scrags
11-09-2003, 09:08 PM
HI all I just started on topamax 3 days ago and I was wondering what some of your experiences were. My pdoc started me out on 100mgs which may sound like a lot to start but I'm pretty resistent to most drugs or they stop working for me. Next week I go to 200 if the side effects aren't too bad. I'm also on 2000 mgs of depakote er, 300 mgs of wellbutrin er and 100mgs of trazodone at nite for sleep. I had to go to the doc and get something because I was getting really bad head aches for weeks on end and my mood swings were out of control (bad deppression/rage). So I really am hoping some one will tell me something good about this drug I need some relief I can't fit any more pills in my f-ing mouth. :mad:
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scrags
11-11-2003, 06:29 PM
so I am to believe no one knows anything about this drug!!!
That is kinda hard except. Would some one please give me some feedback. please
sorry to be a pinta.
That is kinda hard except. Would some one please give me some feedback. please
sorry to be a pinta.
schragie
11-12-2003, 07:54 PM
Hi Scrags,
I hate to say something negative about Topamax, but you really wanted feedback so here it is. I tried it a couple years ago after being off Depakote for a while (because of the weight gain issue I had). I was only on 25 mg of Topamax and stayed on it for 5 weeks. It made me really sick--nausea, couldn't eat (sure lost some weight!). Worse, I had real cognitive impairment--memory problems, getting lost, confused all the time. These are real side effects of the drug and I couldn't believe I was having them on such a low dose. Actually, I can't believe I got through it! I also veered into a hypomanic state after two weeks on it but my doc did not agree that it had anything to do with the drug. I went back to Depakote.
For some, Topamax has been wonderful. I hope it does the trick for you.
Schragie
QUOTE=scrags]so I am to believe no one knows anything about this drug!!!
That is kinda hard except. Would some one please give me some feedback. please
sorry to be a pinta.[/QUOTE]
I hate to say something negative about Topamax, but you really wanted feedback so here it is. I tried it a couple years ago after being off Depakote for a while (because of the weight gain issue I had). I was only on 25 mg of Topamax and stayed on it for 5 weeks. It made me really sick--nausea, couldn't eat (sure lost some weight!). Worse, I had real cognitive impairment--memory problems, getting lost, confused all the time. These are real side effects of the drug and I couldn't believe I was having them on such a low dose. Actually, I can't believe I got through it! I also veered into a hypomanic state after two weeks on it but my doc did not agree that it had anything to do with the drug. I went back to Depakote.
For some, Topamax has been wonderful. I hope it does the trick for you.
Schragie
QUOTE=scrags]so I am to believe no one knows anything about this drug!!!
That is kinda hard except. Would some one please give me some feedback. please
sorry to be a pinta.[/QUOTE]
scrags
11-12-2003, 11:23 PM
thank you so much Schragie I just wanted to hear from some one I really needed that positive or negitive. I've been on this for 6 days now and I do notice the cognitive thing but more so my aggretion level, which was a real problem any way, has gone up. I want to give this a chance, I really need too beacause I need a break I take depakote wellbutrin and trazodone with this topamax all at pretty good levels and I feel like I've made no progress. Dunno at won of those what u gunna du kinda momments...and I flipped liked dat.
schragie
11-13-2003, 09:42 PM
Hang in there, Scrags. I know how hard it is to try something new. I hope it works for you. It's amazing how some drugs have completely opposite effects on different people. If I take Effexor, I have trouble sleeping. My friend takes it and can't stay awake!
Best regards
Schragie
Best regards
Schragie
sandinmyears
11-14-2003, 11:48 AM
Besides being dx'd with BPII and ADHD, I also have Epilepsy. I take Tegretol and Topamax for both BPII and Epilepsy.
I recently had an odd experience. I described it to my therapist like this: I was just sort of "out of it"/"not with it" I had a hard time bringing myself back into it too. Sort of like daydreaming but kind of "way out there" and hard to bring myself back to earth, so to speak.
I told him that I didn't think it was a seizure, but sort of reminded me of one. He took me seriously too. (Not like I was just pulling his leg). I couldn't seem to just "pop out of it," though it was short in length-- less than 10 seconds. If it was a seizure, it was a new type of seizure that I'd never experienced before.
