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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by redscarlet on January 20, 2005, at 16:43:16
In reply to Re:Topamax and weight gain, posted by stresser on January 20, 2005, at 15:03:28
I had not weight gain when I quit topamax cold turkey.
HTH
Posted by bridgey1128 on January 20, 2005, at 16:56:23
In reply to Re:Topamax and weight gain » stresser, posted by redscarlet on January 20, 2005, at 16:43:16
Jennifer? Did your Dr START you on 50? If he did no WONDER you have had such problems. NO ONE should START in the middle of a dosage. You should ALWAYS start at the bottom and work your way up. If not, you have the problems you have had and then some worse. You also can't yo yo up and down and go some days 25mg and some days 50mg. You are going to have a LOT of problems if you do that. GO to 25mg a day at NIGHT ONLY. After about 2 or 3 weeks when the tingling wears off (that's a really common side effect) then and ONLY then go up to the 50mg. Topomax shouldnt EVER be started at a higher dosage other than the lowest possible because of the bad side effects it can cause. If you start low and work your way up slow then most people don't have problems until you get to much higher dosage. Then you can have the stupids but they usually wear off. That is why it's important to go up very slowly. Also there is a possibility of damaging your eyesight when you go up too quickly. I went through THAT one with the 25mg to 50mg dosage going up too fast. I lost my eyesight for a few days. You always start at night taking it. Always take it at night. Don't take it in the morning unless you are taking a higher dosage and THEN split it, like 100mg in the morning and 100mg at night. THat is my dosage and it took almost a year to get up to that. I take it for bipolar btw, not migraines and it has not helped with weight loss. But that is just me. Anyway, I wish you much luck and let me know if this helps!
Posted by stresser on January 20, 2005, at 19:02:36
In reply to Re:Topamax and weight gain, posted by bridgey1128 on January 20, 2005, at 16:56:23
How long did it take before it started to help with your weight loss? At what dosage and when did you notice it helping your symptoms for bipolar?-L
Posted by iris2 on January 20, 2005, at 19:25:13
In reply to Re:Topamax and weight gain, posted by stresser on January 20, 2005, at 15:03:28
No I tapered off of it but not as gradually as the second time. I do not remember how long it took to go off it or exactly how much I was on now. Sorry.
irene
Posted by bridgey1128 on January 20, 2005, at 21:41:31
In reply to Re:Topamax and weight gain » stresser, posted by iris2 on January 20, 2005, at 19:25:13
I think because I was so worried about losing my eyesight I wasn't noticing any benefits right away. I do know that it did help. It doesn't usually help depression as much but I am lucky as I know what causes my depression and I tend to "reason" my way through mine when I have them. It's rather bizarre. My body feels horrid sometimes. It's like two different people and emotions trapped together. I know that what is going on is just my bipolar and I know I will get through it but at the same time I just feel so crappy sometimes and hopeless. I have done better but I can't say I don't have low times but nothing like I had before. I think the Topomax worked pretty well, pretty quickly on the hypomania and that is what I could tell right off, as soon as the eyesight thing cleared up. I didn't feel the need to talk all the time. I could just, well, shut up. I could tell when I needed to go up because I got grouchy and felt more hyper. This didn't mean I had energy, however. I don't necessarily have energy when I am hyper. I don't know how to explain it. I get hyper around people and depressed at home so I don't get in these wide swings to clean clean clean. I don't want to BE in my house. I want to be out with people and go DO DO DO and be with friends and SPEND MONEY. I don't go overboard or anything like someone with full blown mania. Right now I have to deal with staying at 200mg because I just can't afford anymore and since I am doing a show I can't afford to get the stupids! I have way too much music and too many lines to learn. Anyway, I hope you all are doing well and...where is Kat?
Posted by Jenbracha on January 22, 2005, at 1:11:08
In reply to Re:Topamax and weight gain, posted by bridgey1128 on January 20, 2005, at 16:56:23
Yes, he started me on 50 mg. But my s/e's weren't all that bad until 2 months later. Then....WHAM...
