Posted by headachequeen on November 28, 2003, at 18:23:15
In reply to Re: topa to counter psych. med. wt. gain, posted by jtevers on November 28, 2003, at 17:00:38
> i have been on seroquel ( antipsychotic ) and neurontin ( mood stabilizer ) several years since being diagnosed in 2000 with bipolar...and have gained 60 lbs. during the course of my treatment.
>
> i would like to introduce topamax to my current treatment regimen and while prepared for the side effects, look forward to the possibility of losing my weight ... it so far has not responded to either exercise or diet, hence, topamax!
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> i have read both satisfied and disgruntled posts concerning this approach, but must see for myself ... many of the advocates, those who have lost weight, have also quit the offending ( weight-adding ) med. ( ie. lithium, depakote, or an antipsychotic ), can i still lose the weight while maintaining my current treatment regimen?
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> has anyone lost weight by adding topamax to their current medications?Topomax was added to a long list of existing medications one or two of which are known to increase weight... just what I needed (I gain weight when I am under stress... why worry when you can eat? it is not a case of hunger and often was not a case of even wanting or being truly aware of the food, it was just a reaction for lack of better explanation... I would discover that I was eating something and might as well finish it, waste not want not. Other times I would eat from boredom; I have to be doing something and cannot be still, so when there is nothing happening, when I cannot achieve that creative high my GP thought meant I was bi-polar, I would eat something, the more chocolate and high carb, the better.) To this they added a couple of meds that caused weight gain and I was really in trouble...
Topomax was added to the list and nothing was changed other than my decision to quit taking three of the meds that I thought were not helpful... if I am not depressed, then why take anti-depressants? so I quit... but the others stayed the same and I have had no difficulties and I still am using the weight-offenders..
for that matter Tuesday I was put on a med guaranteed to put on the pounds but the only med that could help me breathe... and my doctor apologised over and over and said he would make it as short a term and as low a dose as he could while still making it work...
I may be really losing my mind, or have moved to fantasy-world, but I have had even less appetite since starting the med... and so far I notice no increase in weight(the reason for buying the scale tomorrow -- colour me paranoid... I do not want to gain any of it back EVER even if it is a side effect) So I am wondering if the topomax somehow reacts to the changes and increases the anti-appetite reaction? After all it is a long time since I have been known to be disinterested in food :-(
kat
Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear
poster:headachequeen
thread:5053
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031126/msgs/284840.html