Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 7959

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Re: Brain fog

Posted by Sharon on July 11, 1999, at 15:25:42

In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by Kaarina on July 11, 1999, at 13:02:52

First of all, I would like to thank everyone that has responded to my post. I am like you Kaarina in that medication makes my depression much worse. I have had all the usual bloodwork done, and nothing shows up. It is very disheartening to hear how medication helps everyone, but for some reason I can not take it. My only problem is that I have been depressed for 5 1/2 years, so I don;t have any hopes that it will ever go away.
Here's Wishing Everyone Wellness!
Sherry


> Sharon
> I too get similar problems as you referred to when I take "anti-depressants." My family refuses to let me take them: brain fog, unpredictible anger, suicidal thoughts, can't function. Dr have rx them for pain & sleep. I believe itis really important to get medical treatment from a dr who listens. I went to a psychologist, who has helped alot. The sideeffects can be worse than the illness. Pharmascists are sometimes more up todate too.
> Good Luck - Depression is a hard road it helps me knowing that it does go away.

 

Re: Brain fog

Posted by JohnL on July 11, 1999, at 15:59:41

In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by Sharon on July 11, 1999, at 15:25:42

> First of all, I would like to thank everyone that has responded to my post. I am like you Kaarina in that medication makes my depression much worse. I have had all the usual bloodwork done, and nothing shows up. It is very disheartening to hear how medication helps everyone, but for some reason I can not take it. My only problem is that I have been depressed for 5 1/2 years, so I don;t have any hopes that it will ever go away.
> Here's Wishing Everyone Wellness!
> Sherry
>
>
> > Sharon
> > I too get similar problems as you referred to when I take "anti-depressants." My family refuses to let me take them: brain fog, unpredictible anger, suicidal thoughts, can't function. Dr have rx them for pain & sleep. I believe itis really important to get medical treatment from a dr who listens. I went to a psychologist, who has helped alot. The sideeffects can be worse than the illness. Pharmascists are sometimes more up todate too.
> > Good Luck - Depression is a hard road it helps me knowing that it does go away.

>It breaks my heart to see the struggling. I've had ADs make me worse. Scary. Luckily not all of them though. But for those of you who seem at the end of possiblities, there are other medicines for depression that aren't ADs. I take Lamictal (a new generation anticonvulsant for bipolar). It just seems to me if an AD makes things worse, then we're barking up the wrong tree. There has been at least one person in previous posts whos depression was helped by Lamictal but nothing else. I just think in some cases ADs won't work because they are missing the target. Something else you don't expect might hit a bullseye. Lamictal by the way has very mild side effects, and I am overly sensitive. I hope for you to regain strength in search of treatment, because suffering has been way too long. If ADs make it worse, look somewhere else. Like Lamictal. Or who knows what. A good doctor knows there are other choices to battle depression. Wishing you strength. JohnL.

 

Re: Brain fog

Posted by Sharon on July 11, 1999, at 16:16:34

In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by JohnL on July 11, 1999, at 15:59:41

Hey JohnL.
I read all your posts, and it sounds like you have done your research well. What exactly is Lamictal?
> > First of all, I would like to thank everyone that has responded to my post. I am like you Kaarina in that medication makes my depression much worse. I have had all the usual bloodwork done, and nothing shows up. It is very disheartening to hear how medication helps everyone, but for some reason I can not take it. My only problem is that I have been depressed for 5 1/2 years, so I don;t have any hopes that it will ever go away.
> > Here's Wishing Everyone Wellness!
> > Sherry
> >
> >
> > > Sharon
> > > I too get similar problems as you referred to when I take "anti-depressants." My family refuses to let me take them: brain fog, unpredictible anger, suicidal thoughts, can't function. Dr have rx them for pain & sleep. I believe itis really important to get medical treatment from a dr who listens. I went to a psychologist, who has helped alot. The sideeffects can be worse than the illness. Pharmascists are sometimes more up todate too.
> > > Good Luck - Depression is a hard road it helps me knowing that it does go away.
>
> >It breaks my heart to see the struggling. I've had ADs make me worse. Scary. Luckily not all of them though. But for those of you who seem at the end of possiblities, there are other medicines for depression that aren't ADs. I take Lamictal (a new generation anticonvulsant for bipolar). It just seems to me if an AD makes things worse, then we're barking up the wrong tree. There has been at least one person in previous posts whos depression was helped by Lamictal but nothing else. I just think in some cases ADs won't work because they are missing the target. Something else you don't expect might hit a bullseye. Lamictal by the way has very mild side effects, and I am overly sensitive. I hope for you to regain strength in search of treatment, because suffering has been way too long. If ADs make it worse, look somewhere else. Like Lamictal. Or who knows what. A good doctor knows there are other choices to battle depression. Wishing you strength. JohnL.

