anonymous Fluoxetine User: Worried about Memory Loss, Cognitive Failure...

[anonymous]

Hello,

 

I am new to this forum. I came here as part of my search for scientific evidence / proof that fluoxetine causes long-term brain damage.

 

In the past few years, I have experienced increasing declines in my cognitive function, memory, concentration, judgement, ambition, and drive (not sex drive, but rather, drive to achieve and accomplish and set new goals). I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I am quite an intelligent individual: I have a college degree in the sciences, have always had a passion for learning and achieving, and have always been excited by a challenge. However, as time goes on, I notice that I have become content and satisfied with less challenging activities and I do not follow through on higher goals I set for myself--I feel scared of them. I do not feel that I am living at my full potential. There are other symptoms of depression and anxiety that I experience, but I will not put them all in this post.

 

What scares me the most is my very obvious decline in memory and cognitive function. My memory has been so bad at times that I will forget my own name for a minute or two. I constantly forget entire conversations. I cannot retain information I read very well. I cannot learn effectively. I have indefinitely delayed further college plans because I cannot retain information.

 

Is my cognitive decline caused by my medication? I've looked into the books/writings/videos by Dr. Peter Breggin, but I feel that he does not make his case very well and he does not provide solid scientific evidence that fluoxetine can cause cognitive decline. An hours-long internet search yielded unsatisfactory information. I have emailed a few doctors in the field of psychiatry and have consulted with one non-psychiatric doctor on this topic, and he told me that there's no proof that fluoxetine causes brain damage.

 

But I need more solid science-based, not anecdotally-based, information on the subject. If anyone has any solid information, please feel free to share. I would prefer to read, if it exists, a long-term scientific study with a good number of patients and healthy individuals that looked for long-term side effects, including brain damage. But I don't think such a study exists. If anyone knows, please let me know.

 

Thanks.

 

Edited to add: I am in my 20s, so I would not think that I'm old enough to be experiencing cognitive declines this severe.

[Nikki]

You are so young I am sorry you are having this problem.  I can understand it scaring you.  I have not taken prozac.  I have taken other meds.  While going up on them I have experienced memory loss, forgetfulness.  While tapering them this happens to me as well.  But it does stop once I have stabilized.

 

I don't know if anyone other than Alto the site owner and Administrator can lead you to the information you are looking for.

 

We have a portion called Signature in which we post our drug history.  You can see mine, please put your history in your signature.  It means alot when trying to help someone sort thru this drug mess.

 

There will be others along to speak with you.  I was wondering if you have read any of Dr. Joseph Glenmullin's work of Dr. David Healy's books....

 

There is a post on here about Limbic retraining...you might find it helpful.

 

Nikki

[Karma]

Hi anonymous

 

Check out this section of our forum to look for scientific, peer-reviewed information: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/forum/16-from-journals-and-scientific-sources/

 

I agree with Nikki that if anyone knows of any specific studies, it will be Alto.

 

Here is the thread that tells you how to add a medication history to your signature: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/893-please-put-your-withdrawal-history-in-your-signature/

 

Karma

[Altostrata]

Welcome, anonymous.

 

Which psychiatric drugs are you on now? Have you changed or switched any?

[anonymous]

Welcome, anonymous.

 

Which psychiatric drugs are you on now? Have you changed or switched any?

 

I am currently using Fluoxetine 10mg every other day. This is the only antidepressant medication I have ever been exposed to. I have used it off and on for a few years, but have been steady on it for the past 2 years (10mg every other day for the past 2 years).

 

I emailed Dr. Breggin's office a few days ago asking for scientific proof that long-term use of fluoxetine can cause brain damage and have not yet received a response.

[Altostrata]

It would be better for your nervous system to take a consistent amount every day, in your case, 5mg. These drugs are not intended to be taken every other day -- although fluoxetine, with its long half-life, is one that might not cause withdrawal symptoms when you skip a dose.

 

However, if you have cognitive problems, your inconsistent dosing might be contributing to them.

[Meimeiquest]

There is a book entitled Drug-Induced Dementia. I think the author is Grace Jackson MD. I haven't read it, but slides of a presentation can be googled. I had problems with it, though, because she compares morbidity and mortality rates with the general population, but I think you would have to compare people with depression, medicated and unmediated, to get meaningful data, as mental illness itself may cause brain issues (or at least is believed to).

[Altostrata]

meimei, I do not believe there is any evidence whatsoever that "mentai illness" causes brain degeneration -- unless you include Alzheimer's and other true brain diseases in "mental illness."