Does Lamictal Cause Memory Loss?
Sunday June 29, 2003
MichelleR, a member of our forum, asks about Lamictal and memory loss. She shares, "I take Lamictal currently at 125 mg. I don't take any other psych meds besides my Lamictal. My big problem is my memory. My short term memory sucks. I can't remember anything. It's in one ear out the other. But, I don't know if it's the meds or just my racing thoughts."
Some resources list "concentration problems" as a rare side effect of Lamictal, generic name Lamotrigine, so it is possible that your memory loss issues could be caused by the medication. This is most certainly something you should discuss with your doctor.
Following are some additional resources for information on this medication:
Lamotrigine [Lamictal] - Side Effects
Voices of Experience: About Lamotrigine [Lamictal]
Links Library
Comments
After taking Depakote, Dilantin and several other drugs for my Epilepsy, I think I’ve finally works for my Epilepsy, moods, and difficulty in maintaining a regular diet. It’s the only anti-epileptic I’ve taken that doesn’t upset my stomach the way Depakote and Dilantin do. If your anti-epileptic medication is not working for you, or you are having adverse side from the meds you are taking now, ask if Lamictal is right for you.
I was taking 300mg of Lamictal for depression and I had terrible memory problems. I had to drop out of graduate school because of it. Now that I’m on a much lower dose 100mg I’m back in school and my memory is fine.
I have take lamictal for a number of years and find my memory can berealy bad but sometimes is ok.
I think a problem with taking a cocktail is you are not sure what side effects go with what.
Lamictal really affected my memory negatively. I knew nearly all of my 200 students names in March. After a month on Lamictal I forgot about 50 % of them. That’s hard data. I will never take it again. It helped the depression but spun me into hypomania, also.
Lamictal (150mg daily) has completely removed my (diagnosed) epilepsy symptoms, but the short-term memory loss has been dramatic. Names are the worst affected – I blank even on people well known to me. I had meant to add something else but have forgotten what it was!!
I have been taking Lamictal for 4 years now-200mg daily, and my short term memory has gradually become worse and worse..I constantly forget simple instructions affecting my work, and I struggle to concentrate..On top of this I have become extremely clumsy and have problems with balance.
I thought I was going crazy- glad Im not the only person with these side effects!
Oh my gosh! I’m so glad I found this online. Yes, this medication causes memory loss with me. (laughing) Also, I’ve noticed that my typing suffers (spelling) I’ll have the correct letters but will turn them around, as if my fingers are dyslexic. When I go to call one of my family members to me I’ll name everyone from distant second cousins to the cats before I finally hit upon the correct name. It’s just awful, although my children find it highly entertaining at times. I have noticed, however, that if I lower my doseage to 100mgs and break the tablet in half.. taking one half in the morning and one after lunch, that it helps just a little bit. Please post something if you find a solution to this problem. I’d love to hear about it, because in every other way the drug has been a lifesaver.
(hugs)
I have been so frustrated for last couple of years with my memory loss and confusion too. I also have the balance problem and I tend to choke a lot when I inhale to speak or eat. It really makes me feel better that I’m not the only one. I just want to fix it, I hate dealing with it. I’ve actually been concerned that I may be exhibiting early signs of Alzheimer Disease. It is very prevalant in my family. Now I feel better knowing others are experiencing the same thing. Thanks
Ive been on lamictal now for about 1 year. My memeory loss is very bad. More short term that long term but it has effected both for me. It has not changed the amount of sizures that I have as I only have them in my sleep anyway. Only my wife knows when they happen. However my memeory loss is very bad. Will see the Dr next week to see if this can be helped.I now take 150mg twice a day
I just happened to google Lamictal and memory loss. My long term memory seems fine, but I suffer from confusion and memory loss. I mentioned it to my doctor but he sort of pushed it aside saying the benefits outweigh the costs.
I have been on 100 mg of Lamictal for a year and this memory loss is terrible. I am worried about the long term problems.
