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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Bellame on August 26, 2007, at 13:53:33
I have had a difficult time reading for pleasure--something I always did well. It is very frustrating. I am on prozac, lamictal, and gabapentin. I have taken prozac forever and lamictal for a few years. The gabapentin is for a few months for anxiety--could it be the cause? It is not that great for anxiety, but I cannot take benzos. I would be willing to stop it if it seems that it is the problem. Also, does anyone know of any good natural sleep aid? I have not been able to sleep for the past month. Thanks
Posted by Quintal on August 26, 2007, at 15:09:14
In reply to I can't read--could meds be the cause?, posted by Bellame on August 26, 2007, at 13:53:33
I had difficulty reading when I was taking Lamictal, it was almost like drug-induced dyslexia. I'd sometimes read (and even say) things backwards and 'inside out'. I could hardly finish a sentence never mind a book, and yeah that was distressing to me too because I am a fluent reader.
Q
Posted by rina on August 26, 2007, at 15:46:26
In reply to Re: I can't read--could meds be the cause? » Bellame, posted by Quintal on August 26, 2007, at 15:09:14
Just met with my ADD coach and told her my woes with the stimulants that I'm taking. Her suggestion to me was, walk around the lake five to six miles a day. Wake up every morning at six am. Go to be nightly at eight thirty am. Increase my Adderallxr to 40mg2wice day and try acupuncture along with her coaching and my pdoc. She says it will do wonders for my ADD. I said yeah if I don't die,go broke or kill you first!
Posted by sam123 on August 26, 2007, at 15:53:22
In reply to I can't read--could meds be the cause?, posted by Bellame on August 26, 2007, at 13:53:33
Vision problems are a reported side effect of anticonvulsive medications. In the older medications this side effect is far more common, gabapentin and lamictal are newer.
However vision problems can have many causes; I have been very nearsighted all my life but recently my close up vision started to get poor and my glasses for distance vision seemed too strong. I also started lamictal about the same time. Turns out this is the natural course of nearsightedness as you age; far vision improves and near vision gets worse. It is to be expected once you hit your 40's so my problems had nothing to do with Lamictal.
I would get a work up for you vision problem before you stop meds that are working well for you.
Posted by Phillipa on August 26, 2007, at 18:39:53
In reply to Re: I can't read--could meds be the cause?, posted by sam123 on August 26, 2007, at 15:53:22
Same thing happened to me was reading too fast couldn't get my eyes to slow down very annoying. So my guess would be anxiety. And I thought nearsigtedness got better as you age so no glasses to read. I always get that mixed up will google later. Funny my low dose of lamictal did nothing to my vision. But that was only 50mg. Phillipa
Posted by rina on August 26, 2007, at 18:42:57
In reply to I can't read--could meds be the cause?, posted by Bellame on August 26, 2007, at 13:53:33
bellame what dosage of lamictal are you on?
Posted by Bellame on August 26, 2007, at 21:00:30
In reply to Re: I can't read--could meds be the cause?, posted by rina on August 26, 2007, at 18:42:57
> bellame what dosage of lamictal are you on?
I am on 100mg twice a day--I wonder if I could cut it down to 100 once a day?
Posted by rina on August 26, 2007, at 21:28:06
In reply to Re: I can't read--could meds be the cause?, posted by Bellame on August 26, 2007, at 21:00:30
i think that might possibly be contributing to some of the more noticable side effects. maybe the higher the dose, the more the side effects. just my opinion. im on 150mg taken all at bedtime and now im starting to notice side effects whereas at the lower dosages i experienced none.
Posted by Justherself54 on August 27, 2007, at 14:34:17
In reply to I can't read--could meds be the cause?, posted by Bellame on August 26, 2007, at 13:53:33
I can't remember which mood stab. I was on that had that same reaction..as I'm an avid reader it really bothered me too..It was frustrating and hard to put into words that I just couldn't seem to focus or concentrate or whatever to "lose myself in what I was reading"..also the "word search" when I was speaking just about drove me around the bend..I understand your frustration..from one avid reader to another..I hope you are able to get the meds "tweaked" to allow you to enjoy your books again..
Posted by curiousfish on August 29, 2007, at 3:28:15
In reply to Re: I can't read--could meds be the cause?, posted by rina on August 26, 2007, at 21:28:06
im on 200mg lamictal.. i had issues reading as well..and well..focusing on ANYTHING at all. but i no longer have that. im thinking that it was actually hypomania. i dont know what the case is for you. i do know that lamictal can cause mood elevation. and lamictal screwed my sleeping; i needed nightly ambien so i could function in the morning. I recently began geodon, so im sleeping again.
Posted by Quintal on August 29, 2007, at 3:54:22
In reply to Re: I can't read--could meds be the cause?, posted by curiousfish on August 29, 2007, at 3:28:15
My reading problems got better over time too, maybe a few weeks to a month or so. I don't think it was hypomania or anything like that in my case, because I've never had a similar problem with reading before in my life. It seemed to be more of a processing problem, as if my brain was having trouble deciphering and organizing information. The same thing happened the next time I returned to Lamictal after a short break. If Bellame's problems appeared only after the addition of gabapentin I suppose it would suggest either the gabapentin was responsible or an interaction between the drugs?
Q
Posted by curiousfish on August 29, 2007, at 4:08:59
In reply to Re: I can't read--could meds be the cause? » curiousfish, posted by Quintal on August 29, 2007, at 3:54:22
it depends on why you cant read. is it a visual issue? a brain processing issue? or a focus issue? for me, it was focus.. i couldnt watch movies either..and there were other ADHD-mimicking symptoms..which can be characteristic of hypomania.
i got depressed..and was amazed at my 'newfound' ability to read and focus on movies. lol
Posted by curiousfish on August 29, 2007, at 4:10:36
In reply to Re: I can't read--could meds be the cause? » curiousfish, posted by Quintal on August 29, 2007, at 3:54:22
the reading was a first time issue for me as well..i think the lamictal changed the way i normally experienced hypomania.. (which was in suicidal mixed episode form..so good riddance)
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