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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 SANDPOET on Wed, 2012-10-10 - 12:48
I also have a memory problem while on Lamotrigrine. I take 400mg/day, 200mg AM, 200 mg PM. I have noticed short term memory loss, but always had this problem before my seizure disorder. I acquired seizure disorder after a brain surgery to address an aneurysm. I was on Tegretol, Dilantin, Trileptal and Keppra. All of these drugs caused significant loss in cognitive function. Lamotrigrine has worked the best, enabling me to have good cognitive function. I tend to have interrupted sleep, awaking between 3-5 in the AM, regularly. I forget little things, like where I placed my keys or sunglasses. Also, things like appointments, paying bills or dates. My wife encourages me to document important events on my iPhone calendar, but I often forget to do this, as well. I have been depressed often due to PTSD acquired during a series of near death experiences, divorce, death of a parent and loss of a job in 4 months of 2008. I had talk therapy for 3 1/2 years, but ceased when my neurologist advised that this type of therapy w/b ineffective, even worsening the depression. He recommended depression drugs, but the declined due to the side effects. Lamotrigine has probably kept me from deeper depression and harm to myself or others. All in all, the memory losses are less a problem then seizures or deeper depression. The brain surgery was in my right frontal lobe and has resulted in emotional flatness and an inability to express the sad and happy feelings we all take for granted(inability to cry or be positive). I am certain the lamotrigine helps, although the repressed emotions feels like high pressure liquid in a sealed tank without a pressure relief valve.

Re: Memory Loss & Lamictal

Submitted by comment on Thu, 2012-09-06 - 15:14
Hello! A second question for you today. Do you use any other websites, like this one, that give you valuable information and interaction with fellow people with epilepsy?

Re: Memory Loss & Lamictal

Submitted by kattatstrophe on Tue, 2012-08-28 - 22:15
No thank YOU

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