[liveforfish]

I'm on Paxil, Tegratol, and Zanax for BiPolar.

I've been having some pretty scary problems lately. My memory is aweful. I'm having trouble remembering the most basic things. I'm forgetful and forget to do things I need to do.

I'm forgetting words or not able to say words when speaking. I'm also talking out loud all the time. I loose track of thought while speaking. I've even spoken gibberish while actually trying to talk!
Uber scary and weird.

I've informed my MD and she advised seeing a neurologist if keeps happening.

I'm not with my regular psychiatrist due to finances. I'm looking for another who takes my insurance.

I'm starting to wonder if a med change is needed.

[Travelinglady]

I suggest you look up these meds to see if memory issues are mentioned. I take Klonopin and I am trying to get off of it because my memory is so bad. I know it can affect memory.

I do think your seeing a neurologist to make sure nothing bad is going on is a great idea.

[hamster-bamster]

You also need to make sure that the meds treat the depressive side effectively, because depression alone causes temporary cognitive decline - it is one of the many bad things it does. So be careful distinguishing what might be from an intrinsic neurological issue, from depression, and from the side effects of meds - three possible sources of trouble, plus, you may be suffering from more than one!

[hamster-bamster]

But... depression causes a temporary cognitive decline

... medications can be removed or changed...

...intrinsic neurological issues are the scariest one, so I would book an appointment with a neurologist on your insurance list. Neurologists are typically covered by insurance companies without a problem - better than psychiatrists.

Also, make sure you take the preventative measures against cognitive decline. Baby aspirin has been proven to help, but check with the prescriber for drug interactions. Physical exercise has been proven to help and is basically side effect - free. Alcohol in moderation is good, in theory, but the possibility of drug interactions and the effect on bipolar may note make it good in practice.

UT Austin researchers saw middle aged study participants improve the memory function in a short span of time... by walking for 45 minutes a day.

Also, there is some evidence that dark grape juice and pomegranate juice help. I do drink pomegranate juice and have been for a couple of months, but it is hard to say yet whether it is helping. The drawback of juices is the high sugar content.

[Travelinglady]

Good point, Hamster-Bamster! Depression can cause memory problems, for example, as you indicated. That was something I was also checked for.

However, I am concerned about the speech problems. As you also say, some of the other symptoms might be caused by something else.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by PAYNE1

Good point, Hamster-Bamster! Depression can cause memory problems, for example, as you indicated. That was something I was also checked for.

However, I am concerned about the speech problems. As you also say, some of the other symptoms might be caused by something else.

I agree. I think it is worth a visit to a neuro specialist.

[liveforfish]

OK. I'll make an appointment and see what they think.

Thanks everyone.

[AlasLlama]

I have had memory loss due to depression and also memory loss caused by the medication I was on (Effexor). In my experience, these two feel very different.

The memory loss associated with depression (and now gone, because my depression was in remission) made it hard for me to recall emotionally charged stuff from the distant past. Everything was sort of "flat." It was a sort of emotional numbness. Even in the worst of my depression, though, my memory for things like phone numbers, quotes from books, and so on, was nearly photographic.

My memory loss due to medication felt very different. More like dementia. I forgot words, numbers, my mother's phone number (I have called that number almost every week for twenty years). My own social security number. What was on page one of a document, when I was on page two. The name of someone I had been introduced to a minute earlier. Nothing emotionally controversial about any of this stuff. It was just... gone. I have since read lots of studies of the meds I was on and it is confirmed... this is memory loss due to medication, memory loss due to depression does not account for it. Memory loss due to medication has been in my experience MUCH harder to get rid of than the other kind.

My recommendation is this: If you are noticing memory loss, take it seriously. And don't hesitate to get a second opinion. Or a third opinion. I asked my then doctor if my own memory loss was related to my meds, he said "Yes, but it will go away when you stop taking the medication." He was wrong. It did not go away. In fact, I had to quit my job it got so bad, and I was still not able to work two years later. Most importantly, check the research on your specific medication. Many practicing clinical doctors do not have time to regularly review medical research. The fine print that comes in the package insert with the medication might not be complete, either. Check out those studies!

