Cognitive function symptoms and conditions

I conducted a search for "long term effects of Topamax" and discovered this site, and am so glad to have done so. I have been on Topamax for around 2 years now, at the 200mg level, for chronic, sustained migraines. I have figured out, through tracking, that I will get a migraine lasting 3-4 days during ovulation and again on my period. The Topamax has helped considerably with the headaches, although I do still get at least one per month. It is generally not of the same duration, though, and is fairly easily controlled with pain meds.

I've been a bit worried, though, about continuing the drug for life, as it seems I need to do to control these headaches--thus the search. I, too, have experienced the "mental fog," and general decreased cognitive abilities. I am an extremely intelligent person, a writer, a former English teacher. Why am I unable to pluck words from my brain when I need them?

I've also experienced the tingling and numbness in various extremities, sensitivity to cold, blurred vision, fatigue, and loss of taste sensation. I've also become a royal bitch to my husband and children--although I had no idea that this could be related to this medication. I feel relieved to know this now...to know that I can change and be the person I once was. I don't like myself very much right now, but it's like trying to stop a runaway train. I can no sooner prevent or alter my knee-jerk reaction to things than I can stop that train.

I've been off of the Topamax for approximately two weeks now, and have already gained 5 pounds, although I work out 2-3 hours daily and play competitive volleyball 2-3 times per week for several additional hours. I had initially lost around 18 pounds and kept it off, even when my appetite returned. I'm uncertain, though, why I'm gaining the weight back so rapidly. I'm eating fewer than 1500 calories/day and exercising like crazy. It doesn't make sense.

I don't care about the weight, though. My chief concern is the return of my cognitive function. Has anyone experienced a return to their prior cognitive state after getting off of this medication?

Is anyone experiencing confusion, trouble thinking, trouble concentrating, decreased cognitive function, mental sluggishness, trouble solving problems or situations which require logical thinking and sequencing, and memory loss? Would love to hear from anyone experiencing any these symptoms and if so, how long were you on the drug.
Thanks!

P.S. I just happened to visit the Alzheimers Association Sites Forum as I was interested in a connection between BP meds (particularly this crap) and guess what...you will not believe the those folks diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimers who have taken Lisinopril for years before diagnosis...Hmmm...any connection here...bet there is...? This crap has been around since the early 80's...wonder how many people now in there 70's were taking Lisinopril in their 50's and are now suffering dementia. This is not coincidence folks. These BP meds that cross the blood brain barrier are doing more harm than good. Can't understand why if this drug can cause depression, it can't be doing other things to the brain. It is...I tell you it is....get off this crap before you're sitting in a Nursing Home and don't know your ass from a hole in the ground.

Is anyone experiencing confusion, trouble thinking, trouble concentrating, decreased cognitive function, mental sluggishness, trouble solving problems or situations which require logical thinking, memory loss? Would love to hear from anyone experiencing any these symptoms and if so, how long were you on the drug.
Thanks!

Well it has been 10 days since I stopped taking Lipitor. I am now sleeping 7 to 9 hrs straight - headaches gone - not as moody as I used to be - better concentration at work and huge improvement in short term memory. I forgot to metion that my doctor put me on 40mg hence it didn't take long for the side effects to start. I saw my Doctor and explained that I was off the Lipitor and told him why. He is keeping an eye on me and I will keep you all updated.
cheers from Down Under.
Goose

I have definitely noticed a weight gain! I started really watching my diet and running and it doesn't seem to be helping. Also, I have had problems with severe muscle aches and swelling in my right leg. It got so bad that I started taking prescription Naproxen for the pain, so I can sleep. I had no idea others were experiencing the same thing.

Been on Zocor for two years went from 20mg to 40mg and since being on the 40mg I have increased leg & foot cramps so severe @ night that I have trouble getting out of bed, the foot locks up. Even getting up after sitting is a problem, sometimes my feet and legs go numb and I even fell a few times. I get very tired during mid day. The newest problem is my sight, I have notice that there is a blurriness that I don't know if it ever clear up, after telling my doctor this she said it was the arthritis and to take arthritis nonasprin and to stop the zocor for about a week, I am going to stop period.

