![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 436 to 460 of 1085. Go back in thread:
Posted by galkeepinon on September 13, 2003, at 1:36:53
In reply to Re: Topamax Weight Loss Advice?????, posted by Wrain on September 12, 2003, at 20:17:52
>>>>>I would love to hear how everyone's relationship is with their psychiatrist.
I am very blessed with a not only a good psychiatrist, but he is also a good man!
I respect him and I hope he respects me, which I believe he does, I think he really wants to see me get back on my feet. From what he has shown, he is a very, very, very patient doctor!!!!!I am blessed.
How about your relationship with your psychiatrist, may I ask?:-)
Posted by California_Princess on September 13, 2003, at 12:56:06
In reply to Re: Topamax Weight Loss Advice????? » Wrain, posted by galkeepinon on September 13, 2003, at 1:36:53
Hello All! I hope you are all having a great weekend so far.
I certainly understand about working closely with the Dr.s regarding meds and blood work. You are right about being expensive, especially if you’re low-income and have crappy insurance, like me. :O)
As far as my relationship with my psychiatrist, the 22nd is the first time that I will meet him. I don't even know if it's a man or a woman yet. I am really hoping that he/she is good and will really help me. I've seen my therapist once and she seems to be a nice lady. Talkative, but mostly about herself.... I'm new to this sort of stuff so I don't know if other therapists are that way. I really hope I can get some help and finally feel normal and LOSE THIS WEIGHT!!!
Melissa
Posted by Bear on September 13, 2003, at 13:09:52
In reply to Re: Topamax Weight Loss Advice?????, posted by California_Princess on September 12, 2003, at 1:15:04
> However it seems that the weight loss only comes while taking doses at 200mgs or higher a day>I think you're right there. Im on 100mgs a day and it's not really going anywhere. My hunger is diminished but not anywhere where there's dramatic weight loss. Nowhere near it. MAYBE 5 lbs. MAYBE. I understand that it takes 5-6 weeks to take effect? Is that true? Im seeing the dr. Monday so Im going to aks him to up it. I have only 25 mg pills and Im running out quickly because he told me to take 50mg in the am and 50 mg in the pm and I keep running out. I think the pharmacy is suspicious! ha. ANyway, DOES it take like 5-6 weeks to kick in? I dont get hungry till about 4-5 in the afternoon, then i feel guilty eating! ugh. help!
Bear
Posted by Wrain on September 13, 2003, at 17:44:47
In reply to Re: Topamax Weight Loss Advice?????, posted by California_Princess on September 13, 2003, at 12:56:06
Hi Melissa,
First off, the thing to remember with the Dr. is that it is YOUR care so ask him to do the bloodwork to keep your levels checked, if you don't feel right or better on the meds, tell him. To begin, I would have my blood work done at the start, then again in a month if the starting meds seem to do ok, even if he does not order it, ask him to order it, usually they will.
As far as the therapist....if she keeps talking about herself...send her a bill for YOUR time..not suppose to work that way.
Keep us posted.
Wrain
Posted by LBcats on September 14, 2003, at 9:09:23
In reply to Re: Topamax Weight Loss Advice?????, posted by Wrain on September 13, 2003, at 17:44:47
Well guys I've been taking Topomax now for seven months along with effexor (150mg) and although I lost about 20 lbs and I feel good, people tell me I act very differently. I am very irritable and want to be very much in control of everything. I don't know how to relax and also I've can't articulate and organize myself anymore and it progressively got worse. I came very close to losing my job. I will be asking my doc to take me off of topomax as much as I loved the weight loss, it's not worth it to me. I just thought I'd let some of you know that for me it worked for awhile and now it's time to change. I'll probably switch back to depakote.
LB
Posted by Wrain on September 14, 2003, at 12:06:32
In reply to Topomax made me manic, posted by LBcats on September 14, 2003, at 9:09:23
> Well guys I've been taking Topomax now for seven months along with effexor (150mg) and although I lost about 20 lbs and I feel good, people tell me I act very differently. I am very irritable and want to be very much in control of everything. I don't know how to relax and also I've can't articulate and organize myself anymore and it progressively got worse. I came very close to losing my job. I will be asking my doc to take me off of topomax as much as I loved the weight loss, it's not worth it to me. I just thought I'd let some of you know that for me it worked for awhile and now it's time to change. I'll probably switch back to depakote.
