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Re: SSRI Apathy and Memory deficits--me too!

Posted by cupcake on February 11, 2004, at 15:17:48

In reply to SSRI Apathy and Memory deficits, posted by net on February 9, 2004, at 0:49:10

I have tried different SSRI's in the past and have been on and off meds since 2000. For the past year and a half I've been on Effexor XR, mostly at 300 mg/day. I would like to get off of it, especially since I am hypothyroid and have finally gotten my thyroid levels under control after a couple of years of undertreatment--and I think that was contributing a lot to my depression, anxiety, and severe PMS.

Anyway, again, I think part of this was from the low thyroid, but for the last year or so I've been totally not myself. I've always been sort of an overachiever and super motivated about a lot of things, but I have just been NOT THERE. Fuzzy thinking, total apathy, no short-term memory, difficulty performing tasks I used to be good at--and I'm only 27. No self-discipline, no motivation, ugh. Oh yeah! And I also gained about 30 pounds.

Now that my thyroid levels are normalizing I have tapered myself down to 150mg/day of the Effexor XR (w/o pdoc's supervision--disclaimer:i don't recommend doing it), and I noticed an immediate difference. I felt a lot more like my old self again. Ironically, I also feel more control over my emotions (during the month *prior* to decreasing my dose, I had two self-injurious rage attacks during which I totally lost it, hit myself, and made a small hole in the wall banging my head into it!!).

It's totally enlightening to see others' experiences with this, and makes me feel so much better about the way I've been up until recently. At least I know I just didn't spontaneously become lazy, unable to think or remember anything, and unmotivated out of nowhere.

I don't blame you for being sick of taking several prescriptions. Have you talked to a doctor about acupuncture or any alternative therapies to supplement and/or maybe replace at least some of your meds? If what you're doing now is helping you, then stick with it, but if your body and brain are telling you something different, you'll feel a lot better once you can figure out what really does or doesn't work for you.

good luck!

> I have been on SSRIs for many years. Currently, my drug regimen is Celexa 20mg, Wellbutrin 100mg SR, Trazadone 25-50mg, Lithium 600mg, dexadrine 60mg, and methyltestosterone 1mg.
> As you can see from the list, my depression is atypical and drug resistant. I would like to know if there are others that have experienced an apathy towards life to the point that has lead to lack of motivation and lack of self-discipline. There were several posts in Tips that suggested that this behavior was the result of SSRI use. They also spoke of memory problems with SSRIs, as well. I just assumed that my problems retaining sequential thoughts was perimenopausal, now I am not so sure. If others have experienced these side effects, what are the changes that you made that decreased your apathy/improved your memory? Thank you.


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