Lamictal and job

MAJOR loss of short-term memory and inability to concentrate.

I have been on Lamictal (for bipolar tendencies) for 3 or 4 years now. Overall it has been really great for me -- really calmed me and leveled me out like no other medication has.

Except that it has made me embarrassingly dumb. I have a graduate degree in electrical engineering, which is pretty worthless at this point because I cannot add two simple numbers in my head. My grammar and spelling skills have taken a nosedive. I took a grammar refresher class to try to boost it again, but I couldn't concentrate and can't remember what I learned. And even worse, sometimes I can't remember basic things like which way to flip the turn signal lever to signal left or right when I am driving.

I went up to 350 mg and it worked great (for the bipolar), but I could barely function at my job. So I've lowered it slowly to 150. My brain works a bit better, but still not well. Today in a meeting I was explaining something important and realized a couple minutes later that I was totally wrong -- I'd remembered incorrectly. So I had to interject later and explain that I'd been wrong. Things like this are very embarrassing and ruin my credibility at work.

But as I said the Lamictal has been amazing in other aspects. Ultimately I don't know if trading my brain for that is worth it, but for now it is because no other medication has worked. I worry though that even if I stop it in the future, my brain may not be able to recover, from lack of use.

Thank you all for your information. I am relieved to know I am not alone.

I was prescribed Lamictal around this time two years ago (July '07) for Borderline Personality Disorder. At first I thought it was great and I felt like it'd been a miracle drug -- the drive back home from the psychiatrist's office that day was such a feeling of relief because I was going to get my miracle drug, finally. Later the next month I moved away from home and began college in the lower half of the state and stopped taking the medication because I noticed that I feeling any difference, or experiencing any change in my moods. Infact, I felt exactly the same as I had before. I looked up the medicine derivative drug and found out that it has a "placebo-like effect with highly addictive qualities".... which made me think that once again, my problem is all in my head. I still feel like I need to be on some kind of medication, but I am not willing to part entirely with my authentic self just to make some other people's lives easier. If they think my mood swings and attempts at self-destruction effect them negatively, just wait until you are the one having them and you can't control them! I don't want to become a zombie, I don't want to lose my hair, and I don't want to gain 30 lbs, but I feel like there's nothing else I can do. But then again, there doesn't seem to be any drug that can help without the drastic side-effects.

Sheesh.

I have taken Lamictal for about three years since I was 19. I feel like I'm experiencing the memory loss of a 60- or 70-year-old. I've always been quick and witty with impeccable grammar and spelling. These days, I struggle to remember words and their meanings, spellings and pronunciations.

I can't remember conversations I had with people half an hour before or items on my to-do list. I MUST write everything down. Sometimes, if it's in my planner, I still don't remember to do it.

It has affected me in my college classes, on the job and in my relationships. I hate the feeling that I'm less intelligent and quick as I used to be when I'm just 22. My short-term memory is shot.

Along with memory loss, I struggle to focus (always have been a straight-A student), follow conversations and often feel confused and need people to restate their thoughts so I can understand.

It's just so embarrassing to be so spacey. I didn't put it together until my sister (also on lamictal) told me about the memory loss and it clicked. At least there's a reason for my new-found stupidity.

Thanks for telling me doctor. Oh wait, she didn't.

I have pretty serious memory problems, and I notice the problems at work. Maybe the stress of work makes it worse at work than at home. But my boss and i talked the other day, and I said I felt scattered - she said I come across as very scattered, forgetting stuff, not following through, etc. I said I would write things down more to help me remember, and she said maybe I might try a different drug (she knows about my bipolar - I told her, and I use a service dog to help with anxiety and tardive dyskinesia from another psych drug). When your boss tells you to maybe try a different drug, it's a bit scary - am I going to lose my job?! But when I forget to take the Lamictal even one day (I take 200 mg. in the morning) I can feel the difference within 24 hours - agitated, depressed, irritable, impatient, etc.). So I have to be careful to take it every day. Along with my other meds...
I don't want to go off the drug, but the memory and cognitive crap is really hard. It's nice to hear I'm not alone.

Hi, I have been reading all the postings and my heart goes out to everyone. I been there, done that. Myself, I have a seizure disorder and been on Lamictal since 2003 (I can't recall/remember) - I had tried 5 other seizure meds that didn't work for me. For quite a while now I take 600mg a day and Keppra 250mg to control my seizures. I lost my driver's license twice so far (I know that is the rule in CA) , and once not long ago (I got my license back) I got totally lost in my town, which I used to know like the back of my hand. I thought I had lost my mind. I asked my doc if I was getting demenia and he said oh no you are too young (53). I have also learned doctor's (for the most part) are idiots too. They don't think outside the box for us. I can't spell anymore, get depressed easily. I really want to work, but I can't. I have tried time and time again, but (yesterday) it just about did me in...people explained to me how to do things on the job many many times but I couldn't retain any thing. People just looked at me as if to say what planet did you come from. I cried on the job so hard I wanted to disappear. I am so sick of my family saying "I know you can't - don't remember this or that..... I can hardly bare that. Now I have a potential kidney problem. Suppose it is from these meds? I am really scared.

As with others on this forum, memory loss is a side effect I'm experiencing with Lamictal. In fact, it's THE only side effect. I began taking Lamictal three years ago, and have maintained a dose of 300 mg a day. My short-term memory is practically non-existent. I have to write EVERYTHING down, and sometimes that isn't even enough. I've been known to forget what I've read only minutes before. I used to pride myself on my impeccable spelling, and now I'd say I'm at a fifth-grade level. In fact, I feel like I'm about ten years old. I've been taken to task over and over by employers who are frustrated with my poor performance. I've lost one job and due to lose another any day. Sure, my mood is stabilized, but for what good if I can't even support myself? I would definitely go off this medication if there was a good chance I would get my memory back, but I haven't come across anything in my internet travels that indicate this is a possibility!

I have been taking 200 mg. of Lamictal (now Lamotrigine) for 5 years. I have had cognitive issues for probably about three years at least. Memory loss, sudden loss of flow in conversation, completely forgetting words and the spelling issue which was previously impeccable. It's embarrassing and frightening. I can't get through ANY given day without losing my belongings over and over again. I feel disabled (seriously) and I jokingly tell people I need an "aide". The scariest thing was last week I was going to return an item to the store and COMPLETELY forgot my PIN # for my debit card. I have been using the card nearly daily for a year and a half!!! It panicked me but I thought of course I would remember it later. NOT!!! Never again, it's gone!!! That's when I decided to search the internet for "severe memory loss" and came upon this blog. I didn't even think of the Lamictal. And I pride myself on my thorough research!!! Certainly the doctor never mentioned this side effect and I just gave it up to being 49!!! A little early for Alzheimer's!!!

The funny thing is I have also had skin problems (acne) for the first time in my life the past couple of years with it really getting bad last summer. I weaned myself off the Lamictal b/c I had read it could cause acne (another thing the doctor never told me). Well, I was completely weaned and omg, the mood issues were severe!!! So reluctantly I titrated back up to the 200 mg dose and immediately my mood was stabilized.

I don't know what the h--- to do, but something needs to change. The memory thing is terrifying!!! No wonder I am having so many problems with my job!!!

Maybe a new med, maybe not . . . My main issue was severe depression (both situational and chronic) which Lamictal seemed to stabilize. Do the benefits outweigh the side effects??? I think NOT . . .

FRUSTRATED IN MICHIGAN :(

It is hard to tell what side effects come from which med but after reading other peoples experiences I think that its easier to put my finger on. I have been taking Lamictal and Lexapro since last spring/summer. I started to feel a lot better as soon as I started the Lamictal. I have a history of being severely depressed all the time. It has been a long road in search of the correct combo of meds. We added Lexapro and I got even better. I was on Wellbutrin and Topamax before this and it was too much drugs in my system causing loads of anxiety. I heard Topamax makes you Dopey so I was happy to get off that. I don't notice Lamictal doing the same thing. I think clearly now, but I do have trouble crying - which is fine with me. I am so sick of fucking crying everyday. Aren't you??? The whole point of treatment is to increase the quality of life and These drugs have definitely helped me to be happy which is all I care about. However, I do still wonder what I would feel like without them. It is tempting to stop once you feel this good. Why cant i just be able to feel this good naturally. WHY WHY WHY .

I am also on lamictal, at the moment only 75 mg. My whole life I have had clear skin, and suddenly and getting these underlining bumps all over my face and chest. I am also processing information very slowly, have trouble finding the right words, and forgeting things constantly, and making mistake like crazy.
When I was first perscribed lamictal i felt great I felt like I was able to access my whole brain, and I had mental clarity. That lasted about 3 days and now I have had months of feeling like an idiot.. Let me tell you, this does not going over well in my job!

I have been on Lamictal now for 10 months, and I mostly love it.

But my IQ went down about 20 points. The first few months were very bad--I could hardly complete a sentence without forgetting one or two words. My short-term memory was scary bad--almost like blackouts where I wouldn't even remember events when reminded.

Those things have abated somewhat, but I am still having to adjust to a lower ability to think. I must make lists, I must repeat instructions and directions. Perhaps this is more about slowing down what was a hyperactive brain, but it is a side-effect that is hard to accept.

I am noticing a new side effect, though. I drop things all the time. I recently dropped a book I was reading--how does that happen?

Has anyone noticed this dropping, or any other clumsiness like this?

I have been taking this since October of last year. not only is it my complete miracle cure, but the side affects vanished long ago. For people who have suffered as long as I can, I'll take some queasiness, horniness, and blurry vision over wanting to die DAILY any time. I love it. Love it love it love it.

