Permanent Damage from Prozac/BuSpar?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/25/03 8:26:12 PM Mountain Standard Time,

lionhearted3838@... writes:

> (The experience is

> best expressed in the movie " Memento, " but not as extreme.) I've

>

I thought I was the only one who compared my memory loss to this movie! Your

story sounds pretty typical; you've even gone onto another potentially

dangerous drug to correct the damage that the first combo caused. You won't

get much support for that stance here, since most of us already know that

none of the drugs do anyone any good in the long run. I can totally

sympathize with the memory thing; it was the hardest part about writing my

book; I simply couldn't remember what the hell I had written from day to day,

consequently it took years to document my theories about the REAL purpose of

these drugs. Glad you found our group. Oh, and I've been off Paxil for 5

years, and I STILL have lingering side effects, including the memory thing

along with cognitive problems. Save your own life. Think about getting off

the Wellbutrin while you can. Cheers.

Glitter, author of <A HREF= " http://anxiety-panic.com/griffon " >Blind Reason</A>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/25/03 8:26:12 PM Mountain Standard Time,

lionhearted3838@... writes:

> (The experience is

> best expressed in the movie " Memento, " but not as extreme.) I've

>

I thought I was the only one who compared my memory loss to this movie! Your

story sounds pretty typical; you've even gone onto another potentially

dangerous drug to correct the damage that the first combo caused. You won't

get much support for that stance here, since most of us already know that

none of the drugs do anyone any good in the long run. I can totally

sympathize with the memory thing; it was the hardest part about writing my

book; I simply couldn't remember what the hell I had written from day to day,

consequently it took years to document my theories about the REAL purpose of

these drugs. Glad you found our group. Oh, and I've been off Paxil for 5

years, and I STILL have lingering side effects, including the memory thing

along with cognitive problems. Save your own life. Think about getting off

the Wellbutrin while you can. Cheers.

Glitter, author of <A HREF= " http://anxiety-panic.com/griffon " >Blind Reason</A>

[Guest guest]

Greetings, All,

Please excuse this cross-post from ProzacTruth, another group.

Perhaps someone here is not listed on that group and might have some

suggestions.

I used to be Prozac's biggest cheerleader (if a guy can be!), as I

felt INVINCIBLE on it and able to stop feeling cowed after 30 years.

I took Prozac/BuSpar for 6 years -- with a little break in between --

and loved them. I had to stop taking them in graduate school as they

made me quite lazy and made it difficult to remember things. I used

to be a reporter, and my short- and long-term memories were quite

sharp. On the meds, however, I couldn't remember something someone

just said, couldn't remember context or anything. (The experience is

best expressed in the movie " Memento, " but not as extreme.) I've

read where other reporters experienced the same thing.

Anyway, I stopped the BuSpar, then the Prozac (both gradually), and

the side effects didn't completely vanish. Perhaps you can help? The

stomache aches went away pretty quickly, but I still cannot remember

anything, and

THIS MIGHT BE OFFENSIVE

THIS MIGHT BE OFFENSIVE

THIS MIGHT BE OFFENSIVE

still experience inorgasmia, and cannot urinate properly. On top of

this, I've been unemployed for the last 7 months, and don't have any

insurance. When I was in school, I had to jump through numerous

hoops to speak to the school psychiatrist, and he said that

there's " nothing " in the medical literature that Prozac's effects

last after the drug has been discontinued. This really means

nothing, as the med literature touts Prozac for heightening memory,

if you can believe it! haha!

I went to a urologist -- nothing's wrong with my prostate -- and the

doctor said all of this could be psychological. If it is, I don't

know how to " get over " it. He recommended a cystoscopy (where they

thread something up you to see any blockages). I chickened out as

I'd have to be awake during the procedure. (Can you say " Yee-OW " ?!)

I stopped the meds a good year ago, but still have this fuzzy memory,

can't urinate properly, etc., and am going nuts. Dawn Rider, the

moderator here, recommended getting my glutathione level checked. I

had a " PSA " blood test done, and everything was normal. I'm using

Wellbutrin SR (150 mg daily) to hopefully restore my

dopamine/serotonin levels that Prozac might have altered. I'd

stocked up on the Wellbutrin -- and Prozac and BuSpar -- before I

went back to school, btw! This self-dosing is probably not a good

idea, but I'm really pinched here.