 

Re: Brain fog

Posted by andrewb on July 12, 1999, at 11:50:36

In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by Sharon on July 11, 1999, at 15:25:42


> First of all, I would like to thank everyone that has responded to my post. I am like you Kaarina in that medication makes my depression much worse. I have had all the usual bloodwork done, and nothing shows up. It is very disheartening to hear how medication helps everyone, but for some reason I can not take it. My only problem is that I have been depressed for 5 1/2 years, so I don;t have any hopes that it will ever go away.
> Here's Wishing Everyone Wellness!
.
Sharon did Parnate take away your brain fog or just not make it worse? Why aren't you taking it now? I took Amineptine and my brain fog went away, a real blessing. I think it is interesting that both Amineptine and Parnate have action upon the dopamine pathways. By the way, before I took Amineptine I was taking Serzone, an SSRI, and it only made the brain fog worse!
Here's a list of some of some other antidepressants that act on the dopamine pathways and therefore may help with brain fog: Nardil (older irreversable MAO-I), Minaprine (dopamine reuptake inhibitor), Moclebemide (MAO-I), Pramipexole (D3 agonist, under investigation as an antidepressant), and Triflouperazine (can act similar to amisulpride), selegiline.
One final note, don't despair because you've had depression for 5 and a half years. Most people with chronic depressions can be helped. Perhaps you will find encuragement and learn about treatment strategies by reading the book Dysthymia and the Spectrum of Chronic Depression (Hagod S. Akiskal , ed.).

 

Re: Brain fog

Posted by Sharon on July 12, 1999, at 18:00:55

In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by andrewb on July 12, 1999, at 11:50:36

Hey Andrew,
I did experience partial relief from my depression while taking the Parnate. However, it did not help that much with the anxiety. My concentration was better, but (and I know this sounds weird)everything outside of my head still seemed as if it was dream like. The reason I discontinued the Parnate is it stopped working even when the doc tried to add toher things.
Thanks for the book referral. I will order it right away. Also, I have never heard of the other antidepressants you mentioned except for the amineptine which I read about on this site.
Have a great one! ~Sharon

> > First of all, I would like to thank everyone that has responded to my post. I am like you Kaarina in that medication makes my depression much worse. I have had all the usual bloodwork done, and nothing shows up. It is very disheartening to hear how medication helps everyone, but for some reason I can not take it. My only problem is that I have been depressed for 5 1/2 years, so I don;t have any hopes that it will ever go away.
> > Here's Wishing Everyone Wellness!
> .
> Sharon did Parnate take away your brain fog or just not make it worse? Why aren't you taking it now? I took Amineptine and my brain fog went away, a real blessing. I think it is interesting that both Amineptine and Parnate have action upon the dopamine pathways. By the way, before I took Amineptine I was taking Serzone, an SSRI, and it only made the brain fog worse!
> Here's a list of some of some other antidepressants that act on the dopamine pathways and therefore may help with brain fog: Nardil (older irreversable MAO-I), Minaprine (dopamine reuptake inhibitor), Moclebemide (MAO-I), Pramipexole (D3 agonist, under investigation as an antidepressant), and Triflouperazine (can act similar to amisulpride), selegiline.
> One final note, don't despair because you've had depression for 5 and a half years. Most people with chronic depressions can be helped. Perhaps you will find encuragement and learn about treatment strategies by reading the book Dysthymia and the Spectrum of Chronic Depression (Hagod S. Akiskal , ed.).

 

Re: Brain fog

Posted by andrewb on July 13, 1999, at 1:28:48

In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by Sharon on July 12, 1999, at 18:00:55

Sharon,
However, it did not help that much with the anxiety. My concentration was better, but (and I know this sounds weird)everything outside of my head still seemed as if it was dream like. The reason I discontinued the Parnate is it stopped working even when the doc tried to add toher things.

