Posted by linkadge on November 9, 2019, at 8:19:44
In reply to Lamictal, overlapping glutaminergic AED agents, posted by porkpiehat on November 7, 2019, at 15:41:33
Drugs that suppress glutamate function could cause cognitive dysfunction. In some cases, however, they could improve it.
Chaotic neuronal firing can cause cognitive dysfunction. There are some studies, for example on how low dose Dilantin, or even lorazepam can improve cognition. I suppose the idea is to get glutamate levels in the right zone.
For example, low dose lithium tends to improve my cognition, perhaps by reducing the background noise (improving the signal to noise ratio). However, lithium is weird in that can also raise glutamate (by inhibiting the reuptake) if levels are too low.
Drugs like lamictal may exert more of a unidirectional effect on neurotransmission, which could cause dose dependent effects on cognition. My hunch is that NAC wouldn't worsen this, but who knows. I take co-q10 which reduces glutamate release, but it also improves cellular energy. I find that it improves my cognition.
In terms of increased obsessiveness, this may or may not be caused by the glutamate actions. Lamictal may be increasing dopamine (or something). Have you noticed the same thing with other anticonvulsants? (i.e. increased OCD)?
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:1106717
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20191019/msgs/1106730.html