Loss of long and short term memory due to seizures and medications

@bruceg, @lizalucier, Good evening. I do not have experience with seizures or the medication Lamotrigine. However, I have had a couple of years of increasing recent memory issues and what is commonly called foggy brain. I too was told by my neurologist that the memory issues will probably not get any better and I began reducing the stressors that seemed to bring it on. I gave up my volunteer role as the marketing director for our local community center. I was unable to continue playing mahjongg unless someone nudged me through the Charleston, or tile passing phase of the game. I became a stay at home, not wanting to get lost even with a GPS, not wanting to make selections and decisions at the grocery store.

And then, my new PCP suggested that the cognitive issues might be due to anxiety. I had been on gabapentin for a couple of years and my body was used to it. At 900 mg taken in the evening, I got just enough to help with the needles in my hands, wrists, and arms. ....and so we discounted that as a potential cause. I do not use opioids for pain, preferring medical cannabis so that wasn't the cause. Finally, I complied with her request that I go through a neuropsychological evaluation which is a four hour series of tests of cognitive function.

Those tests strongly supported a diagnosis of anxiety....fear of not making the right decision, fear of forgetting to take a medication, fear of social situations because I couldn't remember what I had said in the last 30 seconds to a minute. With my friends, I used to ask, "please tell me what I just said to you". Cognitive issues were also causing some pretty severe fatigue just from the effort of trying to remember.

Even genetics were not in my favor. My father was one of nine children, including his twin brother. Both twins and three other siblings developed Alzheimer's and lived out their days in a secure facility. So of course, I had an irrational fear that my cognitive issues were actually the beginning of Alzheimer's.

When I went in for the follow-up, I was pleasantly relieved because there was no evidence of disease or brain deterioration. I was simply anxious about the pain from small fiber neuropathy (SFN). As it was explained to me, the anxiety about the pain creates more pain which then creates more anxiety and the beat just goes on. I began a graduated introduction to duloxetine taken in the morning. Suffice it to say, my memory is greatly improved, I enjoy social outings again and I am not afraid of getting lost. For medication, I use the system of putting the bottles for the next dosage in a tray. Then I know what needs to be taken when.

I can't imagine how difficult it must be to run a company. I had my own business for 20 years and there is a lot to keep track of and manage. I am shouting encouragement for you not to give up, for you to just keep fighting. This forum (Connect) is a great place to gather information and big doses of support that will help you master your challenges. Be free of suffering today....it is July 4th... celebrate. Chris

Jump to this post

If you read Jim Brady's book, which is a difficult read at best, you will notice that there can be brain improvement with high amounts of therapy and vocational support if you are at middle age rather than late age. I was determined to help my 80-year-old mother after her stroke in the same area of the brain as Brady's, but no therapy helped, and I only aggravated the neurologist and spent a lot of Medicare money trying. Let's just say her brain was "fried" and she never walked again, and she gave up talking. She could think, which I saw in her eyes, but expressing it was hopeless. She never forgave me for keeping her in the nursing home. I could see it in her eyes. I still believe that improvement is possible in the earlier years. I have no idea if my husband had seizures, but he was on seizure medicine after brain surgery, and concealed very problem possible. His behavior was strange while on the medicine and it was almost impossible for me to tolerate having him in the house 24 hours a day and cooking three meals while caring for five young grandchildren. I hired a nanny.
The details in the Brady book can be helpful for some people if they are at a younger age. The vulgar language used was a bit to get passed, but with enough therapy, Brady showed that improvement can happen. I would think that with MCI, the improvement would be much easier to achieve. Dorisena

Jump to this post

Sorry, I never meant to imply that one diagnosis is easier than another. Yes, I agree with you, wholeheartedly, that everything is relative. I simply did not realize that at my mother's age which was 80 at the time of her bleeding stroke, she had limited chance of recovery than a younger person might have.
I pressured the doctor to attempt therapies that were unreasonable and he was annoyed by my requests to try therapies. I did not mean to imply that certain therapies would provide improvement because I did not realize at the time the magnitude of the damage and the problems with rehabilitation. I soon learned that I could not safely care for my mother and that I was expecting the therapists to attempt miracles. I never declared any rehab easier than another.
Thanks for bringing it to my attention. My mother remained in a nursing home for over six years and never improved despite much trial and error. I had to learn much about caring for someone so brain damaged, yet alive. It was difficult to give up trying rehabilitation methods for such a dear person. Dorisena

Jump to this post

Chris, My son was in college when he developed epilepsy and begin taking medications that made him very tired. He went from a photographic memory to not being able to recall what he just read or remember a lecture he had just attended. He found that reading out loud really helped him retain what he was reading. In fact as part of his support to the college they recorded his books so that he could listen while reading. I don’t know if this will help you and your business dealings, but it may be something to give you a little bit of help and confidence. I agree that our anxiety about forgetting something and make it all the worse. I suffer from short-term memory issues due to extensive chemotherapy I also have chronic pain which has me taking medications that contribute to long and short term memory loss. I find managing my pain and my stress levels and exercising regularly has greatly helped my ability to retain short term details. I hope some of these tricks are helpful for you. Good luck.

Jump to this post

I'm in the same boat. But I've been using this drug for 20 years and about the last 5 years my memory is failing and I having bad hand tremors

Jump to this post

HI, @richardthegreat - I wanted to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. I believe you are saying that due to a medication you are taking, you've had some failing memory, as well as the hand tremors.

What kind of medication are you taking? Are you noticing both short- and long-term memory challenges?

Jump to this post