> LBI hear you, Relax, what does that mean?? Organized, I forgot that word even existed but I never really thought that it was the Topamax, guess I need to read up more on it. I am taking Depakote, Topamax and Paxil...To me it seems that one of those should not be there but I am not sure. Another thing I seem to have alot of problems with is making a decision, I can't even trust my own decisions anymore. I don't know guys...I just don't know what to do anymore.
Posted by Wrain on September 14, 2003, at 12:17:18
In reply to Re: Topamax Weight Loss Advice?????, posted by Bear on September 13, 2003, at 13:09:52
>
> > However it seems that the weight loss only comes while taking doses at 200mgs or higher a day>
>
> I think you're right there. Im on 100mgs a day and it's not really going anywhere. My hunger is diminished but not anywhere where there's dramatic weight loss. Nowhere near it. MAYBE 5 lbs. MAYBE. I understand that it takes 5-6 weeks to take effect? Is that true? Im seeing the dr. Monday so Im going to aks him to up it. I have only 25 mg pills and Im running out quickly because he told me to take 50mg in the am and 50 mg in the pm and I keep running out. I think the pharmacy is suspicious! ha. ANyway, DOES it take like 5-6 weeks to kick in? I dont get hungry till about 4-5 in the afternoon, then i feel guilty eating! ugh. help!
>
> Bear
>Bear,
Like I said in a previous post, I have been taking Topamax, 300mg a day for a year now and I have not noticed any weight loss due to the Topamax. I changed the way I ate about 3 years ago because my husband was on a scale from 1-10 a 9 for a heart attack and the doctor told us that he had to cut out the white bread, rice, corn products, potatoes, etc...I do a slim fast in the morning and wheat bread, brown rice, sweet potatoes diet drinks and lots of water for 3 years. In the last year I have not seen my weight loss go up any while on the Topamax. Actually if anything, for the past year my weight has been holding steady and going up and down. I was in the hospital last September for the BiPolar and one of the counselors told us about the importance of breakfast. We have always heard that breakfast was the most important meal of the day, but up until that counselor I never really understood why. He said
Within the first (3 THREE) hours after you wake it is VERY important to get some kind of food in your system. If you DO NOT get food in your system withing the first THREE hours, your body thinks you are going to STARVE it and therefore EVERYTHING you eat the rest of the day, it will store it as fat so that it won't STARVE. If you DO eat within the first THREE hours, your body will not be afraid it will STARVE and will then process the food you eat throughout the day normally and not store as much of it as fat.
So, I have just made it a habit to wake every morning and take my morning meds with a slimfast. It works for me as far as the breakfast thing because I am NOT a breakfast person.
I hope this helps.
Please keep us informed.
Wrain
Posted by tees on September 14, 2003, at 18:21:40
In reply to Re: Topamax Experiences?, posted by Lexie on January 22, 2001, at 19:57:02
I am new to this forum so i hope my comments on topomax is not out of line. I have just recently been taken off of Topomax (400mg) at night along with (Nardil 60mg)day. I suffer from Social Axniety Disorder. While i was on Topomax i suffered from low blood pressure, shortness of breath, numbness in hands and feet, sensitivity to light, sexual dysfunction, depression, blurred vision, memory loss, body shakes and uncontrollable thoughts running in my head. It was a nightmare for me being on this drug. I have been off of it for about a week and all these symptoms have dissapeared, maybe it just reacts differently for each idividual. I know i was on Effexor a few years back and had results similar to this, in fact when i came off of the effexor it made me very violent. Again being new to the forum, i apreciate the chance to contribute and have enjoyed the posts very much.
Posted by LBcats on September 14, 2003, at 20:27:54
In reply to Re: Topamax Experiences? » Lexie, posted by tees on September 14, 2003, at 18:21:40
>I'm wondering what you are taking now and if it is working for you. I ask this because I don't necesarily like the topomax any more myself and I'm wondering what has been helpful to you?
