[*Beth*]

I believe that Topamax is used quite a bit. Anyone with experience willing to share?

Thanks in advance.

[MuddyBoots]

Made me not hungry and kinda slow mentally (hence the nickname "Dope-amax"). It did help some symptoms with rapid cycling though and I would go back on it if my pdoc suggested it (but I probably wouldn't suggest it myself since I don't recall it being super effective and I need more AP than mood stabilizer).

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by MuddyBoots

Made me not hungry and kinda slow mentally (hence the nickname "Dope-amax"). It did help some symptoms with rapid cycling though and I would go back on it if my pdoc suggested it (but I probably wouldn't suggest it myself since I don't recall it being super effective and I need more AP than mood stabilizer).

Thanks, Boots. Yeah, I've heard the Dope-amax reference. Oh, goodie! That'll make David pleased, I'll sit in a chair like a potted plant, thinking nothing, a small and pleasant smile on my complacent face.

I'm hoping for something to lift my mood, even a bit. I don't know why med dude is taking so long to raise the dose, I'm finally going up to 50mg today after being on only 25mg for 8 days.

[unaluna]

Thats a normal rate of dose titration. I titrated myself down from a low dose over a couple of months.

I took it for 20 years, if you are looking for a recommendation! Mainly for my jacksonian marches, which so far (1 month off) have not returned.

[185329]

I can relate to the whole psychiatrist only wanting themself to be happy, at the expense of the patient. That's how I feel everyday, only it's not just limited to my psychiatrist. I feel "locked up" inside. And my thoughts feel suppressed, too. It's like my psychiatrist only wants me to think what they want me to think.

[Mountaindewed]

I'm on 75 twice a day. I thought I regressed mentally because of Covid and not socializing for 2 years. I just recently heard the dopamax comment on here the other day and its got me wondering. Weight wise I've been about the same. It doesn't seem to be doing much for me anymore.

I seem to recall you saying it didn't work for you, but I will always swear by my Geodon lamictal combo.

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by *Beth*

Thanks, Boots. Yeah, I've heard the Dope-amax reference. Oh, goodie! That'll make David pleased, I'll sit in a chair like a potted plant, thinking nothing, a small and pleasant smile on my complacent face.

I'm hoping for something to lift my mood, even a bit. I don't know why med dude is taking so long to raise the dose, I'm finally going up to 50mg today after being on only 25mg for 8 days.

Yikes, yeah. That plant thing. You could never be that. And neither could I. Anyone who thinks or thought that about me needs a serious ********. They didn't have a freakin clue about me

I hope you find something very soon to lift your mood dear Beth.

I was thinking of possibly Miraplex? I could easily have the name wrong. It helped someone who had severe treatment resistent depression.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by unaluna

Thats a normal rate of dose titration. I titrated myself down from a low dose over a couple of months.

I took it for 20 years, if you are looking for a recommendation! Mainly for my jacksonian marches, which so far (1 month off) have not returned.

That's quite a track record! But...what are Jacksonian marches?

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Fuzzybear

Yikes, yeah. That plant thing. You could never be that. And neither could I. Anyone who thinks or thought that about me needs a serious ********. They didn't have a freakin clue about me

I hope you find something very soon to lift your mood dear Beth.

I was thinking of possibly Miraplex? I could easily have the name wrong. It helped someone who had severe treatment resistent depression.

Thank you, Fuzzy, luv. I googled the medication you've mentioned, Mirapex. It's primarily used for Parkinson's Disease, but off-label for other health problems. For example, it raises dopamine...makes sense as to why someone would be prescribed that med for depression. It also helps with sleep. If I could sleep I may not feel so depressed. Oh, but Fuzzy! It would require a doctor to know about these things!

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by 185329

I can relate to the whole psychiatrist only wanting themself to be happy, at the expense of the patient. That's how I feel everyday, only it's not just limited to my psychiatrist. I feel "locked up" inside. And my thoughts feel suppressed, too. It's like my psychiatrist only wants me to think what they want me to think.

Your post gave me a smile. Yes, psychiatrists often want that, too, but I was referring to my husband, sadly

With regard to pdocs, however...far, far too many pdocs and PA's and MA's are licensed and practicing, but should not be. And many therapists, who should not be in their field. But something to remember - plenty of the professionals we see graduated with mediocre or poor grades. Just because they have initials after their names doesn't make them talented.