I do take this at night and have from the beginning, though it isn't helping me sleep the way it did at first....
Probably too late to go back to 25 mg now and start over....
> Jennifer? Did your Dr START you on 50? If he did no WONDER you have had such problems. NO ONE should START in the middle of a dosage. You should ALWAYS start at the bottom and work your way up. If not, you have the problems you have had and then some worse. You also can't yo yo up and down and go some days 25mg and some days 50mg. You are going to have a LOT of problems if you do that. GO to 25mg a day at NIGHT ONLY. After about 2 or 3 weeks when the tingling wears off (that's a really common side effect) then and ONLY then go up to the 50mg. Topomax shouldnt EVER be started at a higher dosage other than the lowest possible because of the bad side effects it can cause. If you start low and work your way up slow then most people don't have problems until you get to much higher dosage. Then you can have the stupids but they usually wear off. That is why it's important to go up very slowly. Also there is a possibility of damaging your eyesight when you go up too quickly. I went through THAT one with the 25mg to 50mg dosage going up too fast. I lost my eyesight for a few days. You always start at night taking it. Always take it at night. Don't take it in the morning unless you are taking a higher dosage and THEN split it, like 100mg in the morning and 100mg at night. THat is my dosage and it took almost a year to get up to that. I take it for bipolar btw, not migraines and it has not helped with weight loss. But that is just me. Anyway, I wish you much luck and let me know if this helps!
Posted by rainy on January 22, 2005, at 6:15:36
In reply to Re:Topamax and weight gain, posted by Jenbracha on January 22, 2005, at 1:11:08
What do you guys make of the fact that at 375 mgs Topamax I've started to get really hungry and has wine started to taste OK again? At 300 not much interest in food and wine was bitter. (We're still drinking the same brand.) I'm exercising more will power now than I have for months and still gaining weight. Winter weight? Can't be, it's been in the damn 60s around here.
Also, I'm so tired of chopping pills, which I've been doing for 2 months, that I'm going to 400 mgs today 6 days early--I've been giving each 25 mgs two full weeks but I'm sick of this shilly shallying.
Top is working far better as a mood stabilizer at the higher dose which is also $247 less expenseive than the lower one, go figure. (200 mg tabs vs 100) But it's still very expensive and I may have to find something else because we're switiching to an HMO 2/1 that has a higher co pay and it's beginning to look quesionable budgetwise. Also those famous word finding issues are reappearing.rainy
Posted by bridgey1128 on January 22, 2005, at 9:57:44
In reply to Re:Topamax and weight gain, posted by Jenbracha on January 22, 2005, at 1:11:08
No it's not too late to go back down if you are having this many problems. Go back to 25mg and see what that does. Your Dr should have known better than to start you on a higher dose. I really can't believe the carelessness some Dr's have with this medication. Either they just don't believe all the information out there about the bad side effects of going up too soon or they just flat out don't care. RARELY have I heard of someone not having a bad side effect of not going up too fast. However, maybe it's the opposite and you need to go UP on it. When I needed to go up on my medication it let me know in a very BAD way. I had horrible night time hallucinations! I thought they were night terrors until I looked up the definition of that and realized I was totally awake and concious and I remembered every weird and scary detail of them. Once I went up, they went away. Does your Dr plan on you staying on the 50mg? How long have you been feeling so crappy like this? You said you have been taking it for 2 months? You can always go back down to the 25 and if you feel worse go back up. I doubt you will though. Topomax isn't a drug you can just jump right into the middle of a dose. It's one you have to be titrated up on very slowly. I wish you much luck!
