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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 barney on Thu, 2013-05-23 - 08:52
Dear Happyp: Very nice post. I am relatively new to this forum and swung through this site and finally saw other posts. I found out that some side effects of the meds are shared by other folks. At first, I thought the mood swings were from my stressful living situation, but then I saw some posts and said: "Holy smoke - of course!" I have been on phenobarbitol (space cadet!) , dilantin (the worst downer!), neurontin (not too bad), Keppra(mood swings from rage to somnolence), trileptal (low sodium levels, and because I run alot - lead to a sz!), and am now on neurontin and lamictal. So all of these postings are of great interest. I have complex partial, very occasional grand mal since surgery in 2001. Every treatment has had a large impact on my life, but I agree - there are ways to manage all the effects you notice and attitude about your condition makes a huge difference. The big thing is to pay attention and then act to counteract (sp?) the effects. I use my notes in my phone for lists for everything from construction materials to food to my current meds. Then when someone asks, I just call up my list of meds, ghive them my phone and they can see at a glance what's what. I have never been good on calendar dates, so I don't know if that's a side effect of meds or the surgery, or epilepsy. I had my first noticeable sz when I was 27, beginning a new job, was pregnant (well, we were) and wowee, what a shocker! This healthy young buck, just starting a new career and BLAM. So we moved on to dealing with injuries and side effects as best as we could. Right now, I just switched to Lamictal, and am waiting to what the side effects are and to return to driving eventually. Best of luck to you, and to everyone who reads these posts, Peter

Re: Memory Loss & Lamictal

Submitted by sharonkelly on Tue, 2013-03-12 - 22:30
Hi everyone, I am new to the board, and wanted to share my thoughts about Lamictal.  I have been on Lamictal for over5 years, 200mg, 2x per day.  Additionally, I am on 3000mg of KeppraXR.  Thus far, its been 8years, since I've had a Grand Mal seizure, although, I still have the petit mal seizure, but not very often.   Over the past few years, I have noticed an increase in short term memory loss, and difficulty with word finding, which drives me crazy, as I provide individual and group therapy.  The word finding is soooooooooo embarrassing, and I end up using ten words to get my point across because I cannot remember one word.  I have talked with my Neurologist about this, and her words were "Sharon you are getting older," and although I agree, (as I will be 50 this year) I don't  how much is related to age or the awful side effects of Lamictal.  I am currently involved in a study, Lamictal vs. Lamotrigine, however, once the study has ended, I plan to talk with the Neurologist about another medication, or reducing the  dosage of Lamictal.  The word finding, and memory loss is too much, and it is humiliating when I forget, words, name of a tv show, song, and the list goes on.   I am open to suggestions that could replace the Lamictal. Thanks

Re: Memory Loss & Lamictal

Submitted by lodewykl on Wed, 2013-03-13 - 10:46

It's interesting about the relationship between memory loss and lamictal.  I've never would have known about this relationship if I had not visited this site. I've been on meds almost my whole life.  Its been 25years of remembering to take meds and eat correctly and avoid situations which could cause a fit.  I'm on epitec 500mg a day.  My neurologist recommended as it one of the few drugs that have lower risk to being pregant and the baby.  I've been on epitec since 2008.   I've been on four types of meds since I was 10.......tegratol, convulex, carobomazine and on epitec.  the tegratol didn't have much because I was going through pubity when i was on it so i had regular fits which was frustrating.  i was at camp one year and rolled off the bed while having a fit and i even passed out in the road.  thank goodness i was near home.  while on convulex i was well controlled and then after a year i started taking epitec i had a fit.  Its so frustrating being fit free for almost more than 10years then to suddenly have one.  those are the times i just wanna kill myself........metaphorically speaking.  i'm glad there is this site where us 'special' people can exchange stories.  i'm grateful that i have a family and friends who are supportive and understanding and treat myself, my sister and my nephew as normal.  As is not always the case of others.  Out of a family of eight just us three have epilepsy. 

It's interesting about the relationship between memory loss and lamictal.  I've never would have known about this relationship if I had not visited this site. I've been on meds almost my whole life.  Its been 25years of remembering to take meds and eat correctly and avoid situations which could cause a fit.  I'm on epitec 500mg a day.  My neurologist recommended as it one of the few drugs that have lower risk to being pregant and the baby.  I've been on epitec since 2008.   I've been on four types of meds since I was 10.......tegratol, convulex, carobomazine and on epitec.  the tegratol didn't have much because I was going through pubity when i was on it so i had regular fits which was frustrating.  i was at camp one year and rolled off the bed while having a fit and i even passed out in the road.  thank goodness i was near home.  while on convulex i was well controlled and then after a year i started taking epitec i had a fit.  Its so frustrating being fit free for almost more than 10years then to suddenly have one.  those are the times i just wanna kill myself........metaphorically speaking.  i'm glad there is this site where us 'special' people can exchange stories.  i'm grateful that i have a family and friends who are supportive and understanding and treat myself, my sister and my nephew as normal.  As is not always the case of others.  Out of a family of eight just us three have epilepsy. 

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