[deprssvet]

Hi. The title summarizes my situation and here is the details. Sorry that I'm not brief.

I was on Bupropion for 3 years. It was helpful in the first year but then it stopped working (although its side effects persisted). As a result I went down badly and then was prescribed 20 mg of Ecitaloperam and 5 mg of Olanzapine, the latter to help the antidepressant. These two medicines worked to make my mood stable but had their own side effects. Olanzapine made me tired and irritable (I went to be at 10 everyday).

After 2.5 years of taking these two I started to get dizzy, badly dizzy. Doctors had no idea but after a few months I realized it might be because of the high (20 mg) doze of Ecitaloperam. So, from May 2013 I took 10 mg and the dizziness stopped. I was feeling good until August 2013 when I got tired of the side effects of Olanzapine and stopped taking it (after tapering to half a 2.5 mg pill a day). For two months I had a very bad situation feeling dizzy and lethargic and was not able to do much. (Other patients report similar withdrawal effects which you can find on the internet.) After these 2 months I had mood instability and went down again but Since January have not been too sad. (Maybe because of taking vacations? I'm not sure)

But I still wasn't able to concentrate or do much. In March I was prescribed Miancerin in place of Ecitaloperam. (I spare you the unsettling SSRI withdrawal effects.) Doctor told me the side effects of Miancerin should last for 2 weeks but after 2 month I was still feeling dizzy. So doctor opted for Agomelatine. Again after a month I was still feeling dizzy and so decided enough was enough and stopped taking any antidep, now for about 2 months ago.

In these two months I've had acute insomnia (which was later ameliorated by Atarax and Propiomazine), inability to concentrate, dizziness and fatigue. But I believe I'm not depressed because in the past when I was seriously depressed I had 3 significant symptoms: waking up in the middle of night, thinking that there is no light at the end of tunnel and feeling that everything is falling apart. Now I don't have these symptoms. I'm not melancholy and feel confident but can not concentrate and feel dizzy.

You may say I should see a psychiatrist but I don't have access to one now and won't have until the new year. In the last several years I've been moving around the world (for job reasons) and that's why I've taken those antidepressants for so long even when not effective anymore. (And in this year I'll be moving twice.)

Now my questions:
1- Can this perpetual dizziness be the result of a neurological brain problem? Can it be that long term depression and/or antidepressant use has damaged my brain? Can a brain CAT scan show if there is such a problem?

2- Is there anything (not involving medicines) I can do to make improve my situation?

Lastly I am a researcher so concentration is vital for me. Actually because of the problems mentioned above, in the past 2 years, it's become very difficult for me to get a new job offer. This time I got lucky and got a last minute offer starting in September. But with my current health situation I'll blow it for sure.

[glok]

Welcome to the Community, deprssvet. My suggestion is you talk to a general practitioner about your concerns. He/she may know a mental health professional to consult.

The general practitioner should be able to help with your dizziness concerns.

I wish you well.

[fluffbuster]

suggestion - go to an ear/nose/throat doctor - - - you may have a vestibular problem - Causes of Dizziness | Vestibular Disorders Association
you know - (i'm sure you know) - any med can cause weird reactions in people - and every person is different. the meds surely list their adverse reaction, but statistically, not all. your inner ear may have been damaged from one of your meds - & until you find out if that is true you won't know.
concentration is another matter - but hopefully, maybe - if an inner ear/vestibular problem is causing your problems - fixing that may help your concentration.
i wish you well.

[Altered Moment]

Can it be that long term depression and/or antidepressant use has damaged my brain?

In my opinion this is highly unlikely. You can find other opinions out there but there is nothing scientific to back them up. There is more scientific evidence to back my opinion up but not a lot.

Lack of concentration is a symptom of depression but you would have other symptoms as well if you still had depression.

The dizzyness I guess could be caused by the meds but I don't think so. I would look for other reasons.