Out of the Storm

Treatment & Self-Help => Treatment => Medication => Topic started by: Boatsetsailrose on January 07, 2017, 04:28:53 PM

Title: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Boatsetsailrose on January 07, 2017, 04:28:53 PM
Hello
I have on going issue with brain fog as a side effect from ssri
Now what am can I do about it is the question ?
I'm upset everyday from this and it's effecting a lot of aspects of my life ..
Concentration problems, retaining information , brain alertness and enjoyment of using my intelligence
Generally I am so controlled by the drug I can't actually be bothered to do anything about it because 'what can actually be done ?
I've tried a few other anti dep and just haven't got on with them, escitalopram does work for me apart from the above mentioned
I have just read about taking a psycho stimulant such as Ritalin to counteract this but not sure how feasible this is or even if the doctor will go for the idea..
I feel ready to try anything in my desperation
It's a Rock and a hard place
Taking something that works but clearly gives such disabling effects too
When I came off the drug last yr I reallly became so ill, couldn't work and relapsed in addiction too

Any experiences, knowledge greatly appreciated

This brain fog is affecting my ability to work as a nurse and also pass my driving test
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Dee on January 07, 2017, 05:04:15 PM

How long have you been on it?  It was my previous antidepressant and really worked for me for over a year.  It did take me a few months to feel normal.  I am now on Cymbolta because Lexapro seemed to have no longer worked.
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Three Roses on January 07, 2017, 05:16:35 PM
When I first started my ssri, it took a couple of months for me to go from complete emotional flatlining to some variation in my mood.
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Boatsetsailrose on January 07, 2017, 08:53:42 PM
Been on it a year --
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Dee on January 07, 2017, 09:34:16 PM

I would talk to you doctor then.  My doctor is going to do genetic testing next time I go in to see how I metabolize medications.  This way he has a better idea what to treat me with and what dose I should get.  He asked me Thursday if I would do it and now he is ordering the test.
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Boatsetsailrose on January 07, 2017, 11:41:19 PM
Thank u dee yes going to make an appointment
That sounds a good move - which country are u in ( may I ask ?
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Dee on January 08, 2017, 12:02:45 AM

I am in the US, but I doubt it makes much of a difference.  He will swab my cheek and then mail the test into the lab that does it.

Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Boatsetsailrose on January 09, 2017, 12:20:46 AM
Thanks dee but it does make a difference in the us you pay for your health service through insurance right ?
We get national Health care and so something as you describe may not be possible ... but worth asking about
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Dee on January 09, 2017, 05:25:35 AM

I have insurance yes, but it is federal.  Hopefully this will work for you, please let me know.
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Eyessoblue on January 12, 2017, 09:57:44 PM
Hi, I just wondered, what are you taking? I'm on citalopram have been for 12 years and have the same symptoms. I have an appointment with a psychiatrist at the end of the month to change my medication as they think my body has got used to them and I need something else. I can no longer work due to brain fog which is so frustrating!
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Boatsetsailrose on January 13, 2017, 06:48:11 AM
Hi eyes so blue
I was on citalopram ( been on and off it for yrs ) I more recently changed to escitalopram ( much more expensive drug) lucky NHS provide it. It doesn't have antihistamine in it and so I don't feel tired on it like I did on citalopram. It is feels like a much cleaner drug e.g. My heart doesn't bang on It , they have stopped giving it to the elderly as too much risk on the heart.
However, the brain fog is the same signing probs with concentration, retention and focusing ..
it's ok until I go to work that is the issue - working with lots of systems,computers, mass amounts of patient information , large job role - saying that I am handing my notice in and my does that feel good. There is nothing worse than struggling daily, feeding into an already high stressed nervous system and low worth.
Are u seeing psych in the uk ?
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Eyessoblue on January 13, 2017, 09:30:18 AM
Hi, yes I am seeing a psychiatrist in the uk, as you are probably aware the NHS for mental health is very poor, Ive had to wait since November for an appointment and am still waiting to hear about an appointment to see a Trama therapist with the view of then having EMDR which again will be another wait, you can see why mental health problems are so big with endless waiting lists for everything. I could pay and go privately but am finding it really difficult to find a therapist that deals with cptsd/ trauma. Brain fog is the worse thing isn't it, I literally struggle to remember what I'm supposed to be doing from one moment to the next, when I hold conversations with people, I find myself drifting off on to different subjects without answering the first question, I see people giving me strange looks and then I realise I've drifted off the subject again! Interested to hear about your meditation although not so good that your symptoms are still the same. I've got my appointment on the 31st Jan so will be interested to see what he says.
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Boatsetsailrose on January 13, 2017, 06:54:33 PM
I am assured that you are going to be seeing a psych and possibility of seeing a trauma therapist .. this gives me hope
May I ask how you went about it all
I am interested in having emdr

