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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by McPac on February 25, 2003, at 1:39:13
I'm wondering if this could be due to an ssri. (I take Zoloft).
There are times, NOT all the time, when my brain just seems to 'stop' working. For instance, I may read a very simple, uncomplicated sentence 3, 4, 5 times and it does not REGISTER. Or maybe read a paragraph or two and then realize that not a single thing registered. It's as if I never even read it! I'm not talking about reading something that needs much deciphering but rather it could be a tiny, totally uncomplicated thing that I could read several times and it has no meaning. And perhaps I could then read it again and, voila, all of a sudden my 'senses' return and my brain understands just perfectly. It's like my brain sometimes just 'stops'! And then restarts working. Here's another example, somebody could be talking to me (nobody else around, no distractions AT ALL) and I haven't 'heard' a word they said...in other words, their words did NOT register. It's a type of 'focus problem' where my brain is COMPLETELY unable to focus at times. But it's DIFFERENT than just daydreaming. NOTHING is registering. Here's another example, maybe someone will try to show me how to do something (pick the most simplest, easiest thing you can imagine) but I won't be able to do it because it NEVER registered in my brain. When this happens, I feel completely retarded...literally! And then my brain will 'snap' out of it and I'll be fine again. I've heard of the term "brain fog" but this seems worse than just fogginess or spaciness...it's more like I just want to say, "My brain is not working at all right now but give me a few seconds or minutes and wait until it decides to work again". It's like I CAN'T THINK! Oftentimes I'll have a 'swirling' type feeling in my head at those times. It feels like friggin' alzheimer's but I know it's not that...I'm FAR too young! One more example I just thought of...say I'm taking a test or quiz......I can do very, very well on the test BUT it might take me 5 times as long as others to do the test...NOT because the questions are difficult but because my completely unfocused brain can't focus! Is this "brain fog" to an extreme? Does this sound familiar to ANYBODY? Thanks for all your thoughtful replies!!!
Posted by wingedcat on February 25, 2003, at 2:43:35
In reply to PLEASE Read. Does ANYBODY relate to this?, posted by McPac on February 25, 2003, at 1:39:13
Yep, I got that on SSRI's. I refuse to take them anymore. I can barely remember the 6 month period I was on Paxil but from what I hear I was like that. I was totally not myself. I think SSRI's are way over marketed and don't help as many people as they say they're supposed to help.
Posted by Rainee on February 25, 2003, at 5:57:13
In reply to PLEASE Read. Does ANYBODY relate to this?, posted by McPac on February 25, 2003, at 1:39:13
Yep I sure have! It's almost like a daze at times. But I can force myself to focus. And it's not extreme some days are worse than others. Partof my problem is Panic disorder and GAD the SSRI helps the part of me that keeps ruminating over things that fuel my anxiety like it somehow puts distance between my thoughts so I don't get overwhelmed. So it spill over into my attention span and so forth but I can live with it. It's better than the extreme suffering I was in before.
I hope that helped some.Rainee :)
Posted by daizy on February 25, 2003, at 8:43:46
In reply to PLEASE Read. Does ANYBODY relate to this?, posted by McPac on February 25, 2003, at 1:39:13
> I'm wondering if this could be due to an ssri. (I take Zoloft).
> There are times, NOT all the time, when my brain just seems to 'stop' working. For instance, I may read a very simple, uncomplicated sentence 3, 4, 5 times and it does not REGISTER. Or maybe read a paragraph or two and then realize that not a single thing registered. It's as if I never even read it! I'm not talking about reading something that needs much deciphering but rather it could be a tiny, totally uncomplicated thing that I could read several times and it has no meaning. And perhaps I could then read it again and, voila, all of a sudden my 'senses' return and my brain understands just perfectly. It's like my brain sometimes just 'stops'! And then restarts working. Here's another example, somebody could be talking to me (nobody else around, no distractions AT ALL) and I haven't 'heard' a word they said...in other words, their words did NOT register. It's a type of 'focus problem' where my brain is COMPLETELY unable to focus at times. But it's DIFFERENT than just daydreaming. NOTHING is registering. Here's another example, maybe someone will try to show me how to do something (pick the most simplest, easiest thing you can imagine) but I won't be able to do it because it NEVER registered in my brain. When this happens, I feel completely retarded...literally! And then my brain will 'snap' out of it and I'll be fine again. I've heard of the term "brain fog" but this seems worse than just fogginess or spaciness...it's more like I just want to say, "My brain is not working at all right now but give me a few seconds or minutes and wait until it decides to work again". It's like I CAN'T THINK! Oftentimes I'll have a 'swirling' type feeling in my head at those times. It feels like friggin' alzheimer's but I know it's not that...I'm FAR too young! One more example I just thought of...say I'm taking a test or quiz......I can do very, very well on the test BUT it might take me 5 times as long as others to do the test...NOT because the questions are difficult but because my completely unfocused brain can't focus! Is this "brain fog" to an extreme? Does this sound familiar to ANYBODY? Thanks for all your thoughtful replies!!!It sounds very familiar! Its awful when it happens when people are talking to me, because they think Im just ignoring them, its not even like Ididnt hear them speak, or understand what they say, Just that it didnt Register. Literally like it went in one ear and came out the other, totally bypassed my brain! (if I even have one!)
Posted by Kari on February 25, 2003, at 11:20:27
In reply to PLEASE Read. Does ANYBODY relate to this?, posted by McPac on February 25, 2003, at 1:39:13
Yes, this is my constant state and has been for years. I find it difficult to follow conversation and to read. No med has helped so far.
Posted by Ritch on February 26, 2003, at 10:31:34
In reply to PLEASE Read. Does ANYBODY relate to this?, posted by McPac on February 25, 2003, at 1:39:13
It sounds like just plain old SSRI-fog to me. It could be inadequate sleep associated with SSRi use. If you sleep too lightly you will be groggy and tired (and unfocused) all day the next day. Zoloft caused probably the worst sleep disruption for me and I had a lot of probs. with excessive daytime drowsiness.
Posted by Gracie2 on February 27, 2003, at 19:01:16
In reply to Re: PLEASE Read. Does ANYBODY relate to this? » McPac, posted by Ritch on February 26, 2003, at 10:31:34
You really need to talk this over with your psychiatrist. My own experience is that I had this type of reaction when I started Depakote, and I hated it so much that I just quit taking the Depakote without consulting my psychiatrist.
Terrible withdrawal symptoms, insomnia and panic attacks. I was just too sick to not be on medication, so I started taking Seroquel and the brain fog returned. However, after a length of time, the fog started to lift as my brain adjusted to the medication. It seems to take forever and it is frightening. I had to leave myself post-it notes all over the place or I would forget the most simple things, and I was just terrified that I was losing my mind. However, I managed to stick it out because the Seroquel allowed me to sleep, and today I rarely have this type of confusion. It comes back sometimes when I take cold medication or allow myself to get dehydrated (I take a diuretic for hypertension). The best thing that you can do for yourself right now is to stay hydrated, to drink as much water as you can. Your confusion is at least partially a toxic reaction to the medication and water helps your body detox. So drink up!
-Gracie
Posted by ayuda on February 28, 2003, at 22:54:33
In reply to PLEASE Read. Does ANYBODY relate to this?, posted by McPac on February 25, 2003, at 1:39:13
I had that problem with Zoloft -- it was kind of like I was disconnected from thinking, had no focus and could not study (I'm in grad school). I haven't had that particular problem with any other SSRI, so maybe you want to try a different one? I experienced something similar with Celexa, what's called depersonalization.
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