Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 4297

Shown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

word finding difficulty

Posted by mila on April 1, 1999, at 19:47:54

Has anyone experienced wordfinding difficulty, confusion, memory loss, or any other cognitive imapairments? I've been experiencing these as a result of risperdal. Any advice on how to overcome these problems? In the same way weight gain effects one's self-esteem, so too does cognitive imapairment. I've lost my ability to articulate well, I feel "stupid." This is very disconcertaing for an aspiring graduate student.

 

Re: word finding difficulty

Posted by dina on April 1, 1999, at 21:27:10

In reply to word finding difficulty, posted by mila on April 1, 1999, at 19:47:54

i also have this weird cognitive impairment. when
i was really depressed, i couldn't find words, even
though they were on the tip of my tongue, forgot
things left and right, and generally felt about a
conversation behind i was talking to. i thought i
was getting dumber. it was frustrating. anyway, i
still have this happen to me, to varying degrees,
depending which ad i am on. sometimes when i start
or stop one it will happen too. its very frustrating,
trying to be a functional, professional person, when
you can't remember the last sentence that just came
out of your mouth.
sorry i'm not much help with the problem though...

 

Re: word finding difficulty

Posted by dave on April 1, 1999, at 21:28:14

In reply to word finding difficulty, posted by mila on April 1, 1999, at 19:47:54

> Has anyone experienced wordfinding difficulty, confusion, memory loss, or any other cognitive imapairments? I've been experiencing these as a result of risperdal. Any advice on how to overcome these problems? In the same way weight gain effects one's self-esteem, so too does cognitive imapairment. I've lost my ability to articulate well, I feel "stupid." This is very disconcertaing for an aspiring graduate student.

I can relate in a different way Mila. I was on
2mg a day of ripserdal when i came outta the
hospital after a weeks stay for a psychotic
episode(induced by Prednisone). I fell for a
woman I met in the hospital and then spent a
6wk spending spree with her and her family,
ran my CC into thousands in debt and shunned
by family and friends during this time. Needless
to say I havent heard from that person now in
month and they owe me over $1000. I too
have a BS degree in a difficult field so I'm
normally of reasonable intellect and judgement.
Thank god my doc weened me off the risperdal.
I'm not trying to scare you, only warn you
that it is very powerful stuff. PDR's say
*they* dont even know what it really does.
Be very careful while you are on it. I hope
you have better luck with it than I did. The
worst thing is that i didn't realize what bad
judgement I had while I was on it--I thought
I was doing ok but I was a different person on it.
Sincerely
dave

 

Re: word finding difficulty

Posted by Matt on April 1, 1999, at 22:26:58

In reply to Re: word finding difficulty, posted by dave on April 1, 1999, at 21:28:14

I've had this problem from depression. Benzodiazepines and and antidepressants both can cause it. (There's various sections on meds, depression, and memory in psych. tips.)

I personally been on benzos and a-ds for a while and haven't noticed them contributing to this sort of problem. (I'm a grad student, too, so I understand your worries. Btw, I know other people in my dept. on psychotropic drugs. One can be depressed and anxious and still do grad school!)

Matt

 

Re: word finding difficulty

Posted by saintjames on April 2, 1999, at 1:34:31

In reply to word finding difficulty, posted by mila on April 1, 1999, at 19:47:54

> Has anyone experienced wordfinding difficulty, confusion, memory loss, or any other cognitive imapairments? I've been experiencing these as a result of risperdal. Any advice on how to overcome these problems?

James here....

This is common on anti psychotic meds as they slow thinking it general. Perhaps a dosage change
or a different med would have less of this side effect for you.
In any case you need to bring this up with your doc as it seems to be causing you sig. problems.
You might look thru Dr. Bobs tips site...I belive there is some info on this. I have heard of some having sucess taking a small dose of a stim w/ an anti psychotic but this is tricky depending or your Dx. Would you mind telling us what condition is being treated ?

j

 

Re: word finding difficulty

Posted by laura on April 2, 1999, at 12:39:32

In reply to word finding difficulty, posted by mila on April 1, 1999, at 19:47:54

> Has anyone experienced wordfinding difficulty, confusion, memory loss, or any other cognitive imapairments? I've been experiencing these as a result of risperdal. Any advice on how to overcome these problems? In the same way weight gain effects one's self-esteem, so too does cognitive imapairment. I've lost my ability to articulate well, I feel "stupid." This is very disconcertaing for an aspiring graduate student.

