Concentration problems symptoms and conditions

**I found something that helps the foggy head, forgetfulness, short term memory, and sleepiness that comes with taking Lamictal!!**

I want to pass this along , because it has helped me SO much. I was diagnosed bipolar II recently and was put on Lamictal. I'm a writer, so my biggest concern was being able to find the words I need and having the concentration for my work, but suddenly I lost my ability to string words together when speaking OR writing. The words weren't even close to coming to me. I felt like I was sleepwalking half the time, along with other symptoms, but the bouts of spacehead were hardest to take. I felt pretty desperate and kept researching until I came across a post on a message board that claimed to have the answer.

If you can manage, do not take Lamictal at night. The following is so simple that it might seem strange that it works (it did to me):

All you have to do is set your alarm for a half hour to an hour before you would normally get up. Then take your Lamictal and go back to sleep for a half hour to an hour (it takes a little practice to get used to this morning routine at first, but it's totally worth it). For some reason, it's ESSENTIAL that you do go back to sleep for that short period and do not just rest with your eyes closed until it's time to get up.

I tried this, not really expecting anything from it, but on the very first day it seemed that at least 85 percent of the foggy-head was gone. Just gone. It has continued to work every day that I have managed to do it, and when I don't do it, the foggyhead is back again with a vengeance. I finally feel great, as if the medicine is doing exactly what it's supposed to.

Taking Lamictal at night (like doctors often recommend) can make the fogginess worse than any other time. The person who posted about this originally said he told his psychiatrist about his experience, and the psychiatrist told his other patients on Lamictal to try it. It worked for them too.

I hope this is helpful to others as much as it is to me, though I know everyone's body and brain are different, so it's possible that it won't work for everyone. I do hope if it works for you that you'll spread the word, because this is such a debilitating side effect.

Best wishes to you all.

I'm 38 years old and I started Topamax in July of 2008 for severe migraines. I've had an average of 12-15 migraines per month since my early 20's and nothing was working. While initially adjusting to Topamax I had the tingling in my hands and feet during the first month but then it went away. My neurologist increased the dose very slowly from 50mg to 100mg to 150 mg. The migraines have decreased in response to each dose increase. At 100 mg the migraines reduced to 10 per month and at 150mg they reduced to 6 per month. My dose is now being raised to 200 mg which the Dr. says is the maximum recommended for treating migraines. The worst side effects I've experienced are extremely dry mouth (from 150 mg+) and slight hair loss. My starting weight was 138 and I lost 11 pounds very gradually before my weight stabilized at 127. I haven't noticed any problems with food or drinks tasting different. For some reason, I always have insomnia for the first week after a dose increase but then it goes away. I've only had mild concentration problems but nothing notable or problematic. So far, the medication has been remarkable and I can't believe what it's like to live life without so much migraine pain! I hope other people can have the same benefits from this medication.

I am on my second time around with Topiramate (generic Topamax). It has been a year, and I have no reason other than weight loss to take this drug. I also don't know if the online generic versions are really Topamax except I do experience some of the side effects I read about, the tingling arms and legs, the itching, and the foul tasting carbonated drinks. I have started at 25 mg. per day 3 days ago, and am at 250 mg today with no cut in appetite except an hour after I take the pills. Do you think they are even real?

I'm 45 I had the mirena inserted 5 1/2 years ago for heavy and painful periods that made me acutely anemic. I had the second Mirena 10 months ago. Until i read this site and others like it I thought I was going mad. Only advantage for me has been super light periods. Have had weight gain round stomach, thighs and butt and cannot shift it despite doubling exercise and halving food intake. Have constant headaches and reccurrant sinus infections and memory/concentration problems, water retention nearly all month long and feel depressed most of the time. also oily skin libido is non existent! also joint pains and insomnia. Doctor said it was menopause but tests came back negative. Have an appointment next week to have it removed. A bit anxious about how heavy periods will be as they were pretty awful before but can't handle these side effects. Any one else my age whose had mirena removed how long before periods back to normal?

