Confusion while on Depran-L (a combination of Escitalopram and Clonazepam) can happen due to how the brain adapts to serotonergic and GABAergic modulation. Escitalopram increases serotonin levels, which helps regulate mood, but can also cause cognitive slowing or derealization in sensitive individuals, especially during the initial weeks or with dosage changes. Clonazepam, a benzodiazepine, acts on GABA-A receptors and can contribute to sedation or mild cognitive dulling if the brain is already under stress or if dosage is too high for your system. However, people with OCD and anxiety often experience metacognitive hypervigilance, where normal fluctuations in clarity are misinterpreted as signs of illness or damage. That makes it crucial to distinguish between pharmacological effects and anxiety-driven perceptions.
Next Steps
Instead of stopping or adjusting the medicine on your own, maintain a symptom journal that records when the confusion occurs, for how long, and what you were doing beforehand. Share this with your psychiatrist, who can evaluate whether it's dose-related, timing-related, or anxiety-linked. If Clonazepam is the likely cause, a gradual taper may be considered. Alternatively, if the anxiety itself is perpetuating doubt and confusion, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or metacognitive therapy should be initiated alongside medication. These therapies help retrain the brainâs habit of checking and doubting itselfâa core feature in OCD-spectrum presentations.
Health Tips
Anchor your day with a fixed wake-up time, exposure to natural morning light within 30 minutes of waking, and regular protein-rich meals (like eggs, soaked almonds, paneer, or millets) to stabilize neurotransmitter production. Avoid caffeine post-2 PM, reduce
sugar spikes which worsen brain fog, and hydrate well. Incorporate magnesium-rich foods (like spinach, pumpkin seeds, and bananas) and B-
vitamin sources (like whole grains or brewerâs yeast). Start gentle aerobic movementâlike walking for 20 minutes in the eveningâto regulate circadian rhythm and lower cortisol. These daily routines directly support neural recovery and stabilize cognition without depending entirely on medication.