I could always retake the Prozac and BuSpar and hope that tapering

off them now " restores " me, but they could also make me worse. I

really don't know what to do. Perhaps you have some suggestions?

Many, many thanks.

P.S. As this group is quite active, while writing to congressmen and

senators helps, perhaps you should consider the press. Good

columnists are Cohen (Washington Post, I'm pretty sure) and

Kilpatrick (Washington Post?). Kilpatrick also writes a

grammar column (Sundays, I think), but tends to write about the

courts quite often. He leans to the left, as does Cohen. Just my 2

cts! :-)

Again, thanks for any information you provide.

Glenn

Easton, Pa.

[Guest guest]

Greetings, All,

Please excuse this cross-post from ProzacTruth, another group.

Perhaps someone here is not listed on that group and might have some

suggestions.

I used to be Prozac's biggest cheerleader (if a guy can be!), as I

felt INVINCIBLE on it and able to stop feeling cowed after 30 years.

I took Prozac/BuSpar for 6 years -- with a little break in between --

and loved them. I had to stop taking them in graduate school as they

made me quite lazy and made it difficult to remember things. I used

to be a reporter, and my short- and long-term memories were quite

sharp. On the meds, however, I couldn't remember something someone

just said, couldn't remember context or anything. (The experience is

best expressed in the movie " Memento, " but not as extreme.) I've

read where other reporters experienced the same thing.

Anyway, I stopped the BuSpar, then the Prozac (both gradually), and

the side effects didn't completely vanish. Perhaps you can help? The

stomache aches went away pretty quickly, but I still cannot remember

anything, and

THIS MIGHT BE OFFENSIVE

THIS MIGHT BE OFFENSIVE

THIS MIGHT BE OFFENSIVE

still experience inorgasmia, and cannot urinate properly. On top of

this, I've been unemployed for the last 7 months, and don't have any

insurance. When I was in school, I had to jump through numerous

hoops to speak to the school psychiatrist, and he said that

there's " nothing " in the medical literature that Prozac's effects

last after the drug has been discontinued. This really means

nothing, as the med literature touts Prozac for heightening memory,

if you can believe it! haha!

I went to a urologist -- nothing's wrong with my prostate -- and the

doctor said all of this could be psychological. If it is, I don't

know how to " get over " it. He recommended a cystoscopy (where they

thread something up you to see any blockages). I chickened out as

I'd have to be awake during the procedure. (Can you say " Yee-OW " ?!)

I stopped the meds a good year ago, but still have this fuzzy memory,

can't urinate properly, etc., and am going nuts. Dawn Rider, the

moderator here, recommended getting my glutathione level checked. I

had a " PSA " blood test done, and everything was normal. I'm using

Wellbutrin SR (150 mg daily) to hopefully restore my

dopamine/serotonin levels that Prozac might have altered. I'd

stocked up on the Wellbutrin -- and Prozac and BuSpar -- before I

went back to school, btw! This self-dosing is probably not a good

idea, but I'm really pinched here.

I could always retake the Prozac and BuSpar and hope that tapering

off them now " restores " me, but they could also make me worse. I

really don't know what to do. Perhaps you have some suggestions?

Many, many thanks.

P.S. As this group is quite active, while writing to congressmen and

senators helps, perhaps you should consider the press. Good

columnists are Cohen (Washington Post, I'm pretty sure) and

Kilpatrick (Washington Post?). Kilpatrick also writes a

grammar column (Sundays, I think), but tends to write about the

courts quite often. He leans to the left, as does Cohen. Just my 2

cts! :-)

Again, thanks for any information you provide.

Glenn

Easton, Pa.

[Guest guest]

> > (The experience is

> > best expressed in the movie " Memento, " but not as extreme.) I've

> >

>

> I thought I was the only one who compared my memory loss to this

movie! Your

> story sounds pretty typical; I've been off Paxil for 5

> years, and I STILL have lingering side effects, including the

memory thing

> along with cognitive problems.

