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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mike lynch on August 13, 2004, at 4:21:32
I feel slower then usual on them...but when I discontinue them I feel even MORE slow...The first thing that comes to your mind is probbly depression...but b4 I was on meds my depression was never associated with cognitive problems, these problems only started when I first went on the meds..As of now I don't feel depressed but off the meds I feel MUCH SLOWER then I did on them...even on them I didn't feel right..
Do you think my brain just needs time to adjust without them?? I feel completely blank..my mind is blank... my personality is blank..I feel like NOTHING that's the only way to describe it I am nothing..no memory...no ideas...nothing..it's especially frustrating when im talking to people..cause i have like no input on anything...my personality and my identity just feels like it's gone...this is really strange and just frightening...I just want my identity back...I feel like a robot or something..
Posted by alesta on August 13, 2004, at 4:50:26
In reply to does anyone feel stupid and slow off ssri's??, posted by mike lynch on August 13, 2004, at 4:21:32
hi, mike,
I just started Prozac and haven’t gotten this effect at all. Prozac really is a very safe medication. I read a study once somewhere that it may actually rebuild neural pathways in the brain. I have no idea why you’re getting this effect. I seriously doubt there’s any damage to your brain.Do you worry a lot about the safety of medications? Are you maybe psyching yourself out (imagining that you have damaged your brain?) If not, it could very well be a part of your depression, like you said. I know sometimes when I’m depressed I can get really out of it. just trying to throw some ideas out there.....hope you feel better...
-Amy ("alesta")
Posted by mike lynch on August 13, 2004, at 13:37:14
In reply to Re: does anyone feel stupid and slow off ssri's??, posted by alesta on August 13, 2004, at 4:50:26
> hi, mike,
> I just started Prozac and haven’t gotten this effect at all. Prozac really is a very safe medication. I read a study once somewhere that it may actually rebuild neural pathways in the brain. I have no idea why you’re getting this effect. I seriously doubt there’s any damage to your brain.
>
> Do you worry a lot about the safety of medications? Are you maybe psyching yourself out (imagining that you have damaged your brain?) If not, it could very well be a part of your depression, like you said. I know sometimes when I’m depressed I can get really out of it. just trying to throw some ideas out there.....hope you feel better...
>
> -Amy ("alesta")
No it has nothing to do with me imagining it...I have absolutely no hypchondriac like symptoms in me...if anything I am the exact opposite...I have a habit of underdiagnosing myself..After having concentration problems while on the paxil...i thought nothing of it and discontinued it...after about 4weeks paxil free these many problems persisted...I came to my doctor and he said I was depressed again..4 ssri's later...I feel no different.. I understant these drugs are safe..millions of people take them and have no problem...the thought that they would hurt me never crossed my mind...That's why I think I am experiencing a very rare adverse effect from them..I am just looking for a more plausible answer as to what this could be....I have checked depression up and down...but that just doesen't seem to check out...I REALLY WISH IT DID...because it would at least be reversible..
Posted by WAKI on August 13, 2004, at 14:47:50
In reply to does anyone feel stupid and slow off ssri's??, posted by mike lynch on August 13, 2004, at 4:21:32
SSRI's turn me into a zombie. They reduce my anxiety by eliminating many details in my consicience. My memory also suffers with this lack of detail effect.
Sertonin is not my depression issue. My issues is more with NE and Dopemene.
Posted by KaraS on August 13, 2004, at 17:13:20
In reply to Re: does anyone feel stupid and slow off ssri's??, posted by mike lynch on August 13, 2004, at 13:37:14
> > hi, mike,
> > I just started Prozac and haven’t gotten this effect at all. Prozac really is a very safe medication. I read a study once somewhere that it may actually rebuild neural pathways in the brain. I have no idea why you’re getting this effect. I seriously doubt there’s any damage to your brain.
> >
> > Do you worry a lot about the safety of medications? Are you maybe psyching yourself out (imagining that you have damaged your brain?) If not, it could very well be a part of your depression, like you said. I know sometimes when I’m depressed I can get really out of it. just trying to throw some ideas out there.....hope you feel better...
> >
> > -Amy ("alesta")
>
>
> No it has nothing to do with me imagining it...I have absolutely no hypchondriac like symptoms in me...if anything I am the exact opposite...I have a habit of underdiagnosing myself..After having concentration problems while on the paxil...i thought nothing of it and discontinued it...after about 4weeks paxil free these many problems persisted...I came to my doctor and he said I was depressed again..4 ssri's later...I feel no different.. I understant these drugs are safe..millions of people take them and have no problem...the thought that they would hurt me never crossed my mind...That's why I think I am experiencing a very rare adverse effect from them..I am just looking for a more plausible answer as to what this could be....I have checked depression up and down...but that just doesen't seem to check out...I REALLY WISH IT DID...because it would at least be reversible..
I also feel slow and dumb on SSRIs and off of them. I don't know how much of this is due to the SSRIs, the damage from depression or the depression itself. It's probably a combination of all of them. The SSRIs are notorious for the emtional numbing as you probably know and depression can slow your thinking processes down considerably. I think that with time and meds or supplements that target Dopamine and/or NE, this can get better. I'm praying it does anyway.
Posted by alesta on August 13, 2004, at 20:58:57
In reply to does anyone feel stupid and slow off ssri's??, posted by mike lynch on August 13, 2004, at 4:21:32
i have no idea then....i would say that maybe your depression isn't primarily serotonin-related and that you should try a different type of antidepressant besides SSRIs, as it *could* still be just depression. but since you seem pretty sure that it's a reaction to the meds, maybe it is, hopefully not. sorry i can't be of more help.
-Amy
This is the end of the thread.
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