Advice for reducing SSRI induced brain fog
I (19) was on Lexapro in 2024 for social anxiety and stopped after a year because of crazy brain fog. I started Wellbutrin half a year after starting the Lexapro and while it helped dramatically by increasing energy, mood, and motivation (which were all major side effects of lex), the brain fog is still there. It’s been about half a year since I stopped the lex and the brain fog isn’t going away. It’s really reducing my quality of life so I’m getting desperate for a solution. I’ve tried the basics like eating well, exercising, going outside, drinking coffee… but nothing helps.
I’m still on the Wellbutrin and likely won’t stop for a long time because it’s basically gotten rid of my depression and anhedonia. It’s also the best solution I’ve found for minimizing brain fog (but not removing it completely). So, I’m looking for some nootropics to help.
I was also on Zoloft when I was 14 and abused it by giving myself several mild cases of serotonin syndrome which I think messed up my brain a bit. I still have tremors and bruxism from it. Might be another reason for the brain fog.
I’ve tried semax intranasally and didn’t have the greatest reaction, as it gave me dizziness and really bad fatigue (although I think I may have gotten a bad batch, or made the nasal spray wrong?). I’ve been interested in trying it subq though.
I’ve also done some research on noopept and cerebrolysin, which I’ve heard mixed things about. Advice?