I must be living in a vacuum without knowing it. I have been on Lipitor for a few years now. I do slur words on occasion... the cramps are occasionally unbearable. I get cramps in my rib cage, legs, feet and have to watch myself making move like reaching for something that requires anything other than a normal move or twist.. or I get a cramp. I also get cramps in my hands, muscles knotting up with horrible pain... I have to watch how grasp things my fingers.... occasional just cutting a steak holding the knife or fork and applying pressure... I had a discussion with a complete stranger today who said he had similar side effects with Lipitor... I thought it was old age (I'm 62).... and not very physically active. I looked it up on the internet and found this very informative site.

Is anyone experiencing confusion, trouble thinking, trouble concentrating, decreased cognitive function, mental sluggishness, trouble solving problems or situations which require logical thinking and sequencing, and memory loss? Would love to hear from anyone experiencing any these symptoms and if so, how long were you on the drug.
Thanks!

WOW! I have been taking wellbutrin for two years now. The first three weeks were spent with nausea, vivid dreams, some jitters and being very tired. By the end of the first month that had all pretty much gone away and I was feeling more energetic, less anxiety and no depression. When I started exhibiting memory loss at first I really didn't notice it since was just articulation & range of descriptive words. Eventually it progressed to common words and sentence endings. Then I began to notice I could no longer do ANYTHING and listen to someone else at the same time, that progressed to not paying attention to what someone was saying period and the lack of ability to remember the plot of books I had read or some movies I had watched. I also began to notice moderate hair loss. Last but not least I was very slowly gaining weight, it was beginning to add up and I didn't seem to be getting the energy boost or feel that great anymore. So I decided I would quit. After a quick taper off I got to experience all the joys of withdrawal, nausea, sleeping fourteen hours and taking a nap in the afternoon, appetite swings, mood swings, diarrhea , sweetooth and the inability to get up and do anything or go anywhere. It was paralyzing. That went on for almost a month. Its been three months now and the improvement in my cognitive function and physical energy was so profound that it made me wonder if my problems over the past two years could be related to the wellbutrin, so I typed in memory loss and wellbutrin and here we are. I really didn't realize it was affecting me (or others)so seriously and I had zero initiative to investigate my condition until after I quit taking it. Dont get me wrong when I started taking wellbuterin I was at the mercy of my emotions and I needed something, but I feel the corruption of my facualtys was very insidious with this drug and by the time I realized I was having problems I didn't readily recognize it and and had no desire to do any thing about it anyway. My husband had even pointed these symptoms out to me and still I didn't/wasn't able to put it together until now. I don't know what the solution for others will be but I have found mine. I guess what bothers me most is that none of the symptoms caused by this drug was expounded upon by my doctor, the focus was all about how much better I would feel, He never once mentioned memory loss or concentration. And in the last two years he has never once mentioned the idea that I would ever be off antidepressants. For most of us it doesn't have to bee forever. I don't know if I had it all to do again if I would take wellbutrin again or ask for something else, but what I do know is that I would be more aware of what I was taking and not take it for nearly the length of time I did. The drug itself kept me from reacting to its effects and I was unable to gage when I was starting to do better emotionally. The process of getting off it made me wonder if I could do it and if I really was better, believe me I thought about reaching for that bottle every day for a month. Ask yourself where you are mentally, talk to your doctor, MAKE HIM TALK TO YOU, and taper off a lot slower than I did so your able to clearly differentiate between recurring depression and withdrawal. I am no longer in the same frame of mind that I was when I started taking wellbutrin and now that I am completely off of it I feel fine. Good Luck and be careful

My mother is 74 and has been on Lipitor 5 mg for about 6 weeks now and has experienced her 1st TGA. She called me today to tell me that someone had come into her house and cooked a platter of bacon and moved a basket around. She couldn't find her purse and went outside and sure enough it was in her car, but the door was standing wide open and the purse was sitting on the seat. She remembers nothing! This evening she swore that our second child was born in a different house. This from a woman who can remember the tiniest minutia. This Lipitor is terrible stuff! She is now officially off of it. R.

