Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum.  ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Neurology  (Expert Forum)
 | 
Headache, short term memory loss and antidepressants
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
Post a Question Back to Forum
MedHelp Member's Question

Headache, short term memory loss and antidepressants

by Terri, Dec 18, 1999 12:00AM
I am a 34 year old female.  I have been experiencing headaches on the left side of my head daily for about a month now.  The headache is constant and encompasses the entire left side of my head from the base of my skull to the front of my forehead and behind my left eye.  I have to take ibuprofen several times a day and get very little relief.  It basically just takes the edge off the headache.  The headache creates a strange sensation that is hard to describe.  The right side of my head is completely fine, no pain what so ever and left side is pulsating.  It progressively gets worse throughout the day.  



I have been on Zoloft 50mg for about a month and a half for depression.  I was previously on Prozac for about 3 weeks but experienced some skin reaction and was switched to Zoloft.  Two weeks ago my doctor put also put me on Wellbutrin 150mg to help counteract the sexual side effects of the Zoloft.  I also take Synthroid 112mcg and Ortho Tricylene birth control pills. The depression is no longer a problem for me, but the doctor says I need to remain on Zoloft for at least six months to prevent a reoccurance.



For the last week and a half  I have been experiencing what I consider to be a great deal of short term memory loss.  Such as beginning a conversation and completely forgetting what my point was. The thought is totally gone as if I never had it to begin with.  I can't seem to be able to verbally complete a thought.  This happened to me yesterday while teaching at least 8 times.  It is very frustrating and scary and I am concerned about what is causing these problems.  Could the Wellbutrin be causing this?  Or a combination of the medications?  The headaches seems to be getting worse also.  Today it woke me up, where before it would begin shortly after waking up.  Any help or advice you could offer me in regards to the headaches and memory loss would be greatly appreciated.
Doctor's Answer

by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Dec 18, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Terri:



Sorry about your headache and depression.  Zoloft can cause ejaculaton problems in the male (not your problem) and breast enlargement and bleeding problems during the menses.  I am not sure why your physician/neurologist prescribed Wellbrutin for the latter?  Wellbrutin has central nervous system excitatory properties and can lower the seizure threshold or even produce seizures.  I would bet that your problems are arising from the wellbutrin.  Ask your physician if you can wean off the wellbutrin.



Sincerely,



CCF Neuro MD
Member Comments (17)

by Mary, Dec 18, 1999 12:00AM
Terri:

I am a psych nurse, and Zoloft frequently causes headaches and I would bet that it is the culprit in your case.  Sexual side effects are also common, either decreased libido or difficulty achieving orgasm. If it were me, I'd ask the doctor to prescribe something else, there are tons of other antidepressant medications on the market with different side effect profiles, and of course, side effects vary from one person to another.  Your doctor is right about needing to stay on a medication for at least six months to prevent relapse, and some people need to continue indefinitely.

Good luck!

by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Dec 19, 1999 12:00AM
thanks for the comment.



CCF Neuro MD

by Cathy, Dec 20, 1999 12:00AM
My 17 year old daughter is experiencing the same kind of headaches.  She is not on any medication at the time.  She does have depression and mod swing disorders but doen't take her medication.  A catscan came back normal.  The doc at the ER diagnosed her as possibly in the early stages of developing migraines.  What do you think?

by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Dec 20, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Cathy:



It is difficult for me to say, I haven't gotten to examine your daughter, I don't really know what the headaches are described as, I don't know the family history, etc.  I would suggest that you see a neurologist.  



