Posted by Montana50 on June 5, 2001, at 1:24:49
In reply to carb cravings, etc. » Made-up Name, posted by Elizabeth on June 4, 2001, at 15:36:14
> >To all those of you have questions about
Topamax, I would like to share my experiences.
First,I am a middle aged woman who has Bipolar II
mixed with rapid cycling. I am unable to tolerate anti-
depressants and for various reasons am unable to
take the standard mood stablizers or any of the
new atypical antipsychotics. The last 2 years of
of my life have been hell and I've lost those years
of my life. Bad docs and bad meds. Fortunately,
this spring I found a good Doc and hospital. He
started me on Topamax but at 50 mg increments/wk.
I also was on 2mg. 2x/day Klonopin, 1mg x4/day
Ativan, Catapres,Hormone replacement therapy,
thyroid 3(levothyroxine),thyroid 4 (Cytomel),&
Sonata for sleep. He also started me on 10 mg in
a.m. of dexidrine and 7.5 mg at noon. The T-3,T-4,
and dexidrine were to help with the depression but
not to set off the rapid cycling or hypomania.
As I increased my Topamax, on the 3rd day, I would
get my "Topamax drunk", I staggered when I walked,
my voice was slurred, and I was drowsy and slept
for 14 hrs. However, the next day these sx would
be almost all gone. In the meantime, my mood was
stablizing, but it seemed like I couldn't feel any
joy, or satisfaction. Life seemed very dreary.
Finally, my husband insisted that I be rehospiti-
lized. Oh by the way, during this time, I wasn't
eating very much, very little appetite. When I got
to the hospital, I was able to go through the last
2 steps of my Topamax increases. My Doc changed mu
Dexidrine to 15 mg. spansules in the a.m. and 10mg
at noon. This seemed to help. I was able to get
stablized and be discharged in 8 days.
I take 400 mg. Topamax & it really has changed my
life. I know that different drugs work differently
for each individual but all the drugs I take every
day seem worth it because now " I am glad I am
alive and am going to see tomorrow." I urge folks
to ask questions, educate themselves, and if your
health provider is not meeting your needs, check
around to try and find one who will. With know-
ledge I have empowered myself so that I keep
learning how I can manage my life and not let my
disease control it. So when I fall down, I see
it just as a lesson,not a defeat, to learn from
the experience, not to blame or beat up on myself,
and it makes getting back up that much easier.
Something not so easily done.
In short: My Doc told me that if he didn't start
me slowly on Topamax it would be like giving me
instant Alzheimer's,I lost my appetite & 17 lbs
in 9 weeks, I experienced depression but I was
free for the first time in several years of rapid
cycling, dysphoric hypomania and with the change
in meds I am functional and fairly happy and busy
working.
Know this is long, but I hope it helps and gives
hope where hope is needed, and answers some of the
questions about Topamax.
Good Luck
Kathryn1
Elizabeth, I do eat breakfast and take melatonin. I give insulin to my cat and he is as well-regulated as cats can be as far as the diabetes goes. But he is old and has kidney disease. I have to give him subcutaneous fluids every other day with a big needle, and that is very stressful to both of us because it hurts him.
>
> Ouch! I know how he feels (I had sub-Q heparin every morning when I was in the hospital a couple months ago). You must love each other very much.
>
> > I was told by a relative who works at a residential psychiatric facility that Topamax didn't work for the fat girls in treatment there. I guess it does work for some people like Karen, though, so I am going to try it.
>
> I think that carb cravings are a distinct phenomenon which most people experience at some point, and some people have a persistent problem with them. My guess would be that you are most likely to be helped by antiobesity treatments which generally help people lose weight gained as a result of carb cravings.
>
> Best wishes to you and your cat.
>
> -elizabeth
poster:Montana50
thread:5053
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010530/msgs/65448.html