topamax experiences - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

scrags · 11-09-2003, 06:08 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 ***** mouth.

scrags · 11-11-2003, 03:29 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.

schragie · 11-12-2003, 04:54 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]

scrags · 11-12-2003, 08:23 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, 06:42 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