Lithium side effects

[Philip]

I have been taking Lithium for years.Recently I experience loss of memory.Anybody out there has had the same experience ?

[withavengeance]

Short term memory or long term memory? Just asking to clarify for the forum. I only took lithium for about two months this year; it worked some for me, but not enough. I'm told others find it a Godsend.

[Philip]

Lost of recent memories ...and names in particular. I used to be able to remember people's names ....and now about 50% is lost.

Thanks for your response.

[My idol]

My short term memory is awful. I have been on Lithium since 1995, I blame a lot of my memory loss, though, on the 18 ECT's I've had in the late 90's and early 2,000's. I guess I can't separate what did what. Lithium is the only drug that takes care of my Bp1. The biggest problem side effect I experience is Parkinsonism. That is all the same symptoms as Parkinson's Disease but it is not actually the disease itself. Might as well be! Even the med that I take to counteract the symptoms is the same one given to Parkinson's patients. The shaking affects EVERY thing I do. My neurologist said she sees about 9 patients a year similar to me with drug induced Parkinsonism.

Good luck to you, Philip,
Linda

[Philip]

Thanks for your response.I was diagnosed BPII 10 years ago and has been taking llithium carbonate since. I remained symptom free and was able to live a relatively normal life.The problem of loss of memory comes up only recently, and I was worried. Your feed back is most reassurring. Thanks.

[withavengeance]

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if lithium has a part in your recent memory problems. However, I would also add that aging is a factor, too. As to which is which? I don't know, probably a bit of both. I have memory issues too. This happens more often when I'm under severe stress (which I am right now).

Keep the faith, Philip,
Pam

[Philip]

I agree Aging is a factor,but I really don't know which is which.I am happy with Lithium because with it I was able to live a relatively normal life for the past 10 years. I guess this is a price I have to pay.
Pam, don't worry about stress...it's sometimes good for us.
We all live under pressure...think of the atmospheric pressure, without which we won't be able to survive.But we hardly notice this pressure, we just live in it.

Best Regards.
Philip

[withavengeance]

You're so right, Philip, we all have to pay the price of our meds' side effects. Just depends on how much you can tolerate. I find myself writing notes all the time & keeping pen and paper near most of the time.

I just worry about stress because it is very, very bad for us bp's and can cause mood changes from manic to depression. What I've read says over and over to keep stress at a minimum, even if it means changing jobs to a less stressful one if you can, for example.

Lately, I've been irritable as all get out and the least little thing makes me snap at someone. This is definitely a symptom of hypomania for me and I've been using a lot of self-talk lately which helps some. See the pdoc next week and we'll see what happens.

I've accepted this illness, but I still hate it.

Take care,
Pam

[Philip]

Dear Pam,
Like you, I have also accepted this illness...and I kind of LIKE it.
It allows me to have lots of creativities and great ideas, it allows us to be able to look deeper into the true nature of things and happenings. I especially enjoy the hypomania period when musical notes seem more bright,colors seem more vivid, and even foods taste so much better.
Don't you think we are a group of GIFTED individuals ?

Take care.
Philip

[Judy W]

hey Philip, I took lith. a while ago but I had a terrible time with names of people and even objects like phone. Even on different meds my memory is terrible short and long term. I am coming off trileptal and the doc was hoping my memory would improve but no such luck so far. Did they recently up your dose? I wonder sometimes if the illness itself causes it...?

Best of luck to you

[withavengeance]

I sure agree, Philip, many, many of us are gifted in special and unique ways.

I do love the hypomanias as long as I can keep them in check and not let them get too high.

I absolutely despise the depressions, though. I don't think I can survive another one like last year's. I hate having to take the meds, too, with all the side effects.

I hate not knowing if my emotions are 'real' or 'bipolar'.

[Philip]

Thanks Judy. I have been taking lithium carbonate 750mg daily for years .
This dose is sufficient to keep my moods stable. It's only recently that I noticed very significant loss of my memory.

[Another Manic Monday]

I have partial seizures on lithium and depending on what other medication I'm taking with it will determine what the sezuire is like. They only happen for short periods of time - ie. minutes but some of them affect my memory. The map in my brain that would tell me where things were would go away and I'd be lost plus I wouldn't remember what town I was in. I forgot how to pay with a credit card once. I wouldn't recognize peoples faces was one type. But my memory was just horrible all of the time. I'm on topomax now and I know that it makes a lot of people dumber but for me the higher the dose the clearer my mind got.