daisy131864 Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 ok so i don't know what it is, but i have my bets on the xanax. but my memory is shit. i have to write everything down, and find it really hard to concentrate. i'm also on abilify. anyone else with memory problems and bipolar? i'm beginning to wonder if it's anxiety that is making it hard to concentrate, or if it's ADD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix_Rising Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 When I was really ill and taking about nine different meds, I could barely remember my own name. I was taking 6 mg of xanax plus 3 ADs, a mood stabilizer. 2 other anti-anxiety meds and a few other meds for other conditions. I think it was a combination of being incredibly depressed and the meds. I can't really say for sure if I suspect one med over another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusk Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 I started having memory/cognitive problems about 5 years ago and it's just gotten worse every day. Mine is not med related, but rather, something is going on in my brain. It feels like it's melting and just losing function. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toddalan1 Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 I found that one thing that really helps my memory a lot is GINGKO BILOBA. I take 120mg twice a day. It has a blood thinning quality so ask your doctor before you consider taking it. I am a cashier at a VERY busy store and it is a Godsend! I really hope this helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brokenchina Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 yeah, when i was in primary school/most of secondary school i always had a great long-term and decent short-term memory. now basically all of the year of 2012 is a blur or there is just no memory and my short-term memory is shot too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiaB Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 My memory went to hell when I started lithium. It's been a few years now and I can't really see that things have improved, more that I've just learned to compensate. I also write everything down and set reminders for myself on my cellphone as soon as something pops into my head (eg groceries I need to buy, or some important point I need to tell someone later, but know I'll forget within 2 minutes of it entering my head). At work I can't cope with phone conversations unless I make notes while the other person is talking, and I usually ask him/her to send me an email too - I just say something along the lines of how I want a written record of whatever they're requesting from me so that there's no confusion. I'm also working towards my PhD and the only way I'm coping with that is to make notes, notes and more notes of every idea or train of thought that I have because I'm terrified I'll have an important idea and then forget it. If I stop to think hard about it, it IS all terribly frustrating, but these coping mechanisms are just part of my life now, and I guess for the most part I just get on with it. It's getting to be long enough that I don't really have a sense anymore of what it was like NOT to have to do all these things to get through the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bipolar_Flower Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 My memory isn't the best. I am also on Abilify. BUT my memory was A LOT worse when I was on the combo of Prozac & Abilify. My mom once went to drop something off at a friends house (I was in the car) and all I remember is she was back.... I didn't remember her leaving the car or even telling me. It scared me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forgetmenot220 Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 I've had some really scary run-ins with memory problems/moments lately and I'm not sure what kicked it all off. It's just gone really downhill the past 6 months. Could be because I'm back on Lamictal? Hard to say..memory problems really suck!! I hope you can find a solution! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bp1insf Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 My memory is terrible, too. So is my concentration and focus. My pdoc just put me on Strattera, a non-amphetamine ADHD med, and it's really helping. Apparently 5-20% of bipolars have ADHD symptoms as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 My memory is like shit ... I think it has to do with the different meds I have been on over the years, and the cumulative effect they've had on me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A208B Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 For the first three or so days after titrating up Seroquel, I have zero short-term memory. My family will show me something or tell me a story and I'll be like, "Are you sure I was there for that? 'Cause I don't remember that at all, what the fuck." I also seem to have a poorer memory the more manic I am, but I suspect that's because I'm just not paying attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Emperor Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Oh jeez, don't get me started! My memory is fucking terrible! I'm a little upset about it, it bothers my kid, that's why. I never know what day we're doing things and can't remember agreeing to attend gatherings (that I wouldn't want to attend!?) for the life of me. I'm on 900mg Lithium, 150mg Lamictal, and about 20mg (on average) of valium a day. I (and my last p-doc, I'm getting yet another new one) both agreed that it was likely the Valium causing the memory problems, so as I don't see taking so much that necessary, we were going to try and reduce it. Whatever. It sucks. My kid can say something to me, then I reply, and she says something to that and I have to ask "What did I say before you replied to me?" Awful. I hate it. SO FUCKING ANNOYING! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamcatcher14 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 I can't remember if I replied to this post or not. But seriously my memory is like swiss cheese. I've been on lithium for 8 years and AAPs on and off for the same. I struggle with facts, names and movie plots as well as short term memory. The last one is the worse especially in work situations where people tell me things and I look silly for writing it all down - but it's the only way it has a chance of sticking. (Oh and people's personal histories, even close friends. It's just plain embarrassing when I can't remember if my friend has finished her degree or not, etc.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtac Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Depakote made my mind like swiss cheese. I would completely forget what I was saying in mid-sentence and my wife would have to explain things 2 or 3 times before I would understand what she meant. Words would escape me, thank god the English language has so many synonyms. As soon as I stopped depakote, the cognitive issues went away. So, yeah, I think psych meds can mess with your memory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizmo Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 I have horrible memory. I have never been able to figure out if its from my meds or from the effects BP has on my brain. I've been (and am) on some heavy duty meds, but I also have fried my brain with all my BP episodes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wj74 Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 My memory is good but word finding sometimes isn't good. My therapist says it's the meds but I think it's my disorder. I can't say it's any worse than before I started meds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Energizerhoney Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Meds have caused me word finding problems. Mine didn't start until my meds so that's how I know where its coming from. Gonna discuss it with pdoc on next visit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Finding the right words when in conversation is hard for me too. I'm always saying, "It's the word that means .... " (as I give this long ass description of what I am talking about). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alien Navel Cord Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 My memory is really crappy. It's always been rather lacking, but eversince going on MI meds it has been the worst. Especially since starting on benzos, I think they have a lasting effect (even when I am not on them I still have the worst memory issues). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainyeffingday Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 (edited) Untreated bipolar in the past can cause cognitive deficits/problems. These can include lowering of IQ, short-term memory loss, difficulty with executive function (analyzing a task/problem, coming up with a strategy to accomplish the task and difficulty executing what is necessary to complete the task. I would recommend having what's called a neuropsychological rest to see if you have any of these problems. I have them after decades of untreated bipolar. Of course you may simply have problems like finding right word, etc, from a side effect of a med. Lamictal at dishes above 200mg does this. Edited March 28, 2013 by rainyeffingday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ao Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 (edited) ... Edited February 20, 2020 by 4ao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Posted March 31, 2013 Share Posted March 31, 2013 You know, when I'm stable, I have a pretty fabulous memory. And I can take almost any med and be like, "Ta da!" I'm fine. I'm lucky like that. The only med that has ever made me a zombie was zonegran, and that was the shortest med trial EVER (as it also made me feel, physically, like I am dying). AED's have nothing on me, man. That SAID, I have seen so much interference of memory by drugs. Ativan could well be interfering with your memory, benzos can do that. You have some choices: switch out the ativan for something else or treat the cognitive dysfunction. Provigil is an important part of my cocktail because it a) treats my spacy ADHD sx, and b) just keeps me sharp. That said, I do need lists, and I write everything down. I'm talking pesky little details like "arrange transport for so and so", that anyone would write down...... Other than that, I'm okay. It's rather nice, and I feel lucky for it. The best way to know if it's the ativan is to stop it, I guess (after dr consultation) trying something else for the anxiety. I'm not the biggest fan of benzos personally, and avoided them for like, 10 years. But, a few yrs back my doc was like, "Uh, klonopin or the hospital" and I'm glad it was there, really........ And I do take temazepam for sleep, and that is like, fine. I finally gave in. Heh. Anna Anna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefatalfetus Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 same. probably from seroquel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ao Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 (edited) .... Edited February 20, 2020 by 4ao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefatalfetus Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 I'm having such a positive experience with Seroquel that I'm happy to take the memory ding. I had a visit with my doc today and brought up the Phosphatidyl Serine. Well, he said it's approved as a supplement but the studies haven't shown valid benefits...but because it's been shown not to hurt people he wasn't worried about me taking the supplement. I'm going to keep taking it for now. We'll see where this leads...crow66 im glad somebody is happy with seroquel. i was most definitely not. it messed with my blood sugar and weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wj74 Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 I have a crap memory when I'm not doing well. Like unstable. But when my meds are working, I have very little problems with remembering things. Sure, some things that aren't a big deal like making a phone call, they get postponed a day or two. For the most part I make myself lists on my ipod touch so that when I go to the store if I forget what I want it's there with me. I think most people have to do that. Everyone I work with makes lists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ao Posted April 3, 2013 Share Posted April 3, 2013 (edited) On 4/2/2013 at 6:24 PM, thefatalfetus said: Edited February 20, 2020 by 4ao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ao Posted April 3, 2013 Share Posted April 3, 2013 (edited) ..., Edited February 20, 2020 by 4ao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alien Navel Cord Posted April 3, 2013 Share Posted April 3, 2013 My tdoc yesterday told me that memory disfunction is very common with bipolar patients because our brains are running too fast that our minds don't take the time to 'file the memory in the table of contents' so as to easily find the memory again. He really didn't offer many suggestions for fixing this, just gave me reassurance that it is common for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exl2398 Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 My memory is fucked n has been for the past few years. Its def the meds. Or the illness. Or a combination of both. Either way, my brain is mush. Not only is my memory shit, by my intellectual abilities have died. I couldn't go back to college now if I wanted to n the very thought makes me tired as hell. My mind can't keep up with the straight A student I was in college 8 years ago n I certainly wouldn't graduate sixth in my class again. I have to repeat things over n over in my mind to even remember them from one second to the next. Its quite depressing, actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blake Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 I had to put up a dry erase board in the kitchen so my fiance and I could jot down things I need to remember. Lord knows how often I've looked at that board and have been like "I don't remember that at all!" So it helps. I also make cell phone reminders, but that one's a losing battle considering how often I lose my phone. I have issues with misplacing things, and finishing what I start. I think these are more symptoms of my ADD than Bipolar, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wemble Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 i have problems with word recall - i had it worse after starting each of my meds, then it faded a bit. it's not really noticable to others, just to me and my one coworker. we work long hours, so by the time i get to the end of my shift and i'm tired and hungry and medicated - sometimes made up words are actually coming out of my mouth. a little embarrassing being that i'm the assistant director of education there, i feel like i should know better. i just blame it on the hours snd she believes me - oh well. my math is also terrible now bc i can't retain the numbers in my head long enough to add them or i'll add the same number twice. that's also a bit embarrassing bc i really am capable of adding 3+2+2+3.5+1 but i'll have to do it three times to get the right number - sometimes even with a calculator. i feel like that's a spacial thing though, like all of a sudden i've lost my ability to line things up and associate them in space (does that make any sense?). my undergrad degree was in sculpture so this was my thing and now i feel i'm struggling to grade papers at work bc i can't track the columns in the answer keys and line them up to the kids' work. not to hijack - but am i the only one here? this is definitely a topomax thing - i couldn't even read at first when i first started taking it bc i couldn't track the lines, but it let up a bit. now i just feel like my eyesight is terrible all the time (it's not - had it checked). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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