Things outside the head seeming dream-like doesn't sound so wierd to me. When I was taking Serzone I felt that way all the time! It was if I was inside a cacoon and everthing outside was somehow distant. When feeling this way I would often be reminded of a phrase from an old Beatles song, Penny Lane, "She feels as if she is in a play, and she is anyway". The more Serzone I took, the worse it got. I presume the feeling is due to an excess of seretonin at certain receptor sites. I've read of others having similar feelings when on SSRIs.

 

Re: Brain fog

Posted by Julia on July 15, 1999, at 10:57:03

In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by andrewb on June 29, 1999, at 9:31:20

Wow, Andrew, you-all were talking about "brain fog", which, on its own, is a revelation for me, as I thought (of course) that this was some sort of separate flaw of mine (being a bi-polar, ex-anorexic, etc etc).

But, you referenced an event you described as "spots, or worms" in your visual field. This sounds like something that has been a problem of mine since right after my (now 5-yr. old) daughter was born.

At first "they" said it was a side effect of some kind from the epidural, or some other residual problem following an emergency caesarian...but years went by and the visuals (I call them "waterfalls") increased. Sometimes they would go away for a long time, then other times they would repeat several times a week, lasting for anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. I’ve seen two eye doctors and talked to my regular GP about them, not making a correlation between these visual episodes and my psychological situation…. The best diagnosis I was given, with no real testing, was that I was getting migraines without the headache….

But, I’ve just started my third week on Neurontin, after being drug-treatment-free for over a year (and getting bi-polar-ly worse). Although I have a feeling already that the neurontin is going to be “the drug for me” the worm-y-waterfalls are back at an alarming rate, sometimes two to four times a day, deeper and more visually altering…I feel like I’m on LSD…

So, question to all is, is the neurontin just in time or is it the neurontin that is making it worse or…what???? Also, I read and write for a living; so being visually impaired (I don’t even wear glasses, but now feel, on occasion, as if I’m going blind.) is terrifying me. Sorry for the long post…and thanks every one for your help and advise…


> >I used to have brain fog and spots (worms) in my visual field. This occurred after I exercised, but it would last for days. Tried everything it seemed. Finally it went away when I started taking a dopamine reuptake blocker. Besides that, Gingko Biloba may help a little.

 

Re: Brain fog

Posted by Kaarina on July 15, 1999, at 11:33:12

In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by Julia on July 15, 1999, at 10:57:03

I was told that the dots are called "floaters."
And that they aren't anything of significance.
If I've done more (taxed myself) they turn into a field like a petri dish. This doesn't affect my judgement of my vision though. I just accept them as a way of my body telling me it's tired, or they are just there. They started after the birth of my first child also. Probably popped a blood vessel during delivery. LOL

 

Re: Brain fog

Posted by Julia on July 15, 1999, at 16:37:55

In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by Kaarina on July 15, 1999, at 11:33:12

> I was told that the dots are called "floaters."
> And that they aren't anything of significance.
> If I've done more (taxed myself) they turn into a field like a petri dish. This doesn't affect my judgement of my vision though. I just accept them as a way of my body telling me it's tired, or they are just there. They started after the birth of my first child also. Probably popped a blood vessel during delivery. LOL


Kaarina:

Actually, I think the "floaters" are something else, I've gotten them also since I was a little girl, my mother used to call them "silver swords", sort of like moving little bright things (probably where the phrase "seeing stars" came from...).... I get them after standing up too fast etc.

But, the "worm" thing is totally different, when it happens it obscures my ability to even read or write, like trying to look through a very very thick glass wall......It seems,also, that I get a bigger a more intense "worm" in my right eye's field....anyway,this is not to down-play your attempt to help at all, and I thank you for same, its just that I am eager to hear if anyone else gets this waterfall-worm thing and what they know about it.....


 

Re: Brain fog

Posted by Kaarina on July 15, 1999, at 18:16:48

In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by Julia on July 15, 1999, at 16:37:55

Julia
No problem, I was just trying to reassure.
Have you asked your doctor? They seem to have an answer for most things. LOL

 

floaters

Posted by andrewb on July 15, 1999, at 22:31:16

In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by Julia on July 15, 1999, at 16:37:55

Julia,
I think what I had was what Kaarina correctly termed as 'floaters,. They are worm-like spots on the visual field that look like microbes in a petri dish. They were brought on my fatigue and rising up to fast. I think it may have been related to temporary hypotension. Anyway, when I had the brain fog I would have these spots come on at times. Wellbutrin, amineptine, and amilsupride all are able to take away the brain fog and the incidents of 'floaters'.
Your condition sounds different. I'm sorry I can't think of much in the way of advice. Do you think keeping a detailed journal may help you identify something that triggers these episodes?
Best wishes

 

Re: floaters etc.

