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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Epilepsy / November 2003Tegretol Dream
Until today I thought that people on Tegretol can't remember their dreams. A book I read claimed that was so. Also, I'm on Tegretol, and I can't remember any of my dreams. A few years ago, however, I went off Tegretol for three days. At the end of that period, I could vividly recall my dreams. After a day or two back on Tegretol, I couldn't remember dreams any more. I researched the archives of this forum and discovered it's not that simple. Most people report having more memorable dreams as a result of using Tegretol. Apparently, it affects different people in opposite ways. If Tegretol affects my memory of dreams, in what other ways does it affect my memory? Does anyone have some insight for me? TIA  SignatureMike Bandy You only remember dreams that you wake up in the middle of? So if you're having a restful sleep you shouldn't be aware of the 5-6 'Rem sleep' stages during the night. I use Tegretol CR (Controlled Release) and have since ~1995, since 1996 with a second med. I remember some of my Dreams, some of the time-- usually as above if someone in the house in noisy at night, or a train goes by (we have a Main Track about 100 yards from our house). If anything, the dreams I have are more Vivid than the ones I had pre-seizures. Tegretol suppresses the electrical waves that might produce a seizure? If you're getting a more restful sleep, you're also not waking up during Rem Mode. G.R. > Until today I thought that people on Tegretol can't remember their > dreams. A book I read claimed that was so. Also, I'm on Tegretol, [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > -- > Mike Bandy i remember all my dreams and im tegretol also i have no problem forgetting my dreams at all > Until today I thought that people on Tegretol can't remember their > dreams. A book I read claimed that was so. Also, I'm on Tegretol, [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > If Tegretol affects my memory of dreams, in what other ways does it > affect my memory? Does anyone have some insight for me? TIA I've seen many discussions on this ng about the effects of Tegretol on memory. I believe, as do many others, that Tegretol has a negative effect on memory. But, seizures also negatively affect memory. I don't know about the other antiseizure drugs, however. > Until today I thought that people on Tegretol can't remember their > dreams. A book I read claimed that was so. Also, I'm on Tegretol, [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > -- > Mike Bandy G.- The post at bottom had already expired on my server when I got back. I added comments below (hope they're not Repeats :-o of some earlier comments I made about whether Tegretol OR the complex partial (temporal lobe) seizure area causes memory lapses). > I've seen many discussions on this ng about the effects of Tegretol on > memory. I believe, as do many others, that Tegretol has a negative effect on [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > vividly recall my dreams. After a day or two back on Tegretol, I > > couldn't remember dreams any more. **G* I had read elsewhere that you only **remember Dreams if you awake in the Middle of one -- i.e. a Noise or Restless sleep will bring you out of REM sleep and you will recall the dream and what was happening. I've used Tegretol since 1995, and remember Some of mine, usually 1-2 per night. Some are Very Graphic and I have **no** idea who 'she is' :-< and Others are extremely Exotic or Spiritual stuff where I'm in the middle of a 'scene' I often forget But where the MUSIC is Classical -- Mozart or Bach or ?? that I 'recognize' but that I don't necessarily know what it's From (Symphony no. etc.). I SUSPECT that some of the music might not Exist (yet) but has enough of a 'feel' (if that makes sense), that it's *LIKE a BACH Concerto, enough that I feel like it is.... When I was first at best dose of Tegretol CR and had szr. control on one pill for about 18 months, I don't recall ANY Dreams in the morning -- since I was sleeping through the night. My Time Clock is so messed up over last ~3 weeks, that I've had More dreams that I'm aware of. Like most 'Normal People', if I don't write them down soon after waking, I forget the Content and what happened in them... So one hour after waking up, Unless it was a very Scary "Chase Dream" or the one where I fall out of an Airplane (!!!) and didn't wake up Until I hit the Ground .... I thought you were supposed to wake up while still in Freefall --- Like THAT would help... I spend the first 20 minutes in the morning looking for where I packed my parachute.... Anyway, you get the idea. Rest you likely found in para. below from earlier notes I might have done. / (Comment at end.) > > I researched the archives of this forum and discovered it's not that > > simple. Most people report having more memorable dreams as a result [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > -- > > Mike Bandy G: --> The Tegretol is LIKELY prescribed for Temporal Lobe seizures? In that case the T.Lobes are the short term Memory Buffers of the brain. If there is damage there, the Memory problem came First, and then the Seizures. In other words your Memory issues MIGHT not be from the Tegretol, but from any Brain Damage that occurred to **cause the Seizures you are being treated for... If it's any compensation (it Sure was for me), over time I developed Workarounds to remember e.g. whether I had taken my pills, preventing my taking 2 doses by mistake, remembering new learning that wouldn't otherwise have been possible while Uncontrolled, etc. These took TIME and they're not ALL Back yet after 10 years now since Seizure onset and 24 years now since Encephalitis damaged my Right Temporal Lobe.. I got Lost in Hawaii, 3 to 4 times.... The Beach THAT way looks a lot like the beach THIS way, and ALL those hotels look alike. Since the Hotel Elevators operate by Magnetic 'Swipe the Stripe' cards, AND don't have the ROOM Number on them, you need to write those Down separate to find *1 the Hotel, *2 the Correct Floor to prevent trip to 20th floor then back to 1.... as people get on on way Down, pretend you Really WANT to go to the Lobby TOO. Then swipe the stripe again and press the Floor number before the Elevator robot times out.... Well it's Cheaper than a Midway ride, but took the edge off some of the festivities.. That's enough rambling about Memories, 'lighting the Corners of my mind'... Others here had comments before on MEMORY related to Seizures, but not necessarily the Pills they take... But if anyone has experience with PILLS affecting or not affecting memory they can post on this thread (shorten This!! :-< ), and maybe we can start another General Thread on Memory issues and whether it makes anyone feel 'less whole' when a "Hunting party" finds you in the Computer or Science shop, where they should Expect to find you........ G. / I am on 800 mg of Tegretol and can remember my dreams quite vividly, although my long and short term memory have gone to hell in the last few years. > G.- The post at bottom had already expired on my server when I got back. I > added comments below (hope they're not Repeats :-o of some earlier comments [quoted text clipped - 80 lines] > finds you in the Computer or Science shop, where they should Expect to find > you........ G. / Are you sure that your short term memory has been affected? I raised that issue a few years ago. He pointed out that I remembered walking into his surgery so it wasn't my short term memory that I had a problem with, It was assimilating information in the first place. However I think (first time for everything) that is more common with epilepsy caused by brain damage. Ian > I am on 800 mg of Tegretol and can remember my dreams quite vividly, > although my long and short term memory have gone to hell in the last few [quoted text clipped - 104 lines] > find > > you........ G. / I too am on 800 mgs of this wonderful stuff" as I smirk".. my memory is bad and I often will ask people the same question and never realize that I asked it already... My long term seems ok but short term is affected.. In my line of work I need to write down things constantly as I have been known to call the same client and ask the same stupid question..!! but at least they are getting used to me....and I am open about saying I have epilepsy and blame all my problems on my meds!! ha., cheers... > I am on 800 mg of Tegretol and can remember my dreams quite vividly, > although my long and short term memory have gone to hell in the last few [quoted text clipped - 104 lines] > find > > you........ G. / > I too am on 800 mgs of this wonderful stuff" as I smirk".. > my memory is bad and I often will ask people the same question and never > realize that I asked it already... > My long term seems ok but short term is affected.. ** G** Did your Doctor tell you where your 'seizure focus' is (where the seizue appears to launch from?). Often Tegretol CR (Controlled Release like mine) is prescribed for Complex Partial Seizures (formerly called Temporal Lobe seizures on some older sites). The Temporal Lobes (2 of them) are the short term Memory buffers of the brain. They're where new learning goes First, and anything that's important, or repeated often enough by a Teacher or a Spouse (!) eventually gets moved to other parts of the Brain for longer term storage. The part about asking the same question repeatedly above, etc. are one of the symptoms (that I had /have) from Right Temporal Lobe Damage. I'm not sure if Left Temporal lobe damage behaves the same, but I expect it does. I *think the only