Memory problems

[groucho43]

Which antidepressats cause the LEAST memory loss? Thanks.

[birdie0907]

Point taken, so I will change my tune and list the article on the right called Dr. Diamond's Lay account (pg 11 shows healthy eating) from
http://alzheimer.ca/english/index.php
which shows risk factors for Alzheimers. It is my understanding from reading this site that adopting these steps may slow the progression of Alzheimers; If so perhaps it may be useful for people on this thread looking for memory and concentration repair.

I am taking Diamond's advice and including tumeric in my daily diet. I kind of like the stuff and add it to recipes that do not call for it, especially the below caponata, which makes great pasta sauce.
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/caponata.php

I have heard that oily fish is the only useful source of Omega 3, since flax has recently been shown to increase inflamation or oxidation.

[M4Y0U]

The direct answer to the question here with memory issues is mirtazapine. It appears to be a nootropic drug at increasing memory as well as being a antidepressant. I am on it and noticed improved memory and no depression symptoms.

M4

[vulpine]

Its amazing how people like Birdie and Docs who never tried this drug can even say anything about what we are going through!
I have been taking this drug for 10 years now and I have to tell you my memory is bad! NOT from old age, but from the Lexapro!
I am a professional person and used to think my memory loss was from depression (taking this for anxiety but sometimes can be disguised) which can cause some short term memory loss. I thought this since memory loss was never even considered by the pharms. Now today after finding this site, I see it is true what I have always believed. This Med cause short term memory loss!
Thankfully I have my iphone for notes and appointments that alert me so I wont forget but sometimes I could be talking and in the middle of a sentence forget what I was going to say. Then I get scared because the person I was talking to is waiting for a response and I feel like an idiot! Thankfully I learned how to cover it up but now I think I might start and look for  new alternative!

[M4Y0U]

Hello there,

Nootropic drugs like Piracetam or analeptic drug such as Modafinil could help you with this problem. A diet including Omega-3 is also to be considered. Piracetam can be bought over the internet and is not a controlled substance and Modafinil is prescription only, you can talk to your doctor about it, it is not a stimulant in the amphetamine family like Dexedrine therefore it have no real side effects other than side effects of caffeine and any physical addiction can't be achieved. Modafinil will help you with your glutamate level which is the neurotransmitter implied in learning and memory and it will also keep you awake without disturbing your sleep pattern unless you are very sensitive to the drug.

Please consider that I'm not a doctor and you should talk to a qualified physician before using any drugs mentioned above.

Best regards,
M4

[Cleo129]

I was also on Paxil for 10 years and stopped it in August because I was having severe difficulty staying awake in class and remembering things. I am doing a masters degree in a subject I love but everything seemed numb and blurry, like my brain was fogged up. The sad thing is that my brain still feels foggy. I can never remember people's names. I often forget my pin number. It takes me ages to memorize things. And I feel like I have forgotten everything I spent the past 3-4 years paying to learn ! I was an honours student in undergrad and never had memory problems before. I am also having huge problems concentrating on what people are saying to me. It's like I am not listening no matter how hard I try to listen my brain wanders off into zombie land. And I am only 29.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to regain one's memory and concentration ?

[birdie0907]

In case you don't get a reply, your pharmacist likely knows the answers.

[groucho43]

Thank you very much for your reply. Do you know whether REMERON (mirtazapine) causes more memory loss than the SSRI drugs you mention and which of them can make it easier to get off Xanax, which causes serious memory loss? Thanks again.

[birdie0907]

Anyone's memory can be naturally affected over 30 years by aging. You can't pinpoint the problem you claim to have experienced to long term med use.

[bastet56]

I've taken meds for over 30 yrs including antidepressants and I know that my memory has been effected. You have to learn to concentrate on listening more carefully as well as writing things down that you need to remember.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Dear groucho43

It will not be appropriate to point out a single antidepressant, but it can be said with certain evidence that the "newer" antidepressants such as Setraline, Fluoxetine and Escitalopram have the least potential for causing cognitive disturbances, including memory loss.

There are some studies which have shown that the memory loss caused by antidepressants is clinically insignificant. And we have to consider the depressive symptoms, too. Memory loss is a part of depressive disorders.

I hope you find answers to your questions soon.

Regards

Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD

[chloelicous]

antidepressants are fne with me and memory...the ones that got me were the anti anxiety meds like xanax, ativan, colonipin or any of those

[Fuzzesox]

I would like to know also, was on antidepressants a few years ago an since then my memory has gone down hill. An I am only 28