![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by AMD on January 10, 2005, at 15:43:03
Folks,
I'm going nuts. Over the past couple of days, I've felt myself slipping into a depression, and the worst side effect right now is that I can't seem to concentrate on what I'm reading. I feel, seriously, mentally retarded. I have to speak out loud, under my breath, what I'm reading. What is going on? Is this going to pass? Ugh!
The only thing I can think that I did differently over the past week or so was that I smoked some marijuana last weekend -- only one hit, but it was a /strong/ hit and pretty much zapped my short-term memory for the evening. Is it possible this a latent effect of that? If so, how long does this last?
I'm also on Celexa and Lamictal, and popped a Geodon today to try to slow my head. But I wonder if it's time to change meds.
But this reading thing -- I love to read, but doing it now gives my brain a "tingle" (that sounds crazy, I know, but it really does), and because I can't seem to focus, I immediately get more depressed.
Any ideas?
amd
Posted by SLS on January 10, 2005, at 18:39:10
In reply to Can't read!, posted by AMD on January 10, 2005, at 15:43:03
Hi.
> I'm going nuts. Over the past couple of days, I've felt myself slipping into a depression, and the worst side effect right now is that I can't seem to concentrate on what I'm reading. I feel, seriously, mentally retarded.
Tell me about it.
>:-(
- Scott
Posted by lunesta on January 10, 2005, at 19:46:44
In reply to Re: Can't read!, posted by SLS on January 10, 2005, at 18:39:10
Goto your doctor and request a trial of intramuscular injections of vitamin b12 for a month (very cheap, not controlled, safe, and easy to do at home in your butt!) Or he can do them.
Take B6 and B12 supps while your add it, B12 under the tongue.
If all else fails, request Keppra or Provigil or both.
lunesta
Posted by lunesta on January 10, 2005, at 19:49:57
In reply to Re: Can't read! » SLS, posted by lunesta on January 10, 2005, at 19:46:44
I would try discontinug the Lamactil and switching to something like Keppra, Neurontin and now especially Lyrica.
You could up your Celexa dose I see no problem with this.
Posted by AMD on January 10, 2005, at 21:37:55
In reply to Re: Can't read! -- Addendem » lunesta, posted by lunesta on January 10, 2005, at 19:49:57
Thanks -- I'm actually already at 80 mg of Celexa. It's just -- things have been great for months, and now this. I don't get it. I am just worried my mind will be mixed up for some time now. Is this the pot, the depression, what? Is this going to pass? Ugh!
I'll look into Lyrica.
amd
Posted by lars1 on January 11, 2005, at 4:19:20
In reply to Re: Can't read! -- Addendem, posted by AMD on January 10, 2005, at 21:37:55
> Thanks -- I'm actually already at 80 mg of Celexa. It's just -- things have been great for months, and now this. I don't get it. I am just worried my mind will be mixed up for some time now. Is this the pot, the depression, what? Is this going to pass? Ugh!
Poor concentration and mental fogginess are common symptoms of depression. Since you mentioned that your depression recently got worse, I think that is the most likely cause of the problems you are having. If you do something to treat the depression, be it a change in meds, cognitive-behavioral therapy, exercise, or whatever works for you, then your concentration problem will most likely go away once you are feeling better.
Lars
Posted by AMD on January 11, 2005, at 17:07:25
In reply to Re: Can't read! -- Addendem » AMD, posted by lars1 on January 11, 2005, at 4:19:20
I really hope so, because this is extremely frustrating. I hate waking with such a portentous sense of dread. My main pleasure in life is in intellectual pursuits, and having these taken away ... it's hard to bear. I don't understand how one night of marijuana intoxication could take away some 30 years of learning, practicing, curiousity, reading, watching ... I want to sob.
