[Terabithia]

Hello - thanks in advance for whoever reads this and forgive me for wordiness -

The doctor I'm seeing right now pretty much leaves me in charge of my own medication management, and I initialize every change in my medication. So, I asked to go on topomax on 12/1 because of all my weight gain from the seroquel I take. He said that was fine, but thought maybe I should get off my depakote since these two meds. are in the same category. I asked him if I could stay on the depakote because I'd been on it for 20 yrs. and he said that was fine. (the next day, I changed my mind, thinking how that would also help me lose weight, so called him back, so I'm now down to only 500 mg. depakote). He started me out on 25 mg. of topomax for a week and then 25 mg twice a week which I've been taking now for I guess 3 weeks. My question is do I call my doctor and ask for an increase now in my topomax, and if so by how much? Is it safe for me to be going completely off my depakote and only to be taking 50 mg of topomax and is topomax even affective for bipolar. How long does it take to feel the full affect of the drug?

Appreciate any help.

[kaliope]

i believe 50 mg is a normal dose of topamax for most people. i take 400 but i started it on my own taking my sisters and was taking that dose when i asked my doc for it and that works for me. when i started it when i first lost my mind 50 didnt work for me. but my friends mom, who as far as i am concerned has worse bipolar than me, does just fine on 50 so it just depends on the person.

but i went from rapid cycling with some psychosis to nearly completely stable. i would have maybe two hypomanias a year. and as i said, my friends mom is doing great on it.

[Terabithia]

thanks kaliope