I have always been great with names and now am terrible.
I am only 26 and I really worry about the long term effects.
I took lamictal for about a year and I had a horrid time with my memory. I honestly thought I had Alzheimers. But the very worst thing was falling all the time. I hurt myself several times in these falls and the Doctor would never agree with me that it was the Lamictal causing it. finally I insisted on a trial run of no Lamictal and my falling stopped within two weeks and my memory improved, but I do think it has had lasting effects!!
I have had some memory issues while on Lamictal for Bipolar Disorder. The biggest problem for me is word retrieval. It actually took me a lot of thought to remember the word “retrieval”. (c;
But considering the alternative, I’ll (almost) gladly forget a few things.
I have been on Lamictal for a couple of years now and my memory has been affected. I have a hard time remembering all the options I have to process a return at work. I have to call for help and then feel dumb when they show me the other options available. I KNOW the stuff, I just can’t remember it on the spot. Short term memory is worse than long term. I thought is was just me. I’m glad it’s not, but am sad others are affected the same way.
What? Who? How? When? Why? Where?
I sincerely thought I was getting Alzheimer’s Disease because of my memory loss. I feel so stupid when I can’t remember the name of the person who works next to me. However, no other medicine in the world works like Lamictal to stop the symptoms of my “bipolarosity” so I won’t stop it until I forget where I live and ride around aimlessly!
One thing that is weird is that I yawn continuously whenever I am reading something aloud!!!! My niece uses Lamictal ONLY and she does the same thing so I know that has to be the cause. Has anybody experienced this? It doesn’t happen when I read silently….just out loud. This is really a pain because I’m a teacher and need to read stories to the little ones!
I’m not on Lamictal for bipolar disorder, I’m on it for epilepsy. I’ve been on at least 5 medications for my seizures and all of them had some sort of memory loss but Lamictal by far is the worst. Unfortunately it is the one that has worked the best with my seizures. I can tell you everybody in my kindergarten class (I’m 23) but if you asked me what I did last Saturday, I couldn’t tell you. It makes school A LOT harder for me and I break down sometimes about it. I’m lucky that I have friends that can laugh off the fact that they’ve heard the same story five times. I really want to find something that can help with my memory loss. :/
HUE–I have experienced the exact same thing. Especially when I read stories to my kids at night. I figured I was just really tired, but it seems to only happen when I read the stories. Afterwards, no more yawning. Weird.
I’ve been on lamictal for several years for bipolar spectrum. I have also been concerned about early Alzheimer’s so it is reassuring to read that others share my experience. I am tapering down & will continue tapering down possibly off it completely until my memory and ability to concentrate return. My 17 yr old daughter is on it too, and I am going to recommend that she cut back.
If anybody has any other ideas please post them.
I’ve been on Lamictal for only 3 months now, and I’m extremely concerned with my loss of attentiveness, concentration, and memory. I’m on 350 mg per day and going back to the doctor soon, to increase my dosage, because my seizures are nowhere near under control. I’m only 14 and in very difficult all honors classes in school so I’m worried that my grades are starting to suffer! What should I do?
I’m glad to have found this, and I’m glad to realize that I was correct in deducing that it was the medicine that was causing my life to go to hell. My memory problems had gotten so bad whilst taking Lamictal that I would forget where I was at whilst out in public, why I was there or even which of my two vehicles I had driven there in. It was so bad that I was close to checking myself into a psychiatric hospital, as I was getting to the point where I was unable to care for myself. Easing up on my dosage has significantly reduced these symptoms, so I’m going to see about getting off this garbage. Every medicine I’ve tried for my bipolar disorder has only made things worse — I went from being an impulsive, moody but driven person who accomplished things to being nearly a vegetable with a destroyed life in almost two years. Bipolar disorder didn’t ruin my life — psychiatry did. In my case, he cure really has been far, far worse than the disease.
