Has anyone had lamictal memory/concentration issues, did it go away, what dosage

I have heard so many good things about Lamictal for bipolar II. I have been taking 25mg for 6 days now. I am tired, and I am having concentration and memory issues. I normally have memory and concentration issues but they are worse now. Has anyone had these problems with Lamictal, if so did they subside, and what at what dose did you have these problems? I am also on 450 mg Oxcarbazepine and 20 mg Loxapine so maybe the combination is contributing.

I am on 100 mg of Lamictal and I have noticed allot of memory problems. I have also noticed problems in spatial perception, like when I park, I will get out and see that I am nowhere near in the middle of the lines etc. Don't know if you experience this too, it may not be related. But yes, allot of memory problems with Lamictal.

I've noticed an increase in it when my dosage is increased. Right now I'm on 300 mg. and I noticed it when Ativan was added on a few weeks ago. Otherwise, it doesn't really come out unless the dosage is increased. I find it goes away after a couple weeks. I'm not familiar with the other meds you're on so I can't say if those are contributing.

I just started taking Lamictal but I don't have that problem. My emotions hit bottom about an hour after taking it but then that improves a short time later but by evening I am mildly manic again. I take Ativan for anxiety and it does help in the evening to curb the mania, but I always wake up in the middle of the night because everything has worn off. I hope this gets better as the dosage goes up. Except for the brief time in the morning it does help the depression.

I'm up to 75mg Lamictal, not having any noticeable problems. It makes me pretty manic for a couple days after increasing the dosage but then that goes away.

Rosie23, if it doesn't make you too un-sleepy, you could try taking the Lamictal in the evening so you wouldn't wake up from it wearing off and you might avoid the depressive dip because you'd be sleeping. Just a thought - I was originally taking mine at bedtime and it was making me very not sleepy, so I switched it to the AM and it's way, way better for me that way.

I had cognitive/memory problems when I was on 400 mg for the first time. This time that I'm on 400 mg, it's not that bad. I still have word finding issues, but not as bad as they were. I think it's because I spread the dose to 3 times a day, 200 mg in am, 100 mg at lunch, and 100 mg at dinner. Technically I'm supposed to take all 400 mg in the am, but when I was doing that, I was getting chest pains.

That's weird, that you were supposed to take it all in the AM, but doctor has always advocated splitting it.

I find that I have memory/concentration problems, but they are not so severe that I cannot make accommodations and without the Lamictal, I am not stable, so I will tolerate them.

BTW I am on 100 bid (twice a day)

I'm on 200 mg at night and 100 mg in the am. I fnd I'm waking up in am with severe anxiety and it takes about 2 hours after taking the 100 mg to feel better. I'm hoping for a change of some sort on the 19th when I go back. And yes.. major concentration and memory issues too.

Thanks I will keep that in mind. I have always had trouble sleeping. Nothing ever seems to help that. So if the Lamictal fixes it then cool. I will be patient and see what happens. Thanks for the tip on manic when you increase the dose.

I'm on 100 mg lamictal and I haven't noticed any memory problems yet...Although I am still having mood swings. Guess I'm not at a theraputic dose yet. Hopefully I don't start to have more trouble concentrating as my dose goes up. wish me luck!

I take Lamictal 300. Don't remembering starting the therapy i was on bunches of other drugs at the time. The memory "putting thoughts together" problems started with Trileptal. I notice you're on that too. Maybe its the Lamictal/Trileptal combo.

I'm on 250 mg. and I don't think my memory problems occur because of Lamictal, but now that I'm reading this I'm going to talk to my doctor more about it. I sometimes take Klonapin and I notice that it does affect my memory and can also increase my depression...which it's known for. I've been taking Lamictal for over 8 years now, and I'm glad that I stayed with and have not had any serious side-effects.
Does anyone know if Lamictal has been proven to affect memory?

