Posted by SpaceFairy on April 27, 2004, at 2:41:56
In reply to Re: ssri's effect on cognitive functioning???, posted by Kelle on April 26, 2004, at 18:55:22
Hi there!
Sorry to hear you have been going through problems. However, it is good that you are at a level where you are able to identify a problem (unfortunately I was on such a high dose of venlafaxine for a prolonged period of time I was too confused to know what was happening). I am not trained medically, but all the symptoms that you describe are well reported adverse effects of SSRI & SNRI medications. If you truly feel that you would be better off on balance without the medication then I would strongly advise you to go to your doctor. However, even with all the information that has come to light I have found a great deal of ignorance amongst the medical profession, so I would advise looking at sites such as antidepressantsfacts.com first - this will enable you to approach your doctor with all the latest information & also has some great tips for helping you recover. I literally had to educate my doctor! The good news is that I have been medication free now for 6 months and my cognitive ability is almost back to normal (this will probably be shorter for you since you have not been on the medication for as long).
Good luck!
SpaceFairy
> I've been on Zoloft for almost 3 months now. I am experiencing what I think is pretty troubling cognitive impairment. I have a high-stress job at a PR agency and find myself unable to concentrate. My short-term memory is completely shot, I will get up to do something and completely forget what it was a second later. Or, I'll start to say something and then...pooof...it's just gone! I don't seem to be able to put together complex thoughts...or I start to but can't finish any idea to the end. My thoughts are scattered. And, sometimes thoughts just pop into my head for no apparent reason. I'll have a completely random memory just "pop in" - it's really bizarre and kind of scary. It's also embarassing - I have been talking to colleagues and clients and all of a sudden don't know what I was going to say next. I almost feel retarded sometimes. What's so bizarre is that I have always been the complete opposite - I generally have a memory like a "steel trap" and everyone I know has told me that I should have been a lawyer (not necessarily a good thing ;> ) because of my reasoning, analytical, argument skills. BUT this is all gone now!! I feel like a complete idiot. Also, early this morning, I woke up after having really bizarre nightmares and dreams and it seemed I was having some type of lingering hallucination. When I opened my eyes, I saw an image of small balls spinning. I kept blinking my eyes and after a few minutes, it did pass. But, that totally freaked me out. Something like that has NEVER EVER happened to me. I'm relating it to the Zoloft and I think I'll be calling my dr. to start getting off of this stuff.
poster:SpaceFairy
thread:331128
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040423/msgs/340470.html