Lamotrigine and Memory Loss: What Users Say

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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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."

• Tex...
• September 6, 2019

For Anxiety "I am on my third month of the med using for anxiety. I was on 25 mg and just went to 50 mg this past week. It has helped with my anxiety. I am now able to go out places and not freak out. I rather stayed home before, but I can do more now without the anxiety. I also use Latuda for bipolar and Ambien at night. Since starting this, it has truly helped me all around. I have lost some weight and had a bad acne breakout, dizziness, and memory loss, but I’m going to continue it to see what happens. Thanks."

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

Lamotrigine 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."

• Tha...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 24, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I was treated for depression for over twenty-five years and was prescribed all different kinds of antidepressants. None of them helped me, and they also caused severe side effects. When I returned to school to get my Ph.D. in Psychology, I learned about Bipolar II Disorder, which none of my doctors had ever mentioned to me. The more I read about it, the more I realized I had been given the wrong diagnosis and the wrong treatments for years. So I began to look at all of the medications for BP II and their side effects, which, quite frankly, frightened me. Lamotrigine seemed mild compared to the others, and now I have been taking 200 mg for the past fifteen years. It has changed my life, although I have not had any physical side effects, my short-term memory is shot. I have trouble remembering even simple words when I'm talking to someone. I'd be interested in knowing if anyone else has or is experiencing this."

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

Lamotrigine 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."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2019

For Depression "Really, really bad experience. After two months being on it, I started experiencing crazy side effects. Never been so sick in my life. Sore throat, dry red eyes, dry mouth, muscle pain, muscle spasms, disorientation, neck pain, back pain, lost 12 kg, no sex drive, burning sensation on the skin, tiredness, insomnia, vivid dreams, hard to breathe, chest pain, flu-like symptoms, confusion, memory loss, constant nausea, vomiting, fatigue, constant headache. Really bad, bad drug. I will never take any other drug again."

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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 15, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I started lamotrigine only one week ago for classic bipolar and an anxiety disorder. I noticed it starting to work on day two and really noticed a difference on day three! It is life-changing! Before, my head was overwhelmed with many thoughts processing, many of which were negative, angry thoughts, and now my head is calm and quiet. My thoughts are now all positive and nice. I don't think I could say mean things even if I wanted to because literally my brain blocks it! My anxiety has gone away too, what a great feeling! I had no negative side effects. I was told it may cause weight loss and memory loss, BUT since my head is much more relaxed without anxiety, I have started to eat normally again, and I have actually had improved memory."

• San...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 10, 2021

For Epilepsy "Got first-time clonic tonic seizures 6 months ago (3 the same day) and was prescribed Levetiracetam. Asked to change after a month as I was sleeping 18 hours a day and having mood swings. The neurologist at first didn’t want to change my medication, which infuriated me, she didn’t want to listen. I am now on Lamotrigine and I have all the side effects: insomnia, acne problem, low concentration, bad memory, can’t stand light or noise. I am refusing to take more than 100 mg a day for that reason. I am so scared to get another seizure (I didn’t have any since then but I have huge headaches/migraines almost every day) that I don’t want to stop them yet. But it changes who I am completely. Neurologists have no idea what they are talking about, they just prescribe medication and let us deal with it! This medication is a nightmare!!!!"

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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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."

• Aku...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 30, 2019

For Depression "It helped some with my depression, but side effects after three months of being on it are crazy: back pain, leg pain, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, memory problems, low libido, tremor, weakness, no concentration, nightmares, dry mouth, weight loss, muscle spasms, and some more. Wouldn't take it again."

• dan...
• March 15, 2016

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I got diagnosed with borderline personality disorder not too long ago. I had never used any type of medications before I got lamotrigine prescribed, and honestly, it has worked wonders on me. Before, I had strong mood swings which went from morning depression to extended periods of anxiety. After I started taking the meds, my anxiety has gone down a lot, I no longer have morning depression, and overall it has helped me out with no side effects aside from my short-term memory, but it isn't too bad."

• Ire...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2021

For Depression "My Dr. started me off on 25 mg. I took half of the 25 mg for 10 days. I'm on 25 mg for 5 days already. I'm so used to not feeling well from not knowing what is wrong with me, from feeling dizzy, trembly, head in the clouds, mood swings, depressed, and constantly irritable, short-tempered, confused, disorientated, forgetful, and extremely tired all the time, racing thoughts and always thinking of what I need to do next, like I'm not present. After taking 25 mg for the 5th day (a full tablet), somehow I feel very relaxed and all these symptoms above - I'm not really feeling them or I'm looking to see if I'm feeling it deep down, but I'm not. That means that the meds are working, right? My mind feels like it's present, I don't feel like my mind is all over the place. I am having a normal feeling that feels rather therapeutic. My mind is clearer, and my concentration has improved quite a lot. I'm starting to see life differently, I'm more confident because inwardly I feel more healed."