Lamictal and Memory Loss: What Users Say

• Non...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 11, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "This was the first time I took a mood stabilizer. I have a rare case of my bipolar disorder coming on at around 1, so I knew nothing different for 35 years. Now it's known that bipolars need mood stabilizers, then it was random antidepressants. My negative about the drug is it does affect your short-term memory and can 'dumb you down.' My decision was to be dumb and sane instead of smart and out of control. I took the highest dose. After 4 years and the birth of a child, the medication became much less effective, so I've had to change. I had forgotten how horrible I felt off meds until I had to change. Lamictal saved me, it helped me become a better person and live in less pain. As with every medication for bipolar disorder, you have to weigh pros and cons. I would not recommend this medication for anyone working in an intellectual-based job where memory and use of math as such is involved. It can drastically lower your abilities. For me at the time, it was more than worth it."

• gen...
• November 26, 2013

For Seizure Prevention "I've been taking Lamictal for 3 years now. I haven't had a grand mal seizure since then. I was having seizures in my sleep and still think I do every once in a while but none during the day. I am lucky that I do feel a seizure coming on. The only problem is I'm very unbalanced and it's easy for me to trip. I also feel like I'm in a fog sometimes and my cognitive abilities like thinking clearly, number and word recall and multitasking are very affected."

• Lig...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 18, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "On Lamictal for bipolar, and I developed cognitive problems, memory loss, hair loss, and other problems. Had many serious depressive episodes and an increase in anxiety while on it. Worsened sleep. Difficult withdrawal occurred when trying to get off it."

• Mr ...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 3, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Was hospitalized for a first-time manic episode with psychotic features last year (age 25). Went through Seroquel and Abilify before finding Lamictal. Initially, it seemed to smooth out my mood swings so that I could greet the day and take care of myself without issue (I remember joking, 'THIS is how non-mentally ill people feel?'). However, I began experiencing significant short-term memory impairment and realized that my mood stabilization also felt like mood flattening. I stopped being a self-starter and just felt no interest in setting any goals. My cognitive issues and lack of drive led to my losing my job. It's now causing turbulence in my relationship for the same reason: I never seem to want to do ANYTHING except maybe watch TV/movies at home. Hearing my boyfriend voice the same concerns as HR before my firing tells me that this medication may be wrong for me. Time to talk to the doctor. I want to feel like myself again, more than I do now."

• Age...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Lamictal for hmm... ~5 months now. I feel it has seriously been one of the most helpful things in my life. I feel very present to the moment, mostly calm, and overall... content. It basically just improves my personality. Some side effects though. Terrible memory. Seriously. My perception of time is all out of whack too. I said I have been taking it for only 5 months, but that is so hard to believe! It feels like I've been on it for at least a year. Oh well. I still like it because lifestyle doesn't require a sharp memory. If your lifestyle does require sharpness, I advise against taking this."

• Rae...
• August 16, 2013

For Seizure Prevention "It will be 10 years in October that I've been taking Lamictal. I've been seizure-free that long as well. I take 200 mg at night and 200 mg in the morning. I too experience memory loss and concentration issues. I feel as though my eyes don't move normally. Since my dosage was upped, I find myself in slow motion. I also notice that I have a form of dyslexia. Example: putting on my windshield wipers instead of my blinkers. Another example is: when I'm speaking, I might say into my sentence what I'm looking at. Talk about making me feel stupid! I must add that I also take Zonogram, which was causing me other side effects like depression and suicidal thoughts. After doctors lowered the Zonogram dose, depression and suicidal thoughts were gone, but I gained weight."

• Sar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 13, 2024

For Bipolar Disorder "Lamictal has changed my life. I was diagnosed bipolar 20 years ago and have never been 100% happy with my meds. Although I was functioning, I was always battling weight gain, lack of motivation, binge eating (due to antipsychotics), had a terrible episode (manic then severe depression after), was given Lamictal to take. My life has turned around. I’ve been able to lower my 2 other meds. I’ve gone from obese to a normal weight. I read about this happening with others and thought that will never happen to me, but it did. It truly is an antidepressant to me (I still take a lower dose of Seroquel as well). I don’t know if Lamictal would be strong enough alone, I don’t want to find out either, as I’m finally happy on my mix of meds. The weight loss is because I finally can eat a healthy diet and have the motivation to go walking and go shopping to buy proper food. Side effects are mild, kind of makes you more “ditsy” and a bit forgetful. But that’s it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 31, 2013

For Seizure Prevention "I have been on Lamictal for 7 years and have not had any seizures. My seizures were caused by scar tissue from having a brain tumor removed. I started on Dilantin, but the side effects were so bad I couldn't work, so my neurologist started me on Lamictal. I didn't lose weight, but I am frequently dizzy and definitely have cognitive and memory issues. I find I have to focus on tasks and don't multi-task effectively anymore. I wouldn't give this medicine up because it controls my seizures. I'm fortunate that my medical plan covers the brand name, but I have to pay more."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 31, 2013

For Seizure Prevention "I have been on Lamictal for 7 years and have not had any seizures. My seizures were caused by scar tissue from having a brain tumor removed. I started on Dilantin, but the side effects were so bad I couldn't work, so my neurologist started me on Lamictal. I didn't lose weight, but I am frequently dizzy and definitely have cognitive and memory issues. I find I have to focus on tasks and don't multi-task effectively anymore. I wouldn't give this medicine up because it controls my seizures. I'm fortunate that my medical plan covers the brand name, but I have to pay more."

