Brain Fog. Photo by Sandrine Derselle
After years of talking with my psychiatrist about my memory loss, problems with word retrieval, feeling as if I was in a fog, inability to sustain a job (or a relationship) increased isolating, I was almost convinced this deterioration was an effect of the aging brain. Until I came across this discussion board last week: About: Effexor and Memory Loss, with over 100 comments from Effexor users complaining of the same thing. Some claim their cognitive functioning improved after discontinuing the medication, but others had seen no return to normal. Brainzaps. Effexor XR & Memory Loss.2008.
I write about this because since I wrote this posting 3 years ago, on my highly unpublicized personal blog, Brainzaps, more people have responded to this entry than any of my other research. People from all walks of life. And the message board I mention? Hundreds more comments are associated with this post, which was first put up in 2006! In fact, there are more comments since I first visited it in 2008 than there were in the two years preceding it.
The comments I am receiving at Brainzaps are heartbreaking. And they also are recent. More and more people are experiencing memory loss and cognitive decline, thinking they have early onset Alzheimers', in fear of losing their jobs because of their cognitive problems. Losing entire YEARS. Not knowing if they'll ever be the same. Wanting to sue WYETH, the manufacturer.
And take a look at this ...
MEMORY LOSS & CONCENTRATION ISSUES DOCUMENTED WITH EFFEXOR — 44 & 48%increased incidence, according to 2004 study published in Journal of Psychopharmacology. Most frequestly reported complaints were “increased fatigue (48%), CONCENTRATION DIFFICULTIES (48%), sleepiness/sedation (37%), FAILING MEMORY (44.4%) and weight gain (29.6%). www.ueapsychology.net/uploads/downloads/90.pdf
Yesterday, when I was sitting in the waiting room waiting for my appointment with my new therapist, I read an ad for Cymbalta, for people with lower back pain!
And I just got so furious about how people who are prescribed SSRIs and SNRIs deal with such unexpected and devastating side effects from these medicines and they are in ONE GROUP; and now more and more people are forming an entire NEW GROUP of 'users' who have NO FRIGGING IDEA about the side effects they are going to experience because, lets say, they were prescribed Effexor XR for IBS. Can you imagine being prescribed one of these antidepressants which are known for causing food cravings of the foods which are without doubt the WORST for people with IBS? WTF? What about having horrific back pain and getting prescribed Cymbalta, say, and then gaining 70 lbs??? Great for your back, huh? OR being diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue and getting put on a medication which has a side effect of making you overly sleepy!!!! Does the medication NOT have the side effect if you have CFS? If I had CFS, for god's sake, I'd want some adderal, NOT Effexor XR!
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE? THIS IS INSANE!
Now, in this diary, I am just focusing on Effexor XR as it is the drug I know best.
Take a look ....
From Crazyboards:
1. FDA Approved Uses of Effexor
Major Depressive Disorder - Effexor XR approved October 1997, immediate-release approved December 1993
General Anxiety Disorder - Effexor XR approved 11 March 1999
Social Anxiety Disorder - Effexor XR approved 11 February 2003
Panic Disorder - Effexor XR approved 18 November 2005
2. Off-Label Uses of Effexor
Bipolar Depression (dodgy to decent for bipolar 2, generally not a good idea for bipolar 1)
Fibromyalgia
Arthritis
Chronic Fatigue
Multiple Sclerosis
Lupus
Headaches
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
ADD/ADHD
Eating Disorders
Although it is not entirely clear how Effexor works for Fibromyalgia, the drug may help block the nerve pain signals in the spinal cord or brain. This may help with the pain caused by Fibromyalgia. link
So is this blocking of pain signals or neve signals or buffering uptake in the synapses, causing brain fog? And why do people with fibro experience fibro fog BEFORE they go on a med which will also cause brain fog? Is there brain fog even worse than the brain fog experienced as a result of the medication?
So when I finally get off Effexor XR totally, does this mean I will wake up in abject pain that I wasn't aware I was feeling all these years? Is part of the withdrawal hell the fact that so much as been masked for our consciousness that we are suddenly flooded with realities that we actually have IBS, fibro, CFS, ADD and bulimia?
Here's a video short I found about getting off Effexor.
And a few comment from boards on memory loss and Effexor... (I am not putting direct linke to these comments for the sake of anonymity ... It's one thing if someone goes looking for them, but I'm not going to associate names w/ these individual's personal hell here, that's for sure.)
I can’t believe what I’m reading and how long people have been complaining about memory loss being a side effect and there is no warning about this at all on the label. I thought I was losing my mind. I thought maybe I had some sort of disorder. My memory has become horrible since taking this drug. I can barely keep things straight, am scatterbrained, have trouble concentrating. I’ll take my medication and then minutes later can’t even remember if I’ve taken it yet! Likewise, sometimes if I have a single alcoholic beverage, I’ll black out an entire night and have even become violent. This drug is starting to scare me. I wish I would have known about this sooner. I only recently thought to connect Effexor with memory loss and it took over a week for me to remember to finally google it!
I have been on effexor sr, 225mg for over 10 years. Recently, I have been having severe problems with word retrieval and verbalization of ideas. Memory loss is not as severe. I am a professor and am very aware of what is going on. I’ve gone to a memory loss clinic (neuroscience) and they tell me its my aging brain (I’m a very young 62); but the onset is so noticeable I don’t think that aging is the problem. I have been exercising routinely for the past 35 years.
So do you have any experiences to share with SSRIs or SNRIs messing with your brain?
Please share. Please pass on. Lets frigging do something about this!