[Melmo]

I'm on 150 mg Lamotrogine, 40mg Celexa and 75 mg of Topiramate. I've been thinking that I hate the idea of being on meds for the rest of my life, and that it can't be good for my body. I want to try treating my depression and anxiety with diet. Obviously I won't do it on my own, and I am going to wait until my next appointment on Dec 2 to talk to him about it but looking for opinions. I am so tired all the time and Im wondering if its the meds, because they all say they cause drowsiness. I dont drink very often, maybe about 4-5 times a year but I hate that I can't drink while on these meds so thats a small factor in my reason to potentially stop. I'm just worried I'm gonna completely eff myself up and set myself up for failure and for a repeat of what I was before I went on meds, which was a total and complete mess of rage and tears.
Advice would be so appreciated!

[vans1974]

Hey sorry to hear-I take 600mg of Lamictal at night, eventhough it doesn't make me that tired! I know Celexa causes fatigue and weight gain for most, and Topamax does also cause drowiness. If you can do it without meds then great...overwise if it were me, I'd take those all at night if you don't already, and ask you doc about switching Celexa for Aplenzin for depression and energy! Best of luck!!

[Melmo]

I do take them all at night . I also yawn all freaking day! Lol seriously. I read celexa can cause excessive yawning. I can sometimes yawn 2-3 times per minute, it's that bad.

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[ShiningOne]

How long have you been on Celexa?

[Melmo]

I think about a year

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[mulan]

Well I don't know you as a patient, but topiramato and lamotrigina are first used as antiepiletic drugs. And they have mental effects, topiramato is one of those that gives more mental slow down. Of course it depends on the dose. Maybe you could talk to your doctor to try different meds. Just my opinion, I'm no experct.

I do not have any medical or chemical "knowledge" (I am not an expert).... But, my gut tells me that taking *any* kind of meds for a lifetime can not be good.

That being said - my shrink keeps changing my meds too. I believe I was supposed to start my fifth med change in the last 2 years (starting this past Saturday). But - I finally have said NO. I simply refuse to take them. In large part because the old meds were free (with insurance), the new meds are several hundred dollars per month. That is nuts - and I refuse to waste that kind of money on medicines that are simply GUESSWORK of a shrink.

Again - I am no expert and I can not say what works for me may not be smart for you. But, personally, I am putting my foot down.

[Melmo]

Thanks for the opinions guys. Makes me more confident that this is the right choice. I just can't wait to see my dr.

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[vans1974]

Originally Posted by JustWantToBeNormal

I do take them all at night . I also yawn all freaking day! Lol seriously. I read celexa can cause excessive yawning. I can sometimes yawn 2-3 times per minute, it's that bad.

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Lol then seriously- why don't you get off of Celexa?

[Melmo]

Lol I don't know why I didn't think of that before now. I guess because my anxiety has been so bad that I thought I needed it. I'm still not 100% sure if I should stop.

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[vans1974]

Originally Posted by JustWantToBeNormal

Lol I don't know why I didn't think of that before now. I guess because my anxiety has been so bad that I thought I needed it. I'm still not 100% sure if I should stop.

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Wow fast response! Hey in all seriousness- for anxiety and depression I prefer Lexapro over Celexa since it's basically the same except it tends not to cause as much drowsiness and is also weight neutral! Best of luck!!

[Melmo]

I get notifications on my phone lol.
Thanks for the info, I'll talk to my dr about it if he thinks I should stay on meds, we'll see.

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[1776]

I just went cold turkey for two weeks and tried to regulate via diet and attitude adjustment. I failed miserably.

If you decide to do it, good luck.

[shortandcute]

I think its a good idea to talk to your doc--there is certainly no harm in at least asking. However, I am a bit concerned about your comment about the drinking and I hope you are not considering this change just so you can drink more; because, trust me, alcohol isn't going to help your depression one bit.

Stop worrying about how long you are going to live based on basically harmless medications. Live life to the best. If that means taking medications for the rest of your life, suck it up. If you don't need them, then I don't see why you were on them in the first place. I need my mine. NEED.

[Melmo]

I don't drink at all right now because of my meds. If I get off of them, I only drink a few times a year anyways so it's not much. I just like to get drunk and have fun when I do actually drink. I know it's not a good idea.

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[Melmo]

Originally Posted by Alonewithmycat

Stop worrying about how long you are going to live based on basically harmless medications. Live life to the best. If that means taking medications for the rest of your life, suck it up. If you don't need them, then I don't see why you were on them in the first place. I need my mine. NEED.

What? Where did I say I was worried about how long I'm gonna live? A major reason for wanting to stop is because of side effects. I'm drained of energy constantly. Plus, I feel stupid and slow, which apparently is a side effect of lamotrigine? I've been on it for two years and I've only had this problem in the last year so it could be it.
Thanks for the support btw.

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Originally Posted by JustWantToBeNormal

What? Where did I say I was worried about how long I'm gonna live? A major reason for wanting to stop is because of side effects.

cuz you say that it is bad for you.

Oh yeah forgot about side effects..

[Melmo]

Something being bad for you doesn't mean it'll kill you , just means there could be long term side effects even after you've stopped taking them.

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[Vossie42]

There's reason why Topamax is called Dopamax. It really, really slows you down. I've been on lamotrigine for 3 years. Yes, it really lifted my depression, but it has also made me stupid. I lost 2 jobs because of the cognitive difficulties that lamotrigine has caused. Since I lowered the dose, the cognitive symptoms have lessened but have not gone away. I've decided to get off this medicine once this school term is over whether my doctor likes it or not. I don't know why doctors say that anti-epileptic drugs don't cause cognitive problems when the drug is designed to slow down brain activity... Hello? Duh!

I don't remember yawning on Celexa but I did yawn like crazy on Lexapro until noon even though I wasn't tired. Lexapro is a refined version of Celexa. It has a lot more active ingredient in it. Lexapro worked better for my depression and made me less drowsy.

Whatever you do, don't stop cold turkey or you will be in a world of hurt.

[Melmo]

I just started taking topomax a few weeks ago and it hasn't made a difference, I've felt like this long before I started it, otherwise I'd blame that lol. I've heard the bad side effects. The only side effects I know of are slight tingling in my heels occasionally and loss of appetite. (intended)

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[Melmo]

I had to force myself to take them last night ...I just wanted to stop cold turkey. I just want to be done with these damn meds. I'm so frustrated.

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