Hello Bruce,

I've been epileptic approximately 40 years. The last 10 have been Limictal. Yes, brand and generic are important. I am in a 5% group that cannot use generic Limictal, and found out the hard way. Your neurologist is aware of the problems with this and should write you a prescription that states, brand only, or specify other. It's probably a good guess that many, brand or not issues, go unnoticed or get lost in several other attempts to control other multi-behaviors in a patient.

Memory loss,,, yes,,, long and short. For all, long may be accessible one minute but not the next. I can say, the longer I can go without any type of seizure, the more short term are accessible. Leonard can comment/direct on the next (because there is plenty of info out there) but my understanding is that all incoming information in is remembered, just like anyone, just not accessible to the epileptic "at all times". Some however will truly never be recalled. Think of memory as dime size windows pasted to the surface of a basket ball. Some are intermittently opened or closed, during your attempt at recall. For most folks, the more opened, better recall. For us, there aren't enough opened often enough.

Occasionally misc prompts will trigger a memory I thought wasn't avail for recall. That was a visit of the neighborhood I grew up in from 50 yrs years ago. Interesting/enjoying but how much is it really worth in all days? It's relaxing in that I had some memory back for a few min. I also have learned somewhat,,, how to avoid having to forget in front of others. In a conversation you have to remain quiet for a bit waiting for prompts. Talk to an interrogations officer about this some time. Another view of recall is, it makes others happy that you thought enough of them to remember events with them. Not remembering is also interpreted as not caring enough to remember. All you can do is explain. And go ahead and recall when it's not prompted, like, "hey Tom, remember when we were at Joe's last month,,, that dog that chased the cat?"

Short term... I overload myself with daily information a bit (more on that abuse and side affects another time) and the only way I can combat it is a day-planner. Keep it within 20 seconds of wherever you are. It will help with many things over time, and it will show some people that you care enough to have written them down in your history. The rest of the time it provides less stress, like your grocery list at the store. Keep a month or 2 of planner history in another folder for long term recall. I have about 25 years of planners in my file. It's great fun to read occasionally, for confidence, maybe even recall practice.

Rick

@bruceg
Memory problems are extremely common with Epilepsy, more often because of the medications.
Overall the brain is quite resilient. Although memory issues are not limited to only severe or frequent seizures memory damage is possible with any seizure.
My memory is horrible so I can relate. I have total amnesia of my first 15 years because of Convulsive Status Epilepticus (continuous state of seizure) and being in a coma for months.

Here is a bit of info on memory from the Epilepsy Foundation.
https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/challenges-epilepsy/thinking-and-memory/types-memory-problems.
Here’s something from Epilepsy Society in memory.
It explains a little about the temporal lobes.
https://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk/how-epilepsy-can-affect-memory#.XOg3KRZlDDs
What type seizures do you have Bruce, Tonic-Clonic, Focal or something else.
Jake