Sertraline.... Memory Loss & A Twisted Tongue

[devildoc130]

Good Morning!

Hope everyone had a great weekend. So I've been taking Sertraline for PTSD for about 2 years. (150mg) It's been a love/hate relationship. I'm also on a few other medications for nightmares/anxiety.

Well since I've been taking this medication I've had trouble remembering a lot of things. Important things, like appointments. Some small things too. I've also am feeling like I need to think about words before I say them and sometimes I get "tongue tied." It's hard for me to talk to people, I just feel sidetracked and end up zoning out. Yes, the medication has been doing what it's designed to do for me. Definitely takes the "edge" off. I can function a little better with my PTSD. Has this happened to anyone else?

Since I've been taking this medication for what I consider to be a long time, I know I'm dependent on it. If I miss 1 day (later on in the day im not sure if I took it in the morning or not...) and take it the following day It feels like I just started taking the 150mg. (I feel really "high" or like a "zombie") If anyone else has experienced this before, I would like to know what they have to say about this or any helpful suggestions.

Thank you. Hope all is well with everyone. Take care. I am stationed overseas in Japan, so I will check back as soon as I have time. Out.

Stephen
devildoc130

 

[Ice_Fire]

Hi Stephen,

I'm on Sertraline too, nowhere near as long as you've been on it though, just a few months. I've found that I'm getting really forgetful, distressingly so. But like you, it's doing what it is supposed to and for that I'm grateful.

150mg...200mg is the max dose, right? Maybe now the PTSD symptoms are more under control its time to adjust the dosage down a bit, to combat the side effects? Just a thought.

Oh, have you found you've been really sleepy during the day, or is that just me?!

 

[devildoc130]

Hi Ice_Fire,

Yes, I tend to feel more sluggish and tired. Correct 200mg is the max dosage. Sometimes I feel motivated to get tasks accomplished and other times on the complete opposite end. It always seems to be a roller coaster ride. Thanks for the suggestion though. :tup:

 

[HëllaBubz]

I've been on Sertraline for about the same amount of time as you have devildoc, and my therapist has started me on a newer version called Pristiq.

It really does depend on whether or not your body's imbalance is correctly addressed by the way the drug works.
Have a look at SSRI's vs SNRI's, and see how you go.

They are quite similar, so moving from one to the other was, for me, almost symptom free.

 

[JustBe]

Yes, I too had trouble functioning while on Sertraline. I had to come off of it a year ago last October. I did it too fast and came off of Xanax and Serax at the same time. Six months of brain zaps, tears and hellish depression was the price for that, but it was worth it to get my mind back from the medication fog.

 

[Ice_Fire]

Have a look at SSRI's vs SNRI's

Never even heard of SNRI's. I can't make my mind up whether the Sertraline is the issue, or if it's just me and I'd be more bonkers without it!

 

[BloomInWinter]

Have a look at SSRI's vs SNRI's, and see how you go.

This is an interesting topic. :>

Can you please explain the acronyms & a brief definition? I've not heard of SNRI's. What does it stand for?

 

[HëllaBubz]

This is an interesting topic. :>

Right! *Deep breath*

You've opened a can of worms here, so I'll do my best to explain......it's not controversial, but a tiny bit complicated.
I will attempt to summarise, but please be aware that there is much, much more information, and this should NOT be taken as the only true statements on this topic.

The body releases 3 hormones which are most widely recognized as those that effect depression.....as in cause, not affect, depression.

These are;

Noradrenaline - this is a neurotransmitter, and increase of this hormone will increase contractions of the heart. It is also responsible, along with another hormone, for stress responses, such as the 'fight or flight' response. It plays a large part in decision making.

Dopamine - this is a neurotransmitter, largely responsible for reward-driven learning mechanisms, it also acts on the sympathetic nervous system, causing effects to heart rate and blood pressure.
It plays a very important role in behaviour, cognition, volantary movement, punishment and reward, motivation, inhibition of prolactin (affects sexual gratification), sleep, dreaming, mood, attention, working memory and learning.

