Posted by circusboy on July 29, 2006, at 22:48:04
In reply to Supplements for Cognition and Memory, posted by honeybee on June 14, 2006, at 16:21:29
Cognitive effects are absolutely part of my depressions! In fact, I think they're primary. Social withdrawal and self-loathing follow the awful realization that I can't write anymore, I can't think fast enough to have an interesting conversation, etc... I used to feel like there was a sort of ceiling on my intelligence, made all the more painful because it was transparent.
First, I'm curious about what other AD's you've tried? I have this mildly-informed hypothesis that I kept going back to Prozac because -- at first, anyway -- its anxiety-inducing 5HT2C agonism is *motivating*, and, more importantly, fluoxetine is the most noradrenergic SSRI. (Effexor is an even more noradrenergic SRI, of course, but it also has fogginess-inducing side-effects).
Second, I've noticed that, over time (months), Prozac at 20mg has a significant detrimental impact on my concentration and working memory. I think this probably has to do with increased 5-HT signaling reducing dopaminergic tone in the prefrontal cortex. So after a few months of flx I'm as -- or more -- creative than ever, but my head is constantly buzzing and I can't keep anything straight. This is less of a problem at 20mg every other day.
Third, (why am I counting again?) to get back to my first point: I think I liked Prozac better than e.g. Celexa, and sort of liked Effexor, is because it is something of a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. I say this because, when I finally tried desipramine, it was a revelation. My head quieted, I could think rationally, I felt the furthest from depression I had in years. (Unfortunately it caused terrible insomnia, and I had to quit).
Anyway. To half-answer your question (I'll actually answer it soon, I promise!): what has mostly relieved this cognitive awfulness, on and off of Prozac, is methylphenidate. I'm not sure you'll find an adequate supplemental substitute.
That said, I think the following are worth trying:
- L-tyrosine, 500 - 2000mg. Half an hour before breakfast. I take 1000mg. It helps a bit with energy and concentration (and smooths out the Ritalin). Phenylalanine gives me headaches. Idea, of course, is to increase brain dopamine and norepinephrine, two neurotransmitters much more important to cognitive stuff than serotonin.
- Try Ginkgo; it might help reduce Prozac's sexual side-effects as well. It would keep me up if I took it at dinner, so I took 240mg split between breakfast and lunch. After about a month of Ginkgo therapy I was thinking more clearly, but I'm not sure it deserves the credit..? I quit when I switched from Prozac to desipramine. It's worth a try, anyway.
Hope I've been coherent enough to be of help. :)
-cb
poster:circusboy
thread:656961
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20060704/msgs/671894.html