I spoke with someone yesterday who sees a private psych quarterly (£250) and they then write to Gp and do the recommending of what is required ..
London and the south east seems the most up on private trauma services
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Boatsetsailrose on January 13, 2017, 06:57:21 PM
Please would you be able to share what he says at your appointment ...
I'd be so grateful
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Eyessoblue on January 13, 2017, 09:48:43 PM
Yes I will post once I've been. I started off by seeing my GP as my depression was really bad and was unable to sleep. She recommended seeing a counsellor who is based at the surgery I go to. I was very lucky and only had to wait a couple of weeks. The therapist was lovely and I felt very relaxed with her, she told me she thought I was suffering with cptsd brought on by childhood issues. You generally are only allowed 6 weeks of counselling but she managed to give me 8 on the NHS. By the end of the 8 weeks she said she wasn't happy about leaving me with nothing so spoke to my doctor and said she wanted to refer me to a psychologist for long term help. I had to wait a month then had an hour and a half appointment with her where she basically did an assessment on me where I had to answer lots of questions and explain how I felt. At the end of it she confirmed that I had cptsd and deep trauma which made me have anxiety and depression, she felt my antidepressants were no longer working and as she can't prescribe she had to refer me to a Psychiatrist to discuss it with. In her written assessment of me she has referred me to a Trauma therapist and a follow on from that will be EMDR but it's all on waiting lists so have no appointment yet. The therapist at my doctors said that in exceptional cases she can offer long term therapy and in my case she had spoken to the doctor and it was agreed that she could do that, I was hoping I would have heard from the trauma therapist and wouldn't need to do that but I've been waiting for some help since the end of September and finding it increasingly difficult trying to cope alone with no help so I may end up going back to the first therapist so I can get some help whilst I'm waiting. I'll keep you updated, I live in the south of England and therapy is very expensive privately.
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Boatsetsailrose on January 14, 2017, 08:51:47 PM
Thank you for sharing eyes so blue
I'm really happy to hear that you've had this experience so far, it gives me hope
I didn't think cptsd was diagnosed here so that is the first bit of hope I've got from what you've said ..
Good that the 1st therapist recognised and could name it
I did a lot of research and came to the conclusion that I have cptsd .. I went to the Gp and I was directed to self refer to a service - I was assigned the head child trauma therapist and we did 12 wks work..
I found it really good, supportive and helpful. The positive boost to my esteem, worth and potential made all the difference .. some time after I starting reducing off meds and then came off completely .. I felt good for 3 mths and then crash I really went down big time , not coping, bad anxiety/ terror and couldn't work - inner critic was awful , so loud and dehabilitating.. I went back on meds and have been in a 'holding position ' since.. I just about cope although my job is a massive stressor and I am handing my notice in next wk ..
I have a Gp appointment booked and want to see what may be on offer to me . I get scared that I'll get sent to a psychiatrist and get labelled with personality disorder that is my worst fear .. I couldn't go through that ..
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Eyessoblue on January 14, 2017, 09:26:37 PM
Hi, the 'crash' is awful isn't it, I've had it a few times, I normally start to feel I'm getting better and positive about things and then a 'trigger' sets me back again. I hope things work out for you, I am lucky at my surgery that I don't have to do a self referral and was referred by my doctor and got seen really quickly. What area of the uk do you live in? Not being nosey just wondered what the mental health system was like in your part of the country, it's very poor in the south east with waiting lists months long. Once I've seen the psychiatrist I will make up my mind whether to carry on waiting or go back to the original therapist, although I found it hard I was getting somewhere with her, and am now just 'dissociating ' at every opportunity as I can't deal with certain things and that is how I escape it. Wishing you all the best and am interested to hear in how you get on.
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Boatsetsailrose on January 15, 2017, 11:14:50 AM
Eyes so blue
I live in Bristol - I'm going to ask for an emergency Gp appoint tomor and also get in touch with nursing union for support re sickness ..
Can U go back to original therapist and still be on waiting list ?
I feel fed up with the whole thing today
Just want to binge eat to take it all away , but I know relapsing isn't the answer as I only have to 'wake up ' to it all again
Bored of it now but hey at least I'm in a place of possible change rather than battling it out at work
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Eyessoblue on January 15, 2017, 06:13:30 PM
I don't know if I can or not but will ask the question. I'm the same, binge eating gone crazy, I was the opposite a few months ago and hardly eating and now I can't stop especially at early hours of the morning just cramming whatever I can find and then feeling sick and guilty afterwards. Good for you, I hope you get results, please let me know. Take care.
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Boatsetsailrose on January 15, 2017, 10:14:08 PM
Thank you yes I will keep updated here
I got recovery in food addicts in recovery anonymous if u wanted to look on line
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Eyessoblue on January 16, 2017, 08:27:32 PM
Thank you will look at that, not heard of it. I've got an assessment appointment come through for next week on Thursday, at last starting to feel optimistic!
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Boatsetsailrose on January 16, 2017, 09:51:10 PM
Oh that's good news :)
I went to Gp today and she referred me to consultant re poss getting diagnosis and long term help
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Eyessoblue on January 17, 2017, 02:09:45 PM
Really pleased for you, keep me updated on your progress.
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Boatsetsailrose on March 18, 2017, 06:35:49 PM
Hi eyes so blue ..
got diagnosed with cptsd had a really positive exp with psych
On wait list for trauma therapy with a charity
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Eyessoblue on March 19, 2017, 04:04:01 PM
Hi, I'm on a waiting list for a trauma therapist now too, just finished cbt for 6 sessions which was ok helped a little but not a great deal really. I was really disappointed though when she told me my new trauma therapist was going to be a man, I freaked out and said there is no way I can sit in a room on my own with a man, she clearly hadn't given it a thought and just wanted to move me on to the next stage, she seemed a bit perplexed by it, but did assure me she would find me a female therapist and then said that obviously there is a problem with how I feel about that and will need to be addressed in therapy, again I thought you really haven't got a clue have you!
Good luck, will be interesting to see who gets their appointment first and how the trauma therapy works for each of us, they wanted me to have EMDR too but I've turned that down for the moment as don't feel ready for that at this time. Keep me updated on how you are getting on.
Title: Re: Brain fog ... what to do ?
Post by: Boatsetsailrose on March 19, 2017, 07:34:52 PM
Hi eyes so blue
Glad to hear you will get assigned a female .. I said female too
I mean we have the absolute right to specify which gender... doing such personal and deep work ...
Not neccessarily a problem hey ! Maybe just preference ...
yes keep updated :) all the best to you