u/Alarmed-Leader-7033

Been on escitalopram for 18 years. Just decided, hey, what else is out there? Let’s try it out. Because with every other med, your body builds tolerance to. So I’m sure this is happening to me.

First I tried sertraline and damn, that was the best I ever mentally felt. But unfortunately the fatigue was soooooo bad, I felt like a zombie for four weeks. Couldn’t even remember things I did, couldn’t function at all. Had to quit it and keep trying. Then tried duloxetine, and nope, side effects worse than the positive (which wasn’t really anything)

Now I’m on Paxil. Please, cross your fingers this works for me.

Anyone have advice on the sertraline? If I try it again, how long does the fatigue last?! Because 4 weeks and no change was not manageable but it did wonders for my brain.

Edit to say: I’m also on bupropion which works well for me, but my dr will not up the dose without a psychiatrist on hand. (Going on 5 years on the wait list, there is one in my province)

Context: 35f, depression since 12. On meds since 12. Past 4 months been trialing new meds as I felt maybe my body was getting used to the med I took for so long, something out there could be better. Recently realized I’m in the throes of anhedonia..

For the past 6 months or so, my processing speed, memory and attention span has been dwindling. I keep chalking it up to the different meds I’m trying, with-drawling and starting over, over and over.

I used to be so dang sharp. Witty. Joke on the drop of a hat. Multitasking queen, I could remember every single note, face, name and task I did at work the past 2 years prior.

Now I am making mistakes. Doing things I don’t really remember doing. Unable to fully concentrate, or multitask. I just started a new job so how embarrassing is it, when I used to be so damn confident in everything I did, because I was GOOD. Anything I tried to do, I usually succeeded. Extremely competitive, had to be the best, usually was.

Now I feel like on top of my body failing me (joints feel like they are disintegrating, partly from being in bed too much from anhedonia) a few knee surgeries, foot surgeries, bilateral hand surgery upcoming..

I’m terrified that my brain is following this route. My IQ is something I highly rely on, something I’m proud of. Learning and knowledge has always made me happy, I thrived. Now I feel like my brain is so fucking full of nothing, I can’t even think anymore. I don’t have a lot of responsibility, on my own accord, due to said mental illness, but I have now, for example, forgotten my god damn doctor appointment phone call THREE TIMES IN A ROW. She’s threatening to cancel me. three times!!!!!! I had sticky notes on my desk and an alarm on my phone, and still, at that exact minute, forgot about them. Thought completely disappeared from my brain within 10 minutes of telling myself: DONT FORGET!

I’m so scared this is a permanent thing, and not just brain fog from medication changes and work environment changes. This is not me. I feel stupid. And I know I’m no where near stupid. The info is all there, the knowledge of what I have to do is there, but I become overwhelmed so much easier now. And I feel this is a very quick and drastic change. It wasn’t slow.

I don’t feel like myself. Is this how disease works? Am I just going to get worse? Is there science behind depression and loss of brain function? Can anyone comment on that?

Tell me the truth, good or bad. But please don’t comment on my lifestyle or my mental illness in a negative way.

Context: 35f, depression since 12. On meds since 12. Past 4 months been trialing new meds as I felt maybe my body was getting used to the med I took for so long, something out there could be better.

For the past 6 months or so, my processing speed, memory and attention span has been dwindling. I keep chalking it up to the different meds I’m trying, with-drawling and starting over, over and over.

I used to be so fucking sharp. Witty. Joke on the drop of a hat. Multitasking queen, I could remember every single note, face, name and task I did at work the past 2 years prior.

Now I am making mistakes. Doing things I don’t really remember doing. Unable to fully concentrate, or multitask. I just started a new job so how embarrassing is it, when I used to be so damn confident in everything I did, because I was GOOD. Anything I tried to do, I usually succeeded. Extremely competitive, had to be the best, usually was.

Now I feel like on top of my body failing me (joints feel like they are disintegrating, partly from being in bed too much from anhedonia) a few knee surgeries, foot surgeries, bilateral hand surgery upcoming..

I’m terrified that my brain is following this route. My IQ is something I highly rely on, something I’m proud of. Learning and knowledge has always made me happy, I thrived. Now I feel like my brain is so fucking full of nothing, I can’t even think anymore. I don’t have a lot of responsibility, on my own accord, due to said mental illness, but I have now, for example, forgotten my god damn doctor appointment phone call THREE TIMES IN A ROW. She’s threatening to cancel me. three times!!!!!! I had sticky notes on my desk and an alarm on my phone, and still, at that exact minute, forgot about them. Thought completely disappeared from my brain within 10 minutes of telling myself: DONT FORGET!

I’m so scared this is a permanent thing, and not just brain fog from medication changes and work environment changes. This is not me. I feel stupid. And I know I’m no where near stupid. The info is all there, the knowledge of what I have to do is there, but I become overwhelmed so much easier now. And I feel this is a very quick and drastic change. It wasn’t slow.

I don’t feel like myself. Is this how disease works? Am I just going to get worse? Is there science behind depression and loss of brain function?