Severe memory loss

[[sn...]]

Hi,

 

I had to post this even though I haven't seen anyone else with this severe and scary problem.  When I started Ativan over 3 years ago I started to lose my memory.  Now, my memory is a total blank.  I do not know the days, hours, the next days of the week, holidays or seasons.  I can't function. 

 

I went to a Neuropsychiatrist two weeks ago and go back next Friday for the results.  I can't live like this. 

 

Has anyone experienced this and I'm not talking about memory loss from tapering.  I'm not tapering.

 

Please help if you can and be blessed!

 

Healing prayers and God bless you and yours,

Deborah

[[Ch...]]

You're on 6mgs of Ativan daily… that may account for a lot of your memory loss. 

 

Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia:

 

Lorazepam (trademarked as Ativan or Orfidal) is a high-potency, intermediate-duration, 3-hydroxy benzodiazepine drug, often used to treat anxiety disorders.[4] Lorazepam has all six intrinsic benzodiazepine effects: anxiolysis, anterograde amnesia, sedation/hypnosis, anti-seizure, antiemesis (anti-nausea/vomiting) and muscle relaxation.

 

Good to know you're going to have it checked out.

 

Challis 

[[sn...]]

Thank  you, yes I know that about Ativan but is it permanent?  I'm scared.  I guess I won't know until I'm off, right?

 

Thank you for your reply!

[[Ch...]]

My last two years while I was still on the klonopin and in deep tolerence are a blur to me.  It could have gone by in two minutes for all I remember of it.

 

Now that I am off I can recall time lines and events from before that time and since, but those two years are still just gone.

 

China

 

 

[[ea...]]

I took many benzos over 30 years. I don't think it matters which. The last 10 years I was losing my memory, and my ability to function. I stopped reading, as I couldn't remember what I had read an hour ago! I forgot dates, apppointments. I was screwing up at work. And never once did I think it was from my happy little sleeping pills.

My memory started to come back, somewhere in the middle of a bad withdrawal. I am not going to play the "timeline game" - how long it took me is unique to me, not you. But, my memory came back...including things that happened to me years ago, and I had forgotten. I am still missing a few chunks of time. But its okay. I can read again, and that is a wonderful thing.

Now, I know that memory loss is common amongst benzo users, especially long term users. Your memory will come back, in time. Trust in that, please.

east

[[lo...]]

Hi Deborah

 

I am sorry your memory is so bad. It sounds awful. I do have memory problems but less severe.

 

Like East, I was on benzos for many years, 40 to be exact, and my memory got much worse the older I got. It was very difficult to keep functioning at work.I don't think it was age related, it was much worse than that. I am 17 months post withdrawal and my memory is still bad. Less noticeable because I am not trying to lead a normal life. I am sure this will gradually improve as all other aspects of functioning are improving.

 

I look at my past posts and often have no recollection of writing them. It is a weird sensation.

 

We will get there.

 

LF 

 

 

[[Ch...]]

Hi snow, 6mg ativan is a very high dose. I was on 4mg of klonopin which is relatively similar in dosage for about 2 years, I had a problem with abuse.. So sometimes I would pop 8mg a day anyway I've stopped abusing and I'm off K, honestly it feels like 1-2 years of my life never happened, I remember things but there scarse and unclear... It's almost scary... Not remember your teenage years. Now I'm on Valium and my short term memory is completely shot I'm hoping it will ease with time I'm almost there, I'm sure 6mg seems impossible to overcome but it isn't you can do it and with time you will get your memory an life back.

[[sn...]]

Thank you everyone for the uplifting words.  You don't know how much they mean to me.  I'm in dire straits.  I can't function in my own home because of it.  Haven't left the house in three years, can't drive would get lost.  I'm 43 and it shouldn't be this way.  I pray that my memory returns once I get off of Ativan!  I have twins boys and they are 21 years old and they are the light of my life.  They help me through everything.  Without God and my boys I wouldn't be here.

 

Thank you all for caring enough to share your experiences, you brought me much needed hope!

 

God bless you and yours,

Healing prayers,

Deborah

[[ea...]]

Snow, have you had your thyroid function tests done lately? As you know, thyroid trouble can cause depression and a host of other things.

A suggestion is for you to read some of the wonderful threads here on how benzo withdrawal works, what happens in your brain, etc. It helps if you have a basic understanding of what is going on. Perseverance and Parker wrote several, for starters. I have forgotten where they are located on the forum. And that's not withdrawal memory trouble - just me being 64 and tired.

east

[[ea...]]

The jokes on me! Parkers thread is right at the beginning of this area! LOL!

east

[Guest [in...]]

I have been taking Xanax for 20 years, and my memory is horrible.    Family will mention events, and I have

ZERO recollection.  My short- and long-term memory is impaired.

I feel I've been robbed of partaking in my own life and in the lives of those I care about.

 

 

My memory is absolutely frighteningly impaired.  I find things I've written, and don't remember having done it.

 

Will be glad to be rid of Xanax forever.   

 

 

 

 

 

[[be...]]

I also bad bad memory loss. 20 years on benzos. My memory loss was when I was on benzos, but not yet tapering. I thought I would never remember a thing for the rest of my life. It gave me great fear. I was on 10 mg of K. After I got down to 4, my memory started to come back. Now that I am down to 1.75 mg, my memory has almost returned completely. I still have black out moments from the past, and I don't expect them to return. It is prolly a gift from God, as I really don't want to remember those days. If I can do so after 20 years of high dosage use, than anybody can. Bets

[[ea...]]

My goodness, Bets...you were on 10 mgs of K? I thought at 6 mgs I was the champ. I am delighted you are doing better. Good job.

east

[[lo...]]

Hi Insomniac

 

Glad you have found BB.

 

My memory is pretty bad too. Both short and long term.

 

I really hope it will get better. I am off benzo now but still on AD so don't know whether it is a contributory factor.

 

 

I hope your taper goes well.

 

LF

 

 

[[ar...]]

i have had some memory loss myself ---seems it gets better and then worse, better and now it doesn't seem as good.  i can go in the other room and forget what i'm in there for.  seems i'm trying to think about too many things at once and not on what i'm am doing.  have a greater loss of concentration also.  it is also hard to memorize things.  hope it is not the early stages of Alzheimers.

arcey

[[ua...]]

I also bad bad memory loss. 20 years on benzos. My memory loss was when I was on benzos, but not yet tapering. I thought I would never remember a thing for the rest of my life. It gave me great fear. I was on 10 mg of K. After I got down to 4, my memory started to come back. Now that I am down to 1.75 mg, my memory has almost returned completely. I still have black out moments from the past, and I don't expect them to return. It is prolly a gift from God, as I really don't want to remember those days. If I can do so after 20 years of high dosage use, than anybody can. Bets

 

Bets, you are an inspiration to many people here. Certainly you are for me. If you can make it, so can everyone else!  And I do believe you will make it!

 

As for me, my memory loss is also quite bad affecting my ability to do work. I have been trying to hide it as best as I can. I also regret, and this is quie painful to me, not remembering many things from the period my son was growing up. On a positive note, as I am approaching the end of my taper, my memory seems to have improved a little. Not a massive difference but still noticeable.