Topamax: a depression cause, or cure?

Medicated · Oct 11, 2010, 10:00 PM

Have you ever taken topamax/topiramate? If so, were you depressed at the time? Did it help your depression? If you weren't depressed, did it cause you to become so?

I'm thinking of asking my doc to put me on topamax for weight loss purposes, but I'm in a bipolar depressive funk.... so I don't know what he'll say, if it'll help or not.

*sigh*

thoughts?

netsavy006 · Oct 12, 2010, 04:33 PM

I take Topamax for seizure control and as a mood stabilizer on top of Lithium and I have to say that I wouldn't be able to be in as much control that I'm in without these two medications. I notice that I'm not depressed with these medications but I do notice (but I think this is just the nature of my illness right now) that I'm hypomanic.

Topamax didn't make me depressed, nor did it cause other mood problems, which is good because this was a first choice for me when I had my first seizure.

Remember that Topamax is not a first choice for bipolar depression.

Hope this helps and best of luck,
Andy.

Medicated · Oct 12, 2010, 07:29 PM

Thanks for the reply, Andy.

Turns out that the psychiatrist is willing to put me on it, if I want... now I'm trying to decide. I haven't been terribly stable lately, so maybe it would help on that front... but then again, maybe I just need to give the abilify more time, since I haven't been on this dose for very long.

Ugh. I don't know.

netsavy006 · Oct 12, 2010, 08:11 PM

What dose of Abilify were you on and what dose are you on now?

Medicated · Oct 12, 2010, 08:17 PM

Originally originally? 5 mg... then it was 10 for a few weeks, then 15 for a little while, then somehow it ended up being 30 since about a week or two ago. Eek.

netsavy006 · Oct 12, 2010, 08:43 PM

Other than Abilify, are you on other medications and if so on what meds and dosages?

Medicated · Oct 12, 2010, 08:55 PM

Yes, I am also on Wellbutrin XL 300 mg. Just that and abilify for now.

I'm reading some journal articles about topamax, and for the most part, I'm liking what I read.

Do you find it makes you at all foggy/drugged?

netsavy006 · Oct 13, 2010, 08:17 AM

No, not at all. I find Topamax to be a great drug to manage my seizures and mood condition. I take 50mg AM and 100mg @ bedtime.

I do it that way so that the sedation (if any) would be greater in the night than during the day.

But, even with the great mix I'm on, I'm able to function and do the things that I have to do each and every day.

Topamax is an excellent mood stabilizer for me.

I find it also works great for me when combined with the Lithium but that's another topic entirely.

Good luck,
Andy.

cocos421 · Oct 13, 2010, 05:40 PM

Hi Medicated,
I take 300mg.Welbutrin, too, as well as 15mg. of Abilify. I am taking 125mg. of Topamax. I was put on it mainly for weight loss. It definately works. I went from fat to skinny! I mean skinny. I also take Prozac(about to come off it) and 400mg. of Lamictal.
The Topamax along with Lamictal help with mood stabilization. I just love my Topamax. Yes, you do get brain fog in the beginning. Good luck.

dustintochampagne · Oct 14, 2010, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cocos421

Hi Medicated,
I take 300mg.Welbutrin, too, as well as 15mg. of Abilify. I am taking 125mg. of Topamax. I was put on it mainly for weight loss. It definately works. I went from fat to skinny! I mean skinny. I also take Prozac(about to come off it) and 400mg. of Lamictal.
The Topamax along with Lamictal help with mood stabilization. I just love my Topamax. Yes, you do get brain fog in the beginning. Good luck.

i know meds effect everyone differently, but i have been thinking about asking my pdoc about this med as well when i see him next week, as a second mood stabilizer - so i was wondering if you remember how long "in the beginning" was for the brain fog? just curious. i was scared to ask him before mostly because i thought maybe the brain fog would be more of a forever thing (as in, as long as you were taking the med.)

Medicated · Oct 15, 2010, 09:07 PM

Hi again. My psychiatrist agreed to start me on topamax 50mg twice daily. So far (it's been two days), so good. I've had a couple of times where I've completely forgotten how to spell something, but no real "fogginess" above and beyond what I was already experiencing just being really depressed. It is decreasing my appetite, too, so I'm optimistic that I might lose weight on it. We'll see...

netsavy006 · Oct 17, 2010, 10:04 AM

I wish you best of luck. The "fogginess" and minor forgetfulness should fade as your body adjusts to the Topamax.

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