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Medication causing memory loss and drowsyness

Sat, 08/24/2013 - 19:30
Has anyone besides me experienced any extreme fatique, memory loss, and/or other mental side effects from your epilepsy meds? For instance with my trileptal oral pills I always feel really tired and unalert like I didn't get any sleep that night, even if I actually got 9 or more hours. My short term memory feels like that of a 90 year olds, forgeting things that happened only half an hour ago. I havent't really heard of any stories about fatique as severe as mine from the side effects, but I was wondering if some of you feel the same as me about your side effects and if you have any tips about being more awake on the meds? Peace, and please comment below.

Comments

Re: Medication causing memory loss and drowsyness

Submitted by kittyluvr420 on Wed, 2013-08-28 - 18:29

I am newly diagnosed with partial epilepsy and I have several non convulsive seizures daily. I suffered a traumatic brain injury 26 years ago in car accident, I was just diagnosed with that as well. The TBI is what caused the epilepsy. I tried Keppra, made me very sick. I will be taking Oxcarbazepine 300mg in a week. Good to hear it is working for you. I really need to talk with others with partial epilepsy.

God Bless Rhonda

I am newly diagnosed with partial epilepsy and I have several non convulsive seizures daily. I suffered a traumatic brain injury 26 years ago in car accident, I was just diagnosed with that as well. The TBI is what caused the epilepsy. I tried Keppra, made me very sick. I will be taking Oxcarbazepine 300mg in a week. Good to hear it is working for you. I really need to talk with others with partial epilepsy.

God Bless Rhonda

Re: Medication causing memory loss and drowsyness

Submitted by emk on Wed, 2013-08-28 - 11:09
I wish I also had something more positive to contribute but at the same time I'm so grateful to see others with the same experience. I take Vimpat, Sertraline, and trileptal and I feel either like I've been hit by a mack truck in the morning when I just wake up or a generally depleted all day. I'm only 35 years old and I hate that when I come home from work all I can do is basically eat some dinner and get in bed. I want more.

Re: Medication causing memory loss and drowsyness

Submitted by 15042runner2Dreams on Wed, 2013-08-28 - 19:49

Hello,

I am sorry to hear you are experiencing side effects. They stink.

Honestly, when I was first diagnosed the doctor had me on sooo many medications- it actually caused more seizures! Yes, my memory is terrible!! I can't remember what I am doing while I am doing it, can't remember much long term things either. When I was on Keppra I was very tired ALL the time. No matter how much sleep I got. Even now I tire more easily than my peers despite medication changes. I know it feels like the side effects are terrible, they are. We can just hope to find the right combination to control the seizures and have "a quality of life".

Be open with your doctor, he/she might want to tweak your medications, especially if your fatigue is severely impacting your life. Hope things get better!

Hello,

I am sorry to hear you are experiencing side effects. They stink.

Honestly, when I was first diagnosed the doctor had me on sooo many medications- it actually caused more seizures! Yes, my memory is terrible!! I can't remember what I am doing while I am doing it, can't remember much long term things either. When I was on Keppra I was very tired ALL the time. No matter how much sleep I got. Even now I tire more easily than my peers despite medication changes. I know it feels like the side effects are terrible, they are. We can just hope to find the right combination to control the seizures and have "a quality of life".

Be open with your doctor, he/she might want to tweak your medications, especially if your fatigue is severely impacting your life. Hope things get better!

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