Lamotrigine and Memory Loss: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Kan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder II and was put on 25 mg of lamotrigine and titrated up to currently 125 mg. I can say this medication is a lifesaver. I take it in the morning and experience no side effects except for a little bit of memory loss, which I’ll take over severe mood swings any day. It is a process to titrate, but the outcome for me was worth it."

• sha...
• March 12, 2011

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "I have recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and have found Lamictal (lamotrigine) to not only balance my mood but to elevate me back to feeling human. This is profound and very refreshing. Having experienced mild to very severe depression all of my life, I have also had acute and moderately severe manic episodes. Over the past two months, I have worked my Lamictal dose very slowly up to 200 mg of Lamictal coupled with 25 to 100 mg of Seroquel (primarily for insomnia and secondarily for mood). Side effects have included memory loss, word recall problems, and distinct weight gain (even though I exercise often and rigorously). Overall, I would say this is a wonderful medicine."

• KRH...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2023

For Cyclothymic Disorder "I started this medicine in mid-January for cyclothymia, mood problems relating to complex PTSD, and very bad seasonal depression. Basically, my moods were a mess. I tried SSRIs and quetiapine in the past, which I had problems with (side effects related). After starting lamotrigine, I felt consistent improvements after 6 weeks, around about the same time that I started on my full dose of 200 mg. I also had a very long streak of not binge eating (I have 7 years of this problem). Unfortunately, the binge eating streak ended, and I was back to my usual ways after 8 weeks, but I know lamotrigine can be helpful for this. I had itchy skin while increasing the dose and had a random rash that I've never experienced before (it wasn't the rash), so I can see how lamotrigine made my skin more sensitive in the short term. After 4 months, my moods are stable. My only complaint is some short-term memory loss, but it isn't that bad. I love this med!"

• Gsp...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 14, 2017

For Epilepsy "I have been taking this medication for about 7 years. I have to say it does help with my seizures (complex partial). This medicine does come with side effects, I have experienced memory loss, short-term memory loss, fatigue (extreme), and confusion. I am still taking this medication, but there are days when it is really frustrating...."

• Gsp...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 14, 2017

For Epilepsy "I have been taking this medication for about 7 years. I have to say it does help with my seizures (complex partial). This medicine does come with side effects, I have experienced memory loss, short-term memory loss, fatigue (extreme), and confusion. I am still taking this medication, but there are days when it is really frustrating...."

• Anonymous
• November 4, 2011

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "I started taking this about five years ago for anxiety/OCD/extreme irritability (bipolar spectrum), and it is a great mood stabilizer. However, it seems all great remedies have their side effects. For me (40-something female), that meant some hair loss and memory issues. Also, I've noticed that if I miss even one dose (I take 150 mg twice a day), I start to get really agitated and irritable, so I'm afraid that it's permanently altered my biochemistry - guess I'm stuck with it. I still think I'm better off than the fat zombie most women become on antidepressants."

• 123...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 11, 2024

Lamotrigine for Seizure Prevention "Lamictal changed my life. After realizing I was experiencing focal aware seizures, this was the first AED I tried, and I never intend to change it unless it stops working. I have had ONE focal aware seizure since titrating up to 200mg Lamictal 8 months ago, and it was a day I forgot to take my morning dose. Split dose (AM/PM) works best for me. Pros: cured my focal aware seizures, reduced sensory overwhelm I've experienced MY WHOLE LIFE, eliminated my PMS and made my periods much less painful and more regular (this drug lowers estrogen), stabilized my moods, and CURED MY 3X/WEEK CHRONIC MIGRAINES AND FACIAL NERVE PAIN. WOW!!! Cons: itchy skin after raising dose for 1-2 weeks, increased anxiety after raising dose for 1-2 weeks, increased alcohol tolerance, my short-term memory and creativity have taken a slight hit, some word dropping, slight hair loss."

• Mar...
• March 15, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "This was the first drug that did this, but I had to make sure I took at least 100 mg, because 25 just caused some poor sleep. 100 was great until I developed cognitive decline due to lamotrigine, as many even 'just' epileptic users have noticed and experienced. A thing to look out for. Takes away lows totally. But memory impairment, especially verbal memory."

• Bev...
• April 4, 2018

For Seizure Prevention "I have had 'stroke-like' simple partial seizures for 2 1/2 years and was first diagnosed with mini-strokes. The doctor first put me on KEPPRA and increased it gradually up to 1000 mg twice daily and would still have these seizures two or more weekly with 'zombie' effects. Finally, she gradually brought me down to 500 mg of KEPPRA and up to 150 mg of Lamotrigine. After 7 months, I have had 2 seizures, one in the buildup stage and another following a very stressful time. Side effects seem light compared to the large amount of KEPPRA. I do have a little off balance, some light rashes, and forgetfulness, but overall I am unbelievably better. I am 74, and some of these side effects may be from age."

• Zan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 13, 2021

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "Lamictal saved my life. I take 150 mg 2x a day. By far the best drug I have ever taken for bipolar 1 disorder. I've been on around 10 antidepressants, and this was the best one at treating my depression. One side effect though: memory loss, inability to recall basic words, and losing train of thought mid-conversation. Been on it for around 8 months, and the cognitive issues are still there."

• Sec...
• September 25, 2014

For Seizure Prevention "Been on: Dilantin, Keppra, and Tegretol. All for different lengths of time. Have been on Lamictal for 12 years, not had a seizure since. I did however quit my high-stress job. Truly a leap of faith for my family. I was the breadwinner. But health is number one. The side effects: insomnia. My Epileptologist added Neurontin to the mix to help combat this (so-so). Weight gain (10 lbs). Word finding. Forgetfulness. Headaches. These were all before the addition of Neurontin. I've been on the Paleo diet/lifestyle for 1 1/2 years. Never felt better. Eliminated my debilitating headaches! Lamictal gave me my life back."

