[Moose72]

Today I took my son to Tim Hortons. He told me what he wanted and went and found a seat. I went up to the front and ordered. An employee put a drink up in front of me. It was chocolate. I said, "I didn't order this." The lady retorted "yes you did". "No I didn't order this, I ordered an ice cap" I said getting annoyed. So she made me the drink I wanted and took away the one I didn't. I took the drink, finally, to N3. "I relayed what had just happend, as I handed him his iced Cap. He didorder the chocolate drink. I had no memory of what the drink was or that I even ordered the chocolate drink. None. But, we sat and neither of us wanted return the iced capp for another chocolate drink.

[Travelinglady]

I have memory problems, too. I'm told it likely comes from the meds I take. for bipolar--such as Tegretol.

[Polibeth]

I have a ton of memory problems (both short and long term) related to ECT treatment. It's so frustrating. Just wanted to let you know I commiserate.

[BipolaRNurse]

I can relate so well. I've talked to two different psychiatrists about this because I was afraid I was developing dementia, and they both told me the same thing: it's probably due to a combination of repeated bipolar episodes (especially mania) and the medications used to treat the disorder. Well, I'm still screwed because I can't undo past episodes nor can I stop meds, but for some reason it reassures me that my memory issues aren't likely to be associated with Alzheimer's or some other type of dementia.

It's my short-term memory that really drives me nuts. I can quote you a song from 40+ years ago, tell you the name of the band, the lyrics, and the year it came out, but I can't tell you what I ate for lunch, or even IF I ate lunch. I have trouble recognizing people out of context, which REALLY scares me because it's super embarrassing when they go "Oh, you know me!"

A lady came to the door the other day asking to use our bathroom; I didn't recognize her because she was in shorts and her hair was up, and she had no makeup on. She turned out to be the nice receptionist at my son-in-law's hair salon, who I know well in that environment but could not place her when she wanted to come in to use the toilet. I was, of course, mortified, and it's little slips like this that really make me question my cognitive abilities. No one else seems to be all that concerned, even though dementia isn't unheard of at my age (I'm 60). If it gets worse I'm going to demand a neurology consult...I don't like this at all.

[komodo1971]

I also have memory problems. Especially short term memory is sometimes failing. It's like I don't register some things.

bipolarR nurse, I've had the dimentia worry as well, so you're not alone in that

my memory I think is safe for now though

longterm is okay, it's shortterm I worry about because it's really bad

I can litirally stop talking mid sentence because my memory just freezes and I don't know what I was saying before

actually on the subject of dimentia:

the other week I was watching a programme about the benifits of music for dimentia patients

one of them had dimentia at my age which I thought was scary, I always thought dimentia is an older thing

Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

I can relate so well. I've talked to two different psychiatrists about this because I was afraid I was developing dementia, and they both told me the same thing: it's probably due to a combination of repeated bipolar episodes (especially mania) and the medications used to treat the disorder. Well, I'm still screwed because I can't undo past episodes nor can I stop meds, but for some reason it reassures me that my memory issues aren't likely to be associated with Alzheimer's or some other type of dementia.

It's my short-term memory that really drives me nuts. I can quote you a song from 40+ years ago, tell you the name of the band, the lyrics, and the year it came out, but I can't tell you what I ate for lunch, or even IF I ate lunch. I have trouble recognizing people out of context, which REALLY scares me because it's super embarrassing when they go "Oh, you know me!"

A lady came to the door the other day asking to use our bathroom; I didn't recognize her because she was in shorts and her hair was up, and she had no makeup on. She turned out to be the nice receptionist at my son-in-law's hair salon, who I know well in that environment but could not place her when she wanted to come in to use the toilet. I was, of course, mortified, and it's little slips like this that really make me question my cognitive abilities. No one else seems to be all that concerned, even though dementia isn't unheard of at my age (I'm 60). If it gets worse I'm going to demand a neurology consult...I don't like this at all.