OMG!!!!! I've been wondering why the hell I can't park my car straight to save my life!! People at work are even making fun of me because I'm always caterwampus in the parking spot, and I have NO idea how I got there. I'll pull into the space, even OVERcorrecting so I'm certain I'm in there correctly, and then.......the front tire is over the white line. AAAAUUUGGGGHHH!

Granted, it's a minor annoyance, and I'm glad to know I'm not the only one this happens to. I've always been an excellent driver and could park a car in a spot a worm couldn't crawl through, so this was a rather dismaying change. Great, another thing I can blame on bipolar disorder!

I had memory problems before, lamictal is seems to make my husband "forget" his words and he loves language.

Am I the only person here whose memory has actually improved since starting Lamictal? Seriously, I thought I was developing early dementia---been forgetful since my late 30s, and it's been ridiculous since I passed 50. My pdoc laughed when I mentioned this and told me not to worry, it was simply part of the BP picture and would clear with time and medication adjustments.

So I've noticed a steady improvement over the past couple of months, and now not only can I concentrate long enough to get my projects done at work, I'm not forgetting things like the fact that I just took my pills two minutes ago, and I don't ALWAYS need sticky notes to remember all the little stuff I've got to do.

The only thing I can really complain about with the Lamictal is the daytime sleepiness.....man, if I'm alone in my office with the door closed and no air circulation, I'll fall asleep right in front of the computer! That, and having this big high after an increase that crashes me right back to reality within a week or so. Of course, that's because I love the highs and anything less feels like a low. Hmmm...maybe I ought to share that thought with my pdoc this week.

I definitely have memory and concentration problems, I'm on 100mg.

Yes, I have had those issues with lamictal, but I dont remember the dosage and I don't remember the exact symptoms. I have a lot of memory probs from meds... like my head is inside a pillow.

YES... I take 200mg, and it works well for my agitation from Tourette's and bipolar disorder. However, since starting it, I have had memory issues with forgetting words or wanting to say the wrong word. It gets so frustrating. My pdoc said it is probably from lamictal.

I take 300mg per day and I've definitely noticed this. I started with Lamictal in Sept '11, and I think it has got better now than it was, but I still have trouble remembering words - not so much concentration trouble though, that seems to be OK.

started on the 100mg. Titration pack.

25 mg. - First day taking that threw me off. It was like a 'shift'.

50 mg. - Another shift on first day. This is when I started feeling better

75 mg. - No shift. But this dose threw me into moderate/severe hypo mania. First dose that alleviated depressive symptoms.

100 mg. - Another shift, but increase in manic symptoms. Psychotic symptoms appeared.

100 mg. along with 2 mg. Abilify - Felt amazingly better! The Abilify did more for me than the Lamictal I think. Minor/moderate mania for first four days

100 mg. with 5 mg. Abilify - The magic doseage for me! No more elevation and psychotic symptoms gone.

Every change shifted me (messed with me) for the first day, but then went away after that.

I am not on lamictle any more. I was for a short time. But, I have trouble with my memory. I found this pretty good article on it, and it does say there is evidance meds might make it worse.

http://www.bipolar-lives.com/bipolar...mory-loss.html

Hi, all. I have been on Lamictal for a little over 4 years, at varying doses. I did notice memory loss and concentration issues when I upped the dose gradually to 400mg. I typically have a very solid memory and I definitely noticed issues. I've been on 200mg for some time now, and it seems to be OK, but I still have attention and memory issues from time to time. I also take a med for mild ADD as well, so that could be part of it, but I think the Lamictal is a big factor. However, I think it keeps me stable, so I will live with it. Hope this helps.

I am taking 100 mg of Lamictal with great results and I am having memory issues as well. I have also been having recent problems with parking my car! It never occured to me to connect it to the Lamictal.

I was LMAO this afternoon when I left work and saw my car, parked all caterwampus in the space despite a concerted effort to get it in there straight this morning. I give up!!