Here is what worked for me to mostly recover my damaged memory:

1) Neurofeedback therapy. This was AWESOME though expensive--it got me immediate and quite dramatic results. Neurofeedback is a kind of biofeedback. Special equipment is used to track what is going on in the patient's brain. The patient can then learn to control their own responses to a greater degree, or enter a very deep meditative state (which is hard to do on your own). The type of training I did taught me to make blood flow to my pre-frontal cortex, where a lot of important memory stuff happens. It worked GREAT. After a few sessions, my memory perked up quite a bit. Sometimes this was unpredictable... for example, one week my memory decided to take me on a detailed tour of all the sweaters I had ever owned.... but at least I got my mom's phone number back.

2) Other stuff. Exercise. Omega 3 supplements. Grape juice. Blueberries. A big new one I just added is choline supplements... some interesting research on that, too.

[sewerrats]

Hamster is right depression does make memory lost and stumble your speech, i went to a top nuro years ago for 6 sessions , i only went to 4 he new what was happenings with depression and so did i. i dont remember days i often think its one day when its another. I once went to buy a car , and has i signed for it i said whats the date, he said 25th // i said 25th of what , he said april , i had to go to the toilet to remember the year come back and sign. It was partly because i had been put on the spot and meds didnt help that was in depression , but in remission im only half has bad

[Trippin2.0]

Med associated memory loss really does feel like dementia! I had the memory of a goldfish while medicated and lost some words, they just disappeared from my vocabulary and my spelling suddenly sucked! Words I used all the time looked so foreign in writing, even when I spelled correctly, I didn't "recognize" it as correct and had to double check!! I was sick and tired of feeling like a retard, plus my self-confidence died a sudden death, so I quit them.

Good news? Cognitive abilities and short term memory returned to fully functional after a while. Bad news? I have gaps in my memory that no amount of prodding and poking awaken. They're just erased, I wonder quite often how much has been erased I was on lithium though...

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

Med associated memory loss really does feel like dementia! I had the memory of a goldfish while medicated and lost some words, they just disappeared from my vocabulary and my spelling suddenly sucked! Words I used all the time looked so foreign in writing, even when I spelled correctly, I didn't "recognize" it as correct and had to double check!! I was sick and tired of feeling like a retard, plus my self-confidence died a sudden death, so I quit them.

Good news? Cognitive abilities and short term memory returned to fully functional after a while. Bad news? I have gaps in my memory that no amount of prodding and poking awaken. They're just erased, I wonder quite often how much has been erased I was on lithium though...

lithium , are you bipolar and you dumped the meds

[Trippin2.0]

Originally Posted by sewerrats

lithium , are you bipolar and you dumped the meds

Yes, I flushed em down the toilet in October of 2011!

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

Yes, I flushed em down the toilet in October of 2011!

Sorry if im being nosey , who said you had bipolar . Because bipolar is for life, And if you had flushed those meds down the toilet you should have relasped big time. Plus you have had no more symtoms in 2 years . You are either a very lucky peson or someone made one hell of a wrong diagnosis on you condition , sure you can live a life without meds if bipolar, but its a bizzare one high has a kite , spending , bad sex moves, bankrupt, jail, illegal drugs, and then the depression hits 10 times worse than on meds. Suicide rear,s its ugly head. Take catherine zeta jones , back in mental rehab WITH BIPOLAR and thats just to tweek her meds

[Trippin2.0]

Well excuuuuuse me... 2 pdocs dxd me, just so you know.

Who said I was cured? Who said I'm asymptomatic? Who said I don't get suicidal? Who said I don't get hypomanic? Who said I don't struggle?