Posted by Julia on July 16, 1999, at 4:49:33

In reply to floaters, posted by andrewb on July 15, 1999, at 22:31:16

> Julia,
> I think what I had was what Kaarina correctly termed as 'floaters,. They are worm-like spots on the visual field that look like microbes in a petri dish. They were brought on my fatigue and rising up to fast. I think it may have been related to temporary hypotension. Anyway, when I had the brain fog I would have these spots come on at times. Wellbutrin, amineptine, and amilsupride all are able to take away the brain fog and the incidents of 'floaters'.
> Your condition sounds different. I'm sorry I can't think of much in the way of advice. Do you think keeping a detailed journal may help you identify something that triggers these episodes?
> Best wishes

Boy, this is getting frustrating......but, thank you both for your help and support.

I think the journal suggestion is excellent, if for nothing else, then to help me keep focused at my next dr. visit.....

Andrew, you mentioned hypotension as being a catalyst, excuse my medical ignorance, is that high or low bp? The reason, I used to be chronically low, doctors often either worried (when I was young) or congratulated me as I got older. Then after a couple years of drug abuse (I'm, historically, a speed freak, but have been clean for a while now....)my bp went through the roof (no surprise...). But,although speed free, its still way up there.....Maybe there is a correlation....?
ANyway, I'm not really looking for you guys to play dr., I will bring this all up with him,I'm really just looking for shoulders to lament on, and I thank you guys for being there...

 

Re: floaters etc.

Posted by andrewb on July 16, 1999, at 12:10:31

In reply to Re: floaters etc., posted by Julia on July 16, 1999, at 4:49:46


> Andrew, you mentioned hypotension as being a catalyst, excuse my medical ignorance, is that high or low bp? The reason, I used to be chronically low, doctors often either worried (when I was young) or congratulated me as I got older. Then after a couple years of drug abuse (I'm, historically, a speed freak, but have been clean for a while now....)my bp went through the roof (no surprise...). But,although speed free, its still way up there.....Maybe there is a correlation....?
> ANyway, I'm not really looking for you guys to play dr., I will bring this all up with him,I'm really just looking for shoulders to lament on, and I thank you guys for being there...

Julia,
Hypotension = low blood pressure
hypertension = high blood pressure

Floaters can be brought on by low blood pressure in the head such as can happen when a person stands up.
Keep us posted on how the naltrexone is working for you.
Best wishes.

 

Re: floaters etc.

Posted by Julia on July 16, 1999, at 12:24:05

In reply to Re: floaters etc., posted by andrewb on July 16, 1999, at 12:10:31

> Hypotension = low blood pressure
> hypertension = high blood pressure
>
> Floaters can be brought on by low blood pressure in the head such as can happen when a person stands up.
> Keep us posted on how the naltrexone is working for you.
> Best wishes.


I'm on neurontin and ambien....what's naltrexone?

As always, thanks to all

 

Re: journal

Posted by Kaarina on July 16, 1999, at 16:03:40

In reply to Re: floaters etc., posted by andrewb on July 16, 1999, at 12:10:31

Julia
You had originally mentioned that longterm depression was a problem for yourself. I believe that I suffured from depression because I couldn't work due to health reasons. I started keeping a journal, wrote down all sorts of things.(what mad me sad, angry, happy, etc. anything that came to mind) Make a point of ending always with good thoughts. (I am a strong person.) The results willnot be seen overnight, took me several months. However, it gave me the insight into what made me "click." Now I can identify things that trigger my emotions, and I can turn a bad situation around. Most importantly it helps to have someone close to talk to.
I ADMIRE YOUR STRENGTH!

 

Re: journal

Posted by JUlai on July 17, 1999, at 1:53:48

In reply to Re: journal, posted by Kaarina on July 16, 1999, at 16:03:40

Kaarina (I love your name, by the way), actually, I started keeping "diaries" when I was just 12 years old (step-parent molestation and a house of alchohol abuse can really isolate a kid.....)

But, I am a word lover (although recently my ability to put two words together has declined, I fear....) and did find that just the act of penning my feelings was often a comfort.

Anyway, after about 25 semi-faithful diary-keeping years (with an occisioanl break to get married and divorced) I stopped again, as the current spouse sort of precludes just an indulgent and defiant activity. Hence,I have barely written 25 pages over the past 8 years.....maybe the thought of recording my own culpabilities has silenced me.....