Sincerely,



CCF Neuro MD

by tracey, Dec 21, 1999 12:00AM
your story sounds very similar to mine.  I was on Paxil 10 mgs for about 6 months and also klonopine .5mgs to counteract the side effects of the Paxil.  I had a severe headache begin on the left side of my head only in July of this year-it wasa migraine because I has some visual after effects.  At the time of the beginning of the headache I was weaning off of klonopin(no picnic) The docotors immediately increased my dosage of klonopin to see if it helped-It didnt.  I now have left sided headaches almost daily and have seen many a doctor-they say I am having migraines(I think this is all connected to the meds)  and I also have numbness on the left side of my body.    I see a specialist in headaches today(an appointment I have waited 4 months for!)  I am currently taking nuerontin for the headaches-It has seemed to help a little but not entirely.  Hope you find some answers.

tracey

by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Dec 22, 1999 12:00AM
thanks for your comments.



CCF Neuro MD

by Christine Jenkins, Dec 27, 1999 12:00AM
I am an avid supporter of the theory that "if you never had the problem before the intake, then the intake is the culprit".  My 18 year old niece took Zoloft from the time she was 14 until switched over to Paxil.  Along with the Paxil came the headaches and Xanax.  Then she was taken off the Xanax and put on Klonnopin to get her off the Xanax.  Needless to say, her headaches became so intense she could barely function (as if the Panic Disorder wasn't bad enough).  She tried to tell her doctor that Paxil gave her the headache.  He said, "No!  Paxil doesn't cause headaches, even when I take you off in X-amount increments and follow the same method with the stinking Klonnopin!"  She felt so alone she didn't know what to do... until I logged her on to Medhelp.org and put her into the Addiction Forum.  It was there that she discovered the perils of Paxil and Klonnopin... and the comfort of knowing that she wasn't the Lone Ranger in her complaints, with sexual dysfunction being one of them (Zoloft didn't conain that, but the Paxil did).  I just had to comment on this topic... because my own daughter and sister complained of the very same side-effects. - Christine

by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Dec 27, 1999 12:00AM
thanks for the comment.



CCF Neuro MD

by Karen, Jan 10, 2000 12:00AM
The comments about short term memory problems and Wellbutrin got my attention.  About 15 months ago I started on Effexor 75mg daily, followed by the addition of Wellbutrin about 12 months ago, 150 mg daily, upped to 300 mg daily about 8 months ago.  The Effexor was discontinued about 4 months ago.  



Shortly after starting the Effexor, I noticed more difficulty with my memory, especially remembering the names of things.  I will be talking and all of a sudden a name or word will be on the tip of my tongue - and then it will be gone, quite gone.  Rather unnerving.



Also was taking a college art history course which calls for lots and lots of memory work and found the memorization much more difficult than would be normal for me.  I would be able to picture the idea but not be able to come up with the words related to it for anything.  



I am also hypothyroid, very poorly controlled, I might add, but this much difficulty with my memory was not noticeable until I started on the antidepressants.  All I want to know is, will this become and permanent problem if I stay on the antidepressants?  Any information would be appreciated.  Karen

by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Jan 13, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Karen:



If you stop taking the medication and the memory comes back, then it would be medication related.  I would ask your physician to switch medications and see.



Sincerely,



CCF Neuro MD

by Cathy, Jan 20, 2000 12:00AM
I have been experiencing vertigo episodes for a year now that seem to come from migraines.  I have tried diazide, Inderol LA, and now Elavil.  I was originally taking the Elavil for Fibromyalgia, and now my neurologist has upped the dosage to 50 mg to see if this helps with the vertigo.  He also gave me Zomig for the migraines and I took some yesterday and my headache was relieved, but my whole body felt bruised and battered???  The only other medications that I am on are over the counter allergy med's, and Mircette.  Could the Inderol still be in my system and cause a reaction to the Zomig, or is Elavil reacting with it?  Elavil is not a MAOI, so it shouldn't react.  Also, lately my joint pain or fibromyalgia has gotten worse.  Any ideas or similar problems?  At least the dizzy feeling has subsided and as of two weeks, I have not experienced another vertigo attack.

by Kristen, Jan 22, 2000 12:00AM
Hi.  Your comment got my attention.  I was actually looking for something unrelated to your problem, but felt compelled to comment after reading your question.  My mother is 56.  She experienced what seemed like depression