Anti Depressants & Weird Side Effects?

leslie :-D · Aug 23, 2004

i'm not experiencing the same side effects of you, but am wondering if mine are even working anymore. it seems after being on them for so many years, they've just stopped working, or they've created new side effects, such as restlessness and agitation.

i suppose i'll bring it to the specialists.

anyway and seriously, i've been having memory problems most of my life and have been affectionately called 'airhead' or 'scatterbrain', so being forgetful is something i wouldn't correlate with my antidepressants.

but if it's something new with you, i would certainly investigate it further, if it bothers you.

much luck to you.

leslie

PsychoGirl · Aug 23, 2004

I was on that combo of antidepressants recently, before I decided the celexa didn't work for me and switched to effexor.

I don't remember having that side effect at the time, but I am having it really bad now. I stop in the middle of conversations not being able to remember simple words. Also I'm constantly forgetting what classes I'm taking! (I'm a full time college student)

My psychiatrist billed Wellbutrin as a wonder drug for depression (especially my atypical depression where I sleep all the time) but I found the side effects and precausions associated with it were just too much.

To the second poster, I have been taking antidepressants for 4 years and I've found that after a while I build up sort of an immunity to it or just become complacent and it stops having the same effect on me. I've been through Prozac, Celexa, Effexor, Wellbutrin, and numerous other things added on top for sleep and such. Most recently my psychiatrist has had me experimenting with anti-seizure drugs (like neurontin) that also have been found to work on depression and mood disorders.

My "favorite" SSRI side effect was the lucid dreaming. Confused the hell out of me at times when I couldn't remember if something had actually happened or only happened in my technicolor dreams.

barbiedee · Aug 23, 2004

I take a totally different combo than the other posters, but still find similar symptoms. (Paxil/Elavil) I am horrible at recalling words, etc., and it is definitely getting worse. I often have to re-direct myself to remember what I was doing. I've often forgotten what I was going to do by the time I get there. (ie: going to the kitchen, but what for???) I just put this down to age :-(, but can see now that it may be s/e from the RX drugs. OH, vivid, really strange dreams, too!

Euphrosyne7, MSN, RN · Aug 23, 2004

Hi:

It is funny that someone should mention this because I was wondering why all of a sudden when I started taking Paxil, I couldn't seem to remember stuff and even noticed problems with studying,etc. I usually have a great memory and never had trouble retaining stuff for tests, but now, forget it!!

I also go from being completely exhausted to fine at different intervals throughout the day........Normally I have tons of energy (probably what increases my anxiety/panic :) but now I cannot even get enough energy to work out anymore. As a matter of fact, I have to drink coffee almost constantly when prior to taking this stuff, if I drank coffee, it would bring on anxiety.

Anyway, I am going to cognitive behavioral therapy as well to try and get a grip on my panic so hopefully I will be able to forgo taking paxil soon........if not, I am worried about how my grades are going to be affected this upcoming semester...........

Wonder if there is anything else that is effective for panic/anxiety that won't mess up my ability to retain and sap all of my energy.....if anyone has any suggestions, please post.

leslie :-D · Aug 23, 2004

i agree about paxil.

sometimes you even wonder if it's a placebo effect that one is feeling sometimes.

but definitely something has stopped working and has gotten even worse.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Aug 24, 2004

Well, now, this is a new twist I'd never thought of before. I've been having bouts of brain-fade ever since I hit middle age, and I've attributed it to perimenopause as it's one of the more common sx associated with the process. I forget stuff like appointments, names, etc., and I'll also get halfway through a sentence and either completely draw a blank, or I'll say something totally inappropriate, like "Yes, we need to start a new, hmmm........razor blade.......I'm sorry, I meant an IV". (This usually happens when I'm thinking one thing while looking at another.)

Never thought it could be related to the Paxil I take every morning for my depression........the drug has been a lifesaver for me. I've had to increase my dosage only once in the 3 1/2 years I've been taking it, and it's still working fairly well although I'd have to say it's not as effective as it used to be.