• Jac...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 6, 2024

For Bipolar Disorder "Works for me at a low dose of 50 mg. I tried 6 months at 100 mg, and it affected my memory and sleep. Overall, it does help depression, but it is trial and error to find the lowest effective dose and if you should take it am or pm. Tapering back from 100 mg down to 50 mg wasn't too bad either, nothing like the torture I have experienced with SSRI meds."

• Red...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 18, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I have Bipolar II, and lamotrigine saved my life. I have taken 200 mg for approximately 5 years. In combination with therapy, my mood swings have diminished by >95%. My quality of life has skyrocketed. My life truly is broken into 2 segments - before lamotrigine and after lamotrigine. My memory is certainly a bit worse, but I notice no other side effects. The memory impairment is not substantial enough to warrant stopping the medication."

• BAA...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 30, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Lamictal is a great medication for the depressive side of my bipolar 1 disorder, but try as I may, it is not a good mono-therapy, meaning I can't take it alone. I need another mood-stabilizing medication with it or it causes anxiety and irritability to worsen. I'm giving it 7 out of 10 stars because it doesn't work for bipolar 1 as a mono-therapy and has affected my memory and ability to recall words and to read quickly. Side effects for me are reading difficulty, memory issues, and breakthrough anxiety and irritability."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 26, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "Vivid dreams, nightmares, night terrors, sleep paralysis, frequent awakenings during sleep, thought blocking, memory lapses, word retrieval problems, concentration. Sleep disorders eventually fade, but they were certainly debilitating. After 200 mg, my mother reported I had strange behavior a few times that I don't remember. Besides these side effects, it has a very noticeable effect on depression. I would risk all those adverse reactions for this pill. Saved my life."

• div...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 12, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "My experience has been terrible. I am 42 and an educated woman who works in a high-capacity job, and I can't function. I have been to the emergency room twice for disorientation and garbled writing/texts. I have had several falls or balance issues, one fall caused a concussion. Now I walk with a cane on occasions. I constantly forget things, events, appointments, and more. I finally had to go out on medical leave. I am in the process of discontinuing all psych meds, as they are ruining my life!!!"

• Anonymous
• September 10, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "Before starting Lamictal, I'd been hospitalized 5 times for rapid cycling bipolar disorder 1, made one serious suicide attempt, and had more than 50 ECT treatments. I've been on almost every mood stabilizer, antidepressant, and antipsychotics. Lamictal has been the most helpful and has made me feel almost like a normal person - living and back to professional life. Side effects: hair thinning, nails okay. Sometimes memory and concentration problems, but hey, I did have a lot of shock therapy. Once I had sudden severe double vision that lasted several hours. Overall, it has been the most effective with the best side effects for me, smoother moods, less severe, better weight, better skin, better libido, and better gastrointestinal effects than lithium, other mood stabilizers, or antipsychotics."

• Lee...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 31, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "Taken this med for years. Age 15-18 then on and off a bit. Then the last three years very consistently. Did I think it helped? At first, sure. Every time at first, I thought I felt relief. Calmer, less angry. However, my bones hurt, joints hurt, mad migraines… weight gain, horrid sudden depression I had never had before - I dealt with it. I recently stopped taking this medication - the first time I stopped, I got VERY sick. Very sick. So I restarted. I can’t keep going on this medication. I have no motivation. Horrid memory loss. Horrid stomach pains and joint pains. So I stopped. I already feel more energy - less suicidal - this med ruined my life … coming off has been so amazing. As a person who's been on this long term - it’s not worth it for me. I’m ready to enjoy some form of life again. It’ll feel so subtle - the loss of yourself to this drug."

• 3br...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 21, 2017

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I've been taking Lamictal for over 15 years. I have to be on a high dose, which does give me side effects. My memory is very bad, and my balance is a little off. For as much as the memory thing bothers me, I'd rather have that than the alternative, which is crazy. I hadn't tried 'everything' before I tried Lamictal, but I tried enough meds to know how they did not work like Lamictal did. It didn't happen overnight. I had to ramp up very slowly, not just because of the physical, but to see how my mind was. It took about a year to get to my therapeutic dose, and it was worth it. Talk to your doctor about everything it does to you. Work together."

