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Question:

I’ve been taking Lamictal (75 mg/day) for a little over a year and have noticed a more frequent inability to remember names and words.  My ability to conceptualize and genrally speaking, think, is fine.  But the loss of words doesn’t help me to be able to express myself. I’m 57 yrs old and this may just be a function of age and not of the Lamictal – but I’m far from sure. Has anyone had any experience with this? TIA Louise

For me, just being BP has affected my memory and word search.  I retired at 39 for partly this reason–I could no longer do my job effectively.  I’ve never been on Lamicatal. Six months after retiring I got fibromyalgia–talk about memory loss. I used to write everything down–now I know just how much I didn’t write down–cause if I dont have a note in the right place–I will NOT remember.  I blame it on age and just being bp and fibro.  Not the meds–they help me think. As always, YMMV, Nancy to email me, remove the Z. administrator/creator/moderator alt.med.fibromyalgia.recovery.info (moderated) alt.support.depression.manic.moderated

Response:

I’ve taken 400 mg of Lamictal a day for about a year, and I have definitely noticed memory deficiencies, finding the right word especially.  I substitute words — "gentleman" for "generate" for example.  I don’t always notice, and my family has picked up the pattern.  I’ve just learned to finish speaking and not stop and fret.

Interesting pattern.  I think it worth mentioning to ALL your docs–as it may be a sign of something else altogether. Or it could be nothing–as I seem to remember getting excited when I was younger and having a similar experience. I loose words totally and find words around them to describe the word. So, I take a LOT more words to say what I wanted to in the first place.  I’ve been known to try to describe colors even. LOL Nancy to email me, remove the Z. administrator/creator/moderator alt.med.fibromyalgia.recovery.info (moderated) alt.support.depression.manic.moderated

Response:

I loose words totally and find words around them to describe the word. My family’s favorite is when I can’t remember the names for beverages. They’re all "juice."  They know "white juice" is milk, "plain juice" is water, "yellow juice" wine, "green juice" Mountain Dew, "brown juice" cola, and "red juice" any fruit juice. (I know I gave too many examples, but I have the words today, and darn it, I’m going to use every one of them!)

Oh Jane–ROFLOL  Boy do I KNOW that feeling. LOL Hugs, Nancy to email me, remove the Z. administrator/creator/moderator alt.med.fibromyalgia.recovery.info (moderated) alt.support.depression.manic.moderated

Response:

I’ve been taking Lamictal (75 mg/day) for a little over a year and have noticed a more frequent inability to remember names and words.  My ability to conceptualize and genrally speaking, think, is fine.  But the loss of words doesn’t help me to be able to express myself. I’m 57 yrs old and this may just be a function of age and not of the Lamictal – but I’m far from sure. Has anyone had any experience with this? TIA Louise

Response:

Hi, Louise. I’ve taken 400 mg of Lamictal a day for about a year, and I have definitely noticed memory deficiencies, finding the right word especially.  I substitute words — "gentleman" for "generate" for example.  I don’t always notice, and my family has picked up the pattern.  I’ve just learned to finish speaking and not stop and fret. I’m 39, probably early for normal deterioration.  Neuropsych test results was perfectly normal because I could focus on the test without distractions. It’s worse when I’m busy or stressed — preoccupied in any way.  It wouldn’t matter so much if I weren’t a writer by trade. But one thing I DON’T forget is how bad things were as I stopped responding to lithium, so I’m considering this frustration a difficult but acceptable price.  I’m going to have some more good time before the next round of med changes. You’re not alone, Louise.  In case there’s another common link, I’m also on 400 mg of Wellbutrin and 100 mg of Celexa, along with 100 mcg Synthroid and the occasional 1 mg Ativan. Best wishes for good days, Jane – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been taking Lamictal (75 mg/day) for a little over a year and have noticed a more frequent inability to remember names and words.  My ability to conceptualize and genrally speaking, think, is fine.  But the loss of words doesn’t help me to be able to express myself. I’m 57 yrs old and this may just be a function of age and not of the Lamictal – but I’m far from sure. Has anyone had any experience with this?

Response: