Topamax has arrived

I could use a large weight loss - I'm obese right now from depakote the Zyprexa

I would not be able to live with any decrement in balance because I bike. Hopefully on just 50 mg a day I will be all right.

There have been problems with the mail order pharmacy resulting in a many week delay in shipping meds. But finally it is here.

Do I need it? For migraines, amitriptyline has already reduced their frequency and severity but not down to zero, so I guess I might try.

For weight loss, biking has already resulted in weight loss and appetite supression, but I guess I can have a bit more of that.

So I will try.

P-doc says that the most common side effect is drowsiness and some people can only tolerate the evening dose while the med is most effective with morning and evening doses. Well, there is caffeine against drowsiness - I do not drink that much caffeine so I can increase my intake safely. The next most common side effect is word finding difficulty. Caffeine does not work against THAT, so THAT would be a cause for discontinuation, I gather. If it is severe; a couple of words here and there would be OK, I imagine.

seems to me topomax is a bit like epilim Hammy...
epilim is also an anti psychotic...anti epilepsy...never knew it worked for migraine?...but gotta admit I have not had one for a while...

...and I think fumbling words makes us more real ...more human...

most people don't mean what they say so if they?.....well you know what I mean.....if they stuff it up...?

if they keep trying to get the point across?...I do it all the time....learnt to say what I think I meant to say...but after I already corrected it yep!

...tricky but cool....

well...cool enough...

DM, Epilim (Dekapote in America) makes one gain weight, and Topamax does the reverse, big difference. Both work for migraines, but what a difference. Also Epilim gave me a terrible tremor and Topamax does not.

What is it about Depakote that makes people gain so much weight Hamster? An girl I know gained 40 pounds in 2 months, she said it makes her even more depressed. Isn't that kind of defeating the purpose?

I am not sure I like having no appetite. I do not feel quite human like that.

So topamax reduces your need to eat?
But if I take zyprexa which causes weight, the topamax does the opposite?

No headaches. Works like magic for headaches. I berate myself for having taken Depakote for headaches in the past. Now I have to shed the pounds I gained while on Depakote and Topamax seems to be even more effective than Depakote for headaches. Why did my GP not tell me about Topamax back then?? I requested Depakote because I did not know any better and I was suffering from frequent migraine attacks and needed a relief. Sure, I should have done my homework and didn't, but it still was her job to give me my options. Argh!

Me too. Tastes so yucky! That could be a weight loss mode in itself. I can't tell if I'm less hungry. I think I am. I'm still on Zyprexa just less.

The downside? Where's my list... When I started taking Topamax in September of 2005, I weighed 148ish and by April of 2006, I weighed 97 pounds. I have 5 kidney stones (3 in the left and 2 in the right), I am prone to UTI's, I have tingling in my hands and feet, my short term memory is not so hot, my eye sight has diminished, my hair is falling out in handfuls(at least 1/3), my internal thermometer does not work correctly so I need to avoid extreme hot and cold (especially hot), certain food smells make me want to throw up, words are on the tip of my tongue but I cannot recall them, my libido has left town... Oh - they don't call it Dopamax for no reason.

These side effects don't happen to everyone obviously... but a lot of people suffer the majority of them. Some effects lessen, some go away, some just stay. It's a harsh drug. I hope that helps.

If I had to take Zyprexa I would most definitely try Topamax to counteract Zyprexa. A good move.

Would it work even if I don't get migraines?

Yes, people take it for weight loss and some even for moods management, although the evidence for the latter is skimpy.