[exclamationpoint]

Does anyone else feel dumber since they've been on meds? My memory is markedly worse in the last few years and it makes me feel like an idiot all the time. I'm a professor and I depend on my mind being sharp, and now I often feel like I can't do my job. It's very distressing to me. I've mostly been on atypical antipsychotics and I think that's what's causing it. Currently I'm on Latuda and I'm hoping that lowering the dose will help. My concentration is horrible too. Feeling this way is really upsetting.

[John Primo78]

I would not say dumber, I would say impaired it takes me a bit longer to remember stuff or recall even current events, its just one of those things

[sugahorse1]

I feel dumber and cognitively impaired. My concentration is terrible, but I think I have ADD too. My pdoc seems to think my symptoms are caused by ADD.
I do not have s memory to speak of.
I get overwhelmed when there is too much information all at once

[Wild Coyote]

Some meds really slow my thinking, especially recall.

Today, I've noticed my recall of info is much slower and my attention is not as good. I am also on Latuda at 40 mg. I think my attention would be worse off without the Latuda right now.

We all have varying responses. I am super "duh" on Topamax, for instance.

I hope you can clear up your thinking enough to be more comfortable soon.


WC

[BipolarMama31]

Yea I do.

I feel like my memory is completely gone.
I used to be able to think 3 steps ahead in my job (sales) and the politics of the office.
Now i struggle to feel what is a real thought and what is delusion.

A few months ago i was convinced i had to move to alaska to better my family. I couldnt think straight. I had my husband convinced we were going and i was looking at houses.
Thats just one example. My mind feels like alice in winderland and i cant figure out whats real.

Plus the usual groggy side effect from seroquel.

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[Tucson]

Can this "dumber" problem be associated to BP itself? For instance, depression? Independant of mood? I go through phases that last for over a year. This is where I have problem with recall. It can get so bad that I cannot come up with the right words. I only can speak in simple words. This can last for a long time.

Tucson

[Ripose]

I would agree that depression really affects my brain power.

To see more of the problems created by meds go to drugs.com and enter all of your meds to see the interaction effects. I have about 10 interactions that affect cognition, judgement, critical thinking and more, so it very likely my meds have made me dumber, and I feel that way too.

[BipolarMama31]

Originally Posted by Tucson

Can this "dumber" problem be associated to BP itself? For instance, depression? Independant of mood? I go through phases that last for over a year. This is where I have problem with recall. It can get so bad that I cannot come up with the right words. I only can speak in simple words. This can last for a long time.

Tucson

Oh i relate to this. One depression was so bad, my speach was slurred, my coordination off, i couldn't find words, people either thought i had a stroke or i was high.

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[Holdingbacktyrs]

I can totally relate. I was a patent attorney until a year ago. I retired at age 53 because I felt so incompetent. However, I think that is part of the BP condition. I was a mess without meds. Couldnt think at all. With Abilify and Seroquel my cognitive skills are slow, but I can usually think over a problem given time. And no pressure. Not something a lawyer typically has!

[OctobersBlackRose]

Yes, my cognition has suffered a bit since being on meds, it besides feeling cured has been what has me contemplating stopping meds altogether. But I know Ive got go stay on meds to be stable...

[exclamationpoint]

Thank you all for your responses. I know it could be depression too, but it hasn't gotten better as my mood has improved. I don't really feel depressed right now, but I'm still having so much trouble concentrating and my memory is shot. I feel broken.

[tradika]

What type of memory is affected?

[gina_re]

I felt like my memory was getting worse each day. I mentioned it to my pdoc and she suggested lowering my Lamictal and switch to taking it at night. That has helped so much! I'm actually productive at work now and I don't feel so forgetful.