Oh, God, that's about the worst thing you could've told me! But I'm

glad you did. And I'm glad I found someone with the same problem.

So what did you do? Did you consider filing a lawsuit? How did you

get your memory back? Did you take ginko or something...or visit

wishing wells frequently?

Once I'm employed I " ll prob'ly have a cystoscopy...and go from

there. I don't think there's any blockage or that it's in my

head...I think it's an after effect.

For my memory -- is it like this for you? -- I just can't remember

things that just happened. This after effect seems to have come

about when I went back on the Prozac/BuSpar the 2nd time. I don't

know how to improve my memory or anything, as no matter how hard I

try, I can't improve it.

Your comments about all this, please.

marc

[Guest guest]

> > (The experience is

> > best expressed in the movie " Memento, " but not as extreme.) I've

> >

>

> I thought I was the only one who compared my memory loss to this

movie! Your

> story sounds pretty typical; I've been off Paxil for 5

> years, and I STILL have lingering side effects, including the

memory thing

> along with cognitive problems.

Oh, God, that's about the worst thing you could've told me! But I'm

glad you did. And I'm glad I found someone with the same problem.

So what did you do? Did you consider filing a lawsuit? How did you

get your memory back? Did you take ginko or something...or visit

wishing wells frequently?

Once I'm employed I " ll prob'ly have a cystoscopy...and go from

there. I don't think there's any blockage or that it's in my

head...I think it's an after effect.

For my memory -- is it like this for you? -- I just can't remember

things that just happened. This after effect seems to have come

about when I went back on the Prozac/BuSpar the 2nd time. I don't

know how to improve my memory or anything, as no matter how hard I

try, I can't improve it.

Your comments about all this, please.

marc

[Guest guest]

Dear Marc: The memory problems are the worst part of this for me. I finally

developed a system of lists, lists of lists, in order to keep any semblance

of organization in my life. The master list says at the top " Look at Lists. "

Without a list for each day, I would continue to do some of the crazy things

I did before I developed the list system -- like buying 30 pounds of potatoes

in one week because I couldn't remember having bought them the day before, so

every day that I went to the market I bought 5 lbs of potatoes. It's been

particularly hard to write with these problems; the first book I wrote was

excruciatingly painful becuase I had to look up almost every word I wrote,

along with basic grammar rules, which were completely wiped out of my memory.

I had to relearn my vocabularly all over again, and I still have problems,

but thank God for dictionaries (I own 5 of them) and a good Thesaurus!

Nothing I tried improved anything very much. As with any brain injury, you

have to retrain your brain to process info. My greatest regret in life is

having taken these drugs - Paxil only, but it forever changed my life, and

not for the better.

Glitter, author of <A HREF= " http://anxiety-panic.com/griffon " >Blind Reason</A>

[Guest guest]

Dear Marc: The memory problems are the worst part of this for me. I finally

developed a system of lists, lists of lists, in order to keep any semblance

of organization in my life. The master list says at the top " Look at Lists. "

Without a list for each day, I would continue to do some of the crazy things

I did before I developed the list system -- like buying 30 pounds of potatoes

in one week because I couldn't remember having bought them the day before, so

every day that I went to the market I bought 5 lbs of potatoes. It's been

particularly hard to write with these problems; the first book I wrote was

excruciatingly painful becuase I had to look up almost every word I wrote,

along with basic grammar rules, which were completely wiped out of my memory.

I had to relearn my vocabularly all over again, and I still have problems,

but thank God for dictionaries (I own 5 of them) and a good Thesaurus!

Nothing I tried improved anything very much. As with any brain injury, you

have to retrain your brain to process info. My greatest regret in life is

having taken these drugs - Paxil only, but it forever changed my life, and

not for the better.

Glitter, author of <A HREF= " http://anxiety-panic.com/griffon " >Blind Reason</A>

[Guest guest]

Marc, you are continuing on the wellbutrin, I read three of these

groups and we have all told you wellbutrin does the same thing to

you.... your memory and other problems were not there prior to your

drug use... get it all A L L out of your system very slowly by

tappering your drugs... don't use any ginko or other herbs at this

time, they too affect these same areas of the brain... you are

playing with fire if you don't get a new mindset going... the stuff

you took did this to you... you cannot find another magic pill to

cure the damage done by the drugs... Our bodies are wonderful works

of nature and have the ability to heal... allow your body to take

over and get off all drugs... a good nutritional supplement will help

alot as you get off the drugs and eating a good low carb diet helps

too. Drinking lots of water with a lemon slice in it actually helps

to de- acidify your very acidic body, a more alkalin body will heal

faster... also try to sleep and exercise gently, don't ever over-do

it as it can set you back..... good luck,

>

> > > (The experience is

> > > best expressed in the movie " Memento, " but not as extreme.)

I've

> > >

> >

> > I thought I was the only one who compared my memory loss to this

> movie! Your

> > story sounds pretty typical; I've been off Paxil for 5

> > years, and I STILL have lingering side effects, including the

> memory thing

> > along with cognitive problems.

>

>

> Oh, God, that's about the worst thing you could've told me! But

I'm

> glad you did. And I'm glad I found someone with the same problem.

> So what did you do? Did you consider filing a lawsuit? How did

you

> get your memory back? Did you take ginko or something...or visit

> wishing wells frequently?

>

> Once I'm employed I " ll prob'ly have a cystoscopy...and go from

> there. I don't think there's any blockage or that it's in my

> head...I think it's an after effect.

>

> For my memory -- is it like this for you? -- I just can't remember

> things that just happened. This after effect seems to have come

> about when I went back on the Prozac/BuSpar the 2nd time. I don't

> know how to improve my memory or anything, as no matter how hard I

> try, I can't improve it.

>

> Your comments about all this, please.

>

>

> marc

[Guest guest]

Marc, you are continuing on the wellbutrin, I read three of these

groups and we have all told you wellbutrin does the same thing to

you.... your memory and other problems were not there prior to your

drug use... get it all A L L out of your system very slowly by

tappering your drugs... don't use any ginko or other herbs at this

time, they too affect these same areas of the brain... you are

playing with fire if you don't get a new mindset going... the stuff

you took did this to you... you cannot find another magic pill to

cure the damage done by the drugs... Our bodies are wonderful works

of nature and have the ability to heal... allow your body to take

over and get off all drugs... a good nutritional supplement will help

alot as you get off the drugs and eating a good low carb diet helps

too. Drinking lots of water with a lemon slice in it actually helps

to de- acidify your very acidic body, a more alkalin body will heal

faster... also try to sleep and exercise gently, don't ever over-do

it as it can set you back..... good luck,

>

> > > (The experience is

> > > best expressed in the movie " Memento, " but not as extreme.)

I've

> > >

> >

> > I thought I was the only one who compared my memory loss to this

> movie! Your

> > story sounds pretty typical; I've been off Paxil for 5

> > years, and I STILL have lingering side effects, including the

> memory thing

> > along with cognitive problems.

>

>

> Oh, God, that's about the worst thing you could've told me! But

I'm

> glad you did. And I'm glad I found someone with the same problem.

> So what did you do? Did you consider filing a lawsuit? How did

you

> get your memory back? Did you take ginko or something...or visit

> wishing wells frequently?

>

> Once I'm employed I " ll prob'ly have a cystoscopy...and go from

> there. I don't think there's any blockage or that it's in my

> head...I think it's an after effect.

>

> For my memory -- is it like this for you? -- I just can't remember

> things that just happened. This after effect seems to have come

> about when I went back on the Prozac/BuSpar the 2nd time. I don't

> know how to improve my memory or anything, as no matter how hard I

> try, I can't improve it.

>

> Your comments about all this, please.