I also take a single, one milligram Ativan tablet every night for sleep.......it really does cut down on the sleep interruptions caused by my hot flashes, and I no longer have a lot of the free-floating anxiety I used to deal with. Again, I've had the head fuzzies for some time, long before I ever started the meds.........who knows? But I can certainly see why these drugs might have that effect, they do change the brain's chemistry after all.

Hmmmmmm.......verrrrrrrrrrry interesting!

PsychoGirl · Aug 24, 2004

cniro: Have you tried Zoloft? Not all of the SSRIs are created equal and sometimes you have to try a couple of them before you find something that works. I suggest Zoloft because it's been approved for GAD and the others, while sometimes used for anxiety, aren't neccessarily FDA approved for that use. Doesn't mean they won't work though -- psychopharmocology is not an exact science by any stretch of the imagination.

I have found that the anti-depressant that gives you the big energy boost is Wellbutrin -- not sure if it's indicated for anxiety.

mjlrn97: How long have you been taking the Ativan -- I'd ask your doctor about it because even at that low a dose it can be habit forming and really should only be used short-term. Just like all the benzos -- they work great for anxiety -- but shouldn't be used longer than a month at a time. I was on Ativan for two weeks after a panic attack and it enabled me to sleep (and wake up rested). But even after 2 weeks it was hard to give up.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Aug 24, 2004

Anybody combining counseling with the antidepressants? I found that the most helpful with the least side effects.....

Never could take Prozac, made my BP jump.

Lasted for several years on Celexa. I'd take it 6-8 months, then taper off, then something would happen, I couldn't get it out of my mind, and I'd start the Celexa again. It did seem to help.

I hadn't noticed the SE's described above, except for what I attributed to my own stress level. The more stressed I am, the more I substitute the wrong words or can't come up with a simple term.

It's embarassing when it happens in the middle of a conversation, isn't it?

I'd be interested in knowing what the shrinks say about the memory issues.

Euphrosyne7, MSN, RN · Aug 24, 2004

psychogirl:

I haven't tried Zoloft and am afraid to switch to something else right now since classes start monday for me and I don't want to have any problems if it doesn't work..........I will, however, think about trying that during the school break when I will have enough time to switch back or whatever if it doesn't go well........thanks....

lunakat · Sep 3, 2004

I was on that combo of antidepressants recently, before I decided the celexa didn't work for me and switched to effexor.
I don't remember having that side effect at the time, but I am having it really bad now. I stop in the middle of conversations not being able to remember simple words. Also I'm constantly forgetting what classes I'm taking! (I'm a full time college student)
My psychiatrist billed Wellbutrin as a wonder drug for depression (especially my atypical depression where I sleep all the time) but I found the side effects and precausions associated with it were just too much.
To the second poster, I have been taking antidepressants for 4 years and I've found that after a while I build up sort of an immunity to it or just become complacent and it stops having the same effect on me. I've been through Prozac, Celexa, Effexor, Wellbutrin, and numerous other things added on top for sleep and such. Most recently my psychiatrist has had me experimenting with anti-seizure drugs (like neurontin) that also have been found to work on depression and mood disorders.
My "favorite" SSRI side effect was the lucid dreaming. Confused the hell out of me at times when I couldn't remember if something had actually happened or only happened in my technicolor dreams.

I am currently on celexa. Its alright and is better for me than the paxil was. Psychogirl I also have the same depression where all I wanted to do was sleep.I found that with paxil I was grinding my teeth too much. I love the lucid dreaming. It wakes me up in the middle in the night with a scream on my lips, hyperventilating and my heart beating so fast I could feel it bounding out of my chest. Lucid nightmares are the best, far more deatiled than a movie.

leslie :-D · Sep 3, 2004

My psychiatrist billed Wellbutrin as a wonder drug for depression (especially my atypical depression where I sleep all the time) but I found the side effects and precausions associated with it were just too much.

psychogirl (love your name)

what was it about the wellbutrin you didn't like?

i went to a psychiatrist yesterday, and he's weaning me from my paxil and started me on wellbutrin xl 150mg x 1week then will be increased to 300mg.

he seemed to think that the wellbutrin would be a pick me up, since i told him i hated the feeling of being sedated.

any input, most appreciated.

leslie