Epival symptoms and conditions

I have been on Lamictal for about five months for bipolar II. I has been increased slowly over these months and I am now up to 300 mg a day. I have a tendency to sometimes forget things but remembering numbers has never been a problem for me. In fact I can look at someone's tag number driving down the road and remember it for days. Phone numbers of people I have known for 20 years would stick and I wouldn't even have to call them on a regular basis to know the number. However, recently while trying to use my bank debit card at the store I was asked to enter my PIN number and totally could not remember. I tried it several times but it never came to me. I felt like a fool!. At this time, that was three days ago and I still cannot remember it!

This is very, very distressing to me. I feel like something has been wiped clean and that I will never get it back.

My Lamictal dose has been increased in the last couple of weeks and I thought maybe Lamictal or one of my other meds could be making this happen so I started researching and found this site where other people were complaining of memory loss while on Lamictal.

Headaches are another common side effect for me while on this med. It has really helped me emotionally and I need to know if the memory loss is just going to be a temporary thing and it will get back to normal or if I will be forgetting more and more over time. PLEASE HELP!!!

I have been "self-medicating" with Seroquel for more than 4 years. I often take just 50 mg to get me to at least fall asleep for a couple of hours. When I tale the 100 mg tablet I sleep better for almost a whole 6 hours! I am a victim of my own distruction though; I drink coffee in massive quantities and smoke heavily. I do not have the weight gain but do have the surreal dreams and often a lower back ache which I normally atribute to the crummy mattress I sleep on. My main problem i; I start my regimine of meds and stop when I think I am better. I end up losing any job(s) I have and have to restart the drugs all over again. My doctor's have found a mix of epival (divol-proex) 1500 mg, for mood swings and the Seroquel should help my depression and bi-polar. I assume if I ever manage to stay on them both long enough to actually have a full affect I could be more helpful in suggesting this regimine to others. But a viscious circle starts with the drugs, when you are covered by any disability plan the drugs are accessible; but when you start working and exceed a certain income, the drug plan stops and becomes too costly to buy.

I started taking Zyprexa on Friday..today is Monday...I feel less anxiety fear and hopelessness (have bipolar by the way!) but I crave food in the evening...I fear gaining weight I used to be 185...now 150 and feel good about my weight...I also take Epival or valproic acid. My mood is generally down down down,,just want to be happy that is all..want to have positive outlook on life..lyle