This group and my secretary (0f all people) have gotten me talking and mirror-looking again (not counting the shrinks.....)....which is a good thing...Your comment about ending an entry on a positive note will stay with me,as that (I hope) will re-open this one thing I could ,again (I hope) do for myself....

Again, I ramble, my isolation from the outside world is bordering on unbearable....Thank you all so so much.

 

Re: journal

Posted by Kaarina on July 17, 1999, at 11:45:54

In reply to Re: journal, posted by JUlai on July 17, 1999, at 1:53:48

Julia
You probably live in the States, I live in Canada. Our health systems are different. However AA has a branch called, Al-Anon which has a group for adult children of alcoholic parents. I'm sure you can find it on the internet, but I strongly advise calling - speaking hearing someones voice is better, and you'll reach someone locally. Network too making friends, make an appointment just like it was a "work commitment" to do something fun, perhaps volunteer an hour (library?) SMILE!!!!
Contact a local hospital to inquire about "positive support groups for depression."

You had said that you had stopped keeping a journal 8 years ago, and your depression started 5 years ago. Even though you are married you still need to look after yourself first.

If you would like to correspond with me, I would enjoy it. I'm pretty much "housebound" and would like writing back and forth with an adult.

For Julia: sari@onlink.net

Hope to hear from you!

 

my first time on this msg. board

Posted by jesse on July 20, 1999, at 16:04:52

In reply to Re: journal, posted by Kaarina on July 17, 1999, at 11:45:54

hey,

julia, i'm a writer too, maybe we should talk?
my email is: js00@hkg.net

this is a response to the brain fog commentary,
etc....the whole thing comes as a
revelation to me as well. i told my friend that
i thought it was the antidepressant, that i was
even more absent minded than usual. i mean, hell,
i will be talking to someone and forget what they
just said two seconds after they say it. my short
term memory is unreliable, to say the least. it's
really embarassing. oh yeah, today i greeted the
intercom like i was answering the phone (and i
was the one who pushed the button....)
i mean, walking out of the bathroom with toilet
paper stuck to my shoe and getting my dress caught
on doorknobs is par for the course, but i'm
thinking, how am i going to take the GREs?
i can't think straight. totalabsofogination.
total dream state.

so, my question has to do with celexa. that's
what my therapist suggested and i've been taking
it for about 6 weeks now.
i've tried, thus far, zoloft (made it worse),
paxil (made me feel weird and then stopped
working), wellbutrin (stopped working)...

anyway, i'd like to know if anyone has any
info or resourse links on celexa....i've found
very little info on it so far. apparently,
it's been available in europe for some time and
has just recently been fda approved.

i admire all of you. reading this has given me a
shot of strenth and i needed it today.

yours truly,
jesse

 

Re: my first time on this msg. board

Posted by Kaarina on July 20, 1999, at 19:57:05

In reply to my first time on this msg. board, posted by jesse on July 20, 1999, at 16:04:52

"oh yeah, today i greeted the
> intercom like i was answering the phone (and i
> was the one who pushed the button....)"

Jesse, I must apoligize because I literally laughed out loud. I myself will do similar things, its not bad when you don't notice or if nobody is around. Once I was going to a parking centre, a line up of cars built up behind me, my friend asked what I was waiting for, I thought the ticket machine was a phone, then I couldn't figure out what button to press. I told my friend it must be broken, she rolled her eyes and corrected me. It does go away though, becareful driving when you notice it though.
Take care!
>

 

Re: Brain fog

Posted by nancy on July 22, 1999, at 18:07:06

In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by andrewb on July 13, 1999, at 1:28:48

Wow, you guys. I've had the dream-like stuff from the beginning of this LOOOOOOONG episode (three years of traumatic treatment resistivity...finally, relieved with much improvement). I still have "the fog". But, I thought that it was just depression-related.

BTW, I told my pdoc about the brain fog. He said that the term was not the scientific one. But, he didn't have a scientific term available. ???Maybe, he has brain fog, too??? hee, hee, hee

Some literature says that the "dream-like" state is a psychotic feature. It may be associated with either schitzophrenia or bipolar psychosis. Other resources qualify this fog as related to other conditions. So, I'm not really sure what to do to "air out" this fog.