Posted by monkeypants on January 22, 2005, at 18:44:37
In reply to Re:Topamax and weight gain, posted by stresser on January 20, 2005, at 15:03:28
Hi all,
This is in response to Stresser's question about Tmax below. I've gained over 20 lbs in 2 months since going off Topamax cold turkey. I thought it was because I switched to Lamictal from Tmax, but it could very well be that I just quit taking Topamax one day instead of titrating down gradually. I wasn't aware of this (go figure, since I can't afford health insurance or a pdoc) until I saw the tremendous weight gain.
monkeypants> Are you saying that when you quit the topamax cold turkey you gained weight vs. tapering off? My daughter quit two days ago cold turkey, and now I am wondering if she should go back on to a lower dosage and taper down.?-L
Posted by stresser on January 22, 2005, at 19:46:08
In reply to Re:Topamax and weight gain » stresser, posted by monkeypants on January 22, 2005, at 18:44:37
Thanks so much for the information. I did call the pharmacy and was told to taper down over a period of about two weeks, so she is doing that. They said every other day should do the trick. -L
Posted by rainy on January 22, 2005, at 20:47:24
In reply to Re:Topamax and weight gain, posted by stresser on January 22, 2005, at 19:46:08
Every other day at what dose?
rainy
Posted by stresser on January 23, 2005, at 18:17:34
In reply to Re:Topamax and weight gain » stresser, posted by rainy on January 22, 2005, at 20:47:24
I started decreasing by 50 g, every day until she sees the doc. It makes me nervous to drop to every other day, until I talk to him. I can always refer back to the pharmacist for advice again on decreasing the dosage. How did everyone else do it?-L
Posted by bridgey1128 on January 29, 2005, at 16:22:23
In reply to Re:Topamax and weight gain » stresser, posted by rainy on January 22, 2005, at 20:47:24
Has anyone noticed any change in their fingernails taking Topomax? My index finger nails have started turning downward in the center and now my ring finger on my left hand is doing the same thing. I have noticed this because my fingernails lie in the bed pointing up at an angle and for them to suddenly start growing downward is really odd. I was just wondering...
Posted by stresser on January 29, 2005, at 18:51:27
In reply to Re:Topamax and weight gain, posted by bridgey1128 on January 29, 2005, at 16:22:23
No, nothing yet, but I haven't been on it too long. I have noticed that I'm not biting off the heads of people at drive-thru windows.....and that's a good thing. Does it make anyone tired? It's either that or Zoloft, and I'm not liking that part of the treatment at all. I'm not bipolar, but the doctor is keeping me on it because I am showing signs of anxiety/depression/anger (over what I don't know on the MMPI). My face is breaking out...hummmmm? What do you think about that one?-L
Posted by stresser on January 29, 2005, at 18:53:32
In reply to Re:Topamax and weight gain, posted by bridgey1128 on January 29, 2005, at 16:22:23
Bridgey - Oh, I forgot..... Nice to hear from you!
Posted by bridgey1128 on January 30, 2005, at 11:13:24
In reply to Re: Bridgey :Topamax and weight gain, posted by stresser on January 29, 2005, at 18:53:32
Thanks, needless to say, I have been REEEEEEEALLY busy. The show is going really well, but exhausting. I really feel like I need to go up on my meds but there is no way I am doing that in the middle of a show. I have so far managed to stay well and, for the most part, so has everyone else. I think when I go in for my physical I will ask about going up after the show. I haven't noticed my skin acting up other than the regular times during "that time" of the month. I have to admit the fingernail thing is weirding me out.
Posted by stresser on January 30, 2005, at 14:47:44
In reply to Re: Bridgey :Topamax and weight gain, posted by bridgey1128 on January 30, 2005, at 11:13:24
Why do you think you need to increase your dosage? Does the topamax make you tired? Something is making me really sluggish and not wanting to do anything at all. -L
Posted by headachequeen on January 31, 2005, at 10:17:31
In reply to Re: Bridgey :Topamax and weight gain, posted by stresser on January 29, 2005, at 18:53:32
Oh, dear... so much rsuhing through my head as I try to catch up on all the posts I have missed and there have been soooo many...
I have missed posts and missed all of you and this is sort of a flying visit...