LBI am new to this forum so i hope my comments on topomax is not out of line. I have just recently been taken off of Topomax (400mg) at night along with (Nardil 60mg)day. I suffer from Social Axniety Disorder. While i was on Topomax i suffered from low blood pressure, shortness of breath, numbness in hands and feet, sensitivity to light, sexual dysfunction, depression, blurred vision, memory loss, body shakes and uncontrollable thoughts running in my head. It was a nightmare for me being on this drug. I have been off of it for about a week and all these symptoms have dissapeared, maybe it just reacts differently for each idividual. I know i was on Effexor a few years back and had results similar to this, in fact when i came off of the effexor it made me very violent. Again being new to the forum, i apreciate the chance to contribute and have enjoyed the posts very much.
Posted by California_Princess on September 15, 2003, at 14:57:17
In reply to Re: Topamax Weight Loss Advice?????, posted by Bear on September 13, 2003, at 13:09:52
Bear,
From what I've read for weight loss to start occuring your dosage needs to be up around 200mg daily. However, I've read that it might takes months to get up that high. If you increase it slower you get less side affects.Of course I only know what I read.
Melissa
Posted by California_Princess on September 15, 2003, at 14:59:31
In reply to Topomax made me manic, posted by LBcats on September 14, 2003, at 9:09:23
LBCats,
I've heard that also about Topomax. It seems to work well for some and other not at all. Very strange. It's almost 50/50.
Melissa
Posted by California_Princess on September 15, 2003, at 15:06:21
In reply to Re: Topamax Experiences? » Lexie, posted by tees on September 14, 2003, at 18:21:40
Tees,
thank you for your your experience with the drug. I've heard a lot of BAD about the drug. More bad than good. At first I was very excited that I found a drug that I might be willing to take WITH THE ADDED SIDE AFFECT OF LOSING WEIGHT. But now I think I will add Topomax to the list of drugs I will not take. :O(I only have until the 22nd to come up with something. I'm trying to read all that I can on different drugs so that I will have a small list of what I will take when I go to the Dr.s.
Back to the internet....
Melissa
Posted by Ethel Basset on September 15, 2003, at 23:36:03
In reply to Re: Topamax Weight Loss Advice?????, posted by California_Princess on September 15, 2003, at 15:06:21
Hi
I also thank you, Tees, for your input. I have taken Topamax twice and quit. My endocrinologist started me on it for weight loss and I was very encouraged, too. She went to a diabetes convention where they all raved about Topamax's positive benefits. It was also supposed to have cognitive benefits, too. Not for me. I had many of your related side effects, plus more. The most uncomfortable side effect was the memory loss. I hated that, plus the feeling of being depersonalized.
California_Princess, if you find anything that is good for depression and weight loss, let us know. I am getting discouraged. Wellbutrin, Meridia, Topamax, Xenical...none of these have worked. The ADs relieve the depression but they make me gain weight which is even more depressing. I hear they are doing alot of great research on new weight loss meds, so let's hope they find something.
Posted by Lily83 on September 16, 2003, at 12:29:58
In reply to Re: Topamax Weight Loss Advice?????, posted by Ethel Basset on September 15, 2003, at 23:36:03
My doctor started me on Topamax about 3 months ago to supplement a new migraine medicine i was trying out. He told me that the bonus to using Topamax would be that I would find myself losing "a great deal of weight" (his exact words). Obviously I was excited even though I am only about 30 lbs overweight (my doctor is obsessed with me losing at least 50 lbs which I think is just too much...but anyhow...)
So I started the topamax and right away he began increasing my dosage even though I was unsure about the side effects that I noticed right away (tingling in my feet, fingers and face mostly) When I got up to 300 mg a day, I noticed the migraines were MUCH less frequent and I had already lost 20 lbs (in about 2 months time). The only problem was that my concentration and memory were shot and my vision was getting increasing blurry or doubled at times. I also noticed that where I had once had tingling I complained more of a numbness and weakness. My doctor now wants me to increase to 400 mg a day and I'm not sure if I should. He thinks that my "side effects" are simply part of my migraines even though I don't have a migraine at the time I have the side effects.