amd
Posted by Ktemene on January 12, 2005, at 5:05:51
In reply to Re: Can't read! -- Addendem, posted by AMD on January 11, 2005, at 17:07:25
Hi AMD,
I just wanted to say that I agree with Lars that your problems are almost certainly symptoms of depression. I have had similar problems with depression. I went through a bad period several years ago, and as I felt myself becoming more depressed I could feel my intellectual abilities slipping away. I had exactly the experience with reading that you mention. At the time I was a college student, and I found that I could not take in what I was reading. I actually had to read the text out loud to myself in order to get an even minimal comprehension of it. Even my memory deteriorated. I have always had a very good memory, and I could easily call to mind passages in books or articles that I had not read in a long time and quote them almost verbatim. But when I was sliding into depression I found I could no longer do this. It terrified me. There was one particular occasion that brought home to me just how bad my condition really was. I was at a college party, and a couple of the other people there happened to be discussing Samuel Johnson, whose works I particularly liked. They were quoting some of their favorite witty passages in Johnson. I remember standing there at the party listening to them and realizing that I used to have a memory like theirs, and that I had taken it for granted that I would always have the ability to recall in detail the things that I had read, but that I could no longer remember what I read. It was a horrifying realization. I had no idea what was wrong with me and I was afraid it would just get worse. Now I know that I was depressed, and the loss of intellectual abilities was just a symptom indicating that my depression was deepening. Since then I have gotten my depression more or less under control and my ability to read and my memory have come back in full strength. I am sure this will happen for you once you get your depression into remission. As Lars pointed out, the fact that you were already depressed when this happened to you makes it exceedingly likely that depression is the cause. I have also had the experience of taking a hit of marijuana and having my short-term memory zapped and feeling totally stupid for the whole evening (in fact, that's why I decided not to smoke marijuana again). But for a single hit of marijuana to cause the loss of intellectual abilities you mention is just unheard of, as far as I know. Depression, on the other hand, often causes temporary impairment of intellectual abilites. I suggest that you speak to your pdoc about a change in medication. There are some depression medications that actually appear to enhance intellectual ability. I have read that there is evidence that Remeron, for instance, increases one's ability to learn and remember. Just my two cents worth, of course, and YMMV. But I think that a more effective medication would eliminate your reading problem.
Posted by AMD on January 12, 2005, at 15:02:01
In reply to Re: Can't read! -- Addendem, posted by Ktemene on January 12, 2005, at 5:05:51
Ktemene,
Thank you /so/ much for your posting. It's unbelievable how closely our experiences match. I could have been reading my own dialogue (wrong word, but my word recall is down today). Particularly the part regarding memory and comprehension. I know exactly how that feels -- I'm in the midst of it right now. I keep the company of highly intelligent folks, and feeling suddenly dumbed down, forgetful of things I typically recall with ease, and cognitively blunted -- let's just say I feel like the odd man out.
It makes me hopeful reading your message that these symptoms will pass, and that my cognitive functioning and typically /stellar/ memory will return.
But right now -- still having a problem. I read about 10 pages last night with difficulty of a book I am thoroughly enjoying and have thus far read with a rapid pace (if you're interested it's the "Illuminatus! Trilogy" by Shea and Wilson).
I know I am definitely /never/ smoking marijuana again -- that is bad news. Alcohol has a similarly negative effect on me.
I've been depressed for about 16 months now, with periods of one-to-four weeks of remission, but never anything longer. It's been marked by obsessiveness-driven depression, substance-driven depression (like this latest), and depression kicked off by medicine.
Only in the past few months have I begun to feel a real improvement -- and then I do this and I feel like I'm back to square one. I thought the human brain was plastic, not so sensitive!
I keep thinking back to the days when I was care free, engaged in my endeavors, enjoying my life without worry. It seems ages ago! I am in my mid-twenties, and by 30 I'd like to have this under control. (See: I'm already planning my life around this ... disease.)
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm now taking Celexa and Lamictal, and have added Zoloft -- but I'm not sure this cocktail is working. I wonder if when I find the right medicine whether these extreme reactions to social drinking, etc., will continue to plague me. I don't know; we'll see. I am definitely going to speak to my doctor regarding medicines that will fine tune my cognition. Right now I'm filled with that "I've lost it for good" dread, and everytime I experience a memory-blip it simply reenforces these ruminations ... I feel almost like I'll obsess over this until I do something really challenging and convince myself I'm OK. I think perhaps I should sign up for a perpetual series of college courses if only to reaffirm quarterly I'm of at least above average intelligence!
