You are here:

Pharmacology/depression medication

Advertisement

Expert: Dr Alan Galbraith - 5/13/2009


Question
I have a question pertaining to medication used to treat depression. I was medicated from 1994-2000 with zoloft, prozac, wellbutrin, trazedone and others.  My question is I have few memories from this time period of my life.  Is this due to the depression or the medication?  I am now 27, and took myself off medication when I was 18 because I felt as though I had no emotions.  I still have issues expressing emotions as an adult, but have never been happier.  I don't know that my depression was ever really bad enough to merit the multiple drugs prescribed, but again, I remember little from this time.

Answer
Dear Nicole

This combination of antidepressants was away over the top (without the others?) in my opinion and I think it most likely that it was the drugs causing your amnesia rather than the depression. I will point out that the brain can also switch off and not remember adverse times so cannot give a definitive answer but my first is the most probable.

Regards

Dr Alan Galbraith

Pharmacology

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Dr Alan Galbraith

Expertise

I can answer most questions on most drugs. Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.

Experience

I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease. I am already a well established and highly rated expert in the pharmacy section of this site.

Publications
Principal author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" Editions 1-4 published between 1994 and 2004 by Pearson Education, Australia. Author of the 5th edition published 2007. Author of many scientific papers.

Education/Credentials
BSc(Hons);MSc;PhD;HECert

Awards and Honors
The 4th edition of my textbook was awarded the the Educational Book of the Year Award in Australia.

Past/Present Clients
See my profile in the pharmacy section.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.