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Q: Memory Loss- What Can
I Do about It?
I was diagnosed with bi-polar back in 2003, after suicidal efforts i
was hospitalised and under went several courses of ect whilst my medication and
dosage could be determined. I was able to live a normal life with no further
side effects until late 2009 when i started an interferon treatment program for
hepatitis c which brought on depressive episodes and according to the doctors
since ect went so well previously this should be used again to counter act the
effects of the interferon. I had two diect courses of 6 treatments each over 4
weeks (3 per week) and maintenance ect weekly for a further 38 weeks. The
treatment worked and the ect stopped and I was continuing with my lithium 400mg
and they placed me on serequal 400mg to sleep. I have since returned to study
and have noticed that nothing seems to sink in, I learn it and forget it
straight away. I have since lowered my dosage of serequal >100mg nocte but
continue with 400mg lithium. The memory troubles that I a m having are they a
result of the ect treatments? if so will it ever cease or is there something I
can take to counter act these effects?, or would it be the effects of serequel.
Please help me to understand this and find a way to get my life back as I have
dropped from a straight A student down to a barely pass, Kind Regards.
Richard
Richard,
There can be a number of memory issues from ECT. There are problems with
amnesia around the ECT itself and there can be memory problems with events
from the past (retrograde amnesia). There have also been reports of memory
problems after the ECT (anterograde amnesia). As for the lithium, there are
conflicting reports on whether or not it contributes to the memory loss
associated with ECT. Because of the long duration of your ECT, it was
necessary to maintain your lithium therapy. In shorter treatment sessions,
some clinicians will hold the lithium prior to the ECT. So, it is possible
that your memory problems are secondary to your ECT. They should improve over
time but it may be worthwhile to get some formal testing done to assess your
memory. I don't believe the Seroquel is causing the memory problems you are
experiencing, but I would speak to your psychiatrist about your memory issues
and how best to address them.
Dr Plyler
Published August, 2011
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