Resolved question:
I am a 33 year old male, 200 pounds, 6'1".
I have been dealing with a great deal of anxiety for the last few months due to a bout of depersonalization after smoking marijuana. In the following months, I experienced constant anxiety as well as panic attacks.
Due to this anxiety I was put on citalopram, which I took for 4 weeks. After two weeks on the medication I began having issues with 'brain fog' as well with my general short term memory. I discontinued this medication due to these effects, however since being off the medication for 3 weeks; I am still experiencing memory loss. At first it appears my memory was getting better, but now it feels worse.
Additionally, I am experiencing night sweats on a nightly basis (1 week after discontinuation). The night sweats go away very shortly after waking. Also, I have been dealing with occational unusual sensations in extremities.
I've had a EKG for my heart, which came back normal, along with some blood tests (LIPID PANEL, HEMOGLOBIN A1C, ELECTROLYTES, SERUM, TSH), that did not indicate anything. I did not have a MRI or any other scans for my brain.
I am concerned about this memory issue, as it appears that I am not coming out of it as I was expecting. My assumption was withdrawl would have already taken its course, so therefore I am wondering if there is something else causing my memory problems. Is there anything you see based on my story? and should I be asking my doctor for a MRI, cat scan, or anything else?
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Neurologist, Medical
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com. I have noted your symptoms of brain fog and memory loss.
The likely causes for this are:
1. Withdrawal from anti-anxiety medications: In this situation, we expect improvement as the days go by, and no worsening of memory loss should be seen.
2. Related to ongoing anxiety: If there are still anxiety and depression issues ongoing, then, you could suffer from memory problems, a condition, often referred to as "pseudo dementia".
3. Due to vitamin B12 deficiency- can be checked by blood tests,
4. Thyroid hormone deficiency- has been excluded by blood tests,
5. A brain disease such as ischemia (lack of blood flow to brain) or demyelination (such as multiple sclerosis): can be confirmed or excluded by doing MRI scan of brain.
I hope it helps. I would be glad to answer any follow-ups.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sudhir Kumar MD (Medicine), DM (Neurology)
Senior Consultant Neurologist