Memory loss

[tasso]

Am taking medications for depression and anxiety, and experiencing some memory
issues coincident w/disorders or meds.  The memory problem: I can attend and event, a lecture, and the like.  Be quite focused, attentive, understanding, but afterword can remember little more than what subject matter was covered.  Too, experiences during the day, when recollected, seem discrete and unconnected - i.e., can't quite recall when such and such happened or whether it was today or yesterday.  I some- what overstate, but still it's all in all somewhat spooky. My psychiatrist has ordered an MRI brain scan and a memory workup w/a neurologist.  What might they be looking for?  I'm 70 yrs. old, no other memory problems, no other health issues.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

What you have described can be termed as "Cognitive deficits", and not purely memory problems. Cognition is a collective term for memory, reasoning power, etc.

Your Psychiatrist wants to rule out the possibility of Dementia. Such symptoms are seen in Dementia, too. However, it is likely that these syptoms (symptoms) are a result of your Depression.

Regards

[paninisinani]

I too have experienced exactly what you have described and I am 34 years old. What struck me in particular about your post was the following statement:

"experiences during the day, when recollected, seem discrete and unconnected - i.e., can't quite recall when such and such happened or whether it was today or yesterday." I had a hard time putting in words what you just did.

I have been on 20mg Lexapro for over 7 years now. I had these issues while on the medication but do worse "mood" wise if I am off them. I think it is wise that your Dr. is ruling out other possibilities. If everything comes back clear, I suspect the medication may be playing a role in this. I have seen other posts on these forums describing similar symptoms after starting anti-depressants.