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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
To feel less love, fear, affection, or anger. Prevalence of Emotional Blunting A study from the University of Oxford found that 46% of antidepressant users experienced emotional blunting during treatment. According to the research, the antidepressants most commonly associated with emotional blunting are:Selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as Cymbalta (duloxetine), Pristiq (desvenlafaxine), and Effexor XR (venlafaxine)Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Lexapro (escitalopram), Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), and Paxil (paroxetine)Tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants like Elavil (amitriptyline) and Remeron (desvenlafaxine)By and large, those who no longer needed antidepressants experienced a reversal of emotional blunting, confirming the role that these drugs play in this side effect. Though the percentage of people who experienced emotional blunting was similar between the three drug classes, there were variations. On the one end, 33% experienced emotional blunting while on Wellbutrin (bupropion) while, on the other end, 75% experienced the same effect on Cymbalta (duloxetine hydrochloride). Wellbutrin is a different class of drug known as a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Unlike the others, it does not target a chemical transmitter in the brain—known as serotonin—that all of the other drugs do. This suggests that the inhibition of serotonin may be one of the prime causes of emotional blunting.Click Play to Learn More About Emotional Blunting Other Study Findings According to the Oxford study, men experienced blunting more than women at 54% vs. 44%, respectively. Moreover, the severity of depression before treatment directly corresponded to the severity of emotional blunting during treatment. The study also found that not everyone viewed emotional blunting in the same way. Of the 819 people included, 38% regarded the blunting of their emotions as a positive outcome of treatment, while 37% viewed it negatively. Generally speaking, those with more severe blunting symptoms viewed it more negatively. Supporting Evidence Other research has
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