Topamax

I just added Topamax to the list and wondered if anyone has experience with this drug?

Hi MissP,

I've been taking Topamax for mood swings for almost 3 years now. I was on Neurontin which wasn't working, and was switched to the Topamax, which has worked great. I take 200 mgs, 100 mgs in the am, 100 mgs at bedtime.

The only side-effect I experienced from it is pretty common, called cognitive dulling. Or, a case of the stupids as my wife called it with me . Your doc should start you pretty low and titrate up slowly until you hit your target dose. You should discuss that target dose with him/her ahead of time, along with how much to increase and how often.

The dulling effect happened when I started the med, and at each increase. It would last for a day or two each time. What happened is I couldn't remember simple things like how to spell words or math problems, forgot phone numbers, people's names, stuff like that. But like I said, it went away after a day or two, and after I hit my target dose, it went away and never came back. Also, it might make you a little drowsy at first.

I think that's it, but if you have any questions, please let me know. I hope this helped.

Greg



"Beauty is truth, truth is beauty - that is all you know on earth, and all you need to know"

hello my 8 year old son also takes topamax but his is for a seizure disorder. i was wondering if maybe you have ever heard of it causing the inability to realese sweat??every sense my son haves taking it he will get over heated and turn really red but no matter how hot he gets he does not sweat.he does also take keppra his dosage of meds is pretty high he takes a total of 400 mgs of topamax and 1125 mlg of keppra a day.if you or anyone have any at all info on these meds i would greatly appreciate it thanks

I was on it, it did nothing for me, so my pdoc switched me to something else. And I did not experience the weight loss some do.
Keep in mind though, everbody is different, so it may help you, it does need to be titrated gradually to achieve the best benefits.
Lots of luck with this

DE

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON

I am on topamax for headaches and it works great, the only side effect I do not like it the lack of wanting to eat..
I take 100mg a day

<font color=purple>
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I see it so clearly now
I feel him in my heart
Lord God has set me free.
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I have been Saved by your Grace and love today...04/11/04

Trish,

You really take this for headaches? I've never heard of that before. You learn something new everyday! Thanks for the info.

xxoo,
Greg



"Beauty is truth, truth is beauty - that is all you know on earth, and all you need to know"

yeah, people have been prescribed this for certain headaches, like migraines, my brother-in-law has been given it for neurological pain, and for a TMJ problem, which cause a pain to radiate in his jaw, the ear and then severe headache, it happened too often so now the Topamax has helped him.
Wow, amazing how broad spectrum psych meds are, well as long as it works for the individual is all that matters, right?

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON

Yes I take 100mg a day at night when I go to bed. So far it has worked really well, as long as I do not have a butt load of stress on my lap ........

It works.. I also think it is helping to stabilze my moods till all this other stuff has surfaceds.. but that is another story I will post as soon as I get it all done

<font color=purple>

yeah de... kinda makes ya wonder what all they're playing around with in the brain, doesn't it?

Topamax has been added to the list of meds for me to try... but for me it was to help with the "tremoring" I get from fatigue (So I guess they are mini seizures?) go figure. I haven't tried it yet.

<font color=blue> meditation is a true way to connect to the Source </font color=blue>

I haven't ever used this drug. What i've read up on it it is a siezure/migraine drug? or was it for epilepsy? But I believe it can also be used for anxiety.... I just recently looked it up actually.

But no i haven't used it. I think I just read somewhere on a different board that it has helped them, but that is all that I know.


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<font color=blue>"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."</font color=blue>

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I took Topamax and it made me really agitated, couldn't sleep, and depression and suicidal thoughts became worse. Not taking that again.

I lost 30 pounds on Topamax (not a bad deal, if you ask me -- I needed it), because I could NOT eat. I would have a banana or something in the morning and feel like I'd just eaten a 10-course meal, and couldn't stand the thought of food the rest of the day.

I know people it has been prescribed for as a diet drug, but it was originally for seizures, as were most of the mood stabilizers.

I have to say, though, it didn't do a lot for my mood. I've tried a number of mood stabilizers and so far am really liking my current one, Lamictal, although it takes forever to get to a reasonably therapeutic dose.

Candy

There used to be a real me, but I had it surgically removed. -- Peter Sellers

Well, I am dragging. Not sleeping but lying in be trying to think about getting up (but to do what I haven't a clue.) I haven't been able to take it as prescribed because the ins co hasn't authorized it yet. Only been taking the sample. Should be on twice as much... see doctor Wed. so maybe shell have more sample? Frankly, I don't care.

It does make me feel some hunger, but once I eat I feel like I weigh a ton and I don't ever want to eat again. No fun at all. BUt then, the nerve communication problem could be causing lots of it too.

<font color=blue> meditation is a true way to connect to the Source </font color=blue>

<div class="foot">(Edited by SkyBdark on 07/18/04 10:51 PM.)</div>

I THINK THEY ARE TAKING ME OFF THIS MISERABLE DRUG!

I gained ungodly weight.
I have had agitated depression, increased suicidal planning, ideation
along with severe "I don't give a damn anger and lack of patience with everyone about everything " including ppl here on this site...
.. inability to figure things out completely
...thinking I said things, heard things that just weren't so.. I didn't
...the eye pressure increased that my vision was compromised and this is a real serious issue with this drug but I hadn't been able to focus well enough to read the warnings and the INSURANCE co refused the request to see the eye doctor when the pain began and became so bad

my brain began "smelling" things that were unidentifiable but morbidly sickening... nauseating (a common occurrence my T says when the areas of the brain are firing.... umm crap I can't recall... maybe once I get off this stupid drug...)

My pharmacist says I can't go off cold turkey.. and my T is contacting my MD for me since I am too friggin angry to do so (so many other drugs I went off was all my own "in my head" subjective thinkings so I anint doing this one on my own got it?

My pharmacist also said MOST ppl on Topamax have real problems with it. I didn't ask what kind I'm not in any shape to make lists. ANd frankly, my dear..........!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's more but you got my drift? I have only gone up to 75mg/day and on it since um 25mg / day since um July 1st or so. Oh, it didn't help my over all pain at all. BUT I have not felt a migraine the whole time (but I know I have had them because of how I feel after my physical therapist works my neck which always causes a migraine... so what's the difference?)

The FDA is releasing this drug for weight loss soon (I gained 12 lbs the first 3 weeks I'm afraid to weigh now but I will....)

I'm outta here for now... maybe forever maybe Iwon't go alone...

One of the few I tried. I think this was the one that I slept all the time and couldn't think of one thing I would rather do. Would have delt with it if I had lost weight... NOT happening here. I am still waiting for the drug that can make me lose weight. Between Depakote, Trileptal and Carnitor, I got to the point I couldn't even drink a single soda a day, was walking almost 5 miles a day and eating really "normal" meal (like no stuffing cause I'd puke) for a change and after a month I hadn't even lost water weight.. Go figure. I am thinking I am gonna be heavy and depressed for the rest of my life sometimes. Which is better than heavy and pissed off all the time I suppose...

Arlene