• End...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 1, 2022

For Depression "Of all the meds/substances I have tried over the years (and that list contains well over 30 items), lamotrigine is one of the only ones that I could even perceive any positive benefit from taking. The only other one was lithium orotate (bought online). I’ve never taken the two together, but that may be on my coming to-do list soon if the nefazodone I’m on doesn’t work out. I have had combat-related PTSD and GAD since 2006. I likely have ADD as well… or that is at least a symptom of the PTSD. I never used to be so spacey, forgetful, and unable to concentrate as I am now and have been for the last 8-10 years. If you have experienced a plethora of trauma and aren’t doing well and are getting worse because of it — please seek help early on! I came back from my second deployment in 2006. I was way worse for the wear than my first deployment. I figured I could hack it without any help. I figured I didn’t need any help. I fricken needed help… in a big way. Anyhow, Lamo did help me, but only slightly."

• Shd...
• April 8, 2017

For Epilepsy "I was diagnosed with simple partial epilepsy 14 months ago, and I have been on Lamictal ever since. It stopped my seizures. However, it is making my life a living hell. I go through these weird déjà vu episodes. I have headaches. I get dizzy. I forget things-everyday things and very important things. I have trouble concentrating. It is a living hell. I would rather have seizures."

• Hor...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 8, 2017

For Epilepsy "I've been on this for 5 years, and when I started taking it, I had no mental health issues, not even a drop of depression. Now I have bipolar depressive disorder and severe anxiety disorder with chronic tics. The doctors now have me taking 700 mg a day, and because it makes me so forgetful, I have forgotten that I took my dose, so I ended up having two accidental drug overdoses. I have become extremely tired all the time. I wasn't told that this medication was bad for pregnancy, so I have also lost 2 babies because of this horrible pill. To top it all off, I still will have a random seizure, but just not as often."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 2, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I started lamotrigine 5 years ago. Found out I am bipolar, I noticed right away that my mood at work went from overly energetic to crabby and slow. Over time, I started noticing memory issues. Ask my husband when he bought an item, he told me, you were there when I bought it. I guess I even told him to buy it. I started crying easily, over anything. I couldn't plan things in the future, it felt like my thoughts would hit a wall, my thoughts could not follow through. The front of my brain felt tight and hard, irritated and angry easily, like flipping a switch. Cognitive issues: concentration, finding words while in conversation, spelling. Spent 2 days at work crying. I couldn't do numbers for our books. Confrontational with my boss. I am now trying to slowly get off this med, having withdrawal symptoms with every decrease."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 2, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I started lamotrigine 5 years ago. Found out I am bipolar, I noticed right away that my mood at work went from overly energetic to crabby and slow. Over time, I started noticing memory issues. Ask my husband when he bought an item, he told me, you were there when I bought it. I guess I even told him to buy it. I started crying easily, over anything. I couldn't plan things in the future, it felt like my thoughts would hit a wall, my thoughts could not follow through. The front of my brain felt tight and hard, irritated and angry easily, like flipping a switch. Cognitive issues: concentration, finding words while in conversation, spelling. Spent 2 days at work crying. I couldn't do numbers for our books. Confrontational with my boss. I am now trying to slowly get off this med, having withdrawal symptoms with every decrease."

• MBe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "This medication took me to the darkest of places. I took it for 3-4 weeks, at 25 mg per day. It felt like something evil was talking straight to me, telling me to destroy myself, the weirdest experience I have ever had with a medication. I was really depressed at the time, but once I stopped and got on Wellbutrin, it cleared it right up. I had just been diagnosed with bipolar at the time I took it, and it was my first trial with a bipolar med. I did not want to try a med that would make me gain weight. The side effects were also apparent at the low dose, it made memory foggy and forgetful at work. I kept making mistakes and couldn't answer in full sentences at times."

• Mim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 22, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "Worst drug I have ever been on. Ended up in the psych ward. Hurt all over, gave me suicidal thoughts, forgetfulness, angry all the time. Tapering off now and am feeling much better. Never had thoughts like this before."

• Lia...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 24, 2021

For Epilepsy "I have a love and extreme dislike relationship with the medication. It has aided me in reducing the amount of seizures I have, now using 400 mg a day, combined with two other types of medication. I haven't had grand mal seizures for over a year now. But I truly feel it has many side effects. The memory loss (both long and short term), brain fog, and suppressing nature make me feel as though I am not maturing and am stuck being a child. I feel like I'm a teenager and have issues making decisions, evaluating the past, and looking to the future. I am now wanting to change the medication, but am so insecure, it drives me insane."

• sta...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 18, 2021

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "Lamictal was a lifesaver. I've been on it for a year and 3 months at 200 mg/day. However, I noticed that when I fall into depressive episodes it wouldn’t really help, but when I come off of them, it keeps me stable for months. I take it in combination with Strattera and honestly I haven’t been this stable and happy in my life. The major downside is the brain fog, memory issues, and stuttering/forgetting words, it's worth it though."

• Spi...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 28, 2018

For Epilepsy "I have been on this medication for 12 months. I take 150 mg per day, 75 mg in the morning and 75 mg in the evening. My side effects are memory loss, remembering people's names, going into a room and forgetting what I went in for. My worst experience was forgetting to put any trousers on. I suffer from constipation, I have to take Fibagel twice a day. I have blurred vision and suffer mood swings."

• cra...
• January 13, 2008

Lamotrigine for Seizure Prevention "I have taken Lamictal for over a year. It helped with the seizures and the headaches and also my anxiety. Problems I had were memory loss and weight gain, but all in all, it was a good medication."