The therapist said it might be dissociation. I told him that it didn't happen very often. Once in a blue moon. Seems like an ADHD sort of thing to me. Like I'm off in La La Land. Not here. Not there. Not really with it. Trying to think about something but not really able to think about anything at all-- and not able to pull myself out of it. NOT ABLE TO MAKE MY BRAIN THINK. Weird. I asked him if this was just a NORMAL thing that NORMAL people do. He said that it could be-- up to a point. Depends on how often and to what degree.
Well, I did a little bit of reading up on Topamax (which I just began taking in August) and one of it's side effects is DEPERSONALIZATION.
I was reading the side effect of the meds I take. I just started taking Topamax back in August. One of its side effects can be "Depersonalization." Interesting.
The definition of "Depersonalization" is:
DEPERSONALIZATION
Pronunciation: dee`pursunli'zeyshun
Matching Terms: depersonalization disorder, depersonalization neurosis
Definition:
[n] representing a human being as a physical thing deprived of personal qualities or individuality; "according to Marx, treating labor as a commodity exemplified the reification of the individual"
[n] emotional dissociative disorder in which there is loss of contact with your own personal reality accompanied by feelings of unreality and strangeness
[n] (existentialism) a loss of personal identity; a feeling of being an anonymous cog in a stupid social machine
Synonyms: depersonalisation, depersonalisation, depersonalisation disorder, depersonalisation neurosis, depersonalization disorder, depersonalization neurosis, reification
See Also: dissociative disorder, mental state, objectification, psychological state
It wasn't a big deal. Only lasted around 7 seconds, but it's worth noting anyway, especially if I notice it happening more and more. If it only happens once in a blue moon, then it's no big deal and I'll chalk it up as a "senior moment." :)
I love that I've lost 10 pounds on Topamax, though. Here are some of it's other side effects. I'm not sure how common they are and/or how transient they are:
Common: Aggressive Reaction, Difficulty with Concentration/Attention, Psychomotor Slowing, Difficulty with Memory
Infrequent: Agitation, Anorexia, Apathy, Confusion, Depersonalization, Depression, Emotional Lability, Mood Disturbances, Nervousness, Somnolence
I recently had an odd experience. I described it to my therapist like this: I was just sort of "out of it"/"not with it" I had a hard time bringing myself back into it too. Sort of like daydreaming but kind of "way out there" and hard to bring myself back to earth, so to speak.
I told him that I didn't think it was a seizure, but sort of reminded me of one. He took me seriously too. (Not like I was just pulling his leg). I couldn't seem to just "pop out of it," though it was short in length-- less than 10 seconds. If it was a seizure, it was a new type of seizure that I'd never experienced before.
The therapist said it might be dissociation. I told him that it didn't happen very often. Once in a blue moon. Seems like an ADHD sort of thing to me. Like I'm off in La La Land. Not here. Not there. Not really with it. Trying to think about something but not really able to think about anything at all-- and not able to pull myself out of it. NOT ABLE TO MAKE MY BRAIN THINK. Weird. I asked him if this was just a NORMAL thing that NORMAL people do. He said that it could be-- up to a point. Depends on how often and to what degree.
Well, I did a little bit of reading up on Topamax (which I just began taking in August) and one of it's side effects is DEPERSONALIZATION.
I was reading the side effect of the meds I take. I just started taking Topamax back in August. One of its side effects can be "Depersonalization." Interesting.