>

>

> marc

[Guest guest]

Dear Glen,

There is a directory of physicians that try to use non drug solutions

whenever possible for various ailments on this site:

http://www.alternativementalhealth.com

Just scroll down until you see the link for the physician's directory

and follow the links. Maybe you can find someone in your area that

can help you with the specific problems you are having. But your

biggest problem right now as I see it is the Wellbutrin. Glen, ALL

psychiatric drugs are dangerous; you might be able to tolerate the

wellbutrin better than the others, but believe me, over the long haul

you are doing who knows what kind of damage to your body.

Did you ever get your glutathione levels checked?

Also, there's an excellent clinic called the Pfeiffer Center (I

think). I can't remember what the link is, but they're having great

success in helping people get off psych drugs, and then time is spent

to explore the real reasons why the patient is having problems. Once

the real problem can be identified, the right solution can then be

determined.

On this group, safeharbor2 there's a

few professionals who visit and observe what's being said. They

might be able to help you identify what is going on.

Dawn

> Greetings, All,

>

> Please excuse this cross-post from ProzacTruth, another

group.

> Perhaps someone here is not listed on that group and might have

some

> suggestions.

>

> I used to be Prozac's biggest cheerleader (if a guy can be!), as I

> felt INVINCIBLE on it and able to stop feeling cowed after 30

years.

> I took Prozac/BuSpar for 6 years -- with a little break in between -

-

> and loved them. I had to stop taking them in graduate school as

they

> made me quite lazy and made it difficult to remember things. I

used

> to be a reporter, and my short- and long-term memories were quite

> sharp. On the meds, however, I couldn't remember something someone

> just said, couldn't remember context or anything. (The experience

is

> best expressed in the movie " Memento, " but not as extreme.) I've

> read where other reporters experienced the same thing.

>

> Anyway, I stopped the BuSpar, then the Prozac (both gradually), and

> the side effects didn't completely vanish. Perhaps you can help?

The

> stomache aches went away pretty quickly, but I still cannot

remember

> anything, and

>

>

> THIS MIGHT BE OFFENSIVE

> THIS MIGHT BE OFFENSIVE

> THIS MIGHT BE OFFENSIVE

>

>

> still experience inorgasmia, and cannot urinate properly. On top of

> this, I've been unemployed for the last 7 months, and don't have

any

> insurance. When I was in school, I had to jump through numerous

> hoops to speak to the school psychiatrist, and he said that

> there's " nothing " in the medical literature that Prozac's effects

> last after the drug has been discontinued. This really means

> nothing, as the med literature touts Prozac for heightening memory,

> if you can believe it! haha!

>

> I went to a urologist -- nothing's wrong with my prostate -- and

the

> doctor said all of this could be psychological. If it is, I don't

> know how to " get over " it. He recommended a cystoscopy (where they

> thread something up you to see any blockages). I chickened out as

> I'd have to be awake during the procedure. (Can you say " Yee-

OW " ?!)

>

> I stopped the meds a good year ago, but still have this fuzzy

memory,

> can't urinate properly, etc., and am going nuts. Dawn Rider, the

> moderator here, recommended getting my glutathione level checked.

I

> had a " PSA " blood test done, and everything was normal. I'm using

> Wellbutrin SR (150 mg daily) to hopefully restore my

> dopamine/serotonin levels that Prozac might have altered. I'd

> stocked up on the Wellbutrin -- and Prozac and BuSpar -- before I

> went back to school, btw! This self-dosing is probably not a good

> idea, but I'm really pinched here.

>

> I could always retake the Prozac and BuSpar and hope that tapering

> off them now " restores " me, but they could also make me worse. I

> really don't know what to do. Perhaps you have some suggestions?

>

> Many, many thanks.

>

>

> P.S. As this group is quite active, while writing to congressmen

and

> senators helps, perhaps you should consider the press. Good

> columnists are Cohen (Washington Post, I'm pretty sure) and

> Kilpatrick (Washington Post?). Kilpatrick also writes a

> grammar column (Sundays, I think), but tends to write about the

> courts quite often. He leans to the left, as does Cohen. Just my

2

> cts! :-)

>

> Again, thanks for any information you provide.

>

>

> Glenn

> Easton, Pa.

