Posted by JohnX2 on June 15, 2002, at 23:14:33
In reply to Topamax Disaster: Need Something Else /Barbara?, posted by Leighwit on June 11, 2002, at 15:04:22
> Hi Barbara & fellow Babblers,
>
> I tried Topamax at 25 mg/day starting dose and I don't think I've ever had such a strong experience to a psychopharmaceutical product (and I've been using them for over ten years).
>
> In a matter of a few days, I felt so hopeless and in such a dark place that I can't even describe it. Saturday was one of the worst days of my life in terms of despair and just feeling like I didn't want to go on.
>
> I would have thought it was too soon for a strong cerebral reaction, but it was both exaggerated and isolated enough that I knew it had to be a reaction to the Topamax. I remember reading a post from Barbara that she had a similar experience with it, but I couldn't find the post using the site search. Knowing it was there helped because I knew the feeling was temporary.
>
> I still want to try a mood stabilizer because Lamictal had been promising.
>
> Are there other mood stabilizers that are not affiliated with weight gain? I need to augment (preferably replace) Wellbutrin for non-responsive depression ~ it's not working as well as it could/should, plus (and more importantly) I desperately need the agitation and irritability to stop!
>
> Laurie
I dont want to sound like a doubting thomas.But do you really think the 1 week lamictal trial was
an indicator of the long term response to the medicine.You also were changing you diet at the same time. My sisters
have gone on diets and gained weight initially...My experience with lamictal was that you get start up
side effects (usually mainly cognitive stuff, small skin
irritation, maybe agitation) and this subsides.You mentioned a 6 lb or so weight gain on Lamictal. Even taking
no med I can easily record a 6 lb weight fluctation.Have you really heard of Lamictal having a history of
weight gain??? I haven't. (But YMMV).You can augment lamictal with wellbutrin.
Good luck,
John
poster:JohnX2
thread:109501
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020609/msgs/109992.html