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Epilepsy and Memory Loss

Sun, 10/08/2006 - 19:36
I'm brand new to this forum. Looking it over, I don't see my major problem & don't have much info about it. I have lost alot of my memory & it supposedly is because of seizures. I have been on Neurontin since I had some blackouts, which I guess are called Absence Seizures. I just blank out & my eyes get glassy. I want to know if the memory loss & "feeling weird" are the result of having Epilepsy, or could they be from meds? I also take Effexor XR for depression. I tried to go off that when I thought maybe I'd been mistakenly diagosed with depression before they realized I have Epilepsy. That resulted in some very bad mental & emotional health problems. I'm taking both now, & the memory loss & (sometimes)weird feelings persist. Anyone out there know anything about these issues?

Comments

Re: Epilepsy and Memory Loss

Submitted by teddy000 on Fri, 2012-04-13 - 19:56

Hey Terri!

 I'm new too and this is exactly why I joined. My absence seizures started when I was 9 and I'm a freshman in college now. I didn't really notice the memory loss until jr. high when I started playing soccer. I couldn't recall anything from the games and it was so frustrating. It got worse after I started having tonic clonic seizures in high school. Basically, everything from kindergarten and up is all a blur. I have about 20 diaries and one day a friend came over and saw them all stacked up and asked why I had so many. I said they can store things automatically in their head, I have to do it manually. I've been told there are many reasons why this happens. Injury to the brain during a seizure sometimes it can even be a side effect of the medication they put you on. I'm taking Lamictal for tonic clonic seizures and memory loss/depression is a side effect. 

 

Wish you the best of luck! Thanks for posting this!

-Sam

Hey Terri!

 I'm new too and this is exactly why I joined. My absence seizures started when I was 9 and I'm a freshman in college now. I didn't really notice the memory loss until jr. high when I started playing soccer. I couldn't recall anything from the games and it was so frustrating. It got worse after I started having tonic clonic seizures in high school. Basically, everything from kindergarten and up is all a blur. I have about 20 diaries and one day a friend came over and saw them all stacked up and asked why I had so many. I said they can store things automatically in their head, I have to do it manually. I've been told there are many reasons why this happens. Injury to the brain during a seizure sometimes it can even be a side effect of the medication they put you on. I'm taking Lamictal for tonic clonic seizures and memory loss/depression is a side effect. 

 

Wish you the best of luck! Thanks for posting this!

-Sam

I have had epilepsy since I

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2014-08-13 - 22:11
I have had epilepsy since I was in 5th grade (I think), so about 17 years now (I am 27). I have a long, complicated history with epilepsy, but do consider myself luckier than most as far as how it affects me. Currently I take both Lamotrigine and Clonazepam. It is actually the best mix of meds that I have found so far.The biggest drawback has been when I become tired and/or stressed (my two triggers for seizures) I tend to run into walls, have blurry vision and memory loss. Memory loss is the most common thing that I experience. Many times it is short term memory loss, but it can be worse at times. I am known to repeat myself several times in a matter of seconds, forget entire conversations that just happened or happened the day before (they can be nearly hour long conversations) and other chunks of time. I tell those that I am close to that I do suffer from memory loss and that if I do not remember something or I ask a question 2, 3, 4 or more times, it is not because I am not paying attention, it is because I genuinely have no knowledge of whatever it is that we have discussed. It can be tough and even embarrassing at times, but it is our reality so we have to find a way to make the best of it...especially when it can lead to seizures of any kind.

Re: Epilepsy and Memory Loss

Submitted by mozie03 on Thu, 2012-09-13 - 19:07

I am so glad I am not alone in experiencing memory loss. I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was five years old and have been on medication to control grand mal seizures.  I can count on one hand the amount of seizures I have had since my childhood however, I noticed memory loss around 9 years ago, when I reached 40.  Since then, nine years have passed and its gotten progressively worse.  I have approached two neurologists about this as well as my GP and all of them dismissed my comments. 

Its effected my performance at work and my confidence level has plummeted. I am sure my boss thinks I am a dits because I just can't remember important details.  I have been going crazy with this and I have no soultion.

I need the meds - but they very well be the cause of the memory loss.  At least that's what i believe is the primary factor for this. 

I am so glad I am not alone in experiencing memory loss. I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was five years old and have been on medication to control grand mal seizures.  I can count on one hand the amount of seizures I have had since my childhood however, I noticed memory loss around 9 years ago, when I reached 40.  Since then, nine years have passed and its gotten progressively worse.  I have approached two neurologists about this as well as my GP and all of them dismissed my comments. 

Its effected my performance at work and my confidence level has plummeted. I am sure my boss thinks I am a dits because I just can't remember important details.  I have been going crazy with this and I have no soultion.

I need the meds - but they very well be the cause of the memory loss.  At least that's what i believe is the primary factor for this. 

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