Do any of you out there have similar complaints? What do you guys think out there? Anything would help me out :)
Posted by California_Princess on September 16, 2003, at 13:35:15
In reply to Re: Topamax Weight Loss Advice?????, posted by Ethel Basset on September 15, 2003, at 23:36:03
I certainly will let everyone know it I find something good for weight loss AND depression/moon swings. My problem is not a diet problem but a mental problem that has caused me to gain and gain. I’ve fought that admission for years thinking it’s better to hate myself for being a will-less, out of control fatty. I guess it was better to find fault for not having self control then to admit the REAL problem, compulsive binge eating during my manic cycles.
Over this last week since I finally got the confirming diagnosis as having Bi-Polar Disorder I’ve had that “ah ha moment” that Oprah is always talking about. It’s been a break though for me. I remember a show she did with Dr. Phil that she said you will not be able to lose weight for good until you find, or come to terms with WHY you’re overweight in the first place. Then once you have found the reason, work on that new found reason.
I have always been thinking, “Ah uh, sure…. I am fat because I’m an out of control, big, fat, looser.” But now, since I have been really looking back at my life, I can CLEARLY see distinctive patterns woven through my whole life. When I’m manic I either binge like crazy, (not only on food, but spending too) or join a new gym and start a new diet. These two “mini cycles” compete with one another the whole time I’m manic. Needless to say, the relatively short binging cycles cause me to gain more weight than I loose during the relatively short “diet & exercise” cycles. So I gain… and gain… and gain.
I don’t understand why I haven’t seen it before now! I’m 35 years old and it’s like I’ve just now “grown up” enough to see me for who I am and to inspect my life for what it is!
For the most part, I LOVE my manic cycles because I can get so much more done. It’s like I’m really living! I’m more creative and have the focus and energy to spend writing or painting and the possibilities are endless for me. And the best part, I’m HAPPY! Unfortunately, that creative energy and happiness comes with a heavy price: compulsion.
If I can just learn how to control that compulsion and lessen my depressed cycles I will be almost “normal”! :O)
But I don’t know if that’s even possible…
Melissa
Posted by California_Princess on September 16, 2003, at 13:42:16
In reply to Topamax side effects, posted by Lily83 on September 16, 2003, at 12:29:58
Lily,
FIND ANOTHER DR!!!The symptoms you are describing are classic side affects of Topomax. Have you had any problems with Kidney Stones? Your Dr. should know the difference between migraines and the side affects of the drug he has you on.
Do a search on the name "Topomax", (www.google.com) and you will come up with a plethora of info on Topomax. That's where I'm doing my research on different drugs.
Many here on this board have been on, or are on now, Topomax and they can tell you about the side affects also.
Be careful, Lily. And start looking around for another Dr.!
Melissa
Posted by LBcats on September 16, 2003, at 19:27:58
In reply to Re: Topamax Weight Loss Advice?????, posted by California_Princess on September 16, 2003, at 13:42:16
>Lily,
I agree with Melissa. The side effects aren't worth it. I'm seeing my doc tomorrow and I plan on asking her to take me off of it. I'm tired of not remembering stuff and not being able to articulate, period. I believe that maybe this drug is for some but you seem to have the classic side effects.
LindaLily,
> FIND ANOTHER DR!!!
>
> The symptoms you are describing are classic side affects of Topomax. Have you had any problems with Kidney Stones? Your Dr. should know the difference between migraines and the side affects of the drug he has you on.
>
> Do a search on the name "Topomax", (www.google.com) and you will come up with a plethora of info on Topomax. That's where I'm doing my research on different drugs.
>
> Many here on this board have been on, or are on now, Topomax and they can tell you about the side affects also.
>
> Be careful, Lily. And start looking around for another Dr.!
>
> Melissa
>
Posted by Bear on September 16, 2003, at 20:42:34
In reply to Topamax side effects, posted by Lily83 on September 16, 2003, at 12:29:58
> My doctor started me on Topamax about 3 months ago to supplement a new migraine medicine i was trying out. He told me that the bonus to using Topamax would be that I would find myself losing "a great deal of weight" (his exact words). Obviously I was excited even though I am only about 30 lbs overweight (my doctor is obsessed with me losing at least 50 lbs which I think is just too much...but anyhow...)
