HELLO IM A 29 YEAR OLD WOMAN WHOS JUST BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BI POLAR DISORDER. I HAVE IN DENILE FOR ALONG TIME BUT BOTH MY PARENTS HAVE IT SO I GUESS MY GENES GOT THE BETTER OF ME. I WAS ORIGIONALLY PUT ON 100MG OF SEROQUEL TOPAMAX AND 150MG EFFEXOR. BUT MY DOCTOR HAS WEANED ME OFF EVRYTHING BUT THE SEROQUEL. SCINCE IV BEEN ON IT I HAVE GONE FROM 110 POUNDS TO 133 IN 3 MONTHS AND MY CHELESTEROL IS 290 AND TRYGLYSERIDES ARE 500. BEFORE I STARTED THIS MED I WAS IN GREAT HEALTH. AND NOW IM ON 600MG EVERYNIGHT. ALSO IM ON INDEROL 20MG 2 X A DAY. I GUESS I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF ANY BODY ELSE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS? OTHER THINGS ARE GOING ON TO. MY SKIN IS BREAKING OUT, IM TIRED ALOT, AND ALL MY JOINTS ACHE NOW. MY GMA SAYS THE LAST ONE IS ARTHRITIS BUT I THINK IM TO YOUNG FOR THAT. ANYWAYS IS THERE ANY MEDS YOU CAN RECCOMEND I TAKE THAT THAT WONT MAKE ME GAIN WEIGHT? AND THAT WONT DRAIN ME LIKE THE SEROQUEL DOES? THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST. :wave:

Hi Kaosazure,
I have being diagnosed with bipolarII since Feburary 2004. It's so hard to find meds that suit, I've had trouble myself. Perservere, I know it's hard when your experiancing side-effects that seem over-whelming...but it's worthwhile taking the time to discuss this with your psychiatrist, Do you trust him/her? He is the one perscribing the meds for you, do your homework and discuss options with him/her. Comprimising is the best way to insure that you and your pyschiatrist work together.

I am taking seroquel have been since March this year. My current dosage is 50mg at night & 25mg in the morning; I also take Efexor 150mg. I haven't had any side-effects with these meds. They work brilliantly together to tame my wild, rapid cycling. In addition, I also have bulimia nervosa; these meds do not gain weight. My psychiatrist is aware of my bulimia and probs I've had and he will not perscribe me anything that will allow me to gain even an gram of weight.
In my opinion, I would say that maybe topamax is the culprit.
Good luck,
Shining_Star