Hi I've been on topamax for 4 years . Had all the side effects...weight loss,tingling in hands and feet,no memory and speech problems! I was taking 600mgs a day! I take it for epilepsy! I was on the highest dose. my doc then weened me from top. to zonegran 600mgs. It's very similar to topamax. For me it is not helping me as much as the topamax. I think it's a great drug!!!! I did not loose hair, no constipation, no rapid heartbeat for me! I am going back on it . Yes sometimes I would get in a hostel mood and can't spell shit , but for me it's all GOOD !

Was taking 300mg BID for seizure disorder (complex-partial with occasional progression to generalized) but had to stop because of severity of side effects: confusion, inability to remember words, depression, inability to concentrate, increased frequency of "aura" sensation/absence seizures, fatigue, frequent migraines, short-term memory loss (seems to have been related to medication rather than seizure disorder), dizziness, flushing, "drunk" feeling, insomnia (not sure if due to drug), loss of libido, occasional suicidal thought, etc. (There are others, but because of memory/concentration problems, can't remember them!)

I love this page! I have been taking Levoxyl for about 6 months now and my joints are killing me. Especially my wrists and ankles. It hurts to even pick up a half gallon of milk or hold my kids. I am also so exhausted all the time. I was put on 50mcg when I started the medicine but I was not having any symptoms before I started taking the medicine. I am trying to wean myself off of the pills and am down to 25mcg. I am taking b12 and b6 to help fight the fatigue. I also am having a huge problem with my periods, I get them every 2 weeks, and they last a week. This is not fun at all. I am also getting cold sores like crazy. Before I started taking this medicine I would maybe get 1 a year, if that. Now I get at least 1 a month, sometimes 2. It is really frustrating. My skin has changed, so dry and I look like I have aged 10 years. My hair is brittle. I am looking into a more natural route to take, maybe the Armour thyroid would work.I have been to the Doctor who just tells me that it is not my medicine and could be something else. I know it is not something else. All of these symptoms started right after I started to take the medicine. I am going off of it to hopefully feel better. Thanks so much for all your posts out there!!!

I'm a 42 year old woman, been on Coumadin on and off for almost 8 yrs due to 2 DVT's after childbirth in February, 2000. The scar tissue has completely blocked the main vain in my left leg and am on Coumadin to prevent new clots from forming. Symptoms from the beginning have been: memory problems, concentration problems, fatigue, low libido, every muscle in my body hurts to the touch, my skin looks like I have smoker's skin (I don't smoke), anxiety, rash around my ankles, I have almost no patience on most days and continual hair loss. They changed my dosage 5 months ago to 10mg one day & 7.5mg the next 2 days. Since, then symptoms have gotten almost unbearable at times. My current Dr. claims the Coumadin isn't causing any of it and won't listen. 5 yrs. ago, during my second pregnancy, I was on heparin shots twice a day instead of theoumadin and I felt incredible. Why is it that when there are so many people that have problems with this medicine, nobody will listen and come up with a solution C?

Abdominal discomfort, loose bowels, explosive gas, memory and concentration problems, mild headache.

I am up at this moment, because my stomach is hurting from the lithium. I've been on it now for about a year, but my stomach just started hurting at night after about an hour after taking it for about three months now. Is anyone else experiencing this? I read one post above about it, but that's all. There is no vomiting, but just upset stomach. It keeps me awake. I'm on lithium and lamictal, and Topomax. If you experience this, is anyone taking anything for the nausea? Thank you! And everyone hang in there! You're in my prayers! Don't give up!

I've been on Wellbutrin for 8 years. After reading this forum I seriously question wether if I am the forgetful person that I've become. It's been so long since I've been clear-headed, but I know that as a child I had an extrodinary memory. Because this has viably been a side-effect that has existed for 8 years, I learned to believe that it was who I was. 2 years previous to starting Wellburtin failed in an sucicide attempt and thought that it could be from that. But because of overwhelming anxiety and hives,my doctor has upped my dose from 150mg to 300mg daily. Now I'm noticing that I can't remember chuncks of time. Trying to replaying an event in my mind and realize that I don't what happened after...and which roads I drove on to get home. It's a daily occurence. I will set everything out to take to school, but forget to grab the stuff. Laundry takes me days, because I constantly forget to change loads. I get distracted easily and don't know what I was doing or simply forget that I was doing something. 3 times while writing this I forgot what my next sentence was going to be. I always feel like I'm in a brain fog anymore. My greatest fear is that Wellburtin is the only one in it's class. I tried Paxil, Prozac, Effexor and had horrible side effect. So is it Wellbutrin or nothing? Does anyone know or have suggestions of other meds? When someone hurts me, I usually can't remember it long enough to mad ever again. I also have severe migranies, but not sure if thy're are related.

