Lamictal Hyperactive Brain, Short Term Memory, Clumsiness, Blackouts, 10 Months

Posted over a year ago

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 ... more »

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?

7 Replies

Sfrench9655 - haha everything you just said right here is exactly what I hate about lamictal. At work people will say stuff like, You learn slow or How many weeks have you been on this job? Shouldn't you be trained by now? I ain't embarrassed or it doesn't hurt my feelings it makes you wanna just really concentrate when it's hard to. I even tell people that I have horrible short term memory due to my seizures and medication but they don't believe me. haha but like you said it is getting better everyday. I have always had clumsiness. Haha. But another side affect that is happening to me is bloody noses. Before a month ago I have only had one bloody nose in my whole life. All of a sudden I am up to 4. It isn't fun.

Posted over a year ago - Reply

Marimac - Hmm. No bloody noses for me, thankfully. We are such an interesting bunch. Many of us have the same side effects, but a lot of us also seem to kick up one or two weird ones of our own. I'm glad you're surviving the scrutiny. I have had some of the same comments--"I know you've been told that before" or "I went over this with you just last week" but it has been more difficult for me to get over sometimes, usually mostly because of how the comments are made (or who makes them). Wah, wah, wah, for me, I know there are worse things. Lamictal forgetters of the world, UNITE!

Posted over a year ago - Reply

Aparysha - My father was prescribed Lamictal for his epilepsy and after reading about the side effects he never took it. My only concern for anyone taking it and experiencing side effects is that the drug is known to rest in the tissue in your eyes and elsewhere in your body for the rest of your life. This means that side effects could continue even after you discontinue use.

Posted over a year ago - Reply

Tinkertoys - Im on Lamictal, and I fell down in 90 degree weather and broke my finger! Unusual for me to be clumsy. I also have experienced weight gain, forgetfulness and night sweats. I started cutting my dosage in half yesterday to see if my symptoms improve.

Posted over a year ago - Reply

Laugherunleashed - I had the same problems. Lack of focus and concentration and the severe drop in IQ points. I got depressed and anxiety wridden. But that all changed when I went on Lamictal XR! Now I am focused and excited about life again. I am experiencing all of the benefits of lamictal without any of the side effects aside from really annoying nose bleeds, sometimes even 2 or 3 times a day.

Posted over a year ago - Reply

Hmariewv - I have experienced the slowing down of the brain really bad on Lamictal. Severe memory loss and change in personality. I'm not as smart as I was before or quick to know what to do anymore. I can't organize or concentrate . I was ADHD and now I hardly do anything. I took it for 15 months and I've been off it for 2 yrs. I also became suicidal on it and didn't realize it was the medicine causing it. I had migraines while on it. Has anyone else quit taking it and became normal again? Please help me.

Posted over a year ago - Reply

Hmariewv - one more thing, I was given lamictal for depression. I am not bipolar and do not have seizures. I thought it was an antidepressant. The higher the dose the more memory loss I had. I'm a different person now. Could that be why it worked this way on me? I was so depressed while on it that I cried every day for months. It was the generic brand. How can I fix this and undo what ever the lamictal did?

Posted over a year ago - Reply

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