Multiple users describe a drop in sexual desire and general motivation while using or after stopping retatrutide, often tied to lowered dopamine response. Some see partial improvement weeks later but not full return to baseline; others report it fades with time, higher calories, or added compounds. TRT adjustments and certain supplements are mentioned as possible offsets, while calorie deficits and sleep are noted as contributing factors.
What this discussion establishesWhether the effect is direct from the drug or mainly from dieting and weight loss; how common it actually is versus individual reports
Still openBest long-term fixes and whether full pre-drug libido reliably returns for everyone
Nothing here is advice.
Hi all, hope things are going well. I wanted to talk about libido drops that some people notice on these meds, especially reta. It is known that GLP-1s can lower sex drive. I am a 27-year-old guy who began at a low dose in early April and raised it after two weeks. I stopped after the third week because the flat feeling and missing desire became too much. I feel more like myself again but the drive is still off, like something is absent. I have a girlfriend and enjoy being intimate yet the strong urge that used to hit me all the time is gone. Sex rarely crosses my mind now when it used to be constant. Has anyone else gone through this and have thoughts to share?
Following along for updates. I only just began a few days ago so nothing to add yet. I actually expected the opposite, that feeling better about my body might increase interest. New here but thought about starting a thread on measurement changes instead.
What about kisspeptin?
Is libido loss actually a documented effect of reta? First time hearing about it.
I get what you are saying. It hit hard after roughly two months on reta. I stopped and felt better after a couple of weeks yet still not back to normal. Hoping a certain compound on order will help restore things.
From what I have seen this is not listed as common in the research, but since these meds alter brain reward circuits to cut appetite and other habits it makes sense some people lose interest in sex too, similar to how anhedonia can appear. With a six-day half life it takes nearly a month to drop to very low levels so the drug is likely still active and any change should fade once it clears completely.
I believe it is real. Same thing here. No trouble with performance but the physical urge is basically missing.
Going through the same thing. Sex itself is fine but the urge has clearly dropped. It has been a noticeable side effect. Glad you posted because I had not seen others mention it much.
Keep me posted on how that compound works out. Sorry you are dealing with it too. It is pretty unsettling.
Good to hear I am not the only one. Libido has come up before but lingering effects after stopping reta? Not sure. I agree it is not that sex stops being good or possible, just that the chemical spark feels missing and the body does not respond the same way.
I am on TRT at a standard weekly dose and normally quite active. On reta the drive dipped for the first three months then picked up a bit. Raising the TRT dose seemed to help further. Certain recovery peptides can also influence anhedonia because these effects trace back to dopamine and reward pathways across various compounds.
That was my biggest worry besides allergic reactions when I started. I hoped it would be temporary but after more than a month off it feels more serious.
Planning to ask my urologist about it. Not sure about low T since recent labs did not check that.
I have a primary care visit soon and will bring this up to get labs ordered.
No solution here but wanted to say my experience is almost identical. No performance problems and sex still feels good, yet it went from something I thought about and started often to more of a whatever attitude. My drive was already higher than my wife’s so it has not hurt the relationship, though I can see how it might in other cases. When I described it to a friend he said it sounded awful, but now that I am living it the lack of concern makes it tolerable. Same shift happened with drinking. I used to enjoy it and worried I would miss it, but once the interest faded it was fine. I assume it is just
It is real. Dealing with it right now.
Thanks for sharing. For me it is more worrying because I just entered a new relationship. My last dose was the evening of our first date and now things are getting serious, so the missing drive has created insecurity and doubt. It is confusing because I do not feel drawn to anyone else either. I take quite a bit of ashwagandha and some quick research suggested it can flatten mood in certain people, so I am stopping that too.
Yes it is real and known as anhedonia. People have reported dropping habits like smoking or gambling because of it.
From what I have read it does not affect everyone. It happened to me and after a month off I improved but not fully. Advice I saw included staying hydrated, keeping electrolytes up, and eating enough protein. Calorie deficits and weight loss can play a role too, and dopamine is involved.
I do not really view libido itself as an addictive behavior, at least not past my twenties. I know folks who cut back on drinking or other substances. For us the Friday night outings basically ended around the same time we started reta, replaced by quieter nights at home. I never connected the two until now.
Had no idea that step was still a thing. No objection, just surprised it is still done that way.
I hit the same wall when I began tirzepatide last year. My doctor keeps saying it is not a listed side effect, yet clearly some people notice it. Hormone numbers are normal. One compound helps get things started but finishing can still be difficult and the overall motivation stays low. Another change is that random attraction to strangers has disappeared, and even long-time crushes no longer register, though my partner still does.
I think it is more indirect. Long-term low calorie intake alone can tank libido and lower testosterone through secondary effects when the body is in conservation mode rather than reproduction mode. Check how far below maintenance you are and make sure you get enough B vitamins, boron, zinc, D3 with K2, and magnesium. Sleep quality matters a lot too for both drive and hormones.
Same at the beginning for me, along with zero interest in food or alcohol. Five months in everything except the alcohol response has come back. Drive is strong again, food noise stays gone, and booze still causes bad heartburn so I mostly skip it. Also on low-dose TRT and daily tadalafil.
Saw a post on another platform worth checking. I get bloodwork and use supplements to fix shortfalls, which might explain differences. One user collected hundreds of similar reports from women and they labeled it anhedonia. These meds turn down dopamine rewards from food and apparently from other pleasures too. They discussed a supplement stack that helped some.
Haha agreed, I did not mean to call libido addictive. It is very real and called anhedonia. It leaves you feeling flat and can lower libido while also cutting other habits like smoking or gambling.
For some of us older types it still happens. I ended up in a few unclear situations before and it is nice when someone shows clear intent instead of leaving things vague. These days you never know what you are walking into.
Unfortunately it ended the next day after I brought up the anhedonia and uncertainty I was feeling. Pretty rough.
Never ask anyone to define the relationship.
Oh no. Did you explain it should be temporary? Being open can cut both ways. Hopefully she comes around.
Lol that seems a bit extreme.
The only drive reta has not touched is my urge to smoke, which is the one I actually wanted it to reduce.
It does cause mild anhedonia for me and apparently many others. Feels like lowered dopamine though I am unsure of the exact mechanism. I am adding something to counter it such as semax and it is working. Anything that raises dopamine could help, including lots of exercise, TRT, or certain growth-hormone peptides. Mucuna did not do much for me. Nicotine is another option but I would not suggest most of the stronger alternatives.
My research subject noticed it around five weeks in. We increased carbs, added exercise, and pushed through. Now feeling much better.
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I actually find that approach rather charming. At this stage in life I mostly hope that if someone I like and respect also likes and respects me we can just keep it simple without over-labeling it until interest fades or it turns into a long-term friendship. If I were actively seeking a partner though, a direct question like that would feel sweet.
I call it monk mode. It is not just sex. It is any distraction that does not serve the main goals. Total focus on training, food, and rest. All thanks to reta.
I like the freedom in that view. Sadly I tend to want commitment. Probably have some attachment issues to work on, maybe with a peptide.
No, do not do that. I am not looking to be chosen and have proven multiple times I am not great at long-term partnership. I am not wrecking my life again for the same old cycle. If you think you can do better, go find a real story.
Ha I get that. I spent years with the same mindset but ended up just like my dad, someone who loves being in love. I am probably not the best at partnership either but I try. Things are okay so far with the current person. We will see.
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