I started with 25 mgs of topamax about 5 months ago for migraine prevention. I very gradually increased the dosage to 50 mgs and started having the usual side effects of tingling in hands, metal soda taste, concentration problems; but not bad enought to make me stop as my migraines were stopping as well! Then I upped the dosage to 75 mgs, and the side effects were sudsiding. My nurologist had me up the dosage to 100mg, and that very night I awoke from sleep having my first partial conscious siezure. At the time I didn't know what the heck was happening to me and thought I may be having a stroke. I am only 44 years old and I ran across the street at 2:30 in the morning to my neighbors house who is a nurse. Long story short, it took uppin the dosgae two more times and having this happen each time I upped the dose, to finally realize that it was the topamax that was causing the seizures. Now my nurologist is gradually decreasing my dosage to wean me off the topamax, and hopefully the siezures will stop! Has anyone had any experiences like this? Or am I the only one who get s siezures from an anti sewizure medication?

Been taken synthroid for 2.5 years. I am 30 old male, Really athletic.
I notice that I get fatique very easly and memmory and concentration problems. But the most noticable is shortness of Breath, and I have very high anxiety. I lost wait since being on synthroid.

I've been on Seroquel for a month now. My dosage was progressively increased from 100mg to 400mg for severe chronic insomnia, a symptom of manic depression.

Within one month, I've gained 20 pounds and I look as if I'm six or seven months pregnant.

I am weaning myself off of it, because my doctor doesn't seem to care much about the weight gain, despite the fact that I eat less than 1000 calories a day.

A symptom of bipolar disorder is also depression, and the more I look at myself in the mirror, the more depressed I get.

I'd rather go without sleep than gain weight at the rate I've been gaining it. It's just not safe, and I can feel it taking its toll on me physically and psychologically.

It's just not worth it in my opinion. I'm giving Melatonin a try. Hopefully, that will work for me. It was suggested by one of my nurses.

It's not easy to go from a 4/5 to nearly a size 9 in a month. It really makes you feel terrible, especially when you exercise an hour and a half everyday and are on a low calorie diet.

Until I'm given something that can counteract the weight gain, I refuse to stay on Seroquel.

I admit I'm having some bouts of insomnia, but they're not nearly as bad as they were before I started the Seroquel. Perhaps that will change once the Seroquel is all out of my system.

I also notice I'm itching everywhere, from head to toe. I suppose that's a symptom of weaning yourself off of the drug.

i've been on synthroid for 9 years. started at some low dose and gradually went up to112 mg. get extreme itching all day everyday if i don't take allegra for that.not a rash just itching. that doesn't bother me as much as the fatique. every joint in my body aches all the time. sure there are better days but fo rthe most part it's bad. tried physical therapy and chiripratic care but no avail. they ended my sessions. my legs get sooo weak and my feet burn lower back really aches. sometimes muscle cramps. i'm very negative towards my loving family and it hurts me to do so. can't seem to keep upbeat. soo tired all the time.
is it the syntroid? i used to be very energenic and a doer. now i have spurts of activity in the morning , but then i just can't get motivated. help me any suggestions?

I've been on Yasmin for one cycle. The worst side effect I've experienced so far is SEVERE nausea at night. It's not every night and I never throw up but some nights it's so bad that I can't sleep at all. It's terrible. Taking motion sickness pills has helped and my gyno said I will get used to it but I don't see that happening yet.

Other side effects I've experienced are decreased sex drive, horrid mood swings (pissed off one second and happy the next), some depression, breast swelling (I've gone from a B to a middle range C), dry mouth, concentration problems and fatigue.

I'm still giving this pill a chance, but if things don't get better after the next two cycles I'm switching to something else.

