15 replies to this topic

[metabrain]

I have this unusual issue with my memory that no one has been able to figure out. I have been having this issue since taking Topomax 100mgs about 9 months ago. I took it for only two days but saw a lot of stars and felt very light headed and dizzy so I stopped taking it. I was taking it for Bipolar 2. I am very fit and healthy otherwise. I have been to three psychiatrists and two neurologists so far. A standard MRI without tracer has not shown anything wrong. I have been examined physically for signs of stroke using reflex tests, walking gait, my pupils constrict normally, I have no paralysis in my face, my hands do not shake, my tongue and teeth were checked, my ears were checked.

 

Here is what I am experiencing:

 

1. I have very little visual memory.
2. I drool a little sometimes
3. I struggle to remember what has happened past 3+ days
4. I loose my train of thought in conversation and have often repeated questions I have just been told the answer to, I forget what I am doing a lot often when engaging in tasks.
5. I can remember some things about my past but very little.
6. When I try thinking back to a memory the memory is either inaccessible or very dark like I am watching a movie with the brightness turned right the way down, I can see the outline but can't see much detail.
7. Visual memories that look normal are very specific, like I would try to remember my girlfriend of 6 years and can only remember (yet very clearly)the ice cream on my spoon  one time we had dessert but nothing else about the 6 years.
8. My short term memory appears to be effected too, I failed to remember the Montreal Cognitive Assessment list keywords "Face, Velvet, Church, Daisy, Red" but when prompted with a list of possibilities I was able to choose the correct answers, my neurologist says that means my Declarative memory is intact but I am having issues with my Visual Memory.

I have not even been able to find anyone with this form of memory issue, if anyone has any ideas please let me know.

[Bateau]

My god this drug has the biggest list of potential adverse effects that I've ever seen.

 

I cant even find any clear MoA's for this drug.

[metabrain]

I found some information at http://www.rxlist.co...harmacology.htm

I should have researched it myself but at the time I just trusted the doctor.

[Metagene]

My god this drug has the biggest list of potential adverse effects that I've ever seen.

 

I cant even find any clear MoA's for this drug.

 

It's a real piece of work.

 

Psychopharmacology of topiramate: from epilepsy to bipolar disorder

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC2671954/

 

 

metabrain have you ever taken modafinil?

Edited by Metagene, 12 November 2014 - 10:15 PM.

[metabrain]

Hi Metagene,

 

I have not tried Modafinil, do you think that would work to restore my memory?

[Metagene]

I have no ideal but it might be another option worth discussing with a doctor.

[metabrain]

The neurologist will not give me any medication as they do not know what exactly is wrong with my visual memory.

[Metagene]

I see. What was the emergency that prompted your visit to the prescribing doc? When did you first receive the diagnosis of bipolar II? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just trying to get a complete picture.

[metabrain]

Bipolar 2 diagnosis was 10 years ago, first symptoms appeared 16 years ago. I had stopped SSRI medication about 6 months previous to taking Topomax and I started having panic attacks and anxiety so I decided to go back to my doctors and we were trying various different SSRI medications to see if there was a better fit for me, once I was given Topomax the memory problems began in the days following.

[Flex]

Dont know whether I´ve mentioned allready, but a normal MRI cant show whehter Your brain is working.

I´ve read here on longecity that a functional MRT is needed to know this.

From my personal amateurish thoughts, I guess it should be possible to see at least a trend.

So if a certain region is too big or too small, which supposeldy would reflect some damages/impairments.

 

But if so, it could still remain unclear whether this came with the usage of Topamax or was allready there.

Edited by Flex, 16 November 2014 - 05:05 PM.

[metabrain]

Since I was a child I have had an excellent memory, about 4 years ago I started to notice a few problems but nothing major. Until this happened I worked as engineer, when I took Topomax it was like my world just fell apart. It just doesn't make any sense what happened I am trying to investigate but there is a lot of medical complications that can cause memory loss.

 

I am getting an MRI of my temporal lobe which is where long term memory is and my ECT should pick up any unusual brain activity. I am wondering could I have given myself drug induced epilepsy? or maybe even it could be something like a hidden infection? I just don't know.

[resveratrol_guy]

metabrain, Flex is right: you need an fMRI to see brain activity patterns, not a normal MRI. (Or do a PET or SPECT scan, but not before you read about the radiation exposure and ways to protect yourself from that, e.g. #2 below).

 

Still, these imaging tests will likely just prove the obvious: parts of your brain are less active than they should be. Probably your neurologist will prescribe nothing, except for more visits. Here's my 2 cents, as a very fortunate former sufferer of mild cognitive impairment:

 

1. Shiitake/maitake extract is the best visual memory (and visual field span) enhancer I have ever used. (I take 1/3 pill a day, roughly, of the Nature's Way brand, but I'm sure there are other vendors.) This supplement is so effective, that it deserves its own thread, but I will wait til the Nootropics section is replaced with the Stacks feature. NOTE: (1) It looks like some people are nonresponders; it's hit-and-miss and I don't see any pattern. (2) If it works, and you can't sleep due to images and thoughts flooding your mind, cut back or skip a dose.