Ah, now I'm rambling. Well, one day at a time -- it's easier said than done when one has a highly pressured, highly intellectual job such as the one I do. Plus I have so many goals I want to accomplish this year! But I'm trying to work through the days /and/ go the gym, despite the strong temptation to sleep all day and all night.
Again, thanks for the injection of hope.
amd
Posted by Ktemene on January 13, 2005, at 21:19:03
In reply to Re: Can't read! -- Addendem » Ktemene, posted by AMD on January 12, 2005, at 15:02:01
> Ktemene,
>
> Thank you /so/ much for your posting. It's unbelievable how closely our experiences match. I could have been reading my own dialogue (wrong word, but my word recall is down today). Particularly the part regarding memory and comprehension. I know exactly how that feels -- I'm in the midst of it right now. I keep the company of highly intelligent folks, and feeling suddenly dumbed down, forgetful of things I typically recall with ease, and cognitively blunted -- let's just say I feel like the odd man out.
>
> It makes me hopeful reading your message that these symptoms will pass, and that my cognitive functioning and typically /stellar/ memory will return.
>
> But right now -- still having a problem. I read about 10 pages last night with difficulty of a book I am thoroughly enjoying and have thus far read with a rapid pace (if you're interested it's the "Illuminatus! Trilogy" by Shea and Wilson).
>
> I know I am definitely /never/ smoking marijuana again -- that is bad news. Alcohol has a similarly negative effect on me.
>
> I've been depressed for about 16 months now, with periods of one-to-four weeks of remission, but never anything longer. It's been marked by obsessiveness-driven depression, substance-driven depression (like this latest), and depression kicked off by medicine.
>
> Only in the past few months have I begun to feel a real improvement -- and then I do this and I feel like I'm back to square one. I thought the human brain was plastic, not so sensitive!
>
> I keep thinking back to the days when I was care free, engaged in my endeavors, enjoying my life without worry. It seems ages ago! I am in my mid-twenties, and by 30 I'd like to have this under control. (See: I'm already planning my life around this ... disease.)
>
> As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm now taking Celexa and Lamictal, and have added Zoloft -- but I'm not sure this cocktail is working. I wonder if when I find the right medicine whether these extreme reactions to social drinking, etc., will continue to plague me. I don't know; we'll see. I am definitely going to speak to my doctor regarding medicines that will fine tune my cognition. Right now I'm filled with that "I've lost it for good" dread, and everytime I experience a memory-blip it simply reenforces these ruminations ... I feel almost like I'll obsess over this until I do something really challenging and convince myself I'm OK. I think perhaps I should sign up for a perpetual series of college courses if only to reaffirm quarterly I'm of at least above average intelligence!
>
> Ah, now I'm rambling. Well, one day at a time -- it's easier said than done when one has a highly pressured, highly intellectual job such as the one I do. Plus I have so many goals I want to accomplish this year! But I'm trying to work through the days /and/ go the gym, despite the strong temptation to sleep all day and all night.
>
> Again, thanks for the injection of hope.
>
> amdHi AMD,
You're very welcome! I am glad I could help; I have been helped by lots of people on this board.
I am glad you will be talking to your doctor about adjusting your medicines. It took me a long time to find the right combination. And, of course, I am still doing some adjusting. But having the right meds makes all the difference. People who don't have the sort of illnesses that plague us have no idea of how hard it can be for us just to get by. In fact, I had no idea, until I finally got the right medications and finally realized that other people were not amazingly braver and smarter and better than I was. They were just healthier. There was a wonderful poster here, Gracie, who best expressed, to my mind, what it is like when you finally find the right medications. I will copy the URL here: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030718/msgs/243355.htmlGood luck, and let us know how you are doing. And thanks for the book recommendation! I added it to my book list, but, alas, it will be a long while before I have a chance to read it.
Ktemene
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
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.