[Guest guest]

Dear Glen,

There is a directory of physicians that try to use non drug solutions

whenever possible for various ailments on this site:

http://www.alternativementalhealth.com

Just scroll down until you see the link for the physician's directory

and follow the links. Maybe you can find someone in your area that

can help you with the specific problems you are having. But your

biggest problem right now as I see it is the Wellbutrin. Glen, ALL

psychiatric drugs are dangerous; you might be able to tolerate the

wellbutrin better than the others, but believe me, over the long haul

you are doing who knows what kind of damage to your body.

Did you ever get your glutathione levels checked?

Also, there's an excellent clinic called the Pfeiffer Center (I

think). I can't remember what the link is, but they're having great

success in helping people get off psych drugs, and then time is spent

to explore the real reasons why the patient is having problems. Once

the real problem can be identified, the right solution can then be

determined.

On this group, safeharbor2 there's a

few professionals who visit and observe what's being said. They

might be able to help you identify what is going on.

Dawn

> Greetings, All,

>

> Please excuse this cross-post from ProzacTruth, another

group.

> Perhaps someone here is not listed on that group and might have

some

> suggestions.

>

> I used to be Prozac's biggest cheerleader (if a guy can be!), as I

> felt INVINCIBLE on it and able to stop feeling cowed after 30

years.

> I took Prozac/BuSpar for 6 years -- with a little break in between -

-

> and loved them. I had to stop taking them in graduate school as

they

> made me quite lazy and made it difficult to remember things. I

used

> to be a reporter, and my short- and long-term memories were quite

> sharp. On the meds, however, I couldn't remember something someone

> just said, couldn't remember context or anything. (The experience

is

> best expressed in the movie " Memento, " but not as extreme.) I've

> read where other reporters experienced the same thing.

>

> Anyway, I stopped the BuSpar, then the Prozac (both gradually), and

> the side effects didn't completely vanish. Perhaps you can help?

The

> stomache aches went away pretty quickly, but I still cannot

remember

> anything, and

>

>

> THIS MIGHT BE OFFENSIVE

> THIS MIGHT BE OFFENSIVE

> THIS MIGHT BE OFFENSIVE

>

>

> still experience inorgasmia, and cannot urinate properly. On top of

> this, I've been unemployed for the last 7 months, and don't have

any

> insurance. When I was in school, I had to jump through numerous

> hoops to speak to the school psychiatrist, and he said that

> there's " nothing " in the medical literature that Prozac's effects

> last after the drug has been discontinued. This really means

> nothing, as the med literature touts Prozac for heightening memory,

> if you can believe it! haha!

>

> I went to a urologist -- nothing's wrong with my prostate -- and

the

> doctor said all of this could be psychological. If it is, I don't

> know how to " get over " it. He recommended a cystoscopy (where they

> thread something up you to see any blockages). I chickened out as

> I'd have to be awake during the procedure. (Can you say " Yee-

OW " ?!)

>

> I stopped the meds a good year ago, but still have this fuzzy

memory,

> can't urinate properly, etc., and am going nuts. Dawn Rider, the

> moderator here, recommended getting my glutathione level checked.

I

> had a " PSA " blood test done, and everything was normal. I'm using

> Wellbutrin SR (150 mg daily) to hopefully restore my

> dopamine/serotonin levels that Prozac might have altered. I'd

> stocked up on the Wellbutrin -- and Prozac and BuSpar -- before I

> went back to school, btw! This self-dosing is probably not a good

> idea, but I'm really pinched here.

>

> I could always retake the Prozac and BuSpar and hope that tapering

> off them now " restores " me, but they could also make me worse. I

> really don't know what to do. Perhaps you have some suggestions?

>

> Many, many thanks.

>

>

> P.S. As this group is quite active, while writing to congressmen

and

> senators helps, perhaps you should consider the press. Good

> columnists are Cohen (Washington Post, I'm pretty sure) and

> Kilpatrick (Washington Post?). Kilpatrick also writes a

> grammar column (Sundays, I think), but tends to write about the

> courts quite often. He leans to the left, as does Cohen. Just my

2

> cts! :-)

>

> Again, thanks for any information you provide.

>

>

> Glenn

> Easton, Pa.