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Medication causing memory loss and drowsyness
Sat, 08/24/2013 - 19:30Has 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 cordovadania on Wed, 2013-10-02 - 03:54
I've had epilepsy for close to 20yrs. When diagnosed as a teen, I immediately had side effects from meds- each you described and bad enough to have surgery instead of try to deal with so much med. With regards to memory loss, I experienced it particularly with speech/vocab (with short term continuing to be a prob) It's always been "tip of the tongue" where I can see words I want to say but can't exactly grasp them. General memory has continually declined (Still on meds) I would suggest talking to your neuro about a cog therapist. Went a few times after I saw how bad my vocab was getting bc of tip of tongue issues. It helped a lot and I was able to apply things to general memory issues. Good luck!
Re: Medication causing memory loss and drowsyness
Submitted by Sunshine77386 on Wed, 2013-10-02 - 15:45
Yep. Trileptal, Potiga, and Tranxene. Fall asleep on the sofa most every night, lack of energy, can't remember things. I'm 51 now, but shouldn't have that many memory issues now. Funny thing is I can remember non-trivial things from 40+ years ago, but can't remember what the wife told me to pick up at the grocery store an hour ago without writing it down. I had temporal lobe surgery 10 years ago, and there are some things like an entire family vacation that I can't remember. It's frustrating, but somehow I manage to get through it and keep my sanity.
Re: Medication causing memory loss and drowsyness
Submitted by shetlandlady on Wed, 2013-08-28 - 22:32
Yes! yes!yes! Thank you I really thought I was going crazy. Interesting hubby just told me for the 100th time to write it down. I am on Keppra and Lyrica! Thanks for saying what I couldn't put into words. I have nighttime seizures.