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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 vic80 on March 21, 2010, at 13:08:30
Whats gone wrong with me, I just cannot seem to think.
I downed my lex past 2 days to 15 mg (from 20mg) due to the fatigue I was feeling, but the decrease has done nothing and I am just feeling like a retard. I am just not able to make conversations anymore. When I am talking I seem to wander off in to nothingness.
While reading anything I feel as though I am just mechanically reading things - nothing is registering anymore. As though I have no intellect.
I seem to be in some zone - disconnected and unreal.Its nice to not have any dark thoughts, but at the same time being someone who happens to have more than average self awareness, this zombie like state makes me so utterly disgusted - creates a deep inner-chaos - like I am trapped inside which I suspect might turn into dark thoughts yet again.
I also came across an intersting post on another forum where someone complained of ADHD like symptoms while on 32.5 mg of paroxetine, this person was sure it had to do with the extra SERT affecting the Dopamine levels.
Cognitive functions are defined as an intellectual process which constitutes awareness, memory, perception, intuition, thinking and creation of imagery etc.
Shouldnt this brain slowness qualify as some sort of cognitive impairment? As this also answers my long standing problem of feeling like my mind is blank.I am feeling drugged, divorced from myself and as though my mind is extremely tired.
I feel my physical energy levels arent down though, just that my brain seems to have slowed down. As though everything is in slow motion, and I seem to be forgetting things too.
I wonder how much of a culprit would my 0.5 mg nightly Lunesta be in all this.
Should I just blame lexapro?
I fear further downing the dose of Lex may bring me back into depression/anxiety but staying in the zombie zone could make me reach there soon enough too.
I am absolutely scared of antipsychotics, plus it doesnt look easy for me to get my pdoc into writing a prescription for any.
Should I just take the risk of going back to 10mg or try and hang in the 15-20 mg slot to see if my brain fatigue and drugginess goes away?
Is cognitive impairment a common side effect of SSRIs, and if so is it a permanent damage - I have been on lex for just 10 weeks now.
Posted by Willful on March 21, 2010, at 13:37:04
In reply to Cognitive Impairment - SSRI, posted by vic80 on March 21, 2010, at 13:08:30
Have you tried any other ADs? maybe lexapro isn't the right one for you. There are SNRIs and Maois-, which have different side effects and affect neurotransmitters in somewhat different ways. Plus there are other SSRIs that might work better.
Sounds like you're having pretty difficult side effects from the lexapro. I don't see any reason (from your post) why you should move to APs so soon. (Sorry if I missed prior posts in which your described what you're on.)
Willful
Posted by Willful on March 21, 2010, at 13:41:29
In reply to Cognitive Impairment - SSRI, posted by vic80 on March 21, 2010, at 13:08:30
PS if you're thinking of SLS' post above about Geodon, a small dose as an adjunctive (or abilify, in some cases) is increasingly used as an adjunctive to ADs. I take about 2.5 mg of abilify a day-- which is a very small dose-- but it seems to make my ADs much more effective. I don't know about geodon dosages, so I'm not sure how 40-80 mg compares to a dose of 5 mg of abilify or so (which my pdoc originally suggested).
I don't think at small doses the dangers of APS are anywhere near as significant.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on March 21, 2010, at 14:35:18
In reply to Cognitive Impairment - SSRI, posted by vic80 on March 21, 2010, at 13:08:30
Are you taking Lexapro for depression or something else? If you're suffering from depression, perhaps you would benefit more from a non-serotonergic antidepressant such as nortriptyline.
> Whats gone wrong with me, I just cannot seem to think.
>
> I downed my lex past 2 days to 15 mg (from 20mg) due to the fatigue I was feeling, but the decrease has done nothing and I am just feeling like a retard. I am just not able to make conversations anymore. When I am talking I seem to wander off in to nothingness.
> While reading anything I feel as though I am just mechanically reading things - nothing is registering anymore. As though I have no intellect.
> I seem to be in some zone - disconnected and unreal.
>
> Its nice to not have any dark thoughts, but at the same time being someone who happens to have more than average self awareness, this zombie like state makes me so utterly disgusted - creates a deep inner-chaos - like I am trapped inside which I suspect might turn into dark thoughts yet again.
>
> I also came across an intersting post on another forum where someone complained of ADHD like symptoms while on 32.5 mg of paroxetine, this person was sure it had to do with the extra SERT affecting the Dopamine levels.