Hey,
My name is Krysten im 14 and im in the 8th grade. I'v been taking adderal for almost 4 months now. Before taking adderal I wasent doing good in school, I would always get into fights. My life was miserable. So I asked my doctor if I could try adderal agian. Before when I took adderall my stomach hurt and I wasent feeling the same. Then I wanted to give it a try. A week after I started to feel my self agian, my family and my teachers noticed a huge diffrence in my academics and my ADD. I went from getting E's and D's to getting on the honor role last quarter. I got the most improved in my grade and I was very happy. Now its the final quarter and now im feeling that adderal isant helping as much as it use to I'm worring about if I'm going to do as well as last quorter and im feeling a little anxiety. I went from taking 30 - 40mg in less than a month, Since I take 10mg after school. I also have been exeirencing weird things. When I get up from sitting down, I sometimes get a huge headach, I cant breath for about 30 seconds, I sometimes see stars and Its like a black out also, I get up then I cant see anything its all black, then slowy I can see agian. I would really like to know if i should raise my Mg higher for me to focus more and be happyer over time. I think adderal was a life changer for me. Please answer my question as soon as poosible!

I just started taking singulair, It has helped the post nasal drip, cough and allergies. But, I feel very anxious after taking it and shakey in my hands and legs. I noticed my legs are weak. I have a hard time falling asleep at night, my body feels jumpy when I start falling asleep and I stop breathing in my sleep. I have never done this before the medication. I also get a medicine head feeling. and concentration problems. I am glad my allergies are cleared up, but I am not sure if the side effects are worth it. If I can't sleep again tonight I Am getting off the medicine.

extreme fatigue, weakness, brain fog, concentration problems, insomnia, neuropathy in hands, feet, legs and arms, dehydration...totally dibilitating

I have been taking Wellbutrin Since April of 2005. My doctor prescribed it to help with overall stable moods (but I was not depressed and I told my doctor this) and for help in losing weight. I started with 150mg and experienced the following side effects:
Dizziness
Feelings like I had an urinary track infection.
My libido stinks anyway but it didn't seem to help or complicate anything sexual aspects.

I began taking 300mg about a week later. All of the above continued but the dizziness and urinary track infection feeling went away about a month later. However, these are the things I notice now that may be attributed to the Wellbutrin XL:

1. Extreme fatique that increases as the day goes on-I take my pill in the morning.
2. Difficulty concentrating and focusing. Mental clarity problems. I feel this affects my ability to work because I do a lot of writing. Memory problems. One example: left my keys in the car running until my husband noticed.
3. Sensitivity to light.
4. No wieght loss (as this was the reason I am on it), I feel like I am eating more and more often.
5. Physical weakness.
Among other things.

I must say that I am unsure as to whether all this can be contributed to the Wellbutrin XL. I had blood work done because of all the fatique and mental concentration problems. I was told that given the blood work that I might have arthritis, then I was told that I have a reactivation of MONO. Then I was told that I may have Lyme disease. Do I think it is the Wellbutrin XL? Right now I am weening myself off the drug. Taking half a pill until I reach my doctor to discuss this. Since taking less of a dose, I feel much better with more energy (not completing my self) and I feel I can concentrate.

We will see if the above side effects are in fact the Wellbutrin.

Good luck to all. For me, I am better off not taking Wellbutrin.

