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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 metoo on Thu, 2012-02-16 - 23:50
Strange but I'm noticing the date this was posted which was the day after my birthday LAST YEAR! Problem is it just showed up on my email today Feb.16,2012 Anyway to answer your question I've been on Lamictal since I was 12 and I'll be 38 this year. Through out the years there have been mood changes but memory loss that is a tuff one because 1. I had surgery at the age of 17 on my left tempro lobe which improved my seizures (petite mal)  I now have auras. The problem that was left is my memory went back yup instead of remember what happened yesterday I can tell you what happened two weeks ago. Before surgery I was clueless. 2. My memory has been getting worse but I was told I needed a secound surgery because a bit was left behind since I was awake durning the surgery IT WASN'T EASY... 3. Lamictal is the only medication that seems to work well with Topomax that joined in when I was about 20 or 21

Re: Memory Loss & Lamictal

Submitted by crasco1 on Sat, 2012-02-18 - 09:24

Ok, I'm scared now. I am just starting Lamictal just like all of you did. I am not yet having any of the side effects you speak of but then again I already have all of these side effects from the meds I have been taking prior to starting Lamictal. I am currently of 800 mgs per day of Topamax (Dopemax) which for the last 4 years has removed my memory of events that have happened in the last 4 years, my ability to concentrate and has made me extremely stupid; 2000 mgs per day of Keppra which makes me tired, out of breath and off balance PLUS I have a VNS implant that was install 6/2010 and I still have regular seizures. I will be 50 years old next month and in 2006 epilespy reared its ugly head when it had not been seen or heard from in 34 years. I had 3 seizures at the age of 11 and I have not been on any medication since I was 13 years old. I supposedly had grown out of this decease. In 2007 I lost my job, my drivers' license and had to go on disability. Then my husband divorced me and my grown children de-mothered me due to their ignorance of the effects and mood swings of this decease/medication.  If I sound a bit hostile, you are probably right! Epilepsy has ruined much of my life, but I am tough and at this point I just need the seizures to STOP so I can get my license back, go back to work and move on with my life. I was hoping the Lamictal was going to be the last medication needed (as I have hope for every medication) but if it does not do that or the side effects are too great, than I will enroll myself in a drug research program and become a guinea pig to find the right drug or resort to brain surgery, if I can talk the insurance company into paying for it. If you gain nothing from this entry, please take this with you. DO NOT TAKE TOPAMAX!! It will frustrate you to no end when you cannot think of the smallest, easiest things you want to say or the name of people you have known for years. God bless to all.

Ok, I'm scared now. I am just starting Lamictal just like all of you did. I am not yet having any of the side effects you speak of but then again I already have all of these side effects from the meds I have been taking prior to starting Lamictal. I am currently of 800 mgs per day of Topamax (Dopemax) which for the last 4 years has removed my memory of events that have happened in the last 4 years, my ability to concentrate and has made me extremely stupid; 2000 mgs per day of Keppra which makes me tired, out of breath and off balance PLUS I have a VNS implant that was install 6/2010 and I still have regular seizures. I will be 50 years old next month and in 2006 epilespy reared its ugly head when it had not been seen or heard from in 34 years. I had 3 seizures at the age of 11 and I have not been on any medication since I was 13 years old. I supposedly had grown out of this decease. In 2007 I lost my job, my drivers' license and had to go on disability. Then my husband divorced me and my grown children de-mothered me due to their ignorance of the effects and mood swings of this decease/medication.  If I sound a bit hostile, you are probably right! Epilepsy has ruined much of my life, but I am tough and at this point I just need the seizures to STOP so I can get my license back, go back to work and move on with my life. I was hoping the Lamictal was going to be the last medication needed (as I have hope for every medication) but if it does not do that or the side effects are too great, than I will enroll myself in a drug research program and become a guinea pig to find the right drug or resort to brain surgery, if I can talk the insurance company into paying for it. If you gain nothing from this entry, please take this with you. DO NOT TAKE TOPAMAX!! It will frustrate you to no end when you cannot think of the smallest, easiest things you want to say or the name of people you have known for years. God bless to all.

Re: Memory Loss & Lamictal

Submitted by Babaloo on Tue, 2012-03-20 - 18:51
There are other alternative medication just ask your doctor. I have been on tegretol and lamotrigine for about 7 to 8 years. They are great =D

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