Incidentally, I lost my job a few months back and stopped taking it and IMMEDIATELY went back to the worst I ever felt mentally. if you are taking this and would like to stop (or need to cause of lack of ins.) talk to your doctor. My experience with the immediate lack of mood control was awful.

I was on 100 mg Lamictal for about 3 months and all I can say is this medication was a nightmare for me. I do have a history of depression, and have recently been diagnosed for Bipolar 2 (which by the way I believe I am not bipolar and that what I had was extreme stress and anxiety from a high pressure job), anyway the medication put me in the hospital. I was at work feeling OK and next minute carried out on a stretcher into an ambulance. I experienced confusion, more anxiety, hair loss, tremors. I also had seizures at work during the few months of taking the medication. My eyes were rolling back and forth. How scary! I also had sores in my mouth and my doctor said it was probably an infection or tooth problem. I never had these kinds of mouth sores before and surprise surprise they (and all other symptoms) went away after I stopped the medication.

I am only feeling normal now and it has been about 5 months after my hospital incident.

The hospital was very scary as well.

I have two children and I do not need to get all messed up on medication.

I am taking another path now and feel much better these days.

No more Lamictal or any other "Mood stabilizers" for me.......

I am 32 years old, and still have acne. I have been taking it for almost 14 years now. I know that Lamictal causes skin rashes. I asked my neurologist if Lamictal causes acne. He said no. I will never be able to get rid of acne, as long as I keep taking it. I have been seizure-free for over 2.5 years now. Dad won't let me get off of it, and be on primidone only. It's more important to keep driving seizure-free, than to have clear skin.

I was put on Lamictal about a year ago after the Dilantin I was on stopped working after 25 years. Tried Fursuit but the anger and extreme tiredness almost lost me my job. I found this site since I'm coming off Lamictal. I was still having seizures and the doc just kept upping the meds. At 400mg/day I found I couldn't stop laughing (I do Stand up comedy as a hobby) My chest was killing me after 2 days of euforia and couldn't sleep. Vision was so blurred I couldn't see a thing. I told my doc I've had enough and I'm coming off the drug as slowly as I can manage. After a few months I'm down to 125 mg this week and coming off it 25mg a week. so far seizures have been about 1 per month but that might increase. I'm finding the withdrawal side effects worse than the drug. Leg pain, chest pains and found out my blood pressure has gone thru the roof. Would like to know if that has happened to anyone else. It went down a bit after I reduced my dosage last week so I see a conspiracy. I have noticed my vision improves as the drug wears off during the day but I can't concentrate at work. would like to hear from others with epilepsy that are having problems with this drug and to give me any feedback. Figure If alexander the Great can create an empire with epilepsy and no drugs then I'll take the seizures over the meds

OnLamictal for 4 weeks for mood stabalization. Noticed with increasing alarm, any thing from short term memory problems to blanking out a phone message I left a friend, and then next day, apparently left same message. Serious memory deficites, I would liken to early stage Altzheimer's disease. Had graduated up to 50mg per day. In hind site, mental disturbance must have started while still on 25mg. Very frightening and humiliating experience. Had serious affects on my daily life and job. Off med. now, and was told it would take 10 plus days for side affects to diminish.

I am on my 5th day of taking 25mg of lamictal and I have developed a sore blister cluster on the right side of my lower lip, a slight sore on the side of my tongue, my eye lid rims seem to itch, and I have to scratch a random itch on my body. I was just diagnosed as having bi-polar 11 disorder and had already have been taking prozac for a number of years for anxiety. The prozac was not helping by itself anymore and I am finding it harder and harder to keep a job. I, not to long ago, held Director positions in the Human Service field, and am now settling to take a job at a local retail store for a little more than minimum wage. Anyway, I was hoping to get the help I need from this new med but, feel it is probably not the right one for me. What will I be given next? I was given lamictal because of my fear of gaining weight an either depakote or lithium. I will call the clinic tomorrow and hope I will be squessed in to see a Dr. who can tell if this blister is from this or because i ate alot of fresh tomatoes recently. In the past , my love for tomatoes was worth the sore. but, sometomes i stayed away because i did not feel like dealing with the discomfort. Now I am rambling, but worried about this being a potential harmful side affect. Also, I do not need to become any more scattered brain then I have been lately. My own sanity seemed to deteriorate since my daughters behavior since 6th grade became umbearable. She is now in 10th grade and as of 8 months ago is not living with me. She called the police and I was jailed for a night and a day.My bility to cope with life became more and more difficult. I hope to find a regimen that will keep me from applying for disability. I am now 53 years old and have worked all of my life up until now. I feel like a kid trying to find out what I want to be when I grow up. Rambling again but this certainly has been helpful in that It gives me a chance to sort out my concerns. ThankYou