Posted by Maeve on June 20, 2003, at 13:17:08
In reply to Re:Topamax, posted by gregg on May 12, 2003, at 16:37:08
> > I'm new to the message board as well as Topamax. While I was skimming through eveyone's postings, it seemed like most people are bi-polar. My doctor put me on it as a "last ditch effort". I have been on an entire category of anti depressants. I had then moved into anti psychotics and then when they didn't work we looked into the possibility of ECT. I have severe depression, OCD, anxiety disorder and borderline personality disorder. I was just recently hospitalized in February. Everything sort of came to a head when I (and everyone else) could no longer ingore the life I was "living". I am 28 years old. Topamax is my last hope. I am very scared of weight gain. I am also prone to bullemia. Forgive the novel I am writing but I have researched a lot of information about Topamax on the internet and my doctor says he's giving this to me for a mood stabilizer and anti anxiety. I am taking 25 mg am & pm for 1 week then I will bump it up to 50 twice a day. Although he says it's good for anxiety, I have more of it, but only at night - so I have to take Klonipin (something I had to w/draw from just a few short weeks ago). Also, he told me to drink a lot of water b/c it can cause kidney stones. It's too soon for the tingling in the hands yet or the confusion but I did experience that w/ Gabatril. Has anyone else been specifically been put on this FOR anxiety? Thanks in advance. Michelle :) P.S I have tried Neurontin - It did nothing for me! Me and medications are funny - they either totally effect me or not at all...
>
> There are plenty of Topomax users posting their experiences on the following web site: http://pub123.ezboard.com/ftopamaxtalkfrm2
>
> GregHello Gregg,
I too was one of those "medication-users" pharmacists just luuuuuve to see walkin’ in their front doors! Nothing worked! I’ve tried just about everything for my depression and ADD/ADHA. (I’m not bi-polar) Yeah… the Gabapentin or Neurontin did nada for me either, but on my sister it’s fantastic, she’s not such a huge @#*+!!
I am now on 225mg of Effexor all at once in the morning, and 200mg Topamax at night, along with 100mg of Trazodone. Topamax and Trazodone both make me very sleepy so I take them about 1 hour exactly before bedtime. I do not sign contracts or operate heavy machinery after I’ve taken these drugs! Gawd only knows what would happen!! But I have the BEST sleep! And for an insomniac, that’s something! It’s my lil bedtime cocktail, and I no longer have to drink myself to sleep – I just take 3 non-addicting pills at nite and I’m ready to go in the morning!!
I had gained almost 80 pounds in a year and a half on various medications that were supposed to make me feel better… Ri-ight!! Now the fab news is that in 6 weeks I’ve lost about 30 pounds!! And even wackier I feel like exercising again! My mood is picking up; I’m starting to socialize (which as I just read that last statement sounds truly wacked but true). It’s crazy, but I want to go out side and get a tan for the first time in 2 years!
I'm sure you've heard that Topamax is called "dope-amax" and the California drug, as it makes ya "skinny and dumb." I have not had the "stup-afects" nor have I lost any hair (which was freaking me out, as all the other antidepressants have already made me fat, but lose my hair?) Great, fat & bald, maybe I’d meet a guy at Hair Club for Men…
The only suggestion I would make, that I adhered to and never had side effects was, increase dosage every 4 to 5 days, slowly, gradually let your system get accustomed to the new meds…
Never forget – Better living through chemistry – your combination is out there – and you and your doctor will find it!
You’ll do it – we’re all pitchin’ for ya!!
Maeve
poster:Maeve
thread:9390
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030619/msgs/235476.html