![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by scatterbrained on September 10, 2004, at 16:27:40
I suffer from a VERY debilitating case of depression/Bipolar2 w/ severe cognitive problems. I've tried many antidepressants w/ only transient and mild relief.Right now I'm on Lamictal-200, Zoloft-100, Serequel-50 and SAM-E-1600.The cognitve problems I have are very a-typical. One doctor told me it was thought blocking and another thinks it's some sort of memory problem.This is what happens:I start thinking of something in my head like for example "Today I need to..." and then everything goes blank, I'm not sure if I forget my train of thought or if it's thought blocking, or both. Has anybody else experienced this? Ironically, the only time this problem goes away seems to be when I'm manic(But not everytime I'm manic).Unfortunatly the mania only last a day for me.Strangely, it's easier for me to speak than to think in my head. This makes it really hard for me to convince doctors that this is really happening because I'm fairly articulate. I don't really care what it is as long as I can take something to make it go away. I tried geodon and it seemed to help, but I couldn't handle the side effects of the drug and it seemed to only work fully durring strange manic states that I got while on it.Adderal seemed to help as well, but only for two days and then I was worse off than before.Serequel seemed to work mildly and not in a strange mixed way like the geodon had but not in as full a way either. Thw serequel seems to have worn off as well. My doctor has put me on concerta which I haven't taken yet and am a bit hessitant to take because after the other stimulants that I tried wore off, I was worse off than before. It seems to me that if this "thinking problem" IS thought blocking, which is a sort of psychotic symptom(although usually accompanied by many more),the stimulant might make it worse in the long run;studies have shown that this has happened.I need some advice. My doctor wants to put me on an anti-alztiemers drug for memory if the concerta doesn't help. I don't know if I'm going in the right direction;he's going on a stimulant route w/ me now and I don't know if I should go up on the serequel before I do that.
Posted by Sebastian on September 10, 2004, at 20:51:36
In reply to Thought blocking or memory problems or BOTH, posted by scatterbrained on September 10, 2004, at 16:27:40
I had a lot of problems with thought blocking directly after masive ECT's. Over the years parts of my memory have returned. Currently I take zyprexa, have you tried that, it works realy well. Once a day so it does not wear off.
Posted by scatterbrained on September 10, 2004, at 22:32:04
In reply to Re: Thought blocking or memory problems or BOTH » scatterbrained, posted by Sebastian on September 10, 2004, at 20:51:36
Thanks for your advice. I've never had ECT and am only 21 so it's a little odd that these cognitive/thinking problems are so severe.Was your thought blocking similar to what I have described?In your case, do you think it was related to the ECT or related to the illness itself? are your memory problems independant from the thought blocking problem you used to have?Sorry for all the questions, but understanding other peoples illness helps me figure out mine.Thanks
Posted by mike lynch on September 10, 2004, at 22:59:51
In reply to Thought blocking or memory problems or BOTH, posted by scatterbrained on September 10, 2004, at 16:27:40
> I suffer from a VERY debilitating case of depression/Bipolar2 w/ severe cognitive problems. I've tried many antidepressants w/ only transient and mild relief.Right now I'm on Lamictal-200, Zoloft-100, Serequel-50 and SAM-E-1600.The cognitve problems I have are very a-typical. One doctor told me it was thought blocking and another thinks it's some sort of memory problem.This is what happens:I start thinking of something in my head like for example "Today I need to..." and then everything goes blank, I'm not sure if I forget my train of thought or if it's thought blocking, or both. Has anybody else experienced this? Ironically, the only time this problem goes away seems to be when I'm manic(But not everytime I'm manic).Unfortunatly the mania only last a day for me.Strangely, it's easier for me to speak than to think in my head. This makes it really hard for me to convince doctors that this is really happening because I'm fairly articulate. I don't really care what it is as long as I can take something to make it go away. I tried geodon and it seemed to help, but I couldn't handle the side effects of the drug and it seemed to only work fully durring strange manic states that I got while on it.Adderal seemed to help as well, but only for two days and then I was worse off than before.Serequel seemed to work mildly and not in a strange mixed way like the geodon had but not in as full a way either. Thw serequel seems to have worn off as well. My doctor has put me on concerta which I haven't taken yet and am a bit hessitant to take because after the other stimulants that I tried wore off, I was worse off than before. It seems to me that if this "thinking problem" IS thought blocking, which is a sort of psychotic symptom(although usually accompanied by many more),the stimulant might make it worse in the long run;studies have shown that this has happened.I need some advice. My doctor wants to put me on an anti-alztiemers drug for memory if the concerta doesn't help. I don't know if I'm going in the right direction;he's going on a stimulant route w/ me now and I don't know if I should go up on the serequel before I do that.
I had this and I attributed it to the meds not the my diagnosis...as it occured right when I started ssri's.. were all these cognitive/memory problems present before you started the meds??
Posted by iris2 on September 15, 2004, at 0:21:55
In reply to Thought blocking or memory problems or BOTH, posted by scatterbrained on September 10, 2004, at 16:27:40
I have the same problem. I can be in the middle of a sentence and I cannot think of the next word or remember what it was I wanted to say. Also I "block" entire segments of my life out. I do not remember days or sometimes months. I have also had ECT. I always thought that the stuff with not remembering a word or the rest of a thought was somehow related to how anxious I was. In your case I would think it is not related to the ECT especially given that on certain meds it is better and when manic it goes away. It comes back too. The ECT did not come and go. I have asked many doctors why and never get an answer except they never seem to think it is ECT related. I am not so sure about all of it. I could be wrong about the part I think is not ECT related. My father described my grandmother who after having ECT had a hard time playing cards (something she was great at before) because of memory problems. I noticed that when I am anxious this problem is a lot worse.
Interested as I am thinking about anti-alzeimers meds because memory and cognitive skills have become so debilitating.
irene
Posted by scatterbrained on September 15, 2004, at 1:50:09
In reply to Re: Thought blocking or memory problems or BOTH » scatterbrained, posted by iris2 on September 15, 2004, at 0:21:55
Thanks for your impute. I actually have never had ect, and have a similar problem so perhaps your problem isn't entirely due to ect.In any case, I'm curious to know how the anti-alztiemers drug works out.
Posted by iris2 on September 15, 2004, at 8:07:11
In reply to Re: Thought blocking or memory problems or BOTH » iris2, posted by scatterbrained on September 15, 2004, at 1:50:09
I'm very interested in how the anti-alztiemers drugs work out. I am not in a place to try them now. I need to find anti-depressants and anti anxiety etc. What ever route you take keep us posted.
I do take ritalin but I have been taking it so long I do not know if it is of any consequence
to this problem.Irene
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.