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Short Term Memory Loss

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Posted 5/25/2006 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
I've been experiencing short term memory loss and was wondering if it is a side effect of the disorder or the Lamictal that I'm on. I've also forgotten some pertinent information that I use daily. It just didn't come to mind at the time.

Peg

Posted 5/25/2006 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Peg:

It's probably a side-effect of the Lamictal but I couldn't find it listed at this website:
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/lamotrigine_ad.htm

The website has several great charts showing the side-effects in order of prominence as well as listing them under what part of the body they relate to.
Posted 5/26/2006 2:10 AM (GMT 0)

Cognitive deficits is a side effect of lamictal.  My dr. pulled out her book of psychotropic medications and it was a side effect.  I too find myself feeling a little dumb.  My brain just seems kinda slow.  I'll walk into a room and forget why I was going there.  I went to fill my ornamental pond today and forgot about the hose being on.  Cooking is almost scary, lol.  I hope this side effect disappears.  Good luck.

Crissi

Posted 5/26/2006 1:34 PM (GMT 0)
I've been having a conversation with someone and think about what I'm gonna say and it totally leaves my brain. I may remember it about 10 minutes later, when the topic is over. :) This happens very frequently.
Posted 7/24/2006 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hey all...I'm new here and I'm so glad! I'm stabilised on lamictil now for 2 years and suddenly all this you are talking about is starting to happen to me too. My psyciatrist said I'm not on the right dose yet. I'm so scared. I'm afraid it will get worse. He said it is a matter of concentration which make me forget.

He won't belief me when I say I FORGET. I have a hard time at work. I even forget sometimes how to make my signature on a cheque!

I wish I can get more opinions on this that will give me hope!

I hope it will get better, otherwise I'm gonna loose my work!
Posted 7/26/2006 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
there's another thread on this topic that y'all might want to read.  as i said there, it may be a side effect of bp medications in general.  i am on lithium carbonate for bp and am suffering the same symptoms.  my neuologist said that it could be early alzheimers.  i'd rather get out the pdr!
Posted 7/26/2006 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
Wmnak...It sure feels as if I've got alzheimers...It's not normal "forget".....LOL!

I've read up a lot now on this and it seems to be the meds. My psyc. says it's not a forgetting problem, it's a concentration problem????

:-)
Posted 7/27/2006 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
i can't speak for everyone, but mine isn't a concentration problem.  when i was in college, i would ofted study in the student commons, which was as noisy as it got ((i'll never forget "yellow submarine" which was blairing constantly - yes, children, i am a child of the 60s).  :-)    my wife also says that i am like a dog with a bone when i get into something. 

each person is diffenent.  it could also be argued that my concentration is a "manic" phase.  what do i know?  i'm just trying to get through this thing. 

take care.  and keep us posted on progress.

Posted 8/7/2006 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
sometimes i think my medicine is causing me short term memory loss, but also when i was manic sometimes i would go crazy and forget about things i had just done. that was nuts!
Posted 8/8/2006 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
I have taken Lamictal before and the memory loss was slight, but not too much. I am currently on lithium, and it is really bad. Half of the time I feel like I am losing my mind, but then I remember it is the lithium that is messing with my thought process.
Posted 8/9/2006 5:47 AM (GMT 0)
olivia,

if i weren't already, i could say that the memoy loss is driving me crazy.  mad    the pdoc didn't tell me about this side effect (come to think about it he didn't tell me about any side effects) and the pharmacist didn't mention it.  the paper that came with the lithium carbonate didn't mention it.  and there was no mention of it with anything i could find on-line (that was befoe i found healingwell.  i was so concerned about it that i went to my neurologist and he diagnosed me with early signs of alzheimers!  does anybody in the so-called professional community know about memory loss caused by lithium and these other meds?   forwarned is forarmed.  i can handle anything (even my wife's cancer and subsequent permanent colostomy) if i know about it.  he**, at least i know what to expect.  i have angry and scared half out of my mind by this thing!  with what i have lived through in my life, that takes an aweful lot.

sorry for the rant.  i am relieved to know the cause of my memory loss but am angry for the "pofessionals" either not knowing about it or not telling me.

thank all of you, and you especially, olivia, for tuning me in.

warren

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