Topamax - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

emiaj888 · 08-28-2003, 11:25 AM

Hi everyone...
I went to see my psychiatrist today, and she switched me from Lithium to Topamax. I was having major side effects from Lithium (nausea, diarrhea, headaches, etc.) and wanted to try something different. Does anybody have experience with Topamax? I'd love to hear any experiences...
Thanks in advance!

Pendy · 08-29-2003, 12:33 PM

I'm not going to be a whole lot of help here but will give you as much info as I can. A few weeks ago I was put on Depakote. I got home and started researching it and when I found that one of the possible side effects was significant weight gain I freaked. But also during my research I learned that Topomax had the effect of helping people lose weight and in fact were using it often because of their weight gain while on Depakote or some other drug with the same side effect.

One of the side effects of Topomax is that it might reduce your appetite. And I think that has happened with me even though I am not up to my therapeutic dose yet. When I first started the Depakote I was HUNGRY all of the time and that was not like me. Now, even with my Depakote dose increased, I am not feeling as hungry.

Supposedly at higher doeses it can cause congnitive difficulties like the inability to remember peoples names or the feeling that you are just barely behind the eight ball. I haven't run into that yet but everyone is different. Good luck and I hope this helps.

schragie · 08-31-2003, 02:47 PM

Good luck with Topamax.

I was on Depakote for some years, gained weight and wanted to try Topamax when my doc mentioned it to me.

For me at least, it was a big mistake. I was on it for a month at a fairly low dose and renamed it "Dopamax". First, I lost weight which was good--but not great, since I was nauseated all the time. It also had mind-numbing effects leaving me drowsy, dizzy, unable to find words, remember names. I even got lost one day on my way home--to a place I'd lived for years. Very strange, eh? Apparently not uncommon.

I quit the drug and am back on Depakote and find that if I watch my diet fairly closely I don't gain weight and have even lost some.

Good luck!
Lisa

jgurl1976 · 09-02-2003, 07:37 AM

Yes, Topamax is know to make you feel like crap. Hey, but everyone is different! Hopefully you will prove me wrong.

Pendy · 09-02-2003, 12:26 PM

I've heard about these side effects and am looking out for them. If they pop up then no more Topomax for me. Pretty bad when a medicine can make you get lost going to your own house! And you're right, if you pay very close attention to your diet while on Depakote you shouldn't gain weight. But Depakote sure can make you hungry ALL of the time