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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Terlo on September 28, 2001, at 20:00:48
The more I read the confuseder I get!! I cannot figure out what to do next. Are the SSRI's mainly to blame for head fogginess and short-term memory loss? If I don't figure it out soon I'm going to end up losing my job. Briefly: I have atypical depression. After various combinations I am now taking 150mg Wellbutrin and 20mg Prozac in the morning.(depression is better but no motivation and still extremely fatigued) I can't concentrate and I keep forgetting what I'm doing. Ritalin doesn't help. I ordered Adrafinil but I am afraid to take it. Maybe I don't need the Prozac? I'm afraid to quit taking it. Switching the times I take them doesn't make any difference. Any ideas????
Posted by Willow on September 28, 2001, at 22:05:02
In reply to Can't Think Straight - No Memory, posted by Terlo on September 28, 2001, at 20:00:48
My monitor is on the splitz and to add to my misery I lost the original post I wrote. So here's a shorter version.
Look into "Generalized Anxiety Disorder." I've had success with effexor which can be used to treat anxiety. My diagnosis has been "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" which is very similar to "atypical depression." The effexor has really helped with the cognitive problems
I'm also seeing a psychologist, which hasn't been a cure but is helping.
Keep trying differnt classes of medications until you find the one that helps you. In my opinion the medications can be making the cognitive problems worse. I've tried many different ADs which worsened my memory etc. Effexor can be used to treat anxiety, so perhaps this is the link to why it has helped me with my thinking?
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Whispering Willow
Posted by LyndaK on September 29, 2001, at 0:18:40
In reply to Re: Can't Think Straight - No Memory, posted by Willow on September 28, 2001, at 22:05:02
In my experience, the SSRI drugs were the worst with that "foggy head" thing. That's been the most troublesome side-effect for me (and I totally identify with the impact on job performance!) Have you tried the Wellbutrin without any other anti-depressant?
Posted by Mitch on September 29, 2001, at 16:15:49
In reply to Can't Think Straight - No Memory, posted by Terlo on September 28, 2001, at 20:00:48
> The more I read the confuseder I get!! I cannot figure out what to do next. Are the SSRI's mainly to blame for head fogginess and short-term memory loss? If I don't figure it out soon I'm going to end up losing my job. Briefly: I have atypical depression. After various combinations I am now taking 150mg Wellbutrin and 20mg Prozac in the morning.(depression is better but no motivation and still extremely fatigued) I can't concentrate and I keep forgetting what I'm doing. Ritalin doesn't help. I ordered Adrafinil but I am afraid to take it. Maybe I don't need the Prozac? I'm afraid to quit taking it. Switching the times I take them doesn't make any difference. Any ideas????
There are some possibilities to consider for why you are having all of this fatigue:
1) You could be hypothyroid-have you had a thyroid profile done recently?
2) If you have sleep apnea-it can cause extreme daytime drowsiness. Has that been ruled out?
3) Lyme disease-have you been tested for it? Greater than 50% of people with chronic fatigue syndrome have been testing positive for that (read that on a CFS website).
4) Most folks find Prozac quite activating, but there is a large group that does experience profound drowsiness with it, but you said that Ritalin didn't help? Really sounds like a general medical condition is behind it, just my intuition. I would get the above tests done to rule those out and if that is all negative I would see a neurologist, you may have some kind of treatable cognitive dysfunction that your current meds are not addressing.
Posted by Cam W. on September 29, 2001, at 16:36:34
In reply to Can't Think Straight - No Memory, posted by Terlo on September 28, 2001, at 20:00:48
Terlo - In classic "atypical depression" SSRIs, in general, have not been found to be that effective. I am not sure about the Wellbutrin. I guess it really depends on your individual set of atypical symptoms.
There are many approaches that can be taken. Has your doctor told you what the next step in your treatment will be? If not, it might be good to ask him/her.
- Cam
Posted by Terlo on September 30, 2001, at 16:41:06
In reply to Re: Can't Think Straight - No Memory » Terlo, posted by Cam W. on September 29, 2001, at 16:36:34
In answer to the replies I received:
Re Effexor: I tried Effexor several years ago when Prozac had lost it's effectiveness after several years. I gave up after 3 weeks because it wasn't working, and went on to Paxil (helped my depression but made me a zombie for 2 years). I have considered trying it again along with the Wellbutrin but I am leary based on some of the posts I've read.Re Taking Wellbutrin Alone: I may have to try that but I am so scared of going downhill again.
Re Other Medical Conditions: I have had numerous numeous blood tests. I have taken thyroid medications in the past - no change. I am sure the problems I am having are medication related. Only because I have been on various antidepressants the past 13 years have noticed the severity of these symptons change depending on dose, etc. I had been taking Zoloft for about 5 years when it pooped out. I had similar problems but not as severe.
My doctor is a GP and doesn't have any other suggestions at this point.
I do thank everyone for their input.
Terry
Posted by Lini on October 1, 2001, at 10:51:02
In reply to Re: Can't Think Straight - No Memory, posted by Terlo on September 30, 2001, at 16:41:06
My experience is *extremely* limited, but I did find that on 20mg of prozac, I was sleeping like 13 hours a day and a complete idiot at work. I went up to 40mg and after a week, found much improvement. I have also been thinking about adding wellbutrin, but want to see how far 40mg can take me.keep us posted on your progress.
Posted by Terlo on October 1, 2001, at 12:14:32
In reply to Re: Can't Think Straight - No Memory » Terlo, posted by Lini on October 1, 2001, at 10:51:02
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> My experience is *extremely* limited, but I did find that on 20mg of prozac, I was sleeping like 13 hours a day and a complete idiot at work. I went up to 40mg and after a week, found much improvement. I have also been thinking about adding wellbutrin, but want to see how far 40mg can take me.
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> keep us posted on your progress.That's interesting because I was taking 40mg of Prozac for about 6 weeks and I reduced it to 20mg hoping that would help my thinking and sleepiness. (it didn't). Maybe I didn't give the 40mg enough time. It's scary to make changes when you're messing with your brain.
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