Posted by headachequeen on October 26, 2003, at 11:11:58
In reply to Wellbutrin update question on Topamax dosage, posted by chicago77 on October 25, 2003, at 23:16:07
I wish I could state a definite dosage for weight loss <g>
I was originally seeing my neurologist for epilepsy -- had never considered migraine as a neurological problem -- duh -- and I am supposed to be a highly intelligent individual ....
until I saw the posters in his office...at one point when my doctor thought I was suffering from depression I was on Wellbutrin and Zyprexa and Imovane; the Wellbutrin was stopped when the epilepsy was diagnosed as it does not work well with most epilepsy meds I was told... no one told me it lowered the seizure threshold... at one time I was enduring twelve and more seizures in a two-month period of time... as my seizures are not the movie style I was not really aware of them and thought that they were related to the depression...
I was exhausted for a day or three following a seizure and sometimes would lose track of the days, would relive the same day over and over until someone pointed out that today was not Tuesday, it was Sunday... when I mentioned this to my doctor, he told me this behaviour was more seizure-related and ordered an eeg and other tests and epilepsy was diagnosed and Wellbutrin with its happy face trademark left my life (I always thought that was rather an overdone trademark to be honest)...
I forget the one that replaced it...
Tegretol was introduced by the neurologist in slow increments
A few months after that, my neurologist always sees patients in three month follow-ups, I asked about migraine and was asked why I had never asked about it before... well it hadn't occurred... this is when the Topomax was prescribed... with the warning that it often causes weight loss... well I decided I could live with that...
within a days of starting to take it.. 25 mg once a day in the evening, I had lost a couple of pounds and that was really exciting for me... I needed that boost for my morale at that particular time...
A month later as I had been told that I was not depressed by the psychiatrists who had examined me after my breakdown but needed a psychologist, I stopped taking the anti-depressants entirely and felt great.
Since taking the Topomax I have not had a migraine... almost eleven months now...
and now that I am up to 400 mg a day of it and have been increased to 400 mg of the Tegretol have had only one seizure since August...
and to me that is really great...
life is beginning to be normal.. or what I consider to be normal...
not only that, but I have dropped enough weight that I can wear a size 10 jean and look like it is meant to be not as if I am trying to squeeze into a sausage casing...
I no longer feel as if people look at my husband with sympathy... and I no longer feel uncomfortable going places...
this has to be contributing to my emotional or mental well-being too...
who knows? I may no longer need the shrink... he may be out of a job one of these days...
well, once we lay to rest the childhood traumas...
and that it seems takes longer than I planned...
but Topomax does not seem to have any massive side effects for me...the dry mouth someone had mentioned could be associated with it or with the meds that go with other problems I am dealing with... oh for the days when I was young and healthy... I guess it is pay back time...
and I drink gallons of water all the time now... since reading the advice here and the bit about kidney stones possibility...
and I do get drowsy at times...but other than that I think it is doing all right for me...
and not having migraines or seizures... well that is all right too
kat> I am also very curious about the dosage for Topamax for weight loss. I currently take Wellbutrin for depression and have no side effects that I am aware of. AND, if you didn't know, they came out with once-a-day dosing... Wellbutrin XL (which is great for me b/c I kept forgetting to take the evening dose, or I'd be somewhere w/out my meds).
> Anyway, I also have migraines, although I haven't had a full-blown attack in about a month. However, I am a grad student and was talking to a lecturer that spoke on migraines. I asked her if the prodrome/aura symptoms (visual disturbences in particular) are indicative of a neurological disorder, just as if I was experiencing full-out attacks. Her belief is that migraines are just as much of a neurological disorder as epilepsy (and she works at Diamond Headache Clinic- very famous). So, it would make sense that migraines at treated in a similar way.
> As far as the Wellbutrin/Topamax combo, since Wellbutrin typically lowers seizure threshold (making it more likely that you MIGHT have a seizure), I would think that adding on an anti-seizure med (which Topamax is) would be a good idea!
> So, back to my original questions... what is the typical dosage of Topamax for weight loss, because I've seen posts that range from 50 mg once a day to 200 mg twice a day! Has anyone noticed drowsiness to be a side effect of Topamax? If so, has taking the med at bedtime made any difference, or does the drowsiness seem to persist thoughout the day? (Geez- can you tell I'm studying for a medical profession?!) I have an appointment with my psychiatrist this coming Thursday (it's Saturday night), and would really appreciate any advice before then so I seem well informed. I will let everyone know how it goes and, if I get a Rx, will update my progress. Thanks everyone!!
poster:headachequeen
thread:50878
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031025/msgs/273611.html