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mom's memory problems

Thu, 12/14/2006 - 21:39
my mom has had epilepsy for about 20 years but shes only been having seizures more often for the past 14 years. about 4 years ago they tried to wean her off of dialantin (sp?) and put her on topamax. she had 3 seizures in one night and she normally has about one a year. then about 2 years ago they tried to take her off dialantin again and the same thing happened-3 seizures in one day. since the last episode ive noticed more and more memory loss. she has a hard time telling me where things are, ill ask for something and shell say "its over in that thing" and it takes her a long time to get it out. has anyone else experienced this and will it get worse? im really worried that if she continues to have a seizure once a year for the next 20 years, that shell get worse and worse. does anyone have any info about this?

Comments

Re: mom's memory problems

Submitted by quirky on Fri, 2006-12-15 - 08:40
hi, From what I can gather here, your mom is having memory problems because of the medication, not because of the seizures. topamax causes a side effect of memory loss for some people, usually short term memory loss an dit depends on the individual who has epilepsy whether they can put up with this side effect or not. I myself take topamax and it causes short term memory loss for me but it has helped me a lot with my seizures and I'd rather continue taking the drug than not to be honest. The memory loss is nothing major to me. It doesn't get worse unless your dose increases. So I think in your mom's case, this is a topamax issue. Hope that helps.

Re: mom's memory problems

Submitted by TinaB on Fri, 2006-12-15 - 10:36
I take Carbatrol and Topomax. I experience the same thing as your mom. Sometimes when I am telling someone something I know what I want to say, but it just won't come out. Once I wanted to tell my husband to put something in the washer and just couldn't say washer - I knew what it was, so I described it to him. All of this started after my neuro added the Topomax to my daily meds. because of migraines. I will take the short term memory loss over the migraines anyday. I really think it's her meds.

Re: mom's memory problems

Submitted by heathersmithers on Fri, 2006-12-15 - 12:38
I to take topamax with tegretol and experience short term memory loss,, but again will accept that as it seems to be working for the seziures...the memory loss was more pronunced when i first went on the topamax and each time it was increased ,,,i am at 300 mg a day now,, i still have the short term memory issues but not as bad as in the begining.. Heather

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