This describes my experience almost exactly, though I never felt my memory issues were bad enough to be dementia. After reading this thread, I asked my husband this morning if he thought I had such issues before medications. He said no. I guess meds definitely contribute, but I really agree with BipolaRNurse that my years of severe manias and depressions are also factors. I have also read that.

My memory issues used to be worse. As far as meds are concerned, I found higher doses of Lamictal to be the worst culprit. Also, when weaned off of Lithium, I noticed a thin fog clear. Like Travelinglady, I do take Tegretol, and a fairly large dose. Tegretol has been mostly side effect friendly, but likely affects me cognitively, a bit. It makes me very clumsy -- my worst Tegretol side effect.

Getting back to episodes causing memory issues, when I've been very stable and grounded, I can handle more, intellectually. My brain needs time to heal after episodes. These past 14 years, I've had times when I could hardly retain anything I read. I even sometimes struggled speaking fluently. Other times, I almost (almost) felt as able as before my worst episodes. I think "How in the heck did I manage to handle 21 credits per semester at college and socialize so much?" Or, "How was it that I used to be able to work 60 hours and then go home and do housework, cooking, exercise, and more?" And then I think "Well, many people do that AND have kids to take care of and cart to soccer/dance classes. "

Fact is, even when I was young, I had times when I couldn't handle 21 credits in a semester. I remember one semester barely managing 12 credits and doing pretty so-so or even poorly. I didn't take medications back then, I'll admit, but I'll also say that I could bounce back much quicker, mentally, after episodes. I blame age and years of the illness, more than meds.

[Sometimes psychotic]

My memory got a little better with fish oil supplements.....

[~Christina]

My memory short and long term have improved since I stopped psych meds

[Guiness187055]

My memory is horrible I stumble on thoughts at times and my short term memory is for squat.

My psych nurse swears it's the benzos that can cause dementia. She is tapering me slowly off them. I went from 2 mgs of lorazepam to now 3 mgs of diazepam. I started on 20 mgs of diazepam. But I also think other meds can cause problems. But I will be happy to be off benzos. Here in Washington they are really cracking down on all controlled meds. Best to just be off them.

[Wild Coyote]

Most of my memory issues are do to dissociation.
When there is a LOT of stress, I tend to dissociate, depending upon the situation.

Otherwise, I have quite a good memory.
I can get a bit foggy on some meds, which can affect attention and/or recall.

Love to All ~

[yellow_fleurs]

My memory is pretty terrible, but what I don't know is if it's my actual memory, attention, anxiety. It's a brain fog situation though sometimes. I am not on meds so can't be those, it's just me.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by yellow_fleurs

My memory is pretty terrible, but what I don't know is if it's my actual memory, attention, anxiety. It's a brain fog situation though sometimes. I am not on meds so can't be those, it's just me.

A doctor once helped me to discern what was then affecting my "memory."
The problem was not my memory. The incoming info was never encoded into memory. My attention was impaired. If info does not make it into the memory center, it cannot be recalled.

That small piece of info helped me to realize the issue then was my attention, which became more impaired by anxiety.

Much Love to You!

[yellow_fleurs]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

A doctor once helped me to discern what was then affecting my "memory."
The problem was not my memory. The incoming info was never encoded into memory. My attention was impaired. If info does not make it into the memory center, it cannot be recalled.

That small piece of info helped me to realize the issue then was my attention, which became more impaired by anxiety.

Much Love to You!

I think this is at least part of the problem for me, encoding the memory. What I don't know is if it's anxiety, a daydreaming/dissociation thing or more like inattention seen in ADHD and/or something else. I was prescribed adderall in the past and it helped but made me too irritable. My aunt, mom and brother tend to be very spacey too and my aunt takes medication for ADHD.

[added]

I am glad I don't have to feel alone! My short term memory bothers me a lot, there are times when I am afraid I am going to not be able to remember much sometime in the near future. I too want to consult a neurologist, but I have a feeling my doc, who makes referrals to specialists is gonna say, "well at your age (60) that's normal"!, So I will want to punch him in the face...Not really... It IS frustrating.

