Is it the meds.................???
I got to the neurologist yesterday... to try and figure out my problems with my short term memory, apathy, and fatigue. He suggested that the only thing that might be causing these symptoms might be the pain reliever that i have been using (cymbalta) and suggested a lower dose. That was good information and i started a lower dose this morning. But something about the doctor's suggestion, my experience with a statin i was on (which turned me into a total wreck) and Tony Frasier's recent bout with statin induced myopathy (hope your feeling better Tony) got me to thinking about all of my meds.
I am now taking only 5 meds. One is for blood pressure, one is an anti platelet med, one is for pain/depression, one for anxiety, and one is a sleeping pill. I thought that being on 5 meds was a real achievement as i have been on as many as 9. You all may have read that the things that i have been most concerned about have been my memory, fatigue, and increasing sense of apathy. Okay so..., i spent the morning researching the side effect of all 5 meds (i wrote them down so i wouldn't forget). Common to them all as common or rare side effects were, problems with memory, loss of memory, confusion, impaired cognition, depression and apathy! Four out of 5 had fatigue and trouble sleeping as common to rare side effects. Three of them have the potential of increasing blood pressure or cholesterol, and all of them present various side effects that i suffer, but put them down to affects of the strokes.
I know that since i had the strokes i've been on a steady decline but why the heck is that. i felt 10 times better 3 months after stroking than i do now! I am thinking of weaning myself off of all meds over time to see if i'll recover anything that resembles human... or am i crazy... or have the meds made me crazy? I started reducing with the pain med this morning....
By the way, i did get a referral to a phsychiatrist....
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