Yes, I've had aproblem with short term memory. I once had a 45 minute conversation with my boss about an important project. I was supposed to follow up on several issues--the problem was that a few minutes after I left his office I knew I had tasks to accomplish, but I had no recollection of what they were. I couldn't even remember the topic of our conversation. It has happened on many other occasions that weren't as important but eqaually embarassing. Now I take ridculously copious notes-- it works, but it's a pain. What about ginseng? Has anyone tried that? I don't know if you AD's-- but if you can, I suppose it worth a shot.

 

Re: word finding difficulty

Posted by Victoria on April 2, 1999, at 15:38:09

In reply to Re: word finding difficulty, posted by laura on April 2, 1999, at 12:39:32

I had word finding problems and memory problems as a side effect to Zoloft. That, plus some other side effects, made me get off it. I'm now trying trazadone, and so far that hasn't caused the same problems.


> > Has anyone experienced wordfinding difficulty, confusion, memory loss, or any other cognitive imapairments? I've been experiencing these as a result of risperdal. Any advice on how to overcome these problems? In the same way weight gain effects one's self-esteem, so too does cognitive imapairment. I've lost my ability to articulate well, I feel "stupid." This is very disconcertaing for an aspiring graduate student.
>
> Yes, I've had aproblem with short term memory. I once had a 45 minute conversation with my boss about an important project. I was supposed to follow up on several issues--the problem was that a few minutes after I left his office I knew I had tasks to accomplish, but I had no recollection of what they were. I couldn't even remember the topic of our conversation. It has happened on many other occasions that weren't as important but eqaually embarassing. Now I take ridculously copious notes-- it works, but it's a pain. What about ginseng? Has anyone tried that? I don't know if you AD's-- but if you can, I suppose it worth a shot.

 

Re: word finding difficulty

Posted by v on April 3, 1999, at 14:14:36

In reply to Re: word finding difficulty, posted by Victoria on April 2, 1999, at 15:38:09

i had a similar response while taking wellbutrin... it was so frustrating & made me feel like an idiot and yes, really stupid

my doctor referred to the side effect as confabulation and the only way i know to overcome it would be to try lessening the dose &/or change medications... in my case, i stopped the wellbutrin

it still occurs, but MUCH less often... only now i blame it on my depression, stress, aging, dead brain cells... life, etc... :)

seriously though, i know how dehabilitating it can be and hope you manage to overcome it soon... good luck!

v

 

Re: word finding difficulty

Posted by anita on April 3, 1999, at 18:07:01

In reply to Re: word finding difficulty, posted by laura on April 2, 1999, at 12:39:32

Apparently, a med called Aricept (US; usu. prescribed for Alzheimer's) is supposed to help with general memory problems
from antidepressants, tho I don't know if it helps with word-finding difficulties in
particular.

I had terrible, very obvious word-finding problems when I increased my Lamictal dose.
They went away a week after I lowered the dose. Seems this problem happens a lot with many
psychotropic meds...

If anyone does try Aricept, please let us know how it works!

anita

 

Re: word finding difficulty

Posted by Ruth on April 4, 1999, at 21:30:47

In reply to Re: word finding difficulty, posted by anita on April 3, 1999, at 18:07:01

You now have me wondering. I've had problems with memory loss which I have attributed to my depression. But I am on both respirdal and lamictal. I find I have what I've come to call "swiss cheese memory". As the name suggests the memory loss isn't complete and does not fall in any particular chronology, but it is certainly there and very disconcerting. I'm going to talk to my psychopharmacologist and will share what he has to say.

