Topamax update and question

I think it's been three weeks now(?) and I'm feeling ridiculously better. No mani, no depression and my anxiety is even better. Although I think I'm less depressed and anxious because my love life is kind of awesome right now.

Anyway I'm actually getting dressed and leaving the house and running errands and exercising a tiny bit all of which is a HUGE improvement. The only problem is that I have an upset stomach every day. I've been increasing the dosage slowly. I think right now I'm taking three 20 or 24mg and I'm waiting to go up to four until my stomach stops acting like everything I eat is poison. Does anyone have any idea when that is supposed to get better?

Yeah, Eloise42! It's great to hear things are going so much better for you! Just a few months ago, I could have written the exact same thing -- it's a great feeling, isn't it? Hoping things continue to go well for you! Sorry can't comment on the Topamax, have never taken it.

I took topamax for about a month a few months ago and am currently waiting on a urologist's ok to begin taking it again. I think it made me feel better emotionally, but it made me SICK!!! My stomach was awful nauseated pretty much constantly. (I think this is what causes people to lose weight when they are on it, btw.) I actually ended up with a kidney stone which is believed to have been caused by the topamax (though I have a condition called interstitial cystitis which causes a lot of urinary tract problems, so it possibly could have been related to that...). Anyway, I never got to feel too good because I was in an extreme about of pain for most of the time I was taking it. The nausea was awful, but once the kidney started hurting I was miserable.

Um, that was just my experience though, so maybe the nausea will go away for you soon? I wish you good luck. I was very disappointed to stop taking it. It was one of the few antipsychotics I've taken that didn't cause horrendous side effects (other than the sick stomach and kidney pain... hm, guess it did have side effects.) I am shutting up now.

So glad it's helping and you're feeling better!

It made me nauseated too. I have to take it with dinner in the evening, two reasons: 1. to have it with a decent amount of food stopped the nausea for me, snacks didn't work as well, it had to be a meal and 2. b/c it makes me drowsy by taking it in the evening helped with this, slept better without being drowsy during the day. I noticed a difference in taste too and it changed after a couple weeks of taking it w/ food.

Be sure you are drinking a lot of water too, especially when you take it and throughout the day. This helped with the nausea too and prevents the risk of stones.

Best wishes, -Fresia