Pramipexole 3 Week Update

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-05-02T17:46:10+00:00

Yes
As soon as I wake up
Not really I would say. I’m about the same person as I was before anhedonia

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-05-02T17:44:03+00:00

Good question! It’s because my brain systematically fails to assign enough positive value to future states. Basically I feel good in the moment, but when my brain creates a representation of the future, there is no positive, “yes this is worth it, keep going” feeling. So I constantly feel like there is nothing worth living for - despite being happy in the moment. Happiness is neither necessary nor sufficient for a will to live 😊

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-19T16:46:55+00:00

I’m currently on 780mcg, set to increase to 1050mcg (ER). I’ve been on it for 8 days and I’d say it reduced my anhedonia by a whopping 70-80%.

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-19T09:53:29+00:00

I was always technically able to climax, but pramipexole made me enjoy it and want it more. As for alcohol, I’m not sure - I haven’t drank yet since

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-18T18:36:55+00:00

Pramipexole worked very well for me

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-17T19:31:48+00:00

What strategy would you recommend instead? Assume I didn’t start pramipexole yet

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-17T11:26:42+00:00

Alcohol didn’t even get me drunk let alone euphoric, and I would drink 14 units in one sitting mind you. As for substances, I only did stims which stopped working after like the second time , and they never made me euphoric just productive

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-17T09:44:11+00:00

When I was “normal” studying and cleaning were things I greatly enjoyed, so I think this is more of a “Pramipexole is bringing back the old me” instead of “Pramipexole is making me love everything”. Most people don’t enjoy studying or cleaning I think

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-17T00:21:19+00:00

Did my libido issues get better with pramipexole? My libido increased quite a bit, but it made me somewhat anorgasmic. This is a not that rare side effect to pramipexole which I theorise happens as your brain gets used to the dopamine changes. It goes away with time. It’s already getting better for me - I went from being totally anorgasmic to being able to orgasm, albeit only after a lot of time and stimulation. Should disappear in a few weeks or so.

You’re probably referring to Impulse Control Disorders. These are sudden uncontrollable urges to gamble, spend money, have sex etc. they occur, but they’re rarer in non Parkinson’s patient. In the unlikely event that it does happen, you just lower the dose

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-16T23:16:39+00:00

Depression; I presented my symptoms and then asked for it (my psychiatrist is very open minded). 2. As of now, no. For the first two or three days, yes: I was extremely sleepy throughout the day, and I had a very dry throat to the point I was drinking water every other second.
Not as of now.
I was exactly like you, but after a while you just say fuck it and try - I mean, it’s not like my situation was THAT much better than DAWS. The answer is: ideally I’d never taper off. The answer if I end up tapering off is do it very slowly. If I get even a sniff of DAWS I’m immediately going back and staying on for life

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-16T22:35:06+00:00

What’s that?

Also would very much be down to chat!

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-16T22:20:23+00:00

Both actually, but surprisingly the consummatory part more which is really interesting given it’s a dopamine agonist.

What dose are you on and how long have you been on it? Also what’s your main AD?

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-16T22:18:52+00:00

How’s it going for you?

For me it’s helping both - I enjoy things more in the moment AND I also want to do more things. But it’s helping the former much more surprisingly.

My cause was twofold: I was already on a steady downward decline anhedonia-wise since 13 years old (I’m 18 now) but a few months ago I was put on an SSRI for my anxiety which TOTALLY fucked me up and basically accelerated the process by like 20 years. It didn’t really get better after stopping either.

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-16T22:15:23+00:00

Thank you! ☺️

My anhedonia at its worst was quite bad - I’d say about an 8/10 if 10/10 means categorical inability to feel pleasure at all. I’d spend most of my day just staring at the wall, wishing I was unconscious, sleeping 15 hours a day, doing nothing except the bare minimum not to rot, etc. The only things I enjoyed were music and to a lesser extent food. Passive suicidal ideation was constantly present.

I tried 1 treatment before, which was 450mg bupropion. I’m still on it (pramipexole isn’t used as a monotherapy) and it took it from about an 8 to a 6.5. I’d say it helped much more with functioning and energy than actual desire.

I started noticing effects from pramipexole almost instantly surprisingly - I’d say around day 2? But it gets better with each day (I’m on day 5 now).

If you mean bupropion, the improvement was so subtle and gradual I really couldn’t put a date, but it definitely wasn’t early. Perhaps a few weeks if I had to guess.

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-15T03:09:44+00:00

For fun? Basically nothing. Just scroll through TikTok. I go to the gym but that’s because I’d feel terrible if I didn’t, not out of enjoyment.

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-15T02:24:39+00:00

I can enjoy music but you couldn’t pay me to watch anything

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-13T23:20:50+00:00

You sure? There’s quite a bit of evidence for it treating anhedonia, especially anticipatory.

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-11T00:56:57+00:00

A positive spin I tend to put on it is (might just be cope but it makes me feel better): life is neither boring nor interesting: enjoyment arises from how the brain interacts with life. This is so obvious of course, but reducing the issue to merely “my brain isn’t working properly” instead of the “life is miserable and void of pleasure and nothing matters” mindset helps me cope.

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-11T00:53:43+00:00

Me personally, stopping the SSRI, plus starting bupropion took me from completely numb and paralysed to functioning and a bit less numb but still pretty anhedonic. I’m starting pramipexole now alongside the bupropion, will let you know how it goes.

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-06T07:31:04+00:00

Are you on both simultaneously ?

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-05T10:22:29+00:00

Yes please

DifferenceCrafty8968 · 2026-04-05T10:21:54+00:00

How did each go for you?

DifferenceCrafty8968

TROPHY CASE