I have been on Lamictal just over a year. I have
had a lot of side effects, some have gone but others
are still with me. One of the worst is constantly
falling. The other day I fell twice, one I wound
up with a black eye plus other bruises. The worst
is not remembering that I fell. I had appendix
surgery just a month ago. I was in the hospital for
a week, because they ruptured. I was dehydrated
also loss of appitite. Almost a week later I had
a seizure, the doctors think that it was brought
on by the trauma of the surgery and also being so
dehydrated. Three weeks after that is when I fell.
This has left me completely stressed out and
nervous.
I have epilepsy…been on several meds and they all affected my memory. I was on extended release dilantin, which gave me similar side-effects as Dementia…stories were going around I had this because I was affected on both long and short term..severley…I went to a new neurologist who put me on Lamotrigine….I began on 25mg tablets…and noticed things were fine, then when I reached my 100 level, I then noticed a huge difference..in memory, fatigue, etc…I have learned that lamotrigine is also a mood stabilizer..it helps to level our thoughts and yes it makes us forget things..purposely for this reson…many seizures are triggered from the faulty electrical activity in the brain….this will help to mello these, as well as helping with depression and other mental disorders. Not only from meds, but also from brain surgery I have a memory disorder. After my surgery I had NO MEMORY at all…could not read, write, talk, spell, history of my life, my family, etc…Well, over time, I worked on many things, took in volunteering and was tought how to improve memory…after doing more research on memory, audio tapes, specialist, I have learned how to deal with this…yes, it is annoying, but there are ways to help improve…(talk to doctors) about vitamins/food, etc. Also there are many mind games we can do that helps the memory…Audio tapes help you to use other parts of your brain when it comes to remembering things, writing things down also helps, and keeping your brain active in many activities also helps allot. Rest is another thing…(better sleep, decreasing anxiety, etc) The more you let it get to you, the worse things can be…we don’t want to let this happen, to do your best to deal with things. Again, we are not alone here, both people on the meds and others who have the knowledge. I wish all the best to everyone……it is good talking about things…with other people in similar situations.
I’ve been on Lamictal 200mg BID for over a year now. I haven’t related it to any memory loss or other side issue that I can tell. My memory, especially short term, is getting worse, but I attribute that to my Bipolar II and my increasing age (currently 52). In any case, Lamictal has helped stabilize my mood (I’ve been on many mood stabilizers)… so I am not inclined to stop taking it.
John
I have been on Lamictal for about 4 years now except for the 9 months I was pregnant. I have noticed my memory is getting progressively worse and have mentioned it to my doctor but she didn’t seem to take me seriously. I am glad I found these comments, I will have to show it to her. It has helped tremendously with my Bipolar but I am really having a hard time at work and in school with my memory and I am only 28.Memory loss isn’t listed as a side effect, but with all these comments I think there needs to be some further research!
I grew up having only one real friend, my mind. My curiousity, my ability to grasp complex concepts visually. The tough thing about Lemectal is its taken away that friend.
I learned I am bipolar which is the reason for my enhanced capacity. Now I feel that my life has been a big parlor trick. My reference is waining.
Memory loss is the worst thing in the world for me. My wife says that if I quit lemectal she will leave me. Whats worse is she is acting as my keeper and I feel like I am slipping away.
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I have been on Lamictal for about 4 months? Can’t remember exactly when I started. I cant even remember what dose I am on now. I think it is 200mg? When I went up to the 150, I had intense skin pain, the doctor said with no rash associated wit it I should be fine. Felt like a horrible sun burn, but no mark. We lowered my dosage, and it went away, and then we tried again to raise my dosage. Now, I am 27, and I suffer from short term memory loss. I am in nursing school, and can’t remember a lot of the stuff I was taught. I was in walmart the other day to buy fluid for the radiator, and seriously, I could not remember what fluid went into a radiator! I was so embarrassed I had to read the bottles because I didn’t want to ask!. I know this stuff, I trully do, and I mentioned it to my husband and he told me to look it up, and I found others are having this issue. I am talking to my doctor today.