Side Effects: Memory and Cognitive Impairment

Hi everyone! I have been on Wellbutrin (300mg) and Topamax (150mg) for nearly 8 years and Lorazepam (.5mg) sporadically for a year. I just began Nortriptyline (20mg) and maybe adding that into the mix has turned my mind into mush.

I have noticed lately that my words sometimes come out different than what I thought them to be. For example, I might say, "It's really cold outside" when I meant to say, "hot". Sometimes, I'll speak a gibberish word or stutter. I chose very basic words in my sentences to avoid mispronunciation, and my boyfriend corrects me, or laughs at my mistakes. I have to pretend I find it funny too, or else we'll get into a fight if I tell him my feelings. That's beside the point.

I can deal with that, but it's my memory that bothers me the most. I feel like I am experiencing dementia. Something can happen a week ago and there is a gap in my memory and I can't recall the event at all. Or I vaguely remember something, and the more I try to remember it, the more it slips away... like a dream. I don't know if it's meds, stress, or if it really could be early onset Alzheimer's. (Alzheimer's runs in my family) All I can tell you, is that I am literally losing my mind.

I don't know if anyone can relate. Does anyone feel they have some sort of memory problem (maybe not as significant as mine) since being on their meds? Or does anyone find their brain doesn't function as well as it used to?

Thanks for reading.

Yes, I know that psych meds have impaired my memory and my cognitive abilities. Another cruel aspect of mental illness.

I used to take ativan for anxiety as-needed. At my most anxious when we were trying to find an SSRI or SNRI that worked for me, I was taking ativan about 3 days a week. if I was taking them multiple days in a row, by day three I definitely wasn't as sharp as I was otherwise

I definitely think slower the more meds I take. And the wrong words-oh yes, all the time. Or forgetting what word I want to say or a person's name that I definitely know. It has gotten better, especially the wrong word thing-as I have reduced meds. I am still on nortriptylene, buspar, welbutrin, cyclobenzaprine. Got off abilify earlier this year and have just reduced welbutrin within the last month.

I now have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment because of the drugs I take.

Years of meds can probably do that.. I notice I'm nowhere near where I was mentally just 10 years ago. If I already felt like that I would be very skeptical to throwing one more med into the mix. When doctors prescribe certain drugs together, sometimes the outcome is very unpredictable.

Benzo's, if taken regularly can impact cognitive functioning, my doctor told me that straight away when I was taking Xanax for sleep nightly. He weaned me off it after that.

Years later I have had a similar experience as you with the incorrect words coming out without warning - ll call the stove a fridge for example - it's pretty humorous humorous sometimes when my kids witness it and I usually make light of it. Sometimes l'll also mumble and not finish thoughts - as if my brain just can't find the words, but it's not that frequent and could be for other reasons.

I've noticed the word replacement phenomenon most strongly when I take Wellbutrin. I have a paradoxical reaction to it and it makes me very, very fatigued - to the point of feeling muscle weakness and and yawning as if I can't get enough oxygen. I stopped taking it and the good news is that when I don't take Wellbutrin, there is no problem. Wellbutrin may not have this effect on you however as I know it does make some people more alert and energetic, so it could be another med. Is topamirate related to Topamax?