>
> Cognitive functions are defined as an intellectual process which constitutes awareness, memory, perception, intuition, thinking and creation of imagery etc.
> Shouldnt this brain slowness qualify as some sort of cognitive impairment? As this also answers my long standing problem of feeling like my mind is blank.
>
> I am feeling drugged, divorced from myself and as though my mind is extremely tired.
>
> I feel my physical energy levels arent down though, just that my brain seems to have slowed down. As though everything is in slow motion, and I seem to be forgetting things too.
>
> I wonder how much of a culprit would my 0.5 mg nightly Lunesta be in all this.
>
> Should I just blame lexapro?
>
> I fear further downing the dose of Lex may bring me back into depression/anxiety but staying in the zombie zone could make me reach there soon enough too.
>
> I am absolutely scared of antipsychotics, plus it doesnt look easy for me to get my pdoc into writing a prescription for any.
>
> Should I just take the risk of going back to 10mg or try and hang in the 15-20 mg slot to see if my brain fatigue and drugginess goes away?
>
> Is cognitive impairment a common side effect of SSRIs, and if so is it a permanent damage - I have been on lex for just 10 weeks now.
>
>
Posted by Phillipa on March 21, 2010, at 15:39:28
In reply to Re: Cognitive Impairment - SSRI » vic80, posted by ed_uk2010 on March 21, 2010, at 14:35:18
Hi yes might not be the right med what about an SNRI? Phillipa
Posted by SLS on March 21, 2010, at 16:13:37
In reply to Re: Cognitive Impairment - SSRI, posted by Willful on March 21, 2010, at 13:41:29
> PS if you're thinking of SLS' post above about Geodon, a small dose as an adjunctive (or abilify, in some cases) is increasingly used as an adjunctive to ADs. I take about 2.5 mg of abilify a day-- which is a very small dose-- but it seems to make my ADs much more effective. I don't know about geodon dosages, so I'm not sure how 40-80 mg compares to a dose of 5 mg of abilify or so (which my pdoc originally suggested).
>
> I don't think at small doses the dangers of APS are anywhere near as significant.
Stephen Stahl suggests that dosages of Geodon of 20mg and lower produce anxiety and agitation. I know someone being treated for depression who does better at 80mg than at 40mg. I guess it is a matter of trial and error.
- Scott
Posted by conundrum on March 21, 2010, at 16:46:46
In reply to Cognitive Impairment - SSRI, posted by vic80 on March 21, 2010, at 13:08:30
I think you are right that too much serotonin causes a disbalance in dopamine but not just dopamine, norepinephrine as well, which many people forget about.
I would try to find the lowest theraputic dose. It might be 10mg is might be 2.5 mg.
The feeling of losing your cognitive abilities is very distraugtening. Talk to your doctor. Tell him you can't bare the side effects. They might switch you to Wellbutrin which would probably be more tolerable. There are other options. If you can get Wellbutrin. I would recommend asking for brand wellbutrin. It seems to be more reliable.
Prozac is another option that is less blunting. If you start prozac I would recommend starting at 5mg and see how that does. You can just take half a 10 mg pill.
It seems you are very sensitive to increases in serotonin.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on March 21, 2010, at 17:08:32
In reply to Re: Cognitive Impairment - SSRI, posted by SLS on March 21, 2010, at 16:13:37
>Stephen Stahl suggests that dosages of Geodon of 20mg and lower produce anxiety and agitation.
Interesting.
Do you think that low doses of Geodon might be superior to high doses for patients with prominent negative symptoms of schizophrenia (or vice versa)?
Posted by SLS on March 21, 2010, at 19:54:43
In reply to Re: Cognitive Impairment - SSRI » SLS, posted by ed_uk2010 on March 21, 2010, at 17:08:32
> >Stephen Stahl suggests that dosages of Geodon of 20mg and lower produce anxiety and agitation.
>
> Interesting.
>
> Do you think that low doses of Geodon might be superior to high doses for patients with prominent negative symptoms of schizophrenia (or vice versa)?I thought of that as a possibility. However, I think that low dosages of Abilify or amisulpride might be better.
- Scott
Posted by bearfan on March 23, 2010, at 1:12:56
In reply to Cognitive Impairment - SSRI, posted by vic80 on March 21, 2010, at 13:08:30
I had a similar response to Lexapro, although 10 weeks is still early and it can be a little less trouble some the longer your on it. If I take too much beznos a similar effect can occur. The only suggestion is to try 10mg at night and possibly add wellbutrin.
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