The definition of "Depersonalization" is:
DEPERSONALIZATION
Pronunciation: dee`pursunli'zeyshun
Matching Terms: depersonalization disorder, depersonalization neurosis
Definition:
[n] representing a human being as a physical thing deprived of personal qualities or individuality; "according to Marx, treating labor as a commodity exemplified the reification of the individual"
[n] emotional dissociative disorder in which there is loss of contact with your own personal reality accompanied by feelings of unreality and strangeness
[n] (existentialism) a loss of personal identity; a feeling of being an anonymous cog in a stupid social machine
Synonyms: depersonalisation, depersonalisation, depersonalisation disorder, depersonalisation neurosis, depersonalization disorder, depersonalization neurosis, reification
See Also: dissociative disorder, mental state, objectification, psychological state
It wasn't a big deal. Only lasted around 7 seconds, but it's worth noting anyway, especially if I notice it happening more and more. If it only happens once in a blue moon, then it's no big deal and I'll chalk it up as a "senior moment." :)
I love that I've lost 10 pounds on Topamax, though. Here are some of it's other side effects. I'm not sure how common they are and/or how transient they are:
Common: Aggressive Reaction, Difficulty with Concentration/Attention, Psychomotor Slowing, Difficulty with Memory
Infrequent: Agitation, Anorexia, Apathy, Confusion, Depersonalization, Depression, Emotional Lability, Mood Disturbances, Nervousness, Somnolence
scrags
11-14-2003, 12:26 PM
this stuff is working me over a little bit, i have an anger problem and it has come back and it is really hard to keep in check. i know it is a side effect of the topamax so i'm giving it some time to work out and i hope it does. also last night i just drifted away, i was sitting on the couch my wife was asking me a question and i kinda floated out of my seat. i could hear her but it sounded like she was up at the top of a well. very strange not scary i've done plenty of drugs when i was younger that have done worse then that so, still kinda interesting. the only worry is the anger thing and when will i benifit if at all from this new experiment.:yawn:
thanks for the input
scrags
thanks for the input
scrags
jorob
11-16-2003, 01:02 AM
[/FONT][SIZE=3][COLOR=Black]HI all I just started on topamax 3 days ago and I was wondering what some of your experiences were. My pdoc started me out on 100mgs which may sound like a lot to start but I'm pretty resistent to most drugs or they stop working for me. Next week I go to 200 if the side effects aren't too bad. I'm also on 2000 mgs of depakote er, 300 mgs of wellbutrin er and 100mgs of trazodone at nite for sleep. I had to go to the doc and get something because I was getting really bad head aches for weeks on end and my mood swings were out of control (bad deppression/rage). So I really am hoping some one will tell me something good about this drug I need some relief I can't fit any more pills in my f-ing mouth. :mad:
[FONT=Comic Sans MS]Hey, Scrags. I'm relatively new to the board, but not to Topomax. Have been on it about 4 mos. and on it prior to that. By the way, love your last line! Ain't it the truth. Anyway, Topomax, in conjunction with 5 other meds, keeps me stabilized, with NO blood tests and relative mental clarity (relative to what, I dunno). I take 100 mg. daily, but it's the 200 mg. of Lamictal that really helps the most, plus .05 klonopin and 75 mg. Seroquel at night, 15 mg. Ability and 150 mg. Zoloft during the day. That happens to be the magic combo so far, for about 4 mos., after a hellish trial & error before my correct diagnosis was discovered. Of course, with all these meds, I must wear square-toed shoes for when I walk into corners, or round-toed shoes for the daze I wander in circles.
[FONT=Comic Sans MS]Hey, Scrags. I'm relatively new to the board, but not to Topomax. Have been on it about 4 mos. and on it prior to that. By the way, love your last line! Ain't it the truth. Anyway, Topomax, in conjunction with 5 other meds, keeps me stabilized, with NO blood tests and relative mental clarity (relative to what, I dunno). I take 100 mg. daily, but it's the 200 mg. of Lamictal that really helps the most, plus .05 klonopin and 75 mg. Seroquel at night, 15 mg. Ability and 150 mg. Zoloft during the day. That happens to be the magic combo so far, for about 4 mos., after a hellish trial & error before my correct diagnosis was discovered. Of course, with all these meds, I must wear square-toed shoes for when I walk into corners, or round-toed shoes for the daze I wander in circles.
kc_1309
11-17-2003, 09:02 AM
Hello. Well- i'm going to reply to your issue with Topomax. I'm not sure just how much help i'm going to be but here i go.
