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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 comment on Sat, 2013-07-06 - 13:56
Hello Sharon. I noticed your post was from march. Have you moved onto replacing lamictal. I have decided to, but I just dont know where to start and what to expect during the transition.. Any advice? Good luck! Davo

Re: Memory Loss & Lamictal

Submitted by Arline on Wed, 2013-03-13 - 12:30
Around five years ago a new doctor prescribe me Lamictal with the excuse that Primidone was an old one (but it was functioning correctly, controlling my seizures). The change was done mixing the Primidone and the Lamictal until the second one substitute the first one. But, because I was teach that when a doctor talks he speaks with the highest knowledge, I followed his instructions. Everything was a nightmare, not only I forgot things more easily; Lamictal was placing my brain in a treadmill, I can barely sleep showing bi-polar disorder "results" thinking all the time different things that barely I pay attention to, and others things that were stupids. Not to mention that the doctor when I went for a review of how the medicine was working on me, he told me, It's ok to show those symptoms, you have spent so much time using Primidone. At the end I went alone (he doesn't want me to be alone) to his office and told him I will quit the Lamictal, and continue using the Primidone. And he dares to ask me Why? OMG Doctor, where is your knowledge? From that forward I look for another doctor who talk and let me talk about how I feel about the changes. My actual doctor says: Yes, is an old medication, but if it's working why we need to change it? That is what I call a reasonable and responsible doctor. Who BTW I won't change him.

Re: Memory Loss & Lamictal

Submitted by tcameron on Fri, 2013-07-05 - 20:01
Arline, Is you doctor a neurologist?  If he is a neurologist, it might be time to get an epielptologist (neurologist who specializes in epilepsy.)  This is inexcusable.  There are many more AEDs besides Primodone and Lamictal.  I'm only another patient; not a medical professional.  Some of us need to try several different AEDs to find one that doesn't have horrible side effects.  Every body reacts differently to each drug.  Don't let your doctor tell you he knows more than you.  Nobody knows YOUR body better than you.  If he won't listen; get another doctor. 

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