I DIDN'T So please don't assume, because it makes an a.s.s out of you and me...

The medical model for bipolar doesn't suit me, throwing meds at me made me worse, so just because I am not medicated don't make assumptions.

And Catherine Zeta Jones can go fly a kite, because her disorder has got nothing to do with me. My pdoc also sent me inpatient for a med change why? because its safer, you can be monitored for any reactions or bad side effects, and to me it was BS! why? because I was anxious all the time, so discharged myself and kept the pdoc updated on via telephone. So it wasn't an emergency admission, its just for safety's sake. Bipolar isn't the flu, or cancer, or AIDS, its a SPECTRUM disorder, which means experiences differ. No I'm not the village bicycle when I'm manic, no I'm not a drug addict or a raging alcoholic when off meds, and neither are the other unmedicated members on PC... Which just shows me people really do know nothing about this disorder and still think we're a bunch of uncontrollable, immoral, braindead maniacs who need to be chemically castrated...

So sad, but hey, thats life

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

Well excuuuuuse me... 2 pdocs dxd me, just so you know.

Who said I was cured? Who said I'm asymptomatic? Who said I don't get suicidal? Who said I don't get hypomanic? Who said I don't struggle?

I DIDN'T So please don't assume, because it makes an a.s.s out of you and me...

The medical model for bipolar doesn't suit me, throwing meds at me made me worse, so just because I am not medicated don't make assumptions.

And Catherine Zeta Jones can go fly a kite, because her disorder has got nothing to do with me. My pdoc also sent me inpatient for a med change why? because its safer, you can be monitored for any reactions or bad side effects, and to me it was BS! why? because I was anxious all the time, so discharged myself and kept the pdoc updated on via telephone. So it wasn't an emergency admission, its just for safety's sake. Bipolar isn't the flu, or cancer, or AIDS, its a SPECTRUM disorder, which means experiences differ. No I'm not the village bicycle when I'm manic, no I'm not a drug addict or a raging alcoholic when off meds, and neither are the other unmedicated members on PC... Which just shows me people really do know nothing about this disorder and still think we're a bunch of uncontrollable, immoral, braindead maniacs who need to be chemically castrated...

So sad, but hey, thats life

Hey you sure get the mood on, i have been in and out mental hospilal with loads of bipolar friends , i probably no more than you has im borderline an clinicly depressed so chill out. They only go in hospital when there manic the shrinks dont want to no when there depressed , and if they havent been takeing the meds a 10 time depressed the dont want to no even more. all patient in mental hospital hate the shrinks with a passion if bipolar because all they want to do is get your mania under control so you dont Crash big time and kill yourself . The patient wants to be manic there haveing a great time. and yes you can and do crazy things i had 4 kids with different women before 21, fight anyone when manic win or loose it didnt matter. i take meds but instead of mood stablizer i use loads of benzo,s. It levels me and i dont go off on one on the forum to a stranger. if i didnt no bipolr i would not have asked why you chose to be costant anxierty an anger at anyone and any thing. chillout i only asked a question.

[Trippin2.0]

Sorry. I just don't appreciate people assuming I must be irresponsible or incorrectly dxd just because I refuse to be zombified. Angry yes, but don't take offense, its the borderline in me feeling invalidated. Didn't mean to go off at you, but rereading my response, I could have been nicer

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

Sorry. I just don't appreciate people assuming I must be irresponsible or incorrectly dxd just because I refuse to be zombified. Angry yes, but don't take offense, its the borderline in me feeling invalidated. Didn't mean to go off at you, but rereading my response, I could have been nicer

Its ok we have all been there being borderline bipolar gives me longer in clinical depression and a short mania i would be better off full bipolar. but i like you refuse bipolar meds, i take a small dose AD LEXAPRO 10mg and 4mg ativan a day and live on the very edge . So there is ways of takeing med, but just not has many has they want you to. The shrinks dont care if you get fat, or impotent . it well documented my life was drink and benzos , drink is out through pancreitis and ops caused by drink . but it was cool at the time.

