Posted by Kingfish on April 22, 2001, at 14:39:50
In reply to Re: Topomax Gabapentin. » Kingfish, posted by JahL on April 20, 2001, at 13:23:33
Jah:
See my answers below.
I'm sorry you're having a tough time right now. I certainly understand. Thoughts are with you.
** What does the Topomax do for you (you're BPII, right)?
I am BPII. The Topamax:
> stops my thoughts from racing
> allows me to process things better
-for example, I self-medicated and substance-abused big time and that has been pretty much under control because I can reason with myself better now and I think the medicine has helped curb the desire> helps me think more linearly (is that a word?) - I can discuss subjects more clearly and stay more focussed
> helps control the hypomania (however I did have an episode a couple of weeks ago)
> there's much more I'll think about and share - I need to work on putting it into words.
** Does it help with the depression side of things? Are you depressed w/o the Celexa?I think the Topamax does help with the depression because I haven't had any trouble with depression since I started it, and I had a bad depressive episode last fall while on the Celexa alone. But I have not heard any evidence that Topamax has anti-depressive qualities while apparently the Lamictal does.
My main problem is depression and I do think the Celexa helped some but certainly not enough. I'd be interested in dropping the dose and possibly stopping it completely to see if the Topamax could "handle" it alone, but my pdoc is very hesitant to do this.
**Yr pdoc's view of Gabapentin's augmenting action, + yr own experiences, seem to bear out my line of thinking, doncha think?!I do think you hit it right on the head.
**The 'immediate difference' (re Gabapentin) you speak of; is this akin to the 'calming' effect I frequently read of?
I think so, but it also feels "stabilizing", if that makes sense, and it's not a major change in mood at all. It's more like I feel "off" now if I don't take it.
** Lastly, how close to remission does this combo bring you (pretty close I hope!)?I feel so much better, Jah. I still have trouble with sedation, though. Some folks have recommended to switch to Lamictal because it's not sedating like Topamax and I'm sure that's a good suggestion but I'm too nervous to change stabilizers right now. My pdoc is, too. He tried me on Wellbutrin because it's activating - it was not a good med for me. Everyone is so very different. He has also suggested an anti-narcoleptic, but I'm afraid it will have the same effects as Wellbutrin. For now, I'm trying to work with the sedation.
When everything came together, and it was a fluke, because I decided to re-add the Neurontin, I woke up one morning and it was as if the last twelve to fifteen years or so had been a bad dream, and I knew that things were going to be different.
Let me know how things go for you.
- K.
P.S. ItsJustMe seems to have found another board to torture. :)
poster:Kingfish
thread:60514
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010417/msgs/60764.html