This Must Be London???
nancy

> Sharon,
> However, it did not help that much with the anxiety. My concentration was better, but (and I know this sounds weird)everything outside of my head still seemed as if it was dream like. The reason I discontinued the Parnate is it stopped working even when the doc tried to add toher things.
>
> Things outside the head seeming dream-like doesn't sound so wierd to me. When I was taking Serzone I felt that way all the time! It was if I was inside a cacoon and everthing outside was somehow distant. When feeling this way I would often be reminded of a phrase from an old Beatles song, Penny Lane, "She feels as if she is in a play, and she is anyway". The more Serzone I took, the worse it got. I presume the feeling is due to an excess of seretonin at certain receptor sites. I've read of others having similar feelings when on SSRIs.

 

Re: Brain fog (and other unscientific terms)

Posted by Elizabeth on July 23, 1999, at 0:10:27

In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by nancy on July 22, 1999, at 18:07:06

> BTW, I told my pdoc about the brain fog. He said that the term was not the scientific one. But, he didn't have a scientific term available. ???Maybe, he has brain fog, too??? hee, hee, hee

I don't have brain fog at the moment, but I do have head chatter. (I told my pdoc that today, and he instantly knew what I was talking about.)

> Some literature says that the "dream-like" state is a psychotic feature. It may be associated with either schitzophrenia or bipolar psychosis. Other resources qualify this fog as related to other conditions. So, I'm not really sure what to do to "air out" this fog.

It could be a residual symptom - i.e. you're not experiencing full-blown psychosis or anything like that. Some people I've met have said that antipsychotic drugs help make their thinking more clear, so maybe that should be on the menu. Though I have to say, antipsychotics or meditation was what my pdoc suggested for head chatter, and I wasn't thrilled.

So, does anyone have any idea of what to do about brain fog and head chatter? :-)

 

Re: Brain fog (and other unscientific terms)

Posted by AC on December 11, 1999, at 0:09:32

In reply to Re: Brain fog (and other unscientific terms), posted by Elizabeth on July 23, 1999, at 0:10:27

I thought I'd contribute my experiences (and
thought) regarding depression, anti-depressants
and their side-effects in the sincere hope that
they may help someone.

I have been (clinically) depressed for most of my
life. I can recall being depressed since I was
ten, and I am now in my (early) thirties. Treatment
has been off-and-on over this period. I have
experienced the entire gamut of depressive symptoms
over this time including planning suicide.

I am currently on Luvox and am doing
(comparatively) OK.

Firstly, I had been on most of the available
(at the time) SSRIs before I tried Luvox.
The other SSRIs made me sick: bloating,
indigestion, extreme drowsiness, nightmares,
weakness, vomitting, difficulty urinating,
feeling 'spaced-out' (which I think is similar
to 'brain fog. When experiencing all this it is
most definetely disheartening and (paradoxically)
depressing. Luvox lifted the depression and had
negligeble side-effects (dry mouth, drowsiness,
"myoclonic jerks" whilst falling asleep, and very
low libido and difficulty reaching climax). I am
not suggesting that Luvox is the "magic bullet",
but rather that there are many anti-depressants
and some experimentation may be needed.

Secondly, on the matter of "brain fog", "spacing
out", "brain chatter" and other such strange
perceptual/coginitive disturbances I have a few
things to add:
* The presence or at least severity
of these may change with another medication;
* In addition to the other conditions that
produce these sort of symptoms is migraine. The
"vasoconstrictive" phase of a migraine attack, ie.
the time before the pain when the blood vessels
are constricting, can give you visual disturbances,
olfactory (smell) "para-hallucinations", and spaced
out feelings. Make sure you do not have any
other problems with your health.

Thirdly, it may sound trite but diet and adequate
sleep are important. I found that my "floaters",
and emotionally volatility dissappeared when I
started eating properly. My diet use to consist
largely of carbohydrates (especially sugary food)
at the best of time and no food at all on bad days.

Fourthly, recreational drugs (eg. speed, qualudes, LSD,
E(cstasy) ) are bad news for the chronically
depressed. A small amount of pot or alcohol is OK
when you are not feeling profoundly depressed but
by no means use these habitually and stay off the
others, they will only complicate your treatment.

Fifthly, ranquilizer's have received lots of bad press
due to there abuse and over-prescription but
I think they have a legitimate use. The occassional
Serepax, Ducene or other such anxiolytic can help
you get through some life crises that would
otherwise cripple you.