[added]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

My memory short and long term have improved since I stopped psych meds

So... did you replace your meds with something else?? I'm not sure what would take the slack of my not taking meds... Thanks in advance for your insights...

[Sunflower123]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

My memory short and long term have improved since I stopped psych meds

Good to know.

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by added

So... did you replace your meds with something else?? I'm not sure what would take the slack of my not taking meds... Thanks in advance for your insights...

I rode the Med Merry Go Round for many years, I was Med free for a year but eventually I hit a wall, I did need them again but I was able to start off on very low doses but over time they all got increased.

I now have metabolic syndrome from psych meds and meds I have to take for numerous physical health problems.

So earlier this year after much thought, and research... I wanted off meds again if for nothing other than giving my body a break from a constant intake of chemicals.

I slowly tapered meds and allowed for time to reset my brain to function sans meds. So I do feel clearer. But I also have a huge toolbox of coping skills.

Will I need meds again at some point ? I’m sure. But long term use of AP’s has been shown to cause permanent brain shrinkage, but then studies also show untreated Bipolar episodes show the same. 6 of one half dozen of the other.

I think what happens sometimes a person is on Med ABC then they get worse so another Med is added and without even noticing a person can be over medicated which is as bad as under medicating.

I don’t recommend anyone just stop there meds, but for me it was the right thing to do even if it’s only for right now.

[Phoenix_1]

Originally Posted by rose1985

My psych nurse swears it's the benzos that can cause dementia. She is tapering me slowly off them. I went from 2 mgs of lorazepam to now 3 mgs of diazepam. I started on 20 mgs of diazepam. But I also think other meds can cause problems. But I will be happy to be off benzos. Here in Washington they are really cracking down on all controlled meds. Best to just be off them.

My pdoc only treats people 55 and older. I'm 65. I've taken Klonopin since 1987 and he insists that I have to stop taking it because of the way it affects memory in older people. It'll be hard, but it might be worth it if my short term memory improves. Now it's bad. Not dementia bad, but annoyingly and embarrassingly (is that a word?) bad.

[added]

Originally Posted by rose1985

My psych nurse swears it's the benzos that can cause dementia. She is tapering me slowly off them. I went from 2 mgs of lorazepam to now 3 mgs of diazepam. I started on 20 mgs of diazepam. But I also think other meds can cause problems. But I will be happy to be off benzos. Here in Washington they are really cracking down on all controlled meds. Best to just be off them.

I have noticed when I take clonazepam for a few days to take the edge off of my anxiety my short term memory deteriorates after the second day of taking... then, if I take Advil or any pain-relieving OTC stuff, alongside clonazepam, it gets even worse...

[added]

Originally Posted by Phoenix_1

My pdoc only treats people 55 and older. I'm 65. I've taken Klonopin since 1987 and he insists that I have to stop taking it because of the way it affects memory in older people. It'll be hard, but it might be worth it if my short term memory improves. Now it's bad. Not dementia bad, but annoyingly and embarrassingly (is that a word?) bad.

yes! exactly... I am 60 and my memory (short term) and attention are terrible... I try to take Clonapin strictly if I am very anxious or if I need to get some sleep for an important function the day after... Hang in there...

[otroo]

Glad to read I am not the only one with memory problems mine is short term I mean I can totally forget what I am talking about mid sentence.

Originally Posted by added

I have noticed when I take clonazepam for a few days to take the edge off of my anxiety my short term memory deteriorates after the second day of taking... then, if I take Advil or any pain-relieving OTC stuff, alongside clonazepam, it gets even worse...

Yeah, my psych nurse told me that she didn't want to see me in my older age in the hospital on the dementia side. I'm 44 now. I had been on lorazapam for 8 yrs. She said I'm still young enough that it shouldn't have effected me too bad at this point. It's been a challenge coming off it, but I just have too.