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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
How to counter Lithium-caused memory loss?
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
How to counter Lithium-caused memory loss?
by squerl, Jul 14, 2005 12:00AM
My wife is currently taking lithium for bipolar disorder, and she's noticed some short-term memory loss. (She's also taking Effexor, but by experimentation we've seen that it's only the lithium dosage which correlates with the memory problems.) Decreasing the dosage isn't an option right now, but is there any drug or treatment out there which might mitigate the memory loss?
Thanks for your time.
Thanks for your time.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jul 14, 2005 12:00AM
, Jul 14, 2005 12:00AM
I don't know of any, but you might try the neurology forum, or at least experiment with lowering the dose to make sure that is the cause.
Member Comments (3)
by squerl, Jul 14, 2005 12:00AM
She lowered her dose a few months ago and the memory problems decreased, increased it a couple of weeks ago and they came back, so we're pretty sure it's that. I'll check over in the neurology forum; thanks for your prompt response.
by gomo, Aug 19, 2005 12:00AM
I have bipolar illness and have suffered debilitating memory loss over the past 20 years of many manic and depressive episodes, ECT, and many medications, including lithium. I would like to know how to contact the Neurology Forum for more information on memory loss, and more importantly, coping mechanisms or support groups. I have considered contacting traumatic brain injury groups for advice and support, because I feel my memory loss is crippling and affects every aspect of my life.
