Memory problems

I know there was a thread about this earlier but I'm only now coming to terms with this after talking with a friend and noticing I couldn't remember some of the stories she was discussing. Many of you have stated that you have issues with your memory. Do you think this is a result of the medication or part of the bipolar disorder?

I haven't seen the other thread, but yeah my memory is getting real bad. I've been meaning to talk to my pdoc about it, but I never remember. I have often wondered if it is my meds causing it, never thought of it being a bipolar thing.

my memory before being diagnosed was awsome. i could remember loads of stuff- numbers, facts, addresses... what ever.

but now that's all changed- someone tells me something and i have to write it down (because if i don't, i just forget about it) and what was said.

and usually i have like a 30 second time frame to write it down- because my memory is so poor now

I would blame my memory problems entirely on the meds.

from what i remember, its vice versa for me... back then, in my teens, i felt i had a horrible memory... i had a family member that could tell me conversations almost word for word... i couldnt exactly remember much, let alone care to remember much because of how depressed and miserable i used to be... i was hooorrribble with names, dates, and basically all of my schoolwork... at some point,i was even dxd with adhd...

but now, i think in the past few years, even after my dx, ive felt my memory has been off the charts with many things... and it could very well be because my mind is now working with more stimuli since its not as cluttered with problems as it used to be... room for improvement, but overall, good... working memory is good, though i still tend to be distractible, which impairs... but neverrthelesss good...!

used to be excellent ... in last few years has been going down hill fairly quickly, ... in just the last few months I have been remembering things, ... mostly from a long time ago, ... childhood stuff and such, ... still don't remember wife's surgery several years ago, ...but bits and pieces are coming back .... I really believe stress blotted out my memory as a way to protect myself .... whether my stress is coming down , the meds help or just a natural thing I can not say ,... but I feel the meds are helping ...

I have always had memory problems socially. Schoolwork was a breeze but I always had to take extensive notes during class to retain it.

Four years ago my memory was at its worst. I couldn't carry a conversation or retain a sentence. My memory is much better now but I still have some short term memory problems. I don't know if it's the illness or just something I missed learning as I was growing up.

My memory has declined a lot since taking medication for bipolar and depression.
Been on meds on and of for the last 15 years. Have to write down everything or there is a good chance I forget.

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I'm leaning towards it being my meds. I'm only now noticing it being somewhat of an issue when it comes to things that I did in my past since I've been on them.

I'm actually reading a book about bipolar and just passed a section that said memory tends to be crisp and efficient in a manic state. When we are depressed we tend to forget more things.

I know for certain that my memory isn't what it was a few years ago, I think there might be a mixture of meds and the progression of the disorder that play into effect here that cause the memory loss. I think you will find most bipolars medicated or not we all have memory problems some just more severe.

I am so frustrated by the state of my memory as of late. I am able to remember many things from the past with detail but have a lot of difficulty with short term things. Like forgetting what I am saying mid sentence, or meaning to do something and not remembering to do it. It's like when you go to another room and forget why. I know this kind of thing happens to many people but it has become a common occurrence for me in a number of situations. I used to be pretty sharp but in the last 6 mths I guess I just have this spacey brain. I feel like I am losing my mind and driving those around me nuts. When I first noticed it, I mentioned it to Pdoc and she said it is probably just a depression symptom. I thought that was an unlikely explanation considering I have been experiencing depression for years and never had this symptom. Everyone I have told (Ts, friends, family) brushes it off. I am worried and have no idea what to do.

Even when I was stable I would have problems like this. I would lose my lose my train of thought mid sentence mid conversation.

Memory has been pretty bad lately. I've been a little bit more of an airhead than usual. It's annoying. I lose EVERYTHING. Keys, phone, bag, glasses. When I have to pick something up after work I need to write it on my hand so I don't forget what I need to get. I've just been an idiot lately. I used to be great with names. Not anymore.

I blame clonazepam. I ****ing hate clonazepam.

Memory has been pretty bad lately. I've been a little bit more of an airhead than usual. It's annoying. I lose EVERYTHING. Keys, phone, bag, glasses. When I have to pick something up after work I need to write it on my hand so I don't forget what I need to get. I've just been an idiot lately. I used to be great with names. Not anymore.

I blame clonazepam. I ****ing hate clonazepam.

Yes, it is a constant issue now. Did you find anything made it better?

Meds caused me to be stupid and forgetful, particularly lithium.


My brilliant mega memory returned after quitting it, you may want to look into a med change and try something that doesn't impair your cognitive abilities.


And yes, doctors like to blame the bipolar, (despite zero evidence that they even know what bipolar is or how we get it) but they can't explain our sucky memories when we're stable.

Some meds my cognitive function has decreased, I barely remember words and names

I wish I knew what would help. It can be embarrassing sometimes.

Memory problems can be exacerbated by the medication, but it is actually a problem of bipolar disorder itself. Cognitive function (not intelligence) actually suffers a great deal with bipolar. Some people are worse than others (just like all symptoms are worse in some than others.)

Anyway, there's a ton of research going on with cognitive dysfunction and bipolar. I actually have many cognitive functioning problems. Memory, processing, organization, and focus are the primary ones I deal with.

For my med history, I've barely ever been on meds. I was diagnosed in 2009 and have maybe had 9 months of meds total in all this time, but my cognitive functioning has been in continuous decline. I just restarted lithium last week.

For me, the memory issues seem to be due to a combination of meds and the disease itself. Although I must mention that I had problems long before I was diagnosed or put on meds...I had to write everything down on sticky notes or I'd forget. This was as far back as my late 30s. I still do. I will probably have to for the rest of my life, because it sure as hell isn't getting any better.

I know the meds have affected my cognition. I have problems with recall. I'll be in a conversation with people and know what it is I am trying to say, but I cannot for the life of me remember the words or information to verbalize. It will eventually come to me after a while most of the time. It is incredible frustrating. The pdoc says it is a side effect of a couple of the meds.

Memory is just so freaking awful for me. To begin with...I did every drug under the sun for 20 years, then there is the present meds, and finally my alters keep their memories that it's like I don't have a past let alone 2 days ago.

I live in the present because that's all I have.

I think with me it may be a bit of both. My memory hasn't been the best even before medication, but I've only been on mood stabilizers for the past year. I honestly don't know what's causing the brain farts. I keep a journal with me and I have different places around my house where I can write on a wipe-off board or post things on a cork board that I need to remember. Using Notepad helps at work because I just type as my customers are talking so that I don't forget what they just said to me thirty seconds after they said it. I don't want to have someone get po'ed at me because they have to repeat themselves. Then when I am done talking, I erase it and then I am ready to talk to the next customer. If I just rely on handwritten notes and my own memory, it's just a mess.

Talked to the pdoc today and brought this up. He said that anti seizure medications can sometimes have this effect on people. And being on my dosage for so long doesn't help. In the future we may try and bring get it down after I stablize.