@A MyEpilepsyTeam Member Unfortunately, memory recall is the major issue. Those with Epilepsy have it hampered just because of having Epilepsy. On top of that, just about every anticonvulsant has the side effect of hampering memory recall, and the effect is cumulative. Add to this the fact that some of the other medications that we are on also hamper memory recall. Not to mention that increased stress hampers memory recall.

And for me, I have no idea if the damage from 2003-2005 experience is a factor, but not only do my memories shift from short term to long term in seconds (a normal person does not have the shift until they go to sleep for the night) but my memory recall is completely unreliable and if I attempt to press to recall something then it ALWAYS triggers at least a simple partial seizure/aura each time I try.

This is why I suggest that you take a lot of notes and keep them in a place and organized so that you can quickly access them. It is also helpful to remind friends and family members that your memory recall is hampered, thus it is helpful if they give details of the past time or event. For some, this will be all the memory recall needs to help to recall more about it. However, for others, we need as much details as possible from others.

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A MyEpile...

i've been taking lamictal for years. i know i have lots of serious memory issues. so much so that it's just a running joke that i just try and laugh off because it just is what it is. doctors think it's in part because i was having seizures for years before being diagnosed or medicated. but i took trileptal for years and was told it could impact memeory but never heard that about lamictal. i was taken off of lamictal for a time and felt much better when i restarted it. first with total relese but now XR. it is one of the few seizure meds i've been able to take without bad side effects. i know when i was not taking it my memory was not any better. my only problem is that not lamictal or any other drug or combination of drugs has been able to fully control my seizures.

We all have to remember that epilepsy will reduce your memory. It doesn't matter if you have an aura or a seizure. And yes some medications will make it no better. I go through the same thing as t times.

My first drug was lamotrigine which sadly didn’t work out for me it was the side effects the constant itching all over my body so I got took off it and put on tegretol slow release x x

I take Lamictal and have had no itching or other side effects, but the seizures broke through and they added Onfi, which had a lot of side effects. I have no idea if my memory loss is b/c of seizures or the meds. It stinks, but it is what it is, so I try to accept that.