theswordandthepen Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 So, lithium has 'confusion' listed as either a common or very common side effect (I forget which) - but a lot of anticonvulsants seem to list similar effects too. I'm going back to uni in September, so I really need to be as sharp as possible. What would you say is the best drug treatment to avoid confusion/memory loss/aphasia etc.? It's not a big deal if the drug makes you feel that way when you start it, as I've got a few months before I go back, but anything that has it a long-term side effect is a no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 A lot of meds have 'confusion' listed as a side effect. Everyone is different though so it is hard to say if you'll get that side effect or not. When I was on Lithium, I did not experience any confusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan77 Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 I have been on lithium for over 12 years and have never experienced confusion. If you worried about every side effect listed you would never take any medication. The drug company has to put everything down to cover themselves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 The drug company has to put everything down to cover themselves Exactly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 Well, I take Tegretol and Lamictal and I have not experienced confusion. The only med that I did experience confusion on was Dexadrine, a stimulant. Go figure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 My current cocktail has really muddied my thinking, but I don't think I had any problems while I was on lithium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachael Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 I'm on Lithium (800mg at the moment) and I need my brain for work. The first few weeks on it were a bit difficult, I felt a bit.... weird...., my brain just felt a bit funny and I had trouble concentrating, but it wasn't bad. Since I get used to it, I had no issues with confusion or concentration, Lithium is really great. I also didn't have any issues with Depakote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Posted June 6, 2015 Share Posted June 6, 2015 Every side effect that a person has, no matter how many others have it, have to go on the PI sheet and whatnot as a "cover your ass" for the doctors, and the FDA. One person could report confusion, and then it would be listed as a side effect. Like the meds that have on their PI sheet: weight gain AND weight loss. Why do they have both? Because different people reacted differently to the medication they take. I was pretty sharp on Lithium. I loved it, my kidneys didn't (extremely rare disorder called nephrogenic diabetes illness) but I went through college taking it, and got through college with no major issues. Coming off it and trying other meds landed me in the hospital. Lithium can also help the brain itself, it protects the brain, and some say it regenerates. (No source, just hearsay) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted June 6, 2015 Share Posted June 6, 2015 Make sure to get regular blood levels of it. Too high levels or too low levels can cause confusion, but when in the therapeutic range, at least for me, didn't cause confusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan77 Posted June 6, 2015 Share Posted June 6, 2015 Actually, there was one time I was very confused on lithium. That was when I overdosed on it and my level reached 3.0 mmol/L. So I guess it is really important to stay within the therapeutic range as toxic doses can cause confusion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Always Unstable Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 I've had no issues with Lithium. First couple weeks were a bit weird but I'd had a lot of changes to my meds at that time. Since then though I haven't had any issues with confusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit37 Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 I'm also weighing in with lithium. Good stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 My current cocktail has really muddied my thinking, but I don't think I had any problems while I was on lithium. I meant no cognitive problems. I gained some serious weight while on it, which imlost after discontinuing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncomfortable thoughts Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 It varies from person to person. I had no confusion, no problems with memory or aphasia.In fact, I describe my Lithium mind state as serene, it does not make difficult for me to express myself or I have problems with memory or even finding words, instead, it gives me time to racionalize and find arguments, most of the arguments that I used to have were already at the tip of my tongue all the time and I used to just speak in automatic before the person even finished the sentence, Lithium paced my mind and made able to evaluate the whole situation I could bring brand new things to the table, I guess the quality of my speech just increased as my mind was set in this new pace.Somehow, not making as fast connections as before made me feel less creative, less funny or dull. Life become less intense I couldn't enjoy art the same way as before, but I guess things were too intense, that's why they were always getting out of hand.What made me change Lithium wasn't related to "mental states", to be honest, until today I think Lithium is one of the best drugs out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 Having been on lithium for years I wouldn't class anything I experienced as confusion, the closest thing I can think of would be forgetting words - you know the word you want however you don't actually know the word... it just stays on the tip of your tongue and torments you.All in all it was a fantastic medication that saved my life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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