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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jumpy on January 1, 2003, at 11:03:26
Hey Everyone,
I currently take klonopin 0.5mg/day and might be starting pamelor and lithium. This is for panic and depression-treatment resistant. My job requires solid memory and cognitive skills. I find that these medication all severely affect my memory and cognitive processes.
Anyone else have this problem ... medication affecting memory/thinking ability? Anyone have any solutions?
Thank you!
Jumpy
Posted by Dinah on January 1, 2003, at 11:22:33
In reply to Memory and Klonopin/Mood Stablizers, posted by Jumpy on January 1, 2003, at 11:03:26
I'm on depakote and klonopin. I find that my cognitive abilities are fine. Much much better than on SSRI's. I have some homynym word substitution problems in writing that I didn't used to have. But since I always had verbal word substitution problems, it's hard to blame that on the meds.
I am having memory problems, severe ones. But I'm not sure how much of that is due to meds as opposed to my tendencies to dissociate. My inclination is to blame it on the dissociation, but I guess I should give thought to the possibility that it is related to the meds.
Posted by viridis on January 1, 2003, at 13:45:35
In reply to Memory and Klonopin/Mood Stablizers, posted by Jumpy on January 1, 2003, at 11:03:26
I'm kind of forgetful to begin with, although my long-term recall is very good. My memory (short- and long-term) totally goes out the window when I'm really anxious and/or depressed. When I started Klonopin, I found myself briefly forgetting things that had just happened -- not too serious, but annoying. This only lasted a couple of weeks, though; now my memory seems fine. I'm still forgetful, but no more so than in my normal states pre-K. In general, my thinking abilities seem sharper and more consistent, probably because I'm not as distracted by anxiety and worries, or semi-lobotomized by depression.
Posted by Ritch on January 1, 2003, at 13:52:16
In reply to Memory and Klonopin/Mood Stablizers, posted by Jumpy on January 1, 2003, at 11:03:26
> Hey Everyone,
>
> I currently take klonopin 0.5mg/day and might be starting pamelor and lithium. This is for panic and depression-treatment resistant. My job requires solid memory and cognitive skills. I find that these medication all severely affect my memory and cognitive processes.
>
> Anyone else have this problem ... medication affecting memory/thinking ability? Anyone have any solutions?
>
> Thank you!
>
> JumpyHi Jumpy, that is the biggest problem I have--how to get good symptom control of my bipolar+anx. without worsening cognitive function. Lithium may likely make things a little fu*zy, but that does fade somewhat with time (helps to take all of it at bedtime if possible). I can't take more than .125mg of Klonopin in the daytime or I will become very forgetful. Nortriptyline, however helped cognition quite a bit in the past, but for it to work well I needed to combine it with a relatively activating SSRI (Zoloft in my case) which also inhibited the metabolism of the nortiptyline. Prozac should work well for that, too. hope this helps,..Mitch
Posted by comftnumb on January 1, 2003, at 13:55:20
In reply to Memory and Klonopin/Mood Stablizers, posted by Jumpy on January 1, 2003, at 11:03:26
Hi I take 2mg of Klonopin a day and my cognitive abilities seem a bit slowed down, although I have no real performance bar to measure it from. I want to take Provigil to counterattack the fatigue and lack of motivation I get from the Klonopin. I hear Provigil also improves memory. It does all this without increasing anxiety like other stimulants. So maybe if your pdoc is up for it, give Provigil a try?
Posted by Jumpy on January 1, 2003, at 15:13:02
In reply to Re: Memory and Klonopin/Mood Stablizers » Jumpy, posted by comftnumb on January 1, 2003, at 13:55:20
> Hi I take 2mg of Klonopin a day and my cognitive abilities seem a bit slowed down, although I have no real performance bar to measure it from. I want to take Provigil to counterattack the fatigue and lack of motivation I get from the Klonopin. I hear Provigil also improves memory. It does all this without increasing anxiety like other stimulants. So maybe if your pdoc is up for it, give Provigil a try?
This may sound strange, but I drink lots of caffiene to enhance my memory and help the depression. It started out just as one cup of coffee in the morning to pick me up, but now I am up to 2 to 3 cups per day. Like I said this sounds strange because with my history of panic, I intuitively should be avoiding all caffiene. But with the klonopin working so well, I find I need coffee for the depression and memory enhancement. Of course, too much caffiene and I get panicky again and also can't think clearly!
Thanks for all the advise, keep it coming!
Jumpy
Posted by JackD on January 2, 2003, at 1:39:35
In reply to Caffiene to help with the Cognitive Problems, posted by Jumpy on January 1, 2003, at 15:13:02
All the medicines you've mentioned and other mood stabilizers and SSRI's make me about 10 IQ points dumber. I would say the best way to avoid this is by taking an activating AD or a stimulant (you've somewhat experienced that already with the proper doses of coffee). Maybe you could find one that wouldn't interfere with your panic problems.
I actually have had the same problem as you since I'm a student. Concerta (methylphenidate) did help tremendously, but it made me a bit manicky and panicky at the same time so I opted to be a bit stupid instead, heh.
Good luck.
Posted by Elysium9 on January 5, 2003, at 14:23:13
In reply to Memory and Klonopin/Mood Stablizers, posted by Jumpy on January 1, 2003, at 11:03:26
Hi,
Two weeks ago I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I am taking, Lithobid300 mg, tid, a total of 900 mg per day. In addition to the lithium I am also taking, Clonazapam 1 mg, bid.
This cocktail seems to work well, unless I do have a real cocktail(s). Twice this week I became abusive, mean, hostile, angry. Often followed by blackouts. I see my doctor wednesday. I am curious if these reaction's are do to the medication's, or the alcohol. My lithium dosage was increased yesterday, from 300 mg, bid, to 300 mg, tid.
Posted by Aadika on January 7, 2003, at 17:16:31
In reply to Re: Memory and Klonopin/Mood Stablizers » Jumpy, posted by comftnumb on January 1, 2003, at 13:55:20
I'd have to say I agree with comftnumb wholeheartedly... Provigil is a miracle drug for counteracting the cognitive effects of many psychiatric drugs (as well as cognitive defects NOT caused by drugs), I have yet to see anyone not tolerate this medication, and it's a wonderful (mild) anti-depressant. I certainly wouldn't go without it... it's a true lifesaver.
~ Aadika
Posted by pork chop on January 8, 2003, at 14:46:33
In reply to Re: Memory and Klonopin/Mood Stablizers, posted by Elysium9 on January 5, 2003, at 14:23:13
I was just at the pdoc yesterday and confessed to having more than a few beverages on two occasions in the past month. I'm on 100 mg. of Lamictal and .5 Klonopin as needed. She told me that whatever I do, not to take Klonopin if I'm going to have a drink.
oh yeah, the few days after having cocktails were not pleasant either.
This is the end of the thread.
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