[Trippin2.0]

Hope your pancreas is ok now

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

Hope your pancreas is ok now

yes , i had to have my gall bladder out, but they ruptured my bile trak an the gall stone went in the trak so from key hole it turned to 6 hour surgery to repair the bile trak. i take 2 stomach liner tabs a day the wall is thin now.the big hole thats not stitched great is my belly button were they went in , i havent got a belly button now. o and the gave me tramadol pain killer when on meds and gave me seratonin syndrom i gave them a laugh has i pulled all my caftas out even the 1 up my penis and walked down the ward corridor stark naked tripping my head off.

[Trippin2.0]

OMGEEEE!!! Stupid dr! I like tramadol, only thing that got rid of my spine ache... I can understand why you were tripping balls though. Don't worry, bellybuttons are overrated, and besides Kyle XY doesn't have one and he's awesome.

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

OMGEEEE!!! Stupid dr! I like tramadol, only thing that got rid of my spine ache... I can understand why you were tripping balls though. Don't worry, bellybuttons are overrated, and besides Kyle XY doesn't have one and he's awesome.

Funny thing is i can tollerate phyical pain to a very high level,and 5 minutes after wakeing was walking to the toilet with 2 drips hanging from there pole. the guys in the ward said man get a nurse you only came out you op.I said i want to pee and i havent a capeta up my penis so i do one natural. BBBBBBBBBBut mental pain is a hole different game and you carnt do nothing, its much worse than the phyical stuff, you get better with that. I had my own med,s in the locked cabinet by my side, but when the nurses swap shifts they thought they had to use there,s from the med trolly, so when on morphine i was sometimes on 8 mg of ativan has well double the dose . i was a space cowboy, shimmering walls , dead babies on the ceiling like the film train spotting,all true its to bizzare not to be. These happenings are from 3 seperate hospital stays for PANCREITIS , I can tell you more thats even funnier.

[liveforfish]

Well I've done some research, read scholar articles on Xanax (alprazolam) and memory loss. Since alprazolam was the last med added to my daily meds, I started there.

Lots of studies do show memory loss, difficult with word recall, and dementia symptoms on alprazolam.

I'm going to try tapering off under my psych MD care. The whole process sounds scary and not too comfortable. But I can't keep going on like a dementia patient.

I read a good article that shows to drink lots of water and foods that help the brain while tapering off.

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by liveforfish

I'm on Paxil, Tegratol, and Zanax for BiPolar.

I've been having some pretty scary problems lately. My memory is aweful. I'm having trouble remembering the most basic things. I'm forgetful and forget to do things I need to do.

I'm forgetting words or not able to say words when speaking. I'm also talking out loud all the time. I loose track of thought while speaking. I've even spoken gibberish while actually trying to talk!
Uber scary and weird.

I've informed my MD and she advised seeing a neurologist if keeps happening.

I'm not with my regular psychiatrist due to finances. I'm looking for another who takes my insurance.

I'm starting to wonder if a med change is needed.

yes, i suspect this may be a prob w many meds I've taken and am taking. Try to do mental exercises to combat. The best

[liveforfish]

Thanks. I do have a memory app on my Kindle. Guess I'll use it daily.

[liveforfish]

I spoke to my pdoc today and we're going to change my paxil to prozac. I approached my doc with the idea and he agreed.

I've been on paxil since 1997. Doc was concerned I have shutters that could be neuroepherine related from the paxil. I always thought it was my neck, but my mom always suspected meds.

I'm concerned about paxil w/drawal, but doc thinks the prozac will help stop the symptoms.

He's going to talk w/ his associates about the memory/word problems. We'll discuss it in 3 weeks on my next visit.

I still think it's the zanax, but he doesn't seem concerned with that med.

Wish me luck. LOL.