Posted by Nickengland on July 18, 2005, at 8:59:39
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by jelly on July 17, 2005, at 18:29:00
Hello Jelly & and also hello there to the other posters of this Topamax thread. I'm fairly new to Topamax myself and thought I would join this thread to add my own experiences :-) (I know stesser already - Hi stresser too :-)
I'v been through the more tradiditional mood stabilisers in the past year and not had the best of results which is why I have now finally ended with - and am extreamly happy with Topamax. I also take a low dose of Neurontin for anxiety and find this combination the best so far...and one that I do feel I really dont need to alter in anyway. I think I've found that this is probably "as good as it gets" so to speak and like I say im doing well (such a relief to be able to say that lol)
Im bipolar.. I would fall under the bipolar 2 diagnosis - im from England, here they just call you "bipolar"
>I'm wondering if going straight from 50 mg to 100 mg will be a big change...or if I'm worrying too much (I've read what a lot of you have gone through). I didn't have any problems going from nothing to 25 mg or from 25 mg to 50 mg. Does everyone have problems when increasing the dose - or is do the side effects occur only at much higher dosages? Should I go a few days at 75 mg or not worry about it and go straight to 100 mg?
I would suggest though my experience, if you didnt have any problems going from 25mg to 50mg....the hopefuly you wouldn't have any problems going from 50mg to 75mg - but if you make a 50mg jump..then possibly you may increase side effects? Might be best to stick with what you know you can handle, and what works?
I actually have the Topamax "sprinkle capsules" (just happened to be what my doctor prescribed me) I've started off by actually dividing the capsule in half..so I started with 12.5mg - then going to 25mg and up like this. I've persoanlly found that the slower you increase the far better the decrease in side effects is. Really it makes a big difference.
I did experiment - I tried with 25mg at first and got hit by side effects...but since I used the 12.5mg..its been far better.
Also I only plan (so far) to use 50mg a day of Topamax as my dosage...purely because out of all the medications I take, I always use and only need low doses in general. I guess why take more of a powerful drug if you have your symtoms under control? This is what dosages my doctor prescribes me too.
Kind regards
Nick
poster:Nickengland
thread:5053
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050718/msgs/529449.html