But I had to break the rules and am typing with the left hand only... stop laughing L and L, I am laughing enough for both of us!
However, be careful going off Topomax... any loss of weight will then be regained... it gives back what it takes away...
that is one of it's nasty little tricks...
the tech who worked on the weight loss protocol told me that one... this after I had been off it and tegretol for almost three weeks for one of the tests... and it has taken a while to get back the ground I lost as a result of that time...
Someone had been started at a RIDICULOUSLY high dose and is having problems.. this infuriates me...
of course there will be problems at these high starts... like starting your stalled car by driving it off a high building.... when will these doctors learn???
25 mg until your body adjusts.... and never increase until your body says okay.... and always start in the evening... when half the total dosage is reached in the evening, then start the morning at 25 and do it the same way...
off soapbox now...for those with hair problems, ask the hair stylist about the Joico shampoo for people with hair loss problems... it is not expensive and is designed for people who have diseases for lack of better term that cause loss of hair and it really will help...
I am presently on three AEDs that cause hair loss as well as an antibiotic with that propensity as a side effect... have noticed a little more hair coming out when I brush... of course it could be the wax and the putty and stuff too????... tried this stuff and got back on the vitamins and am having a better hair day experience...
and my hair is a real thing with me... as most of you know...
and now I forget what else hit me as I read...
I am thinking of all of you as we adjust to a new grandchild and the loss of her twin, and I get ready to have them attack my camera hand with knives and scissors later this week...
meanwhile, that Redhead Thang has struck again and the tangle of bone chips and nerves in my wrist that the surgeon said he would not touch because it is above an artery opened of its own accord a couple of weeks ago and of course I developed cellulitis...
enter the antibiotics and these weird dressings and all the rest of it..
so much for a quiet year....
in the midst of it all, the new medications are about as much help as the water I use to take them, the seizures are still my closest companion...
and my dearest uncle who had the same birth injury and the same weird epilepsy died of surgical complications the day before the baby was born...
he went into statis, the same mess I got into before Christmas and they could not bring him out of it... apparently a reaction to the anaesthetic and shock of the surgery they think...
can't wait to see what happens in February...
in the meantime...
stick to small doses to begin and small increments but only when your body is ready and Stresser I hope all goes well with your daughter...
I want that so much....
our daughters deserve happiness and so do we...
kat
it has been such a fun couple of weeks
Posted by stresser on January 31, 2005, at 12:02:57
In reply to Re: Bridgey :Topamax and weight gain » stresser, posted by headachequeen on January 31, 2005, at 10:17:31
If someone doesn't lose weight on topamax, will they gain after they quit taking it? Did you lost the weight you started to gain back when you started taking the topamax again, and at what dosage did you start back on again when you resumed after the three weeks? (if I follow correctly, and most of the time, I do not). I also can't remember if you lost any hair taking it. M, wasn't on 400mg any longer than one week, so we don't know if that dosage was going to make a difference in mood swings or her weight loss. She really didn't notice much of a weight loss at a lower dosage. I'm taking it for mood swings, and I really don't notice it affecting my appetite much either...but I take 175mg. That's not much, and I don't think I will be taking more than 200mg to top it out. It has really helped me with my mood elevations, not Dr. Jekel and Mr. Hyde these days. I'm not frieghtend of myself anymore, and my family can live with me! Nice to have you back on the board, even if you are using your left hand! Good luck with surgery on Thurs. -L
Posted by stresser on February 14, 2005, at 19:23:23
In reply to Re: Bridgey :Topamax and weight gain » stresser, posted by headachequeen on January 31, 2005, at 10:17:31
Kat,
Where are you? How is your wrist? Your health?
