I was just curious if anybody was successful in losing the weight they gained from being on medication for Bipolar? I ask this because i get mixed anwers from everywhere and i get demotivated when i read that you cant lose the weight.

Also, anybody here on Topamax?? I'v asked to be started on it and my pdoc said she'll look it up and get back to me.

My main purpose for taking it is to help me lose the weight i'v gained from depakote, because i'v been trying for almost 5 months to lose weight and its not workin, i just get more depressed.

But i'v read that it really messes up your short term memory and other cognitive processes. I start studying in 3 months time and these side effects wont help, so i was wondering if anybody suffered these side effects and how long did they last???

Sorry about all the posts about my weight gain, but its ruining my life.

Thank You.

xx

I use Topamax as a Mood Stabilizer and have been on it since 2002. It has been a great drug for me. However, it does have its downfalls. Short term memory loss can be a side effect. And cognative thinking difficulties. I have dealt with both since being on the medication.

I tend to forget peoples names mostly, or things that I've done in recent years (5 years or less) that are eventful in spiratic chunks. Like, I can remember an event but not the entire event whereas my DH can remember the entire event. It is frustrating.

Cognative abilities. Math skills have been quite frustrating for me. They come and go and I never know when they will work and not work. Writing checks is difficult. My penmenship used to be beautiful but this drug causes my hands to tremor at times (not always-sometimes) or to be unsteady. Now I am not always able to write ledgebly.

Weightloss. I initially lost 25 pounds when I first began taking Topamax. I lost so much that the pdoc made me regain 10 pounds back. Then I was placed on Abilify. Abilify is a weight neutral drug, and normally never causes anyone to gain weight, however, I was one of the few people who did gain on it. Now I have gained the weight back. It slowed my metabolism up a lot, plus it did make me crave carbo foods.

Topamax will cause soda pop to have a funny taste to it. You won't like it much anymore until you've been on it like me, for a long amount of time and are used to drinking it again with that 'taste'. The appetite usually decreases in most people, not all, usually most to the point where you forget to eat. And, you must drink 8-10 glasses of water a day to flush out the med to avoid getting kidney stones/deyhdration.

So, that is all I can tell you what I know about Topamax. There is a thread here somewhere on this site that is about Topamax. Do a search on Topamax... Like.. "Calling Topamax" or something like that. It is a HUGE thread and you will learn a ton about the drug there.

Coffeegirl

Thanx again coffegirl, your advice has been very helpful. I'm sorry to hear that you have difficulties with remembering things and writing.

I'v asked a few people about the side effects and they said that they lasted from 4-8 weeks. It also says that the side effects are meant to slowly decrease after 2 months, but if they dont you have to contact your dr.

Maybe you still suffer with the side effects because you have been on it for soo long. I only plan to go on it for a few months to lose weight, but if i continue to get side effects after 2 months or so, i will ask to stop using it because i want to do well in my studying (its the only thing i'm/was good at).

However, i still have to wait and see if my pdoc will perscribe it for me. She said she hadn't heard of it before and would look it up. I dont kno if its used alot here in the UK.

If i dnt get it, i am still going to complain about my weight gain to my pdoc because i have serious issues with my body and she knew i did because she was treating me for it before. But she still perscribed me Depakote, knowing i would gain weight and didnt even tell me about it. How evil is she!!!!

Anyway, i'l try look for the thread.

I hope you are doing well.

Thank You.

xx