Posted by JahL on April 30, 2001, at 10:51:26
In reply to anyone with memory problems, posted by scoton on April 30, 2001, at 9:41:13
> > just found this website, and have read threw most of the postings, i have been on lamictal for about three years and now and switching to topamax and also getting off lithium, have been having problems with short term memory with words, places,people,phone numbers etc, was even driving another city to home and was about 75 miles from home and totaly forgot where i was going andwhere i lived it was scary, drove around for about two hours until it came back to me, also the neigbor says her and i had a conversion that i do not even recall. this morning i could not remember one of my son's names or even how to spell. i know i must sound real stupid to all of you.is there anyone outhere who can relate and does this go away when you get use to topamax i am only on 100 mg now. thanks.
Hi. Just a couple of thoughts.
SLS, a regular poster here, reported memory problems when on more than 300mg of Lamictal.
I have memory (& general cognitive) problems & I don't think the Lamictal (250mg) is especially helping. Nor is the Klonopin, though this is notorious for ST memory problems.
Lithium really scrambled my brain & a lot of people talk of 'cognitive dulling'. I don't know how this relates to memory though.
As for Topiramate, you might want to look @ the study below. It does not bode particularly well for the cognitive side of things, though I should add it is only one study & there are a couple of posters here who use Topiramate w/o any complaints.
Good Luck,
Jah.PS I have had the 'not knowing where you're driving' thang; pure headf*ck!
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"Cognitive effects of topiramate, gabapentin, and lamotrigine in healthy young adults."
Neurology 1999 Jan 15;52(2):321-7 (ISSN: 0028-3878)
Martin R; Kuzniecky R; Ho S; Hetherington H; Pan J; Sinclair K; Gilliam F; Faught E .
University of Alabama at Birmingham Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294-0021, USA.OBJECTIVE: To study the acute and steady-state cognitive effects of three new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs): gabapentin, lamotrigine, and topiramate. BACKGROUND: Several newer antiepileptic medications approved recently by the Food and Drug Administration are gaining attention as efficacious alternatives to established AEDs. Greater tolerability with fewer side effects are reported in some. However, the potential cognitive effects of these newer AEDs have received limited attention. METHODS: Healthy young adults randomized to either of the three drugs were administered tests of attention, psychomotor speed, language, memory, and mood at baseline (predrug), acute single-dose period, and after 2 and 4 weeks on the drug. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, the topiramate group had selective, statistically significant declines on measures of attention and word fluency at acute doses, whereas the other two AED groups had no performance changes. At the 2- and 4-week test periods, only the topiramate subjects continued to display neurocognitive effects from drug administration. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate potential acute and steady-state adverse cognitive effects for topiramate, whereas minimal effects were displayed for either gabapentin or lamotrigine in young healthy adults.
poster:JahL
thread:61137
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010424/msgs/61144.html