I have been taking Topomax for about 9 months now. I am taking 350 mgs. I was having uncontrollable anger/rage mood swings and they started me out at 25 mgs...and slowly increased to where I am now. I would respond okay to the Topomax, and My moods would be okay....(longer time span between my anger fits)...but then it seemed as if i became tolerant to my dosage, so they would increase it. Thus I am where I am...350 mgs. I did NOT have any negative side effects. NONE. Not 1 headeache, No dizziniss, no lethargia or any of the other stuff that is mentioned. There are only 2 things I wish to mention that coinsides with Topomax. I have lose weight...about 35 pounds. I don't know if you would consider that to be a GOOD or a BAD thing...some people feel differently...and I don't know which side you fall. Predicting how you benefit, or IF you do from the medication, and if you have enough weight to lose, it could just be an added benefit (see my logic ;) ). But, on the other hand, if you are an entremely small person without the pounds to spare, i'm not sure you could sacrifice the side effect. The other thing is- once in awhile I wonder if I forget things while on this medication. It might seem as though I have to work harder to remember simple things. I haven't quite made up my mind whether or not it's a result of the Topopmax...or my mind is just gone to *****. hahaha. I have kids and I am a big ball of Stress...so it could be either. regardless...i have done crazy things like put my cordless phone in the fridge...cancel my credit cards and then go try to charge things on them and wonder why they don't accept charges (swearing that I did NOT close my account :eek: )....who knows...I could never pin those crazy actions on the side effects of Topomax...but i swear...until i started feeding my mouth full of pills at mental health...i did not do messed up things like that. My point is..(and i do have one)...i always try to weigh out what my meds are doing FOR me with what they are doing AGAINST me...and see if its worth it. With the Topomax...its worth it so far. So what if my phone is cold and i can't shop as much. At least I my family can live with me. Good luck!! :jester:
I have been taking Topomax for about 9 months now. I am taking 350 mgs. I was having uncontrollable anger/rage mood swings and they started me out at 25 mgs...and slowly increased to where I am now. I would respond okay to the Topomax, and My moods would be okay....(longer time span between my anger fits)...but then it seemed as if i became tolerant to my dosage, so they would increase it. Thus I am where I am...350 mgs. I did NOT have any negative side effects. NONE. Not 1 headeache, No dizziniss, no lethargia or any of the other stuff that is mentioned. There are only 2 things I wish to mention that coinsides with Topomax. I have lose weight...about 35 pounds. I don't know if you would consider that to be a GOOD or a BAD thing...some people feel differently...and I don't know which side you fall. Predicting how you benefit, or IF you do from the medication, and if you have enough weight to lose, it could just be an added benefit (see my logic ;) ). But, on the other hand, if you are an entremely small person without the pounds to spare, i'm not sure you could sacrifice the side effect. The other thing is- once in awhile I wonder if I forget things while on this medication. It might seem as though I have to work harder to remember simple things. I haven't quite made up my mind whether or not it's a result of the Topopmax...or my mind is just gone to *****. hahaha. I have kids and I am a big ball of Stress...so it could be either. regardless...i have done crazy things like put my cordless phone in the fridge...cancel my credit cards and then go try to charge things on them and wonder why they don't accept charges (swearing that I did NOT close my account :eek: )....who knows...I could never pin those crazy actions on the side effects of Topomax...but i swear...until i started feeding my mouth full of pills at mental health...i did not do messed up things like that. My point is..(and i do have one)...i always try to weigh out what my meds are doing FOR me with what they are doing AGAINST me...and see if its worth it. With the Topomax...its worth it so far. So what if my phone is cold and i can't shop as much. At least I my family can live with me. Good luck!! :jester:
scrags
11-17-2003, 12:52 PM
thanks for the input so far. well today is day 11 i'm at 200mgs and my ,as they say on the side effects sheet, aggitation level is up. that is a huge understatment but i hope it will pass along with the little bit of confussion but that i can cover for. my anger is what scares me and alot of other people, that is one of the reasons i went to the pdoc in the first place. i think it's kinda funny that they call it aggitation like your rubbing me the wrong way. that is not the case for me at all i don't get aggitated, i go from really angry to wanting to kill in about 2 seconds. which around the house translates into something very small not going right and me screaming or throwing something. so all in all i hope this stuff gets on track soon this feeling of regression ummm sucks. thankyou all again for the input.
scrags
scrags
herzel
11-17-2003, 01:35 PM
Hey, heres to your question on Topramax.I was on it for awhile last year and lost so much waight because of being nauseas.Nonestly I don't think it helped me but I know it has helped some so you have to go by "you".I tried it again 3 months ago because I started to see a new pdr and he thought it would help me and again it made me so sick I had to stop.Now he has me on Trileptal,mostly for agitation and it has helped me so much.Probably the best drug I have been on for anger and agitation. I am also taking Lamictal 200mg a day and that is great for BP.So far now on those 2 drugs I must say I am better than I have been for a long time.I usually have an episode at least 1 time every month and now its been 3 months and I feel better than I have for a long time.My dr specializes in BP and he swears by Lamictal.Hope this helps you some but remember everyone is different so go by the way you feel.I have been fighting BP for 20 years and hopefully I have found some drugs that work for me. Good Luck to you!! :wave: