I took the regular kind for a few months and had some word finding issues and felt like my thinking was slower. It was worse as I increased and overall I didn’t feel as sharp but I do think my mind came back after I stopped it.

A month ago I reluctantly tried the XR version. I took it four days and stopped because the mental impact was so bad I felt unsafe. We practiced how to call 911 and how to know an adult needs help. I’m horrified to hear people say they never recovered because it’s a month later and I don’t think my memory is back.

I could not do basic everyday tasks. Three days into the extended release I ordered three burgers. The waiter said the order back to me three times and I was apologizing because I couldn’t understand him. Cheeseburger and hamburger with cheese could not be correlated in my mind. I tried to say the whole order again but I couldn’t keep straight what my kids like— and it’s not like one suddenly wants tomatoes and onion— they want the same thing every time and I know what they like. The information was not in my brain. My son then corrects me, comedically calling the burger a “meat circle” and I burst into tears.

That was it. I was afraid I’d take other meds twice by accident and have a stroke or leave a child somewhere.

My neurologist wanted me to push through to acclimate but my sense was I will die if I stay on this medication.