5 replies to this topic

[thitzun]

Hello,
I have a few questions in which I hope someone(s) can provide clarification. I am currently taking 200 mg of Lamictal for the treatment of cyclothymia. Anyway, my cognitive abilities are off-kilter tremendously, and I feel very slow. The question is: How common is this and are there alternative solutions to counter this frustrating obstacle. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated for my psychiatrist can provide none. Have a great day.

[johnmk]

I know nothing at all of your specific condition, except that you are taking a drug that is becoming popular in the bipolar community.

Give any or all of the commonly mentioned nootropics here a try. Make sure you are exercising (cardio for 30 minutes as many days of the week as possible), eating a nutritious diet, getting omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil (preferred over flax), etc., as a good foundation.

[thitzun]

Thank you for the response. Anyhow, my main concern is the interaction of nootropics and Lamictal. I suppose it's difficult to qualify the inherent risk involved. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn't include that my particular condtion is Bipolar II/Cyclothymia.
Thanks.

[wickedgirl]

Hello!
All anti-convulsants and anti-depressants offer the risk of cognitive decline. I speak from experience and from personal research. In fact, the word "risk" is a generous term. In my experience and observation, it is a pervasive, definite, and often un-mentioned (by physicians) side effect. Beware. The damage done never repairs itsself, and is difficult (I have had no success) to reverse or repair by the individual affected. I have been off those drugs for eight years, was on them for a total of one year, and lost 40 points on my I.Q. score.
Good luck.

[jeromewilson]

I have been off those drugs for eight years, was on them for a total of one year, and lost 40 points on my I.Q. score.

Mind if I ask what you were taking during that year, and what you've tried since to get back to where you were...?

It's quite a worrying thought for me as I've been on and off anti-depressants (SSRIs) for the past 8 years, however my personal experience as far as I'm able to gauge it 'from the inside' is that I'm a hundred times smarter and better functioning when I'm not in a depressive slump.

It's interesting as I have read that anti-depressants can promote neurogenesis, however, I have also read some stories about people who have had a terrible, sometimes terminal, involvement with antidepressants. For example paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat etc.) was a life saving wonder-drug for me but has doubtless contributed to a not insignificant number of suicides.

I'm sure you've considered this, but do you think it's possible that the illness that led you to antidepressants in the first place could have been the cause of your cognitive decline (e.g. I've read recently that excess cortisol can be a cause of neuron death and shrinkage of the hippocampus)... Sorry that's a very presumptious thing for me to say, and probably very annoying, but I thought it was worth mentioning as a possibility, at the risk of incurring your wrath

Anyway, I'm sorry to hear you've had a hard time of it.

[Chip]

Do your research. Fish oil is shown to have significant anti-convulsant properties. I do not know of any doctor who prescribes it. The pharmaceutical companies can't patent it so they wont hit up the doctors with reams of advertisements, free vacations/seminars and training sessions. The propaganda is thick and heavy to not heal thyself and to keep those tokens streaming to the drug companies. I hate the situation. The doctors basically killed my dad by misdiagnosing him and prescribing dilantin when they ignored his own prognosis and got it wrong, dead wrong.

Just did a quick google of "cyclothymia fish oil." Looks quite promising. You might try Pubmed too, http://www.ncbi.nlm.....fcgi?DB=pubmed