 

2. Carbon 60 olive oil improved my general mental function, especially when combined with cacao. (NOTE: Cacao can cause paranoia or migraine-with-aura in some people.)

 

3. You might have had a stroke coincident with the Topomax, but I doubt it. In any case, a brain MRI with contrast (nonbioreactive gadolinium, typically -- just drink-and-pee to flush after the fact) might be more informative (at least 3 tesla -- we need to see the small vessels).

 

4. More realistically, your case sounds like acute demyelination, not unlike domoic acid poisoning or scopolamine poisoning (but not due to those particular substances). (I wonder if this horrible Topomax crap (good finds, Bateau and Metagene) hits similar targets. Anyway, this is one of the few cases where it might be worth calling a lawyer.) Dihexa or ADNP nasal spray (childish video, but serious science by Illana Gozes et al, regarding microtubule reconstruction) might help you.

 

5. Look into methylcobalamin as well, as it's involved in myelin maintenance.

 

6. Lion's mane (although extract/roots/stem dosing is tough to calibrate) and it's downstream friend nerve growth factor (NGF, present in eye drops for glaucoma suffers).

 

7. Nuvigil seems to have better efficacy than modafinil, but this is just my qualitative understanding. It's not the first place I would start.

 

Start simple. You might benefit from stem cell therapy for early dementia, but you need more imaging data to justify it, to say the least.

 

Edited by resveratrol_guy, 19 November 2014 - 05:18 PM.

[metabrain]

I noticed from your link for domoic acid poisoning that it causes an influx of calcium into the cells, I wonder could my long term use of Piracetam have actually been the cause as I was taking that before Topomax and it is suspected to cause an influx of calcium.

 

I could try methylcobalamin but I highly doubt anything but serious pharmachology could reverse this problem.

 

It's frustrating not knowing that happened, if I knew at least I could try some kind of fix. It could literally be anything causing my issues. I suspect everything from long term SSI use to Ischemic Attack to Sleep Apnea.

 

I have gotten en EEG and I am going for an MRI of my temporal lobe this Friday, I hope something shows up soon.

[Flex]

How´s going ?

I have a new idea.

Your problem  could be caused by epigenetic dysregulation like in the case of PSSD or postfinasteride syndrome:

 

If You look into gene expression + topiramate

You´ll find e.g.:

Effects of topiramate on ethanol-cocaine interactions and DNA methyltransferase gene expression in the rat prefrontal cortex.

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/24527678

 

Transcriptome profiling and pathway analysis of genes expressed differentially in participants with or without a positive response to topiramate treatment for methamphetamine addiction

http://www.biomedcen.../1755-8794/7/65

 

 

Its just a hint to what perhaps happened to You.

Cognitive impairment is not allways a result of damage, but sometimes of dysregulation of targets.

The problem is that its sometimes hard to figure out the cause, so it could be that its not researched and will appear in e.g. ncbi in the future.

 

A possible solution could be to test Your methylation status indirectly via a blood test but this is too expensive at the moment, so its done afaik selectively.

Unfortunaetly I couldnt find for now any great sources i.e. where to do this.

 

I guess its called sequencing

What is the difference between genotyping and sequencing?

https://customercare...and-sequencing-

 

Another could be HDAC inhibitors, but this is really speculative.

In addition, they "could" bear some risks

I for my self would try to look into herbal epigenetic regulators,

they "seem" (no guarantee!) to not to be implicated with major side effects.

Herbal and Compound derived epigenetic alterations via HDAC and others

http://www.longecity...dac-and-others/

 

Here are some further links, hope this helps anyhow:

http://www.longecity...general-advice/

http://www.longecity...gramming/page-4

 

Edited by Flex, 25 March 2015 - 12:48 PM.

[metabrain]

Thanks for replying back to me on that, believe the following happened

 

I have a hidden Obstructive Sleep Apnea (just diagnosed)

I was on Sertraline for 10 years

I came off my medication Sertraline and went on Piracetam

Piracetam worked fine for about 6 months until I got severe panic and agitation

I trialled a number of different SSRIs/SNRIs/Mood Stabilizers

I had a bad reaction to topiramate as I had been also on a Ketogenic diet (didn't read the instructions)

My previous medication Sertraline had a stimulating effect as well as activation of serotonin and dopamine receptors so the OSA went unnoticed

In the absence of that Piracetam was preventing my hypoxia and increased cognition

OSA causes brain atrophy and a huge number of secondary effects including memory loss which eplains my decline.

Sertraline also creates neurogenesis

 

I began a 4 day retrial of Sertraline and I noticed a huge improvement in memory, I am now trialling Cpap and if that works I will combine the treatments, both offer neurogenesis so hopefully I should heal.

 

[Flex]

Best wishes