Seratonin - involved in the regulation of mood, sleep, appetite, and partial involvement in cognitive functions such as memory and learning. This hormone is also responsible for dominant behavior, a lacking of this will lead to an imbalance which allows octopamine to dominate, influencing subordinate behavior, anxiety, obsession and compulsions.

Now, with all of that being said, the difference between SSRI's and SNRI's is, in my limited understand, as follows.

SSRI - Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitor - this drug class is believed to work by inhibiting the cells from reabsorbing the seratonin that they had released previously.
Therefore assisting a consistent balance in the system that would have resulting in low levels of the hormone, should the cells have been allowed to reabsorb the hormone.

Main understood uses for this drug class are for clinical depression and anxiety disorders.
Given that PTSD and depression are usually co-morbid, and therefore more than one major hormone is out of balance, it is my understanding that it is not the first choice for use in treatment with PTSD, although individuals are different, so the effects vary.

It is interesting to note that SSRI's have been known to be used in treating premature ejaculation, such is the effect on the sexual functions.

SNRI - Seratonin Noradrenalin Reuptake Inhibitor - This drug class works similarly to the SSRI's, however it has been found to have good effect on major depressive disorders by not only targeting seratonin, but noradrenaline also, with trace amounts of dopamine included.
This has been shown to increase neurotransmission, which allows higher levels of alertness, energy, anxiety, attention and interest in life.

It is also noted that SNRI's may have effects similar to that of SSRI's with regards to sexual function, however the SNRI drug class has a largely opposite effect, increasing libido.

The efficacy of antidepressant effects of SSRI vs SNRI is lower, SSRI at 59.3%, SNRI at 63.6%

It should also be noted that differing levels of hormones in the body will dictate the efficacy of one drug class vs another.

I hope that was clear enough, let me know if I scrambled anything, that was a bit of a brain drain.

 

[Ice_Fire]

Okay...so I see why SSRI's are not necessarily ideal for PTSD, but they treat the depressive symptoms, therefore alleviating some of the problem.

This has been shown to increase neurotransmission, which allows higher levels of alertness, energy, anxiety, attention and interest in life.

This I'm not so sure of. SNRI's increase anxiety? Surely that's not great for PTSD? So would an SSRI not be better for anxiety regulation?

Thanks for your information.

 

[HëllaBubz]

Hi Ice,

It doesn't increase anxiety, but rather allows the levels which are already there to be allowed out.
For example, on Zoloft (SSRI), I was constantly tired and depressed, but found it really hard to cry or to let my feelings out.

On Pristiq (SNRI) I can now feel those emotions without them overwhelming me, a twinge of anxiety, recognising it and then dealing with it, is much better than not being able to feel, and therefore any attempts at therapy are somewhat dislocated because the applicability is not there as much.

I am also able to focus on my homework much better, on my previous medication, even attempting my previous post would have been laughable, I was completely incapable of it.
The only thing I find on SSRI's is that I have to make an active effort to wind down before bed time, otherwise I stay too alert, and cannot sleep.

A little bit of classical music, reading sleeping scripts and a few sprays of Rescue Remedy usually takes care of that though.

 

[devildoc130]

Thank you everyone for the information. Ill do some more research and talk to my Psychiatrist about it. Since I've been going through PTSD, I've learned so much about psychology and medications. It is very interesting.

 

[littlelostchild]

Thank you Bubzilla - I have just been switched from Pristiq to Zoloft. Your explanation of the difference between these 2 types of meds was timely and makes a whole lot of sense to me.

I was on Paxil for 12 years which worked really well, but I had a major pshyc event and had my meds changed about 8 months ago. On the Prestiq I literally wanted to rip my head off at times (too much anxiety). I am hoping the Zoloft will work better as it doesn't have the extra anxiety boost (I think I have enough anxiety coursing around in me already).

This thread really helped me understand!