I take Wellburtin 200 XL 2X daily & Celexa 60mg 1x daily. I have been on them for at least 1-2 years. I suffer from major depression.
The combination of the drugs have been a life saver for me. However, I have noticed that within the past few months, my memory is shot! I could be watching a tv show one minute. But if I flip the channel, I completely forget what I was just watching.
I am also having a hard time recalling names to common things. For example, I wanted my husband to vacum the floor, but I couldn't come up with the name "vacum cleaner". Or just this morning, we were talking about the time frame of something. My husband said August 1st. I looked at him like he was crazy. I was like- August 1st? We're still in July! We haven't even touched August yet! He was like- uh, we are in the third week of August.
I feel like I just can't grasp things or that things just slip out of my mind. I know these are side effects of the medications. But I don't know how much longer I could be like this.
Anyone else experience stuff like this too? It's maddening!
I am soooooo thrilled to read this thread because I recently weaned myself off Celexa! I was having the same memory losses, and blank stares, etc. I was on Celexa four years, and feel I don't need it anymore since a huge part of my depression is divorcing me. :rotfl:
I've been off the Celexa for one month now, and still have some agitation, shakiness, memory lapses, etc. Prayerfully, those symptoms will go away in time because I am NOT going back on that medication or any other medication that causes me to gain weight like Celexa did. I gained over forty pounds while on that drug, and now that I'm off, I'm starting to lose weight. I even "feel lighter"....if that makes any sense to anyone.
One symptom I'm having is I get this "wave" that rushes through my head right above my eyes when I turn my head side to side too quickly, or when I stand up or rise from laying down. Does anyone know what this might be? Has anyone ever experienced this?
I've taken Welbutrin before. It really picked me up from a severe depression. I took it for a few months, then stopped. I guess I felt like I didn't need it anymore. However, now that I'm in nursing school (2nd week) I feel myself sliding towards depression again, so I might have to get that refill after all.
Welbutrin helped me stop crying every day, and helped me curb the unwanted repetitive thoughts. ( I call it vitamin W). It caused a little unexplained weight loss, but that's okay. I guess different people have different experiences with it though.
One symptom I'm having is I get this "wave" that rushes through my head right above my eyes when I turn my head side to side too quickly, or when I stand up or rise from laying down. Does anyone know what this might be? Has anyone ever experienced this?
I take Paxil 40 mg. QD when I travel, for panic attacks. And, although the side effect is not the same as yours, sounds similiar. I get little zaps - like an electrical current zapping my brain. Especially bad when I turn my head quickly, although I notice it even just walking down the street. Mentioned it once to my PCP when I was tapering off the Paxil and he said we should slow the taper way down, but haven't yet asked him why I get it even when its taken more routinely. Its irritating though, isn't it?
Sorry to butt in, but I thought it was just me...I took Paxil for about a year. Once I managed to gain 15 pounds in one month I took myself off. I'd been on Prozac before for major depression but became pregnant and took myself off. I had what I called "brain zaps" when I was on Paxil, exactly like what I've heard described here (the absolute worst, electrical feeling pain I've ever felt, but it only lasts a few seconds). My PCP told me that that is not one of the side-effects of Paxil. I've since heard from many people they had the very same problem. Anyway, I still have memory problems - problems remembering the names to everyday objects, problems in school and am worried this is permanent. Unfortunately, I feel lately like I'm slipping again, but I'm afraid to take anything.
Brain zaps are a potential side effect of Paxil and other SSRIs, whatever your doc says; some of the newer literature lists it but it still doesn't appear on the side effect list as far as I know. Probably did not get listed as a side effect originally because either enough people didn't report it, or the people doing the studies didn't report it because they couldn't figure out how to record it.
I have been on Prozac since last Oct. and have gained over 25 lbs. I have never had a problem with my weight before, no recent change in habits. Weight loss is supposed to be a side effect of Prozac, not weight gain. Anyone else experience this?
live4today, RN
5,099 Posts
I am soooooo thrilled to read this thread because I recently weaned myself off Celexa! I was having the same memory losses, and blank stares, etc. I was on Celexa four years, and feel I don't need it anymore since a huge part of my depression is divorcing me. :rotfl:
I've been off the Celexa for one month now, and still have some agitation, shakiness, memory lapses, etc. Prayerfully, those symptoms will go away in time because I am NOT going back on that medication or any other medication that causes me to gain weight like Celexa did. I gained over forty pounds while on that drug, and now that I'm off, I'm starting to lose weight. I even "feel lighter"....if that makes any sense to anyone.
One symptom I'm having is I get this "wave" that rushes through my head right above my eyes when I turn my head side to side too quickly, or when I stand up or rise from laying down. Does anyone know what this might be? Has anyone ever experienced this?