29
↳ replying to @IronLantern24

Even a single milligram left me feeling numb inside, since I overreact to most things. I lowered it down to six tenths, but then noticed it wasn't enough, leading me to try eight tenths instead. Now my drive has come back, and I eat well without any particular desires, you know?

RustSignal22archiveMay 29
↳ replying to @BlueKettle52

My height comes in near 182 centimeters while I weigh 75 kilograms at roughly 12 percent body fat. Temperatures where I live feel extremely hot right now exceeding thirty degrees which is why I am skipping it lately.

RustSignal22archiveMay 29
↳ replying to @BrightBeacon40

The way individuals vary in their responses to different amounts is really intriguing. Nevertheless most of us seem to feel the influences anyway. This makes me consider if a psychological aspect might be at play distinguishing those who regard meals as mere sustenance from people such as myself who find them to be a delightful experience haha

BlueKettle52archiveJun 1
↳ replying to @BrightBeacon40

I also react strongly to these things and right now a single milligram works fine for me. Since you're slim the tiredness might just come from the medication itself. Hunger drops but energy stays low so maybe the amount is on the high side. After taking one milligram the following day leaves me mildly drained in both mind and body. Everything feels normal again the day after that. When the benefits show up alongside the drawbacks lowering the level the next week might help test it out.

BrightBeacon40archiveJun 1
↳ replying to @BlueKettle52

I went and cut the amount down before. It looks like that's what set it off.

BlueKettle52archiveJun 1
↳ replying to @BrightBeacon40

People respond so uniquely to these kinds of medications for dropping pounds. It's wild how one amount might do nothing for someone yet prove sufficient for somebody else. That means plenty of trial and error takes place. Experimenting on my own body turns out to be pretty enjoyable too. Still, I pick up lots of personal stories by checking discussion boards, clips online, and threads on Reddit. Keeps the knowledge coming!

RustSignal22archiveJun 1
↳ replying to @BlueKettle52

The reduced dosage isn't curbing my hunger very effectively, and injections since starting haven't resulted in tiredness or related problems. I'll observe the ongoing results.

CopperMarble58archiveAug 2
↳ replying to @BlueKettle52

I'm curious whether reliable methods have emerged for dealing with this. Laughing a bit since the whole thing hardly bothers me except I feel no drive to exercise at all. Hoping to move past that somehow.

IronLantern24archiveAug 2
↳ replying to @CopperMarble58

Yeah, that's exactly it for me too. Losing the extra pounds was supposed to give me the drive to handle daily tasks better. That's the cause of my weak middle section. I feel zero drive at all. Pushing through upper and lower body sessions takes real effort. Eating habits are declining since cooking a proper dinner feels impossible without the stamina.

KeenCinder20archiveAug 8

For the initial four weeks everything seemed okay after starting this, but then the following period has been terrible. During a walk in nature a few weeks back I noticed an insect on my skin that hadn't bitten in, and ever since then I've felt exhausted constantly. I examined myself thoroughly and saw no signs of others. I suspected it might be from that disease but probably isn't, so this must be causing the issues. Sleep has been limited to under five hours nightly lately, and mornings leave me drained and foggy. Even my usual sleep aid fails to help now, and it's really rough.

IronMarble78archiveAug 8

I got curious about glucagon effects and added reta on top of triz. Reta isn't agreeing with me though. It brings on tiredness along with stronger appetite. There are no upsides at all. I'm thinking about quitting reta now.

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