Community Forum Archive

The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

Memory Loss & Lamictal

Fri, 08/12/2011 - 23:08
Hi everyone. I'm Kat, I've been active on this board for a while but mostly in the Women With Epilepsy forum. I was going to post this in there but I feel like it should be more open to everyone since it's not focusing on women only issues. Since starting Lamictal almost two years ago, I have noticed some fluctuations with my mood as well as my ability to concentrate, that showed mostly as I got up in the dosage. I started at 25mg like most patients and eased my way up to my current 250mg BID (twice a day) dosage. I did the escalation slow as recommended & did not experience any obvious side effects. However, as I've gotten more into my medication routine with it, I have noticed that my moods seem to fluctuate (just a little bit, but still noticeable) and I know that Lamictal is also used to manage bipolar disorder. I am currently in the process of switching doctors so I've been waiting to talk to my new doctor about these issues. I don't have the best relationship with my current doctor & feel as if he doesn't listen so I don't see the point in even bringing it up. In fact, I believe I brought it up to him in the past but to no avail. His answer for everything is either "that's normal but not worrysome" or "lets increase the dose & call me in a week". To run through what I've noticed, the main thing is that I have a hard time handling a day regimen that requires me to multitask. This presents a lot of problems because I have a very busy life with working, managing my home due to my boyfriend being away a lot for his work, taking care of a new puppy practically by myself & being a college student, about to enter a very heavily crowded schedule. I have taken on two jobs in the fall after school starts & even though I have an optimistic look to it, I know from my past that my memory lapses cause a lot of problem. For example, I missed the deadlines for several things involving school that will make my semester hard such as missing the deadline for a grant that would be very helpful & missing the date to order the main campus parking permit & having to get one that's much more difficult to deal with. I've always been a little scatterbrained but it seems much worse lately. Sometimes someone can tell me something & in just fifteen minutes, I forget what they said. This causes a lot of frustration with everyone around me & makes me feel incompetent. I'm not entirely sure it's just the medication but in my heart, I feel like it has something to do with it. Does anyone else that's on Lamictal (I take the generic lamotragine) experience similar problems? If so, how much does it affect your life & how much is your current dosage? I appreciate any feedback. Thanks guys!

Comments

Re: Memory Loss & Lamictal

Submitted by camiphoenix on Thu, 2011-12-08 - 18:08
My poor response to Lamictal obviously isn't the same as everyone else experiences. When it comes to medication, you want to know the full gamut of what could happen so you know what to expect. I'm in the process of getting off of the Lamictal. I would much rather deal with the seizures and perform better in every other aspect of my life.

Re: Memory Loss & Lamictal

Submitted by kazza on Tue, 2011-12-06 - 03:04
Was on Lamictal (250mg 2x/day)for 10 years before I went on to Keppra. Worst side effects were balance - if I took my doses too close I fell flat on my face! Head spun dizzy. Got seriously regulated with times as a result. I also suffered mood swings and memory damage but have been assured that it was the seizures themselves that erased a lot of my memory bank. Now switched to new drugs over a year ago and STILL I have mood swings and memory problems so obviously not totally Lamictal based after all. I don't fall over anymore though :)

Re: Memory Loss & Lamictal

Submitted by phylisfjohnson on Tue, 2011-12-06 - 09:09
I have such a bad memory from (generic) Lamictal that I have post-its everywhere but my forehead! Phylis Feiner Johnson www.epilepsytalk.com

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.