Regards,
Beth

I started taking Wellbutrin in October 2004 to quit smoking. Started at 150mg and moved up to 300 mg. Within two weeks of taking the higher dose I experienced dizziness, nausea, vertigo, tremors, muscle cramping, panic attacks, heart palpitations, concentration problems, decreased appetite, hypersensitivity to motion, smells and sounds, crying spells and feelings of impending doom. I went to the emergency room on three different occasions because I felt like I was having a heart attack (tightness in chest, racing heart, nausea, trouble breathing) and was told I had nothing wrong. I also had thoughts of suicide because I felt so bad I wanted to make it stop. I went back to my doctor and requested he taper me off due to the side effects. He did and after a month I still had the symptoms. I missed a month of work and had to stay with family because I couldn't take care of myself or my 3 year old and my husband didn't know what else to do. I finally went back to the doctor and begged for relief. I also requested he run tests to check for other causes. He did blood work and 12 lead heart monitor and found I had slight tachycardia (palpitations), but said I was healthy. He diagnosed me with having General Anxiety Disorder and put me on Paxil. I've been on Paxil for 9 months and still have some symptoms albiet much milder than before. I am now sure that any SSRI's are not for me and am looking for alternative therapies. Also, I am going to see an endocrinologist and a cardiologist just to make sure I have no other problems. I would suggest not taking a drug to quit smoking-cold turkey is the best! I was perfectly normal before I started taking these drugs. This past year has been a living nightmare. I realized my experience is very intense compared to others who have taken Wellbutrin and people react differently to medications but I would have to say that had I continued taking it I would have died. I am 36 years old, have a wonderful family and a job I love. I do not believe I have an anxiety disorder! If anyone who reads this has had a similar experience, my suggestion is to SLOWLY get off it with help from your doctor and find alternative therapy, ie. biofeedback, nutrition, homeopathic, ect. Good luck to all of you!

I am a 25 year old man who was diagnosed with ADD about a year ago. My Doc put me on adderall xr 10 mg one per day. We then upped to 20 mg, and then 30 mg. I must say the drug is wonderful! I only wish I was diagnosed and put on this when I was a kid. I never could concentrate or finish anything in school. I would hear words from people and teachers but they just did not register. I would drift from thought to thought but still hear the words. I truely belive that ADD has been a huge factor in me never finishing school and also loosing a long term relationship. In the relationship I had same thing. I would hear her speak, and want to listen but something literally would not let me!!! So, to her, i just was "Not wanting to listen". We broke up over it! Two years later I told my doctor about my concentration problems. Since being placed on Adderall this has disappeared. I can totally listen and concentrate. My life has totally been improved. I have been promoted twice at my job now since being diagnosed. The only side affects i have experienced so far is for the first 2 days a headache and yes i was restless. Its IS an amphetamine. That dissapeared in two to three days. Also, dry mouth is a problem. To me the benefits totally out weigh the side effects. To the parents of younger children or teens, this drug is widely abused. Please keep it away from them and only administer it to them by recommended dosage. I feel most of the negative comments on this drug are from the EFFECTS OF ABUSE!

Thanks to all who have participated in this site. I started Welbutrin XL about 9 months ago. Very soon after starting, I noticed many of the side effects noted here: vision problems, slight tremors, headaches, difficulty with concentration, memory loss. It did lessen my depression, so I put up w/ the side effects for about 4 months. Then I did ween myself off it. My depression and paranoia worsened, and I cried all the time. So after about 2 months I went back on it. The side effects above were back, and in addition, I developed jaw pain, difficulty w/ sexual arousal, and an overall sense of apathy. And the memory loss. concentration problems and mental fog are worse now more than ever; for lack of a better term, I feel like I'm becoming "dumb." This is starting to be a problem at work. I want to go off, but don't want the depression back. HAS ANYONE FOUND A GOOD ALTERNATIVE??? I've love your input.

Hi I have been taking wellbutrin for over a year and I have had lack of concentration and memory loss so i went to my psycologist and he is upping my dosage of wellbutrin he said it will help with my lack of concentration and memory loss now I am reading this forumn and everybody is saying it is the wellbutrin that is causing these sideeffects. I have beent aking 100mg 1 a day now he wants me to take 150 mg 2 aday does anyone have the experience of going to a higher dose and it helping with their memory loss and concentration problems please email me at ****** with wellbutrin in the subject column thanks for your help.

I am so glad to see that I'm not really going crazy and that it is the medication that's making me think that. I've been on wellbutrin for about 9 months now and I kept telling my doctor that something wasn't right? but he kept saying I would be o.k. it would take awhile. so i went and got a second opionion and of-course i was right. She said most likely it was the wellbutrin so i go in tomorrow for a CT and she took me off the drug. i was put on for depression which it seem to help in that aspect but maybe me gain weight, loss my memory, concentration problems, very moody, bad headaches, bad acne, and so on. I am not on any other drug so thats not it. my husband can hardly stand to live with me anymore he said I'm not the same women he married and if something didn't change he is living me.