I've seen A LOT more talent with people from hair stylists - and I am very, very serious. I booked time on the afternoon of my birthday with my hair stylist, not with my therapist. 'Nuf said about who I'd rather spend quality time with.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

I'm on 75 twice a day. I thought I regressed mentally because of Covid and not socializing for 2 years. I just recently heard the dopamax comment on here the other day and its got me wondering. Weight wise I've been about the same. It doesn't seem to be doing much for me anymore.

I seem to recall you saying it didn't work for you, but I will always swear by my Geodon lamictal combo.

Yeah, apparently Topamax is known for being...Dopamax. Geodon works for everyone I can think of who I've heard mention it. The problem I had with it was that it made me sleepy during the day and gave me insomnia at night.

That said, maybe the problem was with an interaction with other meds I was also on at the time. Many times I regret having told a new prescriber about a med I was formerly taking that didn't work back then. I find that they almost never bother to request records from the previous place, anyway, and I should have kept my information to myself.

Of course, all it takes is a

Me: "Welll...we haven't tried Geodon."

Script person: "Oh? I thought you said you'd tried that medication?"

Me: "Me? Nooo...." Shakes head, "I've never been on that one."

Script person: "Hm! Okay, let's give it a try!"

Me: "Okay. I guess."

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by *Beth*

Yeah, apparently Topamax is known for being...Dopamax. Geodon works for everyone I can think of who I've heard mention it. The problem I had with it was that it made me sleepy during the day and gave me insomnia at night.

That said, maybe the problem was with an interaction with other meds I was also on at the time. Many times I regret having told a new prescriber about a med I was formerly taking that didn't work back then. I find that they almost never bother to request records from the previous place, anyway, and I should have kept my information to myself.

Of course, all it takes is a

Me: "Welll...we haven't tried Geodon."

Script person: "Oh? I thought you said you'd tried that medication?"

Me: "Me? Nooo...." Shakes head, "I've never been on that one."

Script person: "Hm! Okay, let's give it a try!"

Me: "Okay. I guess."

The script person scenario seems familiar to me also

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by *Beth*

Your post gave me a smile. Yes, psychiatrists often want that, too, but I was referring to my husband, sadly

With regard to pdocs, however...far, far too many pdocs and PA's and MA's are licensed and practicing, but should not be. And many therapists, who should not be in their field. But something to remember - plenty of the professionals we see graduated with mediocre or poor grades. Just because they have initials after their names doesn't make them talented.

I've seen A LOT more talent with people from hair stylists - and I am very, very serious. I booked time on the afternoon of my birthday with my hair stylist, not with my therapist. 'Nuf said about who I'd rather spend quality time with.

Good post.

[MuddyBoots]

Originally Posted by *Beth*

Yeah, apparently Topamax is known for being...Dopamax. Geodon works for everyone I can think of who I've heard mention it. The problem I had with it was that it made me sleepy during the day and gave me insomnia at night.

That said, maybe the problem was with an interaction with other meds I was also on at the time. Many times I regret having told a new prescriber about a med I was formerly taking that didn't work back then. I find that they almost never bother to request records from the previous place, anyway, and I should have kept my information to myself.

Of course, all it takes is a

Me: "Welll...we haven't tried Geodon."

Script person: "Oh? I thought you said you'd tried that medication?"

Me: "Me? Nooo...." Shakes head, "I've never been on that one."

Script person: "Hm! Okay, let's give it a try!"

Me: "Okay. I guess."

I did that recently with Abilify and my new pdoc. Been on it before but said I wasn't because I wanted to give it another shot. She didn't put me on it (I wound up on Haldol while IP).

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by MuddyBoots

I did that recently with Abilify and my new pdoc. Been on it before but said I wasn't because I wanted to give it another shot. She didn't put me on it (I wound up on Haldol while IP).

Another one is:

Me: "So a while back we talked about maybe trying 'x'. I've been thinking it over and I read some stuff...I mean, yeah, maybe let's try it. May as well, it could help."

Prescriber: "Oh, yeah. That can be a useful medication. Sure, if you want to try it. Sure."

(Truth: We had never really talked about 'x', I just think it would be worth a shot.)

[Tart Cherry Jam]

I liked not being hungry on it but could not in the end tolerate even a small dose because I started having trouble with word recall which was out of character for me. And later I found a better solution (actually, several of them) for the excessive hunger problem so no longer needed Topamax.

I have not tried taking it for mood.

I have tried it for migraines without success. Again, ultimately found a complete solution for migraines in the form of Nurtec.

[rjdb]

It made me itchy and forget words/names.

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