Posted by beebopp on January 22, 2007, at 8:17:26
I have been on Effexor XR for four years (225mg for about 3 years, 300mg for about a year) for depression and anxiety. I have had the impression for the past few years that I am losing my memory. I cannot retain details of events or conversations, I have become far less articulate as I frequently blank on words, and I read books and essays that I cannot recall as soon as the following day. To put it simply, I feel like I have been getting slowly "dumber" over the past few years. Very recently, I searched the web and discovered a good deal of anecdotal postings regarding similar experiences from people on Effexor XR.
I would consider reducing or switching medications, because additionally, I have the impression that the Effexor is not as effective as it once was. But I had previously tried many SSRI's (Paxil, Celexa, Luvox, Serzone, and Prozac), and those that worked well also caused me to gain a good deal of weight. Effexor is the only medication that did not, and so I stuck with it. (I also tried Neuronton and became unbearably sedated.) So my question is, given my past experience with other SSRI's, which direction (medication-wise) should I turn? Perhaps just reducing dosage? Reducing and adding something else? Or turn to something else altogether?
One note: About a year ago I went through testing and was diagnosed with "inattentive" ADD. After doing a little research, I would agree that this is probably accurate. I have always been a bit ditzy, daydreamy, and slow to processing information. But I feel certain that my current memory issues exceed these ADD qualities, particularly since they have emerged so markedly over the past few years. I understand that Effexor *can* improve ADD. Is it possible for it to worsen ADD issues?
I would appreciate any feedback or insight you might have. I am so longing to regain some of my former cognitive capacity. Thanks!
poster:beebopp
thread:725105
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070119/msgs/725105.html