my pdoc wants to take me off of depakote. i've gained 25 pounds on it. topamax was mentioned. she increased my lamictal, to see if it might help me. any ideas???

[kimmydawn]

pat, my neurologist gave me topamax to take for nerve pain due to trigeminal neuralgia. it actually causes weight loss i was told. my family dr said most ppl really love it for that and because the other side effects aren't that great.

i took it for a short time and felt like at different times of the day, my mind would just go blank...completely blank...void of words, thought, anything. it didn't last but a very short time. it wasn't a horrible side effect for me. that was it. i had more energy it seemed to...but not a tooth gritting, no sleeping kind of energy...just a high stamina it seemed? it didn't help with the pain and i would've had to increased the dosage on just the chance it might, so i discontinued use.

that's about all i can tell ya from my experience of the med as far as side effects. i can't tell ya anything about it relating to bipolar though, except my mind would feel blank at times. so, it might help with a built up continual dose, low side effects adn weight loss. might be a good thing?

gl. hey would you let me know how it's going?

kd

[Dolfin]

Pat,

I was on Topamax for about a year, with iffy results in the end (combined with the Paxil CR over time, I had a 4-month major manic episode. But, I think it was because I had a ducky doctor. )

When I first started the Topamax, it did wonderfully balancing my moods, with minimal weight gain (10-15 lbs) even through titration and I didn't have any side effects. Depakote made me gain A LOT of weight and I was eventually tapered off of it totally, at my (rather demanding LOL) request.

Topamax is a great med, but it just doesn't mix with my Lithium, so I was taken off of it and had it replaced with Seroquel, which is also great at balancing moods with proper titration, and I haven't experienced any weight gain.

Geez, I think I just babbled my way through that one

Hope it helps!

Dolfin

i'm encouraged..........i'm grateaful.......i'm grinning.........xoxox pat

[Dolfin]

I'm glad you could decipher my babble LOL

Topamax is a really good med. I think you should do well if you decide to start taking it. REALLY helps with the lows.

Dolfin

boy, my lows are LOW........

[lucky111777]

I have been on topamamx for over 9-10 months now after gaining weight previosly on depakote. I have bi-polar and fibro and migraines too. I did research myself and took the medicine to my doctor and requested to be put on it. I looked at the side effects, but once you reach "your" dosage the side effects disappear. It was worth it. I lost over 50 lbs, haven't had a migraine the entire time and have great management of my bi-polar, but read everything you can online and educate yourself...and choose what is best for you I was willing to risk a few side effects for the bigger relief. Only you can decide that.

[BobbyR]

I put on fifty pounds with Depakote. I was taken off and put on Trileptal. I lost some weight but kept putting it back on. I found out Risperadal caused weight gain as well. My doctor put me on geodon instead of risperadal and I have lost twenty pounds. Now I am on Trileptal and Risperadal and doing pretty good.

thanks for your reply, Bobby........i'm going to ask my pdoc, if we can change from depakote.....i'm just getting fatter and fatter and fatter........

[darkeyes]

Lamictal is good, doesn't cause fastigue or weight gain, I've done well with it for 2-3 yrs now. But then I realize meds affect everyone differently or similar.
Just my 2 cents. I did horribly with depakote, weight gain and zombifying, in turn fueled my depression, pdoc gave me a few alternative meds.
Many wishes to you towards healing, and solutions.

DE

thanks, DE.....i do believe that the depakote causes me to be more depressed than i'd like to be......i'm anxious to make some changes...........xoxox pat

[LadyValkyrie]

I was on depakote for a year and I gained 40 pounds. It was becoming dangerous because I also have an eating disorder. I was weaned off of Depakote and placed on Topamax. Topamax has done me very well. It does help with weight loss. In the mornings I take 50mg of Topamax, 50mg of Zoloft. At night I take an additional 50mg of Topamax and 50mg of Zoloft along with 30mg of Celexa. I have been on this medicinal cocktail for a year now and it has done well for me.

thanks for sharing with me.......i'm getting desperate. all i think about is FOOD. i've never, ever been like this....pat