• lan...
• July 16, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "Lamictal is a great drug for me, except for the side effects. I now have had to be put on sleep medicines or I stay awake all night. I have also lost quite a lot of hair over the years of taking it. At one point (400mg) per day. Now at 200mg a day, it has not been as bad, but still significant. My memory has gotten almost to the point of giving up the medicine because it's so bad. I also have trouble thinking of words that I want to say and have never had that problem until taking Lamictal. It does have less or (better) side effects than some of the others, or I would have tried something else by now."

• Anonymous
• November 28, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been taking Lamictal now for about 4 years. I haven't had any side effects that I can tell, but after reading others' experiences of memory loss, that could be one that I do have. I take the maximum dose that is prescribed now, and I can't say enough about this medication. I was so totally lost: severe depression, suicidal, lowest of lows. It was so bad, I couldn't get my ducks in a row (my mother's comments to me daily). Now, I'm feeling in control of my life. I'm back with my spouse and caring for my mother, whose ducks have scattered about, and I'm living happily."

• Chr...
• September 24, 2015

For Seizure Prevention "So my first seizure was when I was 13. I have tried many meds, but this one seemed to work the best. BUT, as the years have passed, my memory has been going a lot, and it seems to be getting worse and worse. I took it upon myself to stop the medicine cold turkey (I'd been on it for 5-6 years now, so it's NOT recommended). And yet I haven't had any symptoms of a seizure, and my memory is starting to come back. My sister was also on it, but for depression, she almost lost her eyesight because she missed one day of taking it. So please be careful, and do your research on each drug that you are about to go on."

• Jay...
• July 17, 2015

For Seizure Prevention "I've been on Lamictal for a few years, and while it eliminated all my daytime seizures, my nighttime sleep seizures continue. I spoke to my neuro, and he raised the dosage to 400 mg. But I was a zombie with no memory, aphasia, and confusion. Finally, I went back to 200 mg and decided to just live with the nighttime seizures. My doctor suggested using Xanax to control them. It worked. The odd part is that they occur every six weeks and last for about a week. Anybody else has such regular onset?"

• Chi...
• September 2, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "I am 58 years old and diagnosed last year with mild bipolar disorder, agoraphobia, and anxiety. I felt very happy most of my life, although having behavioral problems, and didn't start having real problems until I was 50. I tried Wellbutrin, and it gave me hives. Celexa made me so wired that I couldn't sleep and felt like I was going crazy. Effexor worked, but I was tired all day. Lamictal was miraculous. I have taken it for a year. It gives me energy, I feel happy and motivated. I don't feel angry anymore. I LOVE it. I gave it a 9 because it gives me memory problems, which I do not like. But I feel that it is really a lack of concentration. So I try harder to concentrate, and it helps when I do more mental things, like read."

• Anonymous
• March 1, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "Lamictal is an interesting medication. It worked very well for controlling mood swings, particularly the rage-filled, depressive mixed episodes, but caused absolutely massive memory and cognition problems about 8 months into treatment at 200 mg a day. It was odd, the world just kind of slipped into the present. I couldn't even do things like cook toast because I would forget what I was doing. I have since cut the dose to 25 mg a day. It works far less well for the mood swings but doesn't mess up my mind much now. All in all, mixed results. I still take it. It beats the alternatives, which were awful."

• zzz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2022

For Seizure Prevention "The longer I'm on Lamictal, the more problems I have - I'm taking it for nocturnal seizures (I had 1-2/yr before meds). When I began taking it, I erupted in a burning facial rash, so we scaled the dose back. Since then, my days begin with vertigo/severe fatigue, my vision has become blurry (the optometrist saw no literal vision changes during testing), I have tremors periodically, short-term memory is practically non-existent, difficulty concentrating, my limbs feel weak/tingly, and I'm still having seizures! I've been doing all sorts of tests and haven't been diagnosed with a new health problem. Why do anticonvulsants all cause so much misery? I'm essentially a stiff, wobbly, forgetful zombie on this medication. I'm really sad that it isn't working because I heard it was a tried and true medication. My neurologist is weaning me off, thank God. I wish there was something out there that actually worked and didn't crush you under the weight of debilitating side effects."

• ove...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Had severe depression, anxiety, and elevated mood swings for years. Just started meds in my early 50s. Lexapro, gradual doses. At first, began to notice results in all three areas, but extremely sleepy no matter what time I took it. It seemed to level off at about 50% effectiveness, then slowly decreased in its effectiveness. Went on Lamictal, more energy, but mood swings came back, no patience or tolerance again, forgetfulness, and anxiety. Rambling thoughts in my head continually. I am returning back to my original prognosis. Didn't find it to be of help at all, up to 200 mg. Really don't want to keep experimenting, not sure of next step."