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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Short-term Memory Loss and Paxil
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.
Short-term Memory Loss and Paxil
by raspberryroses, Dec 03, 2002 12:00AM
Dear Dr. Gould:
I am a 47-year-old woman with a history of depression and allergies. I have been taking Paxil for about 10 years, and I also take Remeron for sleep difficulties; previously I took Trazodone but changed to Remeron about four months ago. I also take Zyrtec, Humibid, and Sudafed for allergies. I am in good health otherwise.
I have been experiencing progressively worsening impairment of short-term memory. I failed several college courses recently despite putting in at least 40 hours a week on homework and studying, and I was frequently an honor roll student in high school. Nothing seems to stick in my memory, and I flunked all of my tests. I have always had a super strong visual memory and a near-photographic memory for written material until the last few years. However, I have completely forgotten movies I have seen within the past 2-3 years, and cannot recall the unfolding plot until I see it happen again. I cannot remember what I read in earlier chapters of books.
In addition, a niece of mine admitted that she had experienced short-term memory problems while taking Depakote.
Could the long-term use of Paxil be affecting my memory, or for that matter, could any of the other medications I take be to blame?
I am a 47-year-old woman with a history of depression and allergies. I have been taking Paxil for about 10 years, and I also take Remeron for sleep difficulties; previously I took Trazodone but changed to Remeron about four months ago. I also take Zyrtec, Humibid, and Sudafed for allergies. I am in good health otherwise.
I have been experiencing progressively worsening impairment of short-term memory. I failed several college courses recently despite putting in at least 40 hours a week on homework and studying, and I was frequently an honor roll student in high school. Nothing seems to stick in my memory, and I flunked all of my tests. I have always had a super strong visual memory and a near-photographic memory for written material until the last few years. However, I have completely forgotten movies I have seen within the past 2-3 years, and cannot recall the unfolding plot until I see it happen again. I cannot remember what I read in earlier chapters of books.
In addition, a niece of mine admitted that she had experienced short-term memory problems while taking Depakote.
Could the long-term use of Paxil be affecting my memory, or for that matter, could any of the other medications I take be to blame?
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Dec 03, 2002 12:00AM
, Dec 03, 2002 12:00AM
The most likely suspect is Remeron. Short term memory loss has been reported frequently. I would see if I could get along without Remeron orTrazodone, and see if your mind doesn't sharpen up after a couple of weeks.
Member Comments (1)
by Ang12, Dec 11, 2002 12:00AM
I too experienced short-term memory loss from Paxil after post pardem depression. It saved my life by relieving the depression, but when I started experiencing the memory loss, I took myself off it. I never took medication for depression and/or any mental health issue, before nor after that one time.
by Psymart, May 18, 2003 12:00AM
I take Paxil and am having problems with memory loss. I was told by my doctor three years ago that he could find nothing in the literature associating memory loss with Paxil as a side-effect. Like others in this thread (and elsewhere, on other threads), I see that I am not alone in thinking that memory loss is an effect of taking Paxil. I used to have an excellent memory, short and long; I was even known for it in my graduate school class. Now, all is changed. I have tried to lower my dose, but experienced dizziness and nausea. I have not yet decided to go off it altogether, for fear of such consequences—and of losing what have been the benefits of Paxil. I have two questions, then: will I get my memory back if I stop taking Paxil, and is there now a consensus among doctors that Paxil does indeed impair memory function? Thank you.
