Posted by Ginny on March 14, 2000, at 11:58:35
In reply to Re: Topomax as mood stabilizer?, posted by Brenda on March 14, 2000, at 10:15:03
> > I have read that Topomax has been used as a mood stabilizer and is associated with weight LOSS, rather than weight GAIN. Anyone have any experience with this? I am atypical Bipolar II with extreme fatigue symptoms when off meds (or when on the wrong ones).
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > KarenB
>
> Karen - I was on Topamax 100 mg. for about 3 months as a mood stabilizer. It DEFINITELY caused weight loss. If you have hypoglycemia it's important to make sure you eat. The most annoying symptom I had with this med was ringing in my head and a sensitivity to noise. I was having a Major Depressive episode and the Dr. thought I was BPII. It did help with the depression. However, I noted a lack of creativity or rather a desire for creativity. That feeling, though, could also have been a result of the depression. It's hard to say. I quit taking the Topamax and stabilized on Zoloft alone. My creativity is back - and the suns out again, too. It's probably all tied together. I have a cousin who is BPI and on Topamax and Depakote and she has lost lots of weight, without the icky side effects of Lithium. Even at a low dose of 50 mg. a day, my depression stabilized and the side effects lessened. I didn't have tremors or anything else associated with Lithium. I realize 100 mg. a day is a low dose, but I feel that the recommended dosages of a lot of meds are set by the pharmaceutical companies - and lots of times a lower dose will work just fine.
> Good luck to you. B.
I've been taking topomax for almost 2 weeks now to prevent migraines. I've been gradually increasing the dosage until now I'm taking 200 mgs a day. At first I was having a pretty difficult time with simple things like math, and I don't know, understanding simple things. It was crazy. It's becoming a little clearer now thank the Lord. Had me worried. It's helping with headaches too. Slowly though. As far as the weight loss goes, the first few days was great, I lost 3 or 4 lbs. If kind of goes up and down. Sometimes I go from being disgusted by the thought of food to being starved. I don't know. Today and yesterday I've been hungry but the monthly visitor is on the way so maybe that has something to do with it. I'm really hoping for the weight loss to work for me. Anyway, good luck to you! Ginny
poster:Ginny
thread:26929
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000312/msgs/26983.html