lamictal memory

[Magnolia]

I'm up at 100mg Lamictal since last Thursday.  I called my pdoc today to let him know that i was having memory problems and losing things, trouble focusing on tasks at work.  This has been going before I went up to 100.  He told me to go back down to 50 but to continue titrating (though did not give me a schedule)  But this has been going on before I went up to 100, which I tried to explain to him, but he didn't really listen to me.  Since I have read this is somewhat of a common side effect, I figured he wouldn't be so insistent on lowering the dosage.  I was wondering if adding something like Strattera would help out with these issues.

He was just bleh on the phone, like he wanted to get off.  showed no concern.

I feel so good on Lamictal, this is the only bad side effect and I don't think it will change by going down and then titrating up again.  Should I call him back tomorrow and say something?

I have other issues with my pdoc.  I think I'll put them in another thread though.

Sorry for the spelling and grammar.  I took Ambien and should go to bed.

Thanks,

Magnolia

eta:  I didn't know where to put about issues with my pdoc.  I'm sleepy and can't seem to find the right forum.  so here it is.

I guess a whole other issue is I'm not 100% satisfied with him. My tdoc, who I love, recommended him.  The first appt was fine, he got my history, put me on Lamictal and handed me these books (The Feeling Good Handbook and Parent Effectiveness Training).  I was open to them and later realized they will not help me at all (my tdoc agrees).

The second time I should have had a 30 or 45 min appt with him (not sure how much time his appts are for yet).  The second time, he spent the first 5-10 minutes writing out emergency scripts for a patient coming in so I think I only spent 25 minutes with him for $190.  Everytime I tried to tell him about the tragedies in my life that made me the way I am he kept bringing up those books.  We got no where.  It was only in the last 2 minutes that I was able to tell him about my social anxiety and get a prescripton for that.  Then I was rushed out the door.

He has me titrating up on Lamictal, but just told me where he wanted me to be by the appt, just go up to 150, then 200.  no time frame, no # of days.

I just don't want to have to switch again.  And I liket this guy, so I realize I have to say something but I'm scared to.  because I'm terrible at talking to people and standing up for myself. I don't know how to bring up meds that I've researched online or the fact that I think I might be bp2. 

[luli2]

I think it takes time to adjust to it. I was a bit giddy, shall I say, going from 50 up to 100 and then to 150. pdoc said drop it to 100 for now. So I did and it's better. It just takes a while. Yes I was forgetting things, big time. And kind of out there, in a way. Hang in there...it's been good overall for me.

Luli

[Magnolia]

Thanks Luli.  I think so far it's been good for me too.

and reading back on my post

I'm sorry if I came off whiny.  I'm just not in the best state to go back and edit

[revlow]

Hey, don't worry about coming off whiny. Sounds like you have reason to be concerned. You should be able to talk with your pdoc about specifics of titration and the med itself.

...but I'm scared to.  because I'm terrible at talking to people and standing up for myself.

Sorry to sound clich

[Libby]

I already have a horrible memory, so if I get on Lamictal, my memory will be worse?  Carumba!  I don't know if I could handle that. 

People make fun of me as it is.  Just tonight, a friend said to me, "Don't you remember?  I told you that!"  I had to sheepishly say, "nooo...."

[Catnapper]

Magnolia -

If you're not comfortable talking to your pdoc, maybe you could print out some of your posts from here, or write up something and either send it to him a few days ahead of your visit, or bring it with you, or better yet, do both.  That way he'll have a chance to think about what your concerns are before you see him, and if you both have a copy during your appt. you can refer to it if you see he's missed something:  "But look there in the second paragraph where I talk about my memory...."

I take a list of issues with me to the doctor, and consider it's just like going to any other business meeting where I would go prepared with an agenda.  Otherwise it's too easy to get off the topic and the next thing you know your time is up.

[Unregistered]

Try massive doses of time release B vitamin complexes. Lamictal is supposedly hard on the liver, and you may well be B vitamin deficient. You need B vitamins for proper cognitive function.

Anyway, that may be all bullcrap, but I had a memory like a Swiss cheese, and B vitamins worked for me...

[NARS]

My memory was worse on lamictal at first, got better with time. I still have little problems with very specific things like remembering what time I'm going to meet someone. So I have post-it notes all over my house and on the wall by the door. No problem. My gentle suggestion is to keep in close contact with your pdoc and keep trying to titrate up. In my case the mood effects got better at moderate doses (200 or so).

And I think one place to start with your pdoc would be to tell him that when he interrupted your last session to write scrips for another patient it made you feel bad. Pdocs often have emergencies to handle, but if he does that he should give you extra time at the other end so you get the undivided attention you need. My old pdoc worked at an inpatient facility, and while he sometimes took very brief calls during our sessions he always cut it short to call back later and made sure he gave me his complete attention the rest of the time. Remember, your pdoc is working for you, not the other way around.

Try to be patient (easy to say, so hard to do). A few months ago my pdoc decided he didn't like the mild lingering memory problems and decided to try going off of wellbutrin, which was a disaster I'm still trying to recover from. It was a good idea, but good ideas don't always work.