Concentration and memory on lamictal and epilim

[BecE]

This is going to be a little long so if you want to skip the first paragraph which is an introduction of myself and go straight to my question in the second paragraph, I understand.

Hi everyone, my name's Bec. I was diagnosed with juvenile epilepsy when I was 6 years old and took tegretol from this point until I was 17. Then I wanted to get my licence and I was still having small seizures so I went to the neurologist who after several tests diagnosed me with primary-generalised epilepsy. I changed to lamictal (200mg/day) and epilim or depakote I think(1000mg/day) during which time I had my first big tonic-clonic. I am now 24 years old and other than the occassional day/night where I might go into a set of small seizures where I shake for about 10-20sec and then stop, I have been seizure free for 7 years.

Since changing medications when I was 17 to lamictal and epilim I have noticed a serious decline in my concentration. When I talk about this with other people and give them an example of me forgetting someone I met the day before they tend to say that it happens to everyone and change the subject. I usually just tell people I have a bad memory when I stuff up without mentioning the epilepsy because it seems too strange to launch into my health when I'm in the middle of a conversation. Anyway, lately I have been concerned that little mistakes are happening more and more often. It isn't memory that is the problem, it's my total lack of concentration. I've had to go back over this several times because I keep on mixing up letters, I ask someone a question which I apparently was already told the answer to 1 minute ago and I have been in a small class at TAFE for the past 14 weeks and even though I've talked to everyone I only know 3 people's names. If I were to change meds would I regain the ability to concentrate or is it gone, because I really think at this point it's just getting worse? Thanks if you got this far.

 

[Zoofemme]

The best thing to do is talk to your doctor. It could be the meds or it could be from the sezs. You will find that memory loss is a BIG complaint in here with both issues. One of the ways that some folks deal with it is to play "brain games". You might try that and see if it helps you some. If you do a search on it by using the search function up at the top right you will find a number of threads on the subject throught the forums. Welcome to CWE

 

[Loopy Lou]

There's a lot of people on here that have memory problems, myself included.

A lot of the time it is so hard to tell what is the seizure and what is the medication.

Anyhoo, welcome to CWE! Loadsa nice people on here

 

[Nakamova]

Both the meds, and the seizures can do a number on attention and memory. If the seizures originate near the temporal lobe/hippocampus they can make old memories hard to retrieve and new memories hard to encode.

Being on two meds may also take toll. You might want to ask your doc about slightly backing off on the dosage for one or the other meds (probably the epilim). If that's not an option then there are ways to try and compensate for scattered memory; Decluttering and super-organizing your environment, writing everything (and I mean everything) down, using checklists and maps, focusing on important info, and reviewing and repeating it as often as possible.

 

[Endless]

Hi, Bec. And WELCOME!

I'm on Trileptal, and also have memory problems. It's a really big club in here. Since taking trileptal I now have problems with both short term and long term memory. The long term is something new. Don't know if it is due to all the seizures that resulted from switching meds and doses around, or if it is due to the medication itself.

A psychologist told me that the best way to address memory problems from meds is to lead an active life. Spend time with friends and family, read, write, do new things. Keep doing things that ask your brain to think and form new pathways. I'm trying to do that, but don't know if it is helping.

Odd, reading and writing is not a problem for me (vocabulary). My problem is if someone talks to me (hearing comprehension), and remembering things that just happened or happened a long time ago.

I'm trying to get an appointment with an epilepsy and memory specialist. If I get in I'll let you know how it goes and what she recommends.

 

[droolmonster]

lamictal

I know from my own experience with lamictal that it definitely affected my memory. I was taking like thousands of mg. It was weird for me, because I'm usually focused and intelligent. I know nothing about the other one, epilim, but lamictal will make you stupid.

 

[LuminaryLucy]

Hi
I was on epilim last year and my husband said it was like living with a vegetable. i was studying at university and couldn't cope with concentration and memory related issues. then tried keppra but stopped because of too many side effects again, but not on it long enough to be sure about the memory stuff.
have ben on lamictal for about 6 weeks now and feel very mentally alert and can concentrate more than i have ever noticed since diagnosis, but still having some memory problems. i understand what you mean with peoples names, its awful and isolating because you don't want to talk to people and then run into them again a week later and either have no recollection of talking to them or you recognise them but can't remember their name or what they said to you. hate it. am hoping its the meds because option b means my brain is fried.
but lamictal has been a ray of hope in my life. i hope things get better for you.
best wishes. lucy

 

[BecE]

Thanks everyone. It's nice to hear from people who understand and who go through some of the same problems and issues as me. I think I will try to talk to a doctor about reducing my epilim. One of my main problems is that I don't really have a doctor to discuss my epilepsy with because my Dad is a doctor so I rarely have to go to another doctor for anything and my files are at his surgery so I have to explain to him that I want someone objective to talk to. Oh well, awkward conversations just have to happen sometimes. I want to go on the pill again too but last time I kept feeling sick, shaky and dizzy when I was on it, so I'll have to go to another doctor for that too. Thanks again for your kind words. I'll have a look at past posts on the memory/concentration issues too. Cheers.

 

[Nakamova]

FYI -- The pill often conflicts with AEDs. The AED can make the pill less effective, and in some cases the pill can affect the AED.

 

[Cint]

Here is a link that explains how epilepsy messes with the memory system:

http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/thinking_memory_epilepsy

I've been on lots of different meds and some effect my memory worse than others, but my damaged area is the hippocampus, so for me, that explains a lot of why my memory is sooo bad. But getting friends and family to understand is..... well.... nearly impossible.

 

[Endless]

Here's another link on memory and epilepsy. It explains why our memory may test normal, even though it is all screwed up:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article4635471.ece

 

[alivenwell]

Sometimes it helps to associate a person's name with a similar image as a mnemonic way to remember him/her. An example: 'Sandy'.... Remember sand on a beach or some image that appeals to you. Then, write down both the image and the person's name. Cheat with a pen on your palm of your hand or a notebook.

 

[Pembo73]

Hi - I was diagnosed with Epilepsy 2 years ago and have been taking 1250mg Epilim daily. My memory and concentration has deteriorated dramatically.

 

[Sabbo]

Most AEDs can/do affect a person's memory. Topamax is often referred to as "Dopamax" because of the problems it causes. One major thing is "word loss"--when you KNOW what you want/need to say, but your brain & mouth can't connect, or it's as if you can "see" the words written on paper in your mind but can't say them. Short-term memory is another issue with many of them.

 

[Pembo73]

Jeez yes that happens to me a lot now. Its so frustrating, whether in work or with the kids. I am 48 (diagnosed with Epilepsy at 46). I work in a Bank and there are days where I just can't get much work done as my brain just won't kick into gear getting to the point where I'm thinking of getting a different, less mentally taxing job.