We miss you -L
Posted by stresser on February 14, 2005, at 19:27:12
In reply to Re: Bridgey :Topamax and weight gain, posted by stresser on February 14, 2005, at 19:23:23
Sorry
I'm such a blonde ditz! There's no Re: Bridgey.....I don't know what I did. You all should know me by now!!! -L
Posted by nicki on February 18, 2005, at 18:06:07
In reply to Re:oops /Topamax and weight gain, posted by stresser on February 14, 2005, at 19:27:12
My doc told me to start at 25mg at night and 25mg in am for a few weeks then 50 at night and 50 in am. Sound logical? I'm scared to death of it but very hopeful!
Posted by headachequeen on February 18, 2005, at 20:23:38
In reply to Re:oops /Topamax and weight gain, posted by nicki on February 18, 2005, at 18:06:07
> My doc told me to start at 25mg at night and 25mg in am for a few weeks then 50 at night and 50 in am. Sound logical? I'm scared to death of it but very hopeful!
Well, here I am... the hand healed like a dream despite the surgeon's (and my and my doctor's fears... but the back of my hand and part of my wrist as of this evening ARRRGGGHHH are seriously infected... that redhead thing and the cellulitis telling me that it is here and could have done worse had it wanted to... on 2000 mg a day of Keflex for two weeks... if that doesn't blast it out nothing will...)
now for nicki ---
the best and most successful way to start topomax is to start at 25 mg at night... puppy cookies for the doctor... for two weeks or more, until your system accepts it and feels comfortable....
then on the same time frame work up to half the total daily dosage...
at half the dosage, start adding the other half in the morning in 25 mg increments, the same way, at two week increments...
works well and safely...
if you have a problem then go back to the previous dose for a while until your body adjusts...and Stresser, I am thinking of you...
none of you is forgotten...
but typing opens the lesions on my hand that are slowly closing and we hope healing...
kat
Posted by stresser on February 23, 2005, at 11:08:17
In reply to Topamax and weight gain » nicki, posted by headachequeen on February 18, 2005, at 20:23:38
Kat,
So nice to hear from you...happy that your hand is healing and not to worry about the typing. We will wait until you are ready for your hand to heal.
Nicki-
Topamax isn't bad at all! I haven't had trouble with it, it helps greatly with mood stablization and can decrease appetite for the lucky ones!
Let us know how it works for you -L
Posted by headachequeen on February 23, 2005, at 22:43:17
In reply to Re: Topamax and weight gain, posted by stresser on February 23, 2005, at 11:08:17
> Kat,
>
> So nice to hear from you...happy that your hand is healing and not to worry about the typing. We will wait until you are ready for your hand to heal.
Thanks!!!! and I am glad to know that Topomax works to stabilise moods....
have been on antibiotics for 15 days to deal with the cellulitis that broke out on my hand (incision totally healed and ready for the next round but the back of my hand is a disaster) and Monday they call to tell me that the antibiotic is the wrong one...
I told them that it was not the right one when they gave it to me...
so now we are on two weeks or more of a new one...
and I am dealing with more outbreaks including an involvement with the area in front of my right ear...
I am not a very stable person right now...
nurses still coming to change dressings and clean wounds and ooh and ahh about the incision...
but that does not make me feel any happier...
still I shot two rolls of film yesterday and got some good shots...
I can close my fingers on the right hand and bend them properly... all things I thought were connected with the original wound years ago that started the cellulitis...
turns out it had to do with this tendon problem...
when the swelling in my hand goes down from this nonsense I will be able to wear rings again and be a real person again...
until then they had better up my topomax...
my moods are almost dangerous at the moment....
but working on new ideas... will not let this thing control me... any more than I intend to let the epilepsy control me...
starting new business despite seizures and meds and all the rest of it...
my new approach to life is going to be that I shall simply trample the epilepsy into the ground...
neurologist or no neurologist... rules or no rules...
rules are meant to be adapted...
and life is to be lived...
only one chance at it...
and as the surgeon said, it is not a dress rehearsal...
have to do it the first time and do it all and do it right...
fasten your seatbelts... it may get interesting or it may be a real mess...
especially with this mood <GG>
film at eleven
kat
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