[darkeyes]

I know topamax is an anticonvulsant but does it have any anti-depressant properties? If used in combo with lithium would it put me deeper in my "tired rut"? I'll be seeing my doc soon, I can NOT TAKE this lethargy any longer!!! He has to come up with something soon cause I am now getting tempted to stop my med. and just see how I do without this stuff, after all I lived fine before my "family stress" spun me out so now that the stress is over wouldn't make sense that I would no longer need meds.?? I never did before 1999-2001. Sorry to keep rambling on but sometimes I feel the doc. doesn't hear me, maybe he doesn't want to. Thanks for listening
"darkeyes" turning to "sad" eyes

[CamW]

Darkeyes - Yes, Topamax™ (topiramate) can be taken with lithium and it does have some antidepressant qualities. As a bonus, many people lose at least some weight with the drug. As a downside, the drug can cause some problems when carrying out simple math problems and trouble putting names to faces (this usually happens only when the drug dose is titrated too fast.

Another anticonvulsant/mood stabilizer that has very good antidepressant activity is Lamictal™ (lamotrigine). For depression in bipolar disorder, I would choose Lamictal to augment the lithium first and try the Topamax next, if the Lamictal failed.

I hope that this is of some help. - Cam

<font color=orange>"Sometimes you may be shown the light in the strangest of places, if you look at it right"
- Robert Hunter</font color=orange>

[Zenobia]

I was on Topamax for awhile. It worked nicely when I first started on it, then after a month or so I would get really depressed so my pdoc would raise the dosage again. It would work for a short period then not. We did this until I was at the maximum dosage. Then I really went down hill. It was awful so I told my pdoc that I had to get off it. Now I am feeling really good. I am on wellbutrin and remeron. Don't know if this helps just thought I would share.
Zen

[darkeyes]

Hi Zen, welcome to the forum. I had wellbutrin years ago, did not do much for me as I had hoped it would have. Remeron I had 2 years ago, it literally turned me into an emotionless zombie, and was very sedating, also it was weird but it made me more depressed. Everyone's "system" is different so that is why we and our docs have to try different things. I just hope out of all the different SRI's I've had that something is out there for me that doesn't destroy my libido and make me become the "Goodyear" blimp, cause that is getting played out now too, 30lbs!
"darkeyes"

[Zenobia]

I have gained a lot of weight too, about 30 lbs. I guess that is the magic number. I am trying to diet now. Getting frustrated. Have been sucking down those slim fast shakes for 3 weeks and have not lost a pound. It really sucks big time. Ha ha.

I take the remeron at night. It tofally knocks me out. By morning though I am feelling chipper as a blue jay. Well, maybe not that chipper but I am not sedated anyway.
Zen

You can't always get what you want but if you try sometime you might find you get what you need.--Rolling Stones

[darkeyes]

Hey Zenobia, how are you doing? Your Stones line I used a long time ago to my former therapist when I was vascilating over my "stuff". I guess we look at things in a similar light, another favorite was : Sympathy For The Devil that came out around the same time, Brggar's Banquet album. Well I guess I just have to deal with things the best I can right now with my meds. etc. Welcome!
"darkeyes"