YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

Does anyone know, or has anyone experienced, forgetfulness with their meds? Or with depression/anxiety in general? The only other explanation for what I've been going through is that I'm slowly losing my mind and becoming a fucking idiot.

I've been on Prozac & Wellbutrin XL for about a year and a half, and those doses haven't been changed lately. (Though I did go off them for a bit and then get back on maybe 6 months ago.) I had abilify added about 3 months ago. I've been forgetting anything. Baked cookies for a thing at work, left them next to my coffee cup, and I'm currently sitting at my desk drinking coffee, but sans cookies. The other day I forgot my lunch, the $10 I owed a coworker, my notebook that basically has all of my work that's not on the computer, and a 4th thing that I can't remember right now (ha! not kidding either...)

I was never the most conscientious person, but this is ridiculous. I have no idea if this is med related, but that makes the most sense to me as an explanation...Thoughts anyone?

More or less...

I've been on Wellbutrin in the past and have had (and continue to have) some issues with forgetfulness. To be honest, it's not clear if it's related to the meds, although it's listed in the prescribing literature as an adverse affect for between 1-10% of people. (The primary issue I had with Wellbutrin was blood pressure -- mine spiked, during both periods I was taking the drug. To the point my primary physician prescribed something to reduce it. SInce it happened regardless of weight and all other factors that might influence blood pressure -- and mine returned to normal after I quit taking it -- I place the blame there. Despite the prescribing psychiatrist's assurance that it couldn't possibly be the culprit.)

If it started recently, I'd consider the Abilify given that's what's changed. It's not on the official list of adverse affects, although if you Google abilify and forgetfulness, you'll get many, many hits.

I'm sure I'm developing a reputation here as the go to guy for an argument against meds, but -- especially if it started recently -- I'd suspect your issues are related to the medications. Have you checked with your primary care physician to rule out any other possible issues?

Good luck.

I was on Lamictal, an anti-epileptic used as a mood stabilizer, and it just ruined me cognitively. (Lamictal works by generally decreasing brain activity.) I've noticed different effects on memory and learning from different meds. Anti-depressants like Prozac made me "foggy" while Lamictal just slowed everything way way down.

I mean, the side-effects are just as a subjective feeling as the depression itself, so it upsets me when clinicians pass off side-effect symptoms as necessary evils. Sometimes these effects go away with the transitional period onto meds, but sometimes they'll be consistently worse than the effects caused by the depression itself. I believe that, unless they are completely disconnected from reality, the patient should be the ultimate arbiter in doing a cost-benefit analysis with drugs.

Sometimes the answer, though, is augmenting your med with another med. Uunfortunately, the only way you can find out for sure what's causing your problems is experimenting with going on and off meds. If your side-effects are mild, the risk might not be worth it. Either way, it's something to discuss at your next provider appointment.

Well, I know exactly what you are talking about, since I had forgetfulness problems when I was on Prozac
It was gone when I stopped talking it.. so I believe it is very normal for someone in your situation..

I'm on Lexapro and have noticed a lot of forgetfulness recently. I've been on it for around 10 years, but I only noticed this in the last 1-2 years. I'm wondering if it is a long-term side effect. Sucks.

I've definitely had this issue with Lamictal, I am so tired of being foggy, forgetful and spaced out. For me I think it is time to try a different med, just not sure what.

I had forgetfulness issues on Prozac (although that was when I was 13 and not the best at remembering anyway) and when I first started on Lamictal, which I am still on now. Since I've been on a lower dosage of the latter, it hasn't been nearly as bad, but I can definitely tell it messes with my cognition.

I hope you were able to find a new combination of medication to get around your forgetfulness though.

I'm on Effexor and I definitely have problems with short-term memory where I will go to do something and forget what I wanted to do, or I will completely lose my train of thought, or forget that I was supposed to do something one minute after I was told to do it. I've never had the best memory, though, so it's hard to say if it's due to my medication or just my brain

Comes with the territory for me I'm afraid. Both the increase in anxiety (it evens out when I am diligent with the meds) and the memory problems. I notice when I get enough sleep AND medicated properly the anxiety goes down to a manageable level and the memory gets better too, but I'd hardly call it "normal" There are deficits that are there no matter what I do but I get by.

I take abilify and often forget things. When it comes to my meds, I put my doses in a pill organizer so I don't forget to take them. If I can't remember whether I've taken them or not, I just look at the pill caddy, and if that day is empty, I know I've taken them.