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Originally Posted by BlackPup
I gained weight from drinking more sugary drinks because of the thirst, increased appetite and the hypothyroidism. I was slowed down while on the lithium but it improved with time. I always needed the increased sleep even after being on it for a year. It also slowed down my reaction time, I couldn't coordinate lunging for rock climbing and kept falling! While I was on topomax I turned into a zombie and had significant memory loss. I have also been on an anti depressant the whole time.
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Blackpup, i don't know if you're a male or female, but i've been asking this fatigue/lithium question at other forums. I don't know if this is a coincidence, but thus far, (with the exception of christina) females have reported the fatigue side effect whereas males have reported they didn't have this side effect. I wonder if females tend to be more susceptible to this side effect more than males and if so, i wonder why. In my past, i have always been pretty tolerant to sedating meds and have not had the tendency to be sensitive to side effects in general, i guess that's why i'm having such a hard time dealing with this side effect. Like you, at another forum, someone reported that the fatigue side effect subsided within a few months.
Re: topomax---it's a scary medication regarding the memory loss and cognitive blunting. I've heard horror stories from people who were on it long term---that the memory loss and lack of concentration continues even yrs after discontinuing. (and btw, some of these people weren't even mentally ill---they were taking it for migraines). ONe woman even forgot her name! For this reason, my new doc wanted to take me off it immediately. With such a severe side effect, i can't believe it's even on the market.