Sorry to repeat this post, but I wanted to make sure people know about it. I replied to a 19 yo who sounded perfectly ok with being on this pill, and it made me shudder. Here's what I told her:

I was looking for information about class action suits against the makers of Aviane, and I ran across this web page. When I saw your post, I just had to respond. Who knows, it might save your life.

My 17 year old daughter was on Alesse, then Aviane ( the latter for over a year) for a total of about 2 1/2 years, for acne. On Nov. 19, 2007, she was alone at home, and did jump roping for exercise. After jumping for about 5 minutes, she collapsed. Over 2 hours later, her brother came home, found her barely responsive outside, and called 911. She had had a stroke. She was in the hospital for 1 month, in rehab for a month, and then came home. It's been a horrendous nightmare. She couldn't say more than 1 or 2 words for a few weeks, and spent about 3 weeks in a wheelchair. Gradually, she learned to walk again. Now she walks pretty well, but she still has almost no use of her right hand. She can't move her fingers at all except for a weak grip. For you medical folks, it was a left MCA stroke. Her cognitive function was massively affected. She is relearning speech,math skills, writing, etc. All of her friends left her, except for one who was very negative, and an alcoholic. Finally, we encouraged her to let that one go, and make room in her life for some quality friends.

There's much more to the terrifying journey that this has been. We feel fortunate that she continues to recover. I wish someone had warned me about the pill. I thought only fat, old, chain-smoking people got strokes. Now I know better.

If any of you find out about a class action suit against this company, please let me know.

Thanks,

WH
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Confusion, trouble thinking, trouble concentrating, decreased cognitive function, mental sluggishness, foggy perception of reality, trouble solving problems or situations which require logical thinking and sequencing, memory loss, depression, irritability, low tolerance, lack of patience. jeez.....the list goes on. All that since I started Lisinopril. Never had it before. All of my symptoms seemed to be more neurological than physical, like other people's. Of course, everyone's body is different. I got off this stuff awhile back, but I still have the symptoms. I hope these symptoms are reversible. This is terrible. I need to get back to my normal life once again. It's like this junk is Alzheimer's/Dementia by design. Really.

Since HTML is not allowed...need you to find the links to the following:

"whether an oral contraceptive (OC) containing drospirenone (DRSP) (3 mg) + ethinyl estradiol (EE) (30 μg) (DRSP + EE) could modify psychological symptoms and whether it could modify steroids interfering with the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-A receptors.

Conclusion(s): The results suggest beneficial effects of DRSP + EE on psychological symptoms by

decreasing DHEAS."

Beneficial to lower the levels of DHEAS?!

"Women With Higher Levels Of DHEAS Have Better Cognitive Function"

"dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), inhibit the production of TNF in vitro and in vivo."

Who is at greater risk?

Those who have the HLA-DR gene type and already have allergies/asthma.

Adrenergically blockaded conditions = AdBCs include the following: respiratory allergies, skin allergies, and asthma.

IgE will go thru the roof. Allergic reaction. Th2 pathway.

""It has also been shown that young women exposed to intensive stress situations,

with low plasma of dehydroepiandrosterone
sulfate (DHEA-S),

and a recent use of contraceptive pills are most at risk for

onset of autoimmune disease."

I have been on lipitor about 4 yrs. I am a runner and keep tract of my times. I have been losing about 4% of my speed each year and have recently had a large amount of muscle fatigue. Today a ran a 940 pace and thought I was not going to make it home. Three years ago my average pace was 805. Could the 20mg dosage be causing this problem?

I only just started taking it (Avaine) yesterday, and everything is fine so far; nothing out of the ordinary is going on. I'm 19 years old, healthy, have mild acne around my period and usually terrible cramps and mood swings, I don't know if this will benefit me in those areas or not yet. We'll see though, from what I've been reading this might not turn out so well but I think I will keep an update going on here when any side effects or benefits arise.