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Meds and Memory
Thu, 07/13/2006 - 09:30Topic: Medication Issues
Hello,
My husband has taken Carbitrol for about 1 1/2 years now, and Topomax was added a few months ago. Our concerns are short-term memory issues, word recall, and just a feeling of sluggishness. This compounds his frustration with everything else he is dealing with....the fear of more seizures, depression, etc. He is definitely more emotional.
How much of this is the Topomax, or is this the combination of the Carbitrol/Topomax? Any thoughts are appreciated. We are new to this and learning as we go....
ccg
Comments
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Meds and Memory
Submitted by bjoy on Tue, 2006-09-12 - 13:05
Hiya. When I was 16 I was put on Depakote for JME. I'm now 27 and still taking 750 mg a day. It has controlled my epilepsy so well, no seizures at all but this past year the side effects have become really noticeable...I struggle with how to explain myself. I seem to never be able to put across in words exactly what I want to say, whether it be an emotion or just an explanation of something that happened that day. My thoughts always race ahead of my mouth and my pen. I've tried journaling but I find I get distracted and frustrated with that too. I also seem to be getting these crazy mood swings, happy one minute, annoyed/depressed the next. I'm constantly focusing my attention on the NOW because my mind is always drifting. And the fatigue! I say it's literally like I got smacked in the face or a truck ran me over, I feel FLATTENED. I'm a personal trainer, so it has been super challenging lately to push through. I'm in the process of switching to Keppra because of this and the other wonderful side effects like bloating and hormone issues. Anyone else with the same issues? And how has your luck been?
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Meds and Memory
Submitted by faerietygers on Tue, 2006-09-12 - 14:39
I was also put on Depakote when I was 16, and I am 29 now. I am supposed to be on 1000 mg,but I lowered it when I complained to the doctor and am on 500 mg a day. I think I may have to up my dose a bit. When I told my doctor 1000 mg was too high, he told me it wasn't even that much!
The fatigue is HORRIBLE. I am so tired all the time, and my body aches. I also have SEVERE mood swings. Worse when I am going through my time of the month, but horrible, nonetheless. I also am bloated, I gained 20 lbs each time I went on the meds, and I cant seem to lose the weight, even though I diet and exercise, they tell me it is harder with the medicine.
I want to go off of this stuff too. i am tired of getting blood tests to ensure that my liver is ok....it makes me wonder. I have also had good luck with Depakote, and that is the problem. What if I go off of it, and start to have seizures again.
I also am having trouble remembering things. I can't think of simple words sometimes and have trouble expressing myself. My job is on the phone all day, and that seems to be ok with them, but when I have a question for someone, I can't seem to formulate the words.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Meds and Memory
Submitted by wflisa on Sun, 2006-07-23 - 19:36
When I had my first seizure, and it was a "grand mal" or tonic clonic in November of 2005, the MD's in the Emergency Room gave me Depakote. At that time I did not know from anything. The Depakote (at 1000 mg per day) was enough to kill a horse. Which brings me to my next observation about meds: not only does everyone respond differently to meds, but it also depends on your size, your metabolism and how you have responded to meds before. I am of slight build and have often had to tell MD's that I do not need the same dosage as larger people. Once I complained that the 1000 mg of Depakote was ruining my life, it was reduced to 750 mg. I have done and will do this again in the future. I would highly recommend adjusting the dosage of Depakote and/or looking into any anti-convulsant that is less sedating than the Depakote.