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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Celexa and Memory Loss
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Celexa and Memory Loss
by T Mack, Jan 31, 2003 12:00AM
For a long time I have suffered from mild social anxiety, but not depression. It tends to come and go mostly based on factors such as whether or not I’ve been getting enough sleep, but in any case about 2 ˝ years ago I started taking Paxil, which worked moderately well but I stopped due to the sexual side affects and slight memory loss. I then started taking Celexa. The Celexa worked much better and helped to improve my life but I started to have distinct memory loss as a result of the medication. I started cutting back and would usually take only one or two 20 Mg. doses a week, but I still was feeling the negative affects. I was hesitant to get off of it completely because overall I was still happier on it, but I am now worried that I might cause myself permanent memory loss (brain damage??) if I continue on the drug. A few weeks ago I went back into my doctor and he prescribed Zoloft which I have been taking but have not noticed any positive affects yet, and my memory has not seemed to improve.
Do you think there is a chance that I have caused or may eventually cause permanent damage to my brain? I read another account on the web from a former Celexa user with a similar story who stated she still has not regained her full mental sharpness since stopping the drug. Do you know whether Lexapro could help neutralize the side affects of the memory loss? Is there some sort of herb or medication that could counter the memory loss I am experiencing? Would it be possible that I would have this reaction to all SSRI's? Can you recommend a doctor that might specialize in this type of thing in the San Francisco area? I'd really love to find something with the benefits of Celexa but without the memory loss. Thank you.
Do you think there is a chance that I have caused or may eventually cause permanent damage to my brain? I read another account on the web from a former Celexa user with a similar story who stated she still has not regained her full mental sharpness since stopping the drug. Do you know whether Lexapro could help neutralize the side affects of the memory loss? Is there some sort of herb or medication that could counter the memory loss I am experiencing? Would it be possible that I would have this reaction to all SSRI's? Can you recommend a doctor that might specialize in this type of thing in the San Francisco area? I'd really love to find something with the benefits of Celexa but without the memory loss. Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jan 31, 2003 12:00AM
, Jan 31, 2003 12:00AM
Lexpro is suppose to be the medication you are looking for. I would look into that, but first you should consult a psychopharmacologist in your area. I would suggest that you call the university medical center, department of psychiatry, and ask for a referral to one of their faculty or graduates.
That is the best way.
That is the best way.
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Conquering Anxiety, Depression and Fatigue Without Drugs - the Role of Hypoglycemia
by Professor Joel H. Levitt
The Anxiety & Hypoglycemia Relief Institute
e-mail:***@****
voice-mail:212-479-7805
web-page: http://www.travelersonline.com/anxiety/
(For questions regarding anxiety & hypoglycemia and New York City
classes, contact Prof. Joel H. Levitt ***@****)
Stress is often blamed as the root cause for anxiety, depression and fatigue, but, although stress can make any problem worse, the source of such problems is often physical in nature. And hypoglycemia is one of the major physical causes.
This article covers the following:
What is Hypoglycemia? - the cause of hypoglycemia and its effects.
Typical Hypoglycemia Symptoms - the wide range of mental, emotional and physical symptoms.
Testing for Hypoglycemia - standard medical testing and why it is often unreliable.
The Solution to Hypoglycemia - a list of dietary and nutrient recommendations, with special notes and cautions.
Recommended Reading - books and other references that will give you a more complete understanding.
What is Hypoglycemia?
First of all, let's be clear on one major point - hypoglycemia is not a "disease" in that you either have it or don't, it is a condition, and, in most cases, it is fully reversible.
Some types of hypoglycemia are caused by a tumor or other physical damage to a gland. However, that is rare, and not the focus of this article. The more common type of hypoglycemia - called "functional," "reactive," or "fasting" - is your body's reaction to what you put in it.
Hypoglycemia is the body's inability to properly regulate blood sugar levels, causing the level of sugar in the blood to be too low or to fall too rapidly.
Blood sugar, in the form of glucose, is the basic fuel for all brain operation and physical activity, including muscular. If the available fuel is too inadequate, any marginal physical or mental system may start to shut down. In addition, the glandular imbalances that result, as the glands struggle to regulate the sugar level, cause their own symptoms - especially high adrenaline, which is usually perceived as anxiety or panic, but, in some cases, can lead to violence. (Am I saying this has something to do with domestic violence and street crime? YES! And there is expert congressional testimony to back this up.)
Here is a typical pattern:
1. You eat or drink excess sugar (the average American consumes well over 100 lbs/yr.).
2. The body releases insulin to put sugar into storage, but the insulin response is excessive (due to ADAPTATION and/or chromium deficiency).
3. About 2 hours later so much sugar has been put into storage that there is not enough left in the blood, and you get a low-blood-sugar emergency.
Symptoms such as weakness and mental fog begin.
4. The body responds to the emergency by dumping adrenaline into the system.
More symptoms follow from the high adrenaline, such as racing heart, anxiety, etc., etc., etc..
5. The roller coaster rises and falls in critical hormones, causing an unbalance in all the hormones and often resulting in ongoing symptoms.
Many Americans have hypoglycemia to a greater or less degree. The symptoms comprise a remarkably long list and range from mild discomfort to being completely incapacitated.
Typical Hypoglycemia Symptoms
Following is a list of symptoms I've drawn from multiple sources, plus my own observations. The list is long because symptoms result not only directly from low blood glucose but also from the glandular imbalances that result, especially high adrenaline. Only one or two symptoms may be present, but most often, you will find several.
Note that although I've listed mental and physical symptoms separately, they often overlap.
Mental Symptoms
Anxiety - ranging from constant worry to panic attacks.
Phobias - claustrophobia, agoraphobia, acrophobia, and so on. This is anxiety tied to a particular issue.
Nervousness
Restlessness
Irritability
Depression - especially with females
Violent outbursts - especially with males
Obsessive Compulsive Behavior
Forgetfulness - this may just be choline/inositol deficiency.
Inability to concentrate
Unsocial, Asocial, Anti-Social behavior
Crying spells
Nightmares & night terrors - terror can continue after you wake up. It is especially indicative of hypoglycemia if you wake in a cold sweat, if the terror continues, if there is pressure on the chest, or if you are unable to breathe.
Physical Symptoms
Headaches - especially if a meal is missed.
Tachycardia - racing pulse