I take lithium and have been for years. When I first started taking it, I tried to tell Dr that it was affecting memory because I noticed it very shortly after I started taking it. Both reading comprehension and short term memory affected. Thank you for asking question and for the other answer. I am not the only one I know that has had this side effect with Lithium. Have tried many things to improve memory and nothing does. I have settled with it because nothing else worked to stabilize me. My life is good today after many years hard work to get here and I try not to be too hard on myself about the limitation. Actually I really just full speed ahead and sometimes it hinders me but most of the time I can work around it without embarrassing myself too bad. My close friends and family know about it and love me anyways. Also use paper. Organized list. a system. Also has taught me how precious the now is. This very moment...

Personally, after being on 1200mg and currently 900 mg, I have experienced difficulties with my memory-- both in general memory recall and short-term memory. My reading comprehension has really tanked since taking Lithium due to my weakened memory.

But is Lithium the cause? I have no idea. I have never heard of memory loss being a side effect of Lithium from a reputable source except in one case: from An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison. She was a professor at UCLA and is currently a professor at Johns Hopkins. She suffers from manic-depressive illness and had trouble with her memory after going on Lithium.

I forget...