[Ryask]

Saw my new Pdoc today and he was really wonderful, he also asked me to look into both Wellbutrin and Topomax to see if i would be willing to give it a shot.Well goggling the meds gives you all the scary unpersonalized information so i have done that already. I'm looking for people experiences with one or both, combined or taken separately or whatever....good or bad....i want to know before i go fill the script. I think it's good he wants me to look into it first, he knows how much i struggle with med compliance. Anyways any information would be helpful.
Thanks in advance,
Tina

[kaliope]

i have had great experience with both. wellbutrin has always been good to me. it kicks in fast for me and has no side effects. they always say that it amps people up but it has never done that for me. the first times i was on it it did help me quit smoking for awhile. (it doubles as zyban) not that it took away the craving to smoke, it just made the cigarette taste so damn nasty that i couldnt stand smoking them anymore.

topomax did not work well at a low dose to stabilize me but once i was somewhat stabilized on an antipsychotic, i started taking a higher dose of topomax and it really did great to balance out my moods and remove the impulsiveness that the antipsycotic did not address. the bonus was that i lost over 40 pounds on it as well. my new pdoc is now wanting to take me off the antipsychotic and let the topomax deal with all the symptoms. we have not got there yet but he is confidnt that will work. but except for the weight loss, which i consider a good side effect i am more then willing to experience, there are no other side effects from the topomax.

[Ryask]

After gaining 60 POUNDS on celexa....losing even 10 pounds would be a blessing.As for impulsiveness...that could be my middle name i feel pretty7 good about the meds now. Thanks so much for your reply!

[ohlala]

I took Wellbutrin for 6 months and it did nothing at all for me. I took the extended release Wellbutrin. I read about the differences between the brand and the generic and I thought perhaps that might have been the problem but since my insurance would only approve the generic it was a moot point. I was seeking an answer (any answer really) as to why it had no effect. As for Topamax, I was on that as well for about 4 months, I understand it was "off label" as a mood stabilizer, but there again I had side effects, (tingling in hands/fingers, really slowed down all thought processes, disturbed my vision), but not really of any benefit to my moods. In fact, my husband was so alarmed at the doping effect of the Topamax he called the psychiatrist (something he had not done before) and said, "What the hell is going on with the medication???". Anyway, over the years I've tried many medications and gave up on all of them for awhile. I don't recommend that to anyone but I had come to a point where I was just fed up. Now I am back trying to find the "right" combination with a new psychiatrist. Perhaps it will be the right combination for you. I try to keep an open mind. Medication and it's effect is highly individual so it's worth a shot. Good luck and I hope you feel better!

[zbmom]

I had a HORRIBLE experience with Topamax personally. It affected my memory and once I got to 100mg I was EXTREMELY suicidal. I made up a plan and everything and got 5150'd because of it. Once I started titrating off that went completely away. I'd never had any history of intent or anything like that. It was so scary.

[Ryask]

Thanks so much, i am really hopeful that this will be my golden ticket. I'm in Canada so i'll be getting the name brand since medications are cheap here, well free for me because my husband has additional coverage from his employment. I think the vision problems from the topomax are my biggest concern but i guess i never know until i try it, i hope it works for me. Thanks for the reply

[Ryask]

Originally Posted by zbmom

I had a HORRIBLE experience with Topamax personally. It affected my memory and once I got to 100mg I was EXTREMELY suicidal. I made up a plan and everything and got 5150'd because of it. Once I started titrating off that went completely away. I'd never had any history of intent or anything like that. It was so scary.

Oh geeze, that does sound scary, my PDOC says i can call him anytime and if i leave a message he will call me back that day, so hopefully if i start getting suicidal i will have enough sence to make the call. But thanks for the heads up, i'll let my husband know too so her can keep an eye out for a mood swing like that.

[porcupine2]

I've been on Wellbutrin and it made me so manic I could barely function. Topomax has a long list of side effects, which they don't tell you - and affect about half the people who take the med. It made me confused, had a bad affect on my liver, and the only beneficial part for me was it helps take off the weight. My sister is on it for migraines, but she is often forgetful now as well. Both of us at different times have gotten lost driving more than once. It was the final straw for me, and I turned in my license. Both meds affect everyone differently. For me personally, I will never take either one of them again.

[BNLsMOM]

I am on Wellbutrin now and it kicked the last bits of a lingering depression away. I am not sure how it will affect me long term, but I am not noticing any side effects from it.

Topamax is another story. I feel like it made me crazy and drunk. I definitely had a manic episode caused by it which turned mixed and I got suicidal so I checked in to the hospital for the first time.

[SunAngel]

Originally Posted by Ryask

Saw my new Pdoc today and he was really wonderful, he also asked me to look into both Wellbutrin and Topomax to see if i would be willing to give it a shot.Well goggling the meds gives you all the scary unpersonalized information so i have done that already. I'm looking for people experiences with one or both, combined or taken separately or whatever....good or bad....i want to know before i go fill the script. I think it's good he wants me to look into it first, he knows how much i struggle with med compliance. Anyways any information would be helpful.
Thanks in advance,
Tina

Hey Ryask! Wellbutrin was awful or me. I felt like I was on speed and couldn't sleep for 2 weeks straight.

Topamax made me lose too much weight so my GP took me right off of it and sent a note to my pdoc. She told me I looked anorexic. I am thin to begin with and couldn't afford to lose any weight.

Just remember that everyone responds to meds differently and what works for one may not work for another. I would give it a try if I were you because it could be a good med combo for you.

[popeye]

I have wellbutrin 100mg SR to snap me out of depression but I get somwhat manic on it. My pdoc just took me off it.

[Trying To Maintain]

I have taken both meds. Wellbutrin was very dangerous for me. It turned me into a lunatic. I was unable to control my anger and would just sit around thinking of things that got me even more angry. I had to isolate myself from family and friends just to not hurt anyone's feelings or physical being. I went to my doc that prescribed it and asked for something to bring me down off of the stuff but he treated me as a drug user who was just looking for a quick fix.

Topomax on the other hand had no ill effects on me. I just didn't feel any different. My doc was giving me many medications that were prone to weight gain and he stated that Topomax would counteract that. It didn't. Ended up gaining 60 pounds.

Best of luck to you.

[sugahorse1]

Wellbutrin helped kick a serious bout of depression. After 12 months I hit my first major depressive episdode again. Not too bad considering how I used to cycle.

It isn't great for anxiety though - I get very anxious, worked up, and stress.
I have had a lot more hypomanic spells since being on wellbutrin too. Regardless, I don't think I'd stop taking. And it has really helped with the smoking too-lol

[popeye]

Wellbutrin often causes us to get on the manic side of the spectrum so I do not take it unless I get depreesed...it always works for my depression.