Memory and concentration problems - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

bluegreensky · 05-14-2009, 07:40 AM

Hey all, I am frustrated beyond belief with my short-term memory loss and concentration problems

I'm trying to find info on the net on how to combat this but have not found anything worthwhile, so I'm taking the easy way out and asking my friends - you guys

I believe my problems are mainly due to the lamotrigine that I'm on, but I've researched the dosage and it seems the norm (200mg), so I don't think lowering it will make a difference...I've been doing some brain excercises that supposedly improves memory, but that does not seem to make any noticeable difference...what else can I do? Any suggestions please..?

Elf_Ears · 05-14-2009, 11:04 AM

I totally understand. On 900mg lithium, and under much pressure (I have 5 kids 7-23), I found myself forgetting appt's that I'd thought of only an hour earlier

(I stood my pdoc up twice in 2 weeks.) My family members would tell me things about where we needed to be, what needed done, etc, and I honestly couldn't remember them telling me. My pdoc switched me to lamictal, and it improved a lot.

I still use tools such as my cell phone calendar function, to beep at me for appts, etc. Don't know what I'd do w/o it!

Ask your pdoc about it. Hopefully, he or she will have a solution for it. Good luck!

katlin09 · 05-14-2009, 11:31 AM

Bluegreen,

I'm on Lamictal 300, and several other mood stabilizers but when I noticed my memory becoming a definite problem is when I started taking Topomax and started getting only 3 or so hours of sleep a night. I also religiously rely on my Blackberry, it's my life I couldn't function without it.

kat

dreams in neon · 05-14-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluegreensky

Hey all, I am frustrated beyond belief with my short-term memory loss and concentration problems

I'm trying to find info on the net on how to combat this but have not found anything worthwhile, so I'm taking the easy way out and asking my friends - you guys

I believe my problems are mainly due to the lamotrigine that I'm on, but I've researched the dosage and it seems the norm (200mg), so I don't think lowering it will make a difference...I've been doing some brain excercises that supposedly improves memory, but that does not seem to make any noticeable difference...what else can I do? Any suggestions please..?

Ever since I started taking Depakote 3 years ago I've had severe short term memory loss. I used to have a memory like a steel trap and could repeat a series of 8 numbers backwards and forwards, but not anymore.

The only way I've found to cope is to write everything down on my PDA. I also write "to do" lists.

Without my PDA and "to do" lists, I'd be a lost cause.

bluegreensky · 05-15-2009, 12:43 AM

Thanks for your replies girls

even though I was hoping you could give me some miracle cure, deep down inside I knew what your comments would be..

I have been doing a lot of research on neuroplasticity, maybe I will be able to master this and get some improvement, I am willing to accept partial improvement...