Becks Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 That's really the only way I can explain it. I blogged a bit about this, but I wanted to ask. Pdoc thinks it's coming from the Lith and advised me to go down to 300mg and then when I see him on the 9th, he'll wean me completely off. Actually, he didn't advise me, he spoke with Hubs last night, cuz I can't always seem to put into words what I'm thinking or I can't think clearly enough to put anything into words. Are memory/thinking issues common with the Lith? I didn't feel like this before, at least I don't think I did. I just hate it, cuz I did want the Lith to work and it was working for the depression/suicidal thoughts and 2 it's taking me forever to have conversations with Hubs or to respond to things online. I just can't get the words to come out the way I want them to?? If it truly is the Lith, what are my other options for a mood stabalizer? Could Is tay on just ths serq or is it imperative we add something else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breezy Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 I'm not a doctor or anything--hell, I'm not even bipolar or on lithium and I tried seroquel in the hospital once and it never happened again--, but I've experienced memory loss on my meds. I think something like Lamictal will be suggested to you if you go to a GP/pdoc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Becks Posted November 4, 2011 Author Share Posted November 4, 2011 Thanks Bri for posting! I spoke with my pdoc earlier (he wanted to speak with me himself after talking to Hubs about me lastnight) and Lamictal is exactly what he is planning on switching me over to come next Wednesday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattitude Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Thanks Bri for posting! I spoke with my pdoc earlier (he wanted to speak with me himself after talking to Hubs about me lastnight) and Lamictal is exactly what he is planning on switching me over to come next Wednesday My first thought when I started reading this thread was "Lamictal" since I'm on 400mg along with Serq and Lith (900). I was already on Lith when pdoc started me on Lamictal and I didn't notice any major SE's. Note: it takes weeks to taper up on Lamictal because of the risk of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. So your pdoc may leave you on Lith until you're up to a therapeutic dose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamselODistress Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 I've definitely found that I'll suddenly be grasping for a word right after it's been in my head, but I'm not sure it's my Lithium. It could be the Ativan that I'm on and have been relying on more often. I've heard that one referred to as the "Amnesia Pill" several times. Curiously, I have two friends who are also bipolar, and we don't have a single medicine in common, and they've also been having memory problems lately. It started at about the same time for us, maybe about two, three months ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Becks Posted November 4, 2011 Author Share Posted November 4, 2011 Cattitude ~ pdoc wants me off the Lith by next Wednesday. He's really concerned about the memory issues and my shaky hands. Although I think they have more to do with anxiety then anything else. I am on 400mg of Seroquel, so hopeful the SE's won't be too bad. Damsel ~ That sparks my interest just a bit! All of us on different meds, memory issues.....it could be as simple as all of the meds (even though different) cause memory issues. I'm still not completely certain or in agreement with pdoc that it's the Lith causing it, but he's got the med degree not me, so I'll listen to him. I dropped to the 300mg 2 days ago and I'm extremely shaky today. This is after some very upsetting news, so I'm fairly certain it has to do with anxiety, not the Lith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattitude Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Cattitude ~ pdoc wants me off the Lith by next Wednesday. He's really concerned about the memory issues and my shaky hands. Although I think they have more to do with anxiety then anything else. I am on 400mg of Seroquel, so hopeful the SE's won't be too bad. I hope your new meds put an end to your shakes and memory issues! Funny, I never had shakes on Lithium (900 mg) until I started on Invega recently. I'm only on 100 mg of Seroquel for sleep, so I don't think my dose would make a difference on SE's. I do have the memory issues, though. I've been stuttering and searching for words for a while, but I'm not sure which drug in my cocktail is causing this. I was on Effexor and Seroquel 300 mg when I started the Lithium. Seroquel has its own SE's. When I was on 400 mg on I did get terrible akathesia, that's why the dose was dropped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Becks Posted November 4, 2011 Author Share Posted November 4, 2011 I didn't feel any benefit (mood wise) from the Quel until I hit about 300mg, but that still wasn't enough to stop me from seeing and hearing things that weren't there, that's why we had to up it to the 400mg. I have some restless leg on the quel too, well, not some, it can at times get quite bad. I didn't know that my Doc can actually prescribe something for it until recently, so I'm planning on talking to him about that at my next appt. I've read that the Seroquel can cause memory issues as well, but we're pretty certain that it's not coming from that as I've been on it since early July with no problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamselODistress Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Only memory issue I had from Seroquel was that I took my 50mg dose and have no idea what happened over the next three days for being dead asleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Becks Posted November 4, 2011 Author Share Posted November 4, 2011 Only memory issue I had from Seroquel was that I took my 50mg dose and have no idea what happened over the next three days for being dead asleep. This made me laugh! Thanks The only time this happens to me on it is when I've taken the XR version, I'm good on the IR though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamselODistress Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 I'm glad! I was hoping for at least a smile. I don't know if I was on XR or IR, but I'm never touching the stuff again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rabies1313 Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 I'm on only the Lith 900 and propenal 10 (for the trimmers) and i'm having memory issues too. but I'm waiting to see if it goes away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 Catitude, FYI there is a known interaction between risperdal/invega and lithium. I have much less shakes on lithium now that I'm not taking risperdal. I also had drooling problems and problems slurring my speech. It was actually listed in my little blurb on lithium when I started the citrate right there on the lithium little information sheet. Lith can cause memory problems in some, I'd say trying lamictal next would be a great option. Anna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neveah5 Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 I also have had some serious memory issues over the past few years. I thought it was from the Xanax but I stopped taking it a couple of years ago. I was taking lamictal, seroquel, luvox, as well as trying a couple of different things along the way. I told my doc about the memory concerns. She never seemed concerned by it. She's no longer my doc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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