> Apparently, a med called Aricept (US; usu. prescribed for Alzheimer's) is supposed to help with general memory problems
> from antidepressants, tho I don't know if it helps with word-finding difficulties in
> particular.
>
> I had terrible, very obvious word-finding problems when I increased my Lamictal dose.
> They went away a week after I lowered the dose. Seems this problem happens a lot with many
> psychotropic meds...
>
> If anyone does try Aricept, please let us know how it works!
>
> anita

 

Re: word finding difficulty

Posted by Dr. Bob on April 4, 1999, at 22:05:33

In reply to Re: word finding difficulty, posted by Ruth on April 4, 1999, at 21:30:47

Hi,

FYI, there's a page in Psychopharmacology Tips on Word-finding difficulties from medication, at:

http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/split/Word-finding-difficulties-.html

Bob

 

Re: word finding difficulty

Posted by mary on April 7, 1999, at 16:25:18

In reply to Re: word finding difficulty, posted by Ruth on April 4, 1999, at 21:30:47

I had been on prozac for years,dealing with all of the usual side effects and accepting them because i received relief from the depression. The last two years, word finding and memory problems started and worsened to the point where I was referred to a neurologist who ordered cognitive testing(normal) and ginko biloba as well as vitamin E. Nothing changed. Next year, memory is the same,.
cognitive testing is repeated-no significant change(MDs thought: maybe im hypersensitive). But a Spect scan was ordered also. Results showed abnormality not consistent with altzheimersss (sp?) but not normal either. I have been taking aricept for 14 months now. I still have word finding difficulties and ask the same question two and three times in a row. It's incredibly embarrassing for a speech/language pathologist. Maybe the situation would be worse if I werent' taking the aricept.
mary

lems with memory loss which I have attributed to my depression. But I am on both respirdal and lamictal. I find I have what I've come to call "swiss cheese memory". As the name suggests the memory loss isn't complete and does not fall in any particular chronology, but it is certainly there and very disconcerting. I'm going to talk to my psychopharmacologist and will share what he has to say.
>
> > Apparently, a med called Aricept (US; usu. prescribed for Alzheimer's) is supposed to help with general memory problems

> >
> > I had terrible, very obvious word-finding problems when I increased my Lamictal dose.
> > They went away a week after I lowered the dose. Seems this problem happens a lot with many
> > psychotropic meds...
> >
> > If anyone does try Aricept, please let us know how it works!
> >
> > anita

 

Re: word finding difficulty

Posted by katie on April 23, 1999, at 20:32:44

In reply to Re: word finding difficulty, posted by Victoria on April 2, 1999, at 15:38:09

> I had word finding problems and memory problems as a side effect to Zoloft. That, plus some other side effects, made me get off it. I'm now trying trazadone, and so far that hasn't caused the same problems.
>
>
>
>
> > > Has anyone experienced wordfinding difficulty, confusion, memory loss, or any other cognitive imapairments?

I don't know if it's my brain trying to catch up w/ my mouth or visa versa but I find myself talking really fast and filling up the gaps in content w/ what my husband calls "fluff" words. It's like I'm talking, but saying nothing. Also I repeat the same thing over and over in a different way each time. Then there's other times when my tongue just can't seem to form a consonant and I get this kinda "duh" feeling.

 

Re: word finding difficulty

Posted by mila on April 24, 1999, at 16:58:58

In reply to Re: word finding difficulty, posted by katie on April 23, 1999, at 20:32:44

Katie,
I too repaet the same thing over and over in different words. Up until now I thought it was just me. I find that I have become really inarticulate because of this. it's so frustrating.

> > I had word finding problems and memory problems as a side effect to Zoloft. That, plus some other side effects, made me get off it. I'm now trying trazadone, and so far that hasn't caused the same problems.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > > Has anyone experienced wordfinding difficulty, confusion, memory loss, or any other cognitive imapairments?
>
>
>
> I don't know if it's my brain trying to catch up w/ my mouth or visa versa but I find myself talking really fast and filling up the gaps in content w/ what my husband calls "fluff" words. It's like I'm talking, but saying nothing. Also I repeat the same thing over and over in a different way each time. Then there's other times when my tongue just can't seem to form a consonant and I get this kinda "duh" feeling.


This is the end of the thread.


Show another thread

URL of post in thread:


Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ


[dr. bob] Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD, bob@dr-bob.org

Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.