difference between the two sides is the Aura that we'd get is different depending on where the Electric Storm starts from. Left Side supposedly has a feeling of Jamais Vu (where your own place might feel like you're in a Stranger's House), and a possible Taste or Odour of Sulphur or Eggs? Right Temporal Lobe Aura (mine) is noticed by a Feeling of Deja Vu ("I've said this before, done this before, been here before..."), and an Aroma or Taste that is usually noticed is a Sour or Lemon taste or odour. I used to get a Reverse effect -- where a Lemon Cleaner Aroma, or Drink taste would trigger a Dizzy swirling Aura feeling, that I'd have to get away from to prevent a Full Complex Partial Seizure starting up. Before I was controlled, I had 1-2 full blackout seizures at Shopping Centres that decided NOON was a good time to wash the floors with Lemon Cleaners.. Now I'm able to get away from the Source and outdoors before the Aura goes on to a full seizure. I still (after 10 years last March) have to make notes of the things I need to remember. Verbal Instructions or things I've read only once seem to vanish still, unless I've made notes to remind me of what I need to do. Some of what you had posted looked similar. (Note as I removed about 50 lines of text at the end of this message, that I already had posted on this thread, and some of the text I left, repeats what I just added -- new -- Above... That's the place I notice the Temporal Lobe deficits the most.) G.R. > In my line of work I need to write down things constantly as I have been > known to call the same client and ask the same stupid question..!! but at [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > "gaross" wrote in message > > > G.- The post at bottom had already expired on my server when I got back. I > > > added comments below (hope they're not Repeats :-o of some earlier comments > > > I made about whether Tegretol OR the complex partial (temporal lobe) seizure > > > area causes memory lapses). > > > > > > > I've seen many discussions on this ng about the effects of Tegretol on > > > > memory. I believe, as do many others, that Tegretol has a negative effect on > > > > memory. But, seizures also negatively affect memory. I don't know about the > > > > other antiseizure drugs, however. > > > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > > > > and I can't remember any of my dreams. A few years ago, however, I > > > > > went off Tegretol for three days. At the end of that period, I could > > > > > vividly recall my dreams. After a day or two back on Tegretol, I > > > > > couldn't remember dreams any more. > > > **G* I had read elsewhere that you only **remember Dreams if you awake in > > > the Middle of one -- i.e. a Noise or Restless sleep will bring you out of > > > REM sleep and you will recall the dream and what was happening. > > > I've used Tegretol since 1995, and remember Some of mine, usually 1-2 > > > per night. Some are Very Graphic /Others are extremely Exotic/Spiritual stuff. > > > When I was first at best dose of Tegretol CR and had szr. control on one > > > pill for about 18 months, I don't recall ANY Dreams in the morning -- since > > > I was sleeping through the night. / (Comment at end.) > > > > > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > > > > > > > G: --> The Tegretol is LIKELY prescribed for Temporal Lobe seizures? In > > > that case the T.Lobes are the short term Memory Buffers of the brain. If > > > there is damage there, the Memory problem came First, and then the Seizures. > > > In other words your Memory issues MIGHT not be from the Tegretol, but from > > > any Brain Damage that occurred to **cause the Seizures you are being treated for... > > > If it's any compensation (it Sure was for me), over time I developed > > > Workarounds to remember e.g. whether I had taken my pills, preventing my > > > taking 2 doses by mistake, remembering new learning that wouldn't otherwise > > > have been possible while Uncontrolled, etc. These took TIME and they're > > > not ALL Back yet after 10 years now since Seizure onset and 24 years now > > > since Encephalitis damaged my Right Temporal Lobe.. G. / Howdy! My experience has been that Tegretol and it's relatives (I was taken off of Tegretol and put on Trilipetal) enhance the dreams dramatically. I will often dream in color and my dreams are amazingly detailed, even down to the background (furnature in a room; settings on a table; cars, plants, buildings and animals in an outside setting; etc. It's amazing... SignatureDave ???? "Noli illigitemi carborundum decendus" http://www.howdydave.com > I am on 800 mg of Tegretol and can remember my dreams quite vividly, > although my long and short term memory have gone to hell in the last few [quoted text clipped - 104 lines] > find > > you........ G. / |
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