Sixthly, mental illnesses -- even depression -- have a
stigma associated with them. News reporters are quick
to add that the perpertator of a mass murder/suicide
was being treated for depression and was on
Prozac, Luvox etc as if to imply a causal
connection. Don't cave in to this modern day
medieval mindset. Antidepressant drugs can
improve the quality of your life and are not the
work of the devil.

Seventhly, if you are not happy with your treating
doctor(s) find another.

I hope this speaks something useful to someone
out there. For what it is worth, know that there
are other depressives out there that appreaciate
how you feel.

Best of health to all the depressives out there.
AC

 

Re: Brain fog (and other unscientific terms)

Posted by LightShifter on November 4, 2003, at 17:28:09

In reply to Re: Brain fog (and other unscientific terms), posted by Elizabeth on July 23, 1999, at 0:10:27

I believe many of us with "brain fog" have a form of Inattentive ADHD with anxiety and that we "burn out" from being "on" all the time -
just as anyone would if they were over-concentrating all the time.

I also have expereinced that any kind of SSRI (serotonin reuptake inhibitor) makes mine worse. Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor etc. all work on reuptaking Serotonin - I believe our problem is with too much Serotonin or inadeqaute processing of it and not enough norepinephrine and perhaps dopamine.

I came to this conclusion after trying Effexor and having "brain fog", stopping it, trying Strattera (which only works on norepinephrine reuptake) and having both my anxiety and "brain fog" go away which in turn makes my depression go away because I am no longer "on" all the time with anxiety constantly trying to make myself concentrate.

I recommend trying Strattera standalone and seeing how it works. I'm only on 40 mg p/day and it seems to work fine.... no more anxiety, no more "brain fog", a lot more contentment and peace of mind.

...Dan

 

Re: Brain fog (and other unscientific terms) » LightShifter

Posted by KimberlyDi on November 5, 2003, at 7:58:59

In reply to Re: Brain fog (and other unscientific terms), posted by LightShifter on November 4, 2003, at 17:28:09

I agree with your post. I believe though, in the past, I welcomed having the "brain fog" instead of over-whelming anxiety. Effexor and Strattera was a fantastic combination for my mind, but not for my heart. I tried going the Strattera alone but my old companion, depression, came back for a visit. Effexor withdrawal was making it worse, of course. I've now quit Strattera because I cannot afford the $50 co-pay.

I've rambled. Anyways, just wanted to say that there's alot of truth in what you posted.

KDi in Texas

> I believe many of us with "brain fog" have a form of Inattentive ADHD with anxiety and that we "burn out" from being "on" all the time -
> just as anyone would if they were over-concentrating all the time.
>
> I also have expereinced that any kind of SSRI (serotonin reuptake inhibitor) makes mine worse. Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor etc. all work on reuptaking Serotonin - I believe our problem is with too much Serotonin or inadeqaute processing of it and not enough norepinephrine and perhaps dopamine.
>
> I came to this conclusion after trying Effexor and having "brain fog", stopping it, trying Strattera (which only works on norepinephrine reuptake) and having both my anxiety and "brain fog" go away which in turn makes my depression go away because I am no longer "on" all the time with anxiety constantly trying to make myself concentrate.
>
> I recommend trying Strattera standalone and seeing how it works. I'm only on 40 mg p/day and it seems to work fine.... no more anxiety, no more "brain fog", a lot more contentment and peace of mind.
>
> ...Dan

 

Re: Brain fog (and other unscientific terms)

Posted by Jasmine Neroli on November 5, 2003, at 22:46:11

In reply to Re: Brain fog (and other unscientific terms) » LightShifter, posted by KimberlyDi on November 5, 2003, at 7:58:59

That's a really interesting observation. I have GAD and my job requires me to be hyper-alert/observant of behaviour disordered teenagers. That part comes naturally, but requires a lot of "empathic connecting".And I have to really think hard about the clerical/procedural aspects of my job and am always forgetting, so much stuff carried in my head all the time, can't pay attention to it, cuz I'm so concentrated on the kids.Brain fog results, along with anxiety. I'm always on alert.I agree that the anxiety could easily be a result having to try to attend so hard and remember.Sometimes I find myself sitting and not knowing why...but I've never considered myself to be ADD.
I too have found both Celexa and Buspar to make the attention even harder..both of which of course affect Serotonin receptors. Hmmmmmmm food for thought, something to raise with my Pdoc, next visit. Thanks!
Jas


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