>
> So I started the topamax and right away he began increasing my dosage even though I was unsure about the side effects that I noticed right away (tingling in my feet, fingers and face mostly) When I got up to 300 mg a day, I noticed the migraines were MUCH less frequent and I had already lost 20 lbs (in about 2 months time). The only problem was that my concentration and memory were shot and my vision was getting increasing blurry or doubled at times. I also noticed that where I had once had tingling I complained more of a numbness and weakness. My doctor now wants me to increase to 400 mg a day and I'm not sure if I should. He thinks that my "side effects" are simply part of my migraines even though I don't have a migraine at the time I have the side effects.
>
> Do any of you out there have similar complaints? What do you guys think out there? Anything would help me out :)I have some tingling in my feet and fingers and sometimes around my mouth and I JUST started at 200mgs a day. I dont know how much I lost. I dont think it's much. I promised myself I wouldnt weigh in till end of Sept. But it's becoming less. My dosage has been raised slowly. In three weeks time Ill be up to 300mgs. Ill keep you posted. I hope like HELL I can lose 50 lbs!!! Ill live with the tingling! ;)
Posted by galkeepinon on September 16, 2003, at 20:47:38
In reply to Re: Topamax side effects, posted by Bear on September 16, 2003, at 20:42:34
Bear~good luck with the Topamax! I got the tingling bad in my feet~but far better was the weight loss I had as a result on Topamax. The tingling was peas compared to losing 25 pounds.
Take care and good luck:-)
> I have some tingling in my feet and fingers and sometimes around my mouth and I JUST started at 200mgs a day. I dont know how much I lost. I dont think it's much. I promised myself I wouldnt weigh in till end of Sept. But it's becoming less. My dosage has been raised slowly. In three weeks time Ill be up to 300mgs. Ill keep you posted. I hope like HELL I can lose 50 lbs!!! Ill live with the tingling! ;)
Posted by Bear on September 16, 2003, at 20:59:01
In reply to Re: Topamax side effects » Bear, posted by galkeepinon on September 16, 2003, at 20:47:38
> Bear~good luck with the Topamax! I got the tingling bad in my feet~but far better was the weight loss I had as a result on Topamax. The tingling was peas compared to losing 25 pounds.
> Take care and good luck:-)
>The feet CAN be very annoying!!! But, the weight loss FAR outweighs a little tingling!!! Im waiting till end of Sept. for the BIG weigh in, cause I want to give it time to kick in, but we'll see. I have no other side effects so far, Im in about 4-5 weeks, just started at 200mgs, the magic number, as I understand it. so we'll see. Thanks for the good wishes!! :o)~~
Bear
Posted by galkeepinon on September 16, 2003, at 21:16:58
In reply to Re: Topamax side effects, posted by Bear on September 16, 2003, at 20:59:01
Cool!! I'd be interested in how much weight you lost if you feel comfortable sharing.
You've got discipline regarding waiting to weigh yourself hehehe. I was weighing myself everyday on Topamax. lol
:-)
> The feet CAN be very annoying!!! But, the weight loss FAR outweighs a little tingling!!! Im waiting till end of Sept. for the BIG weigh in, cause I want to give it time to kick in, but we'll see. I have no other side effects so far, Im in about 4-5 weeks, just started at 200mgs, the magic number, as I understand it. so we'll see. Thanks for the good wishes!! :o)~~
>
> Bear
Posted by Nissy on September 17, 2003, at 14:51:12
In reply to Topamax side effects, posted by Lily83 on September 16, 2003, at 12:29:58
Hi there,
First off I think you need to really make your Doctor understand that you feel that he is not listening to you. Explain yourself and what you are feeling to him.
I take 25 mg in the morning and 50 mg at bedtime and I noticed I sometimes have tingling in the morning and sometimes I do not. This is a very low dose to experience tingling too. I found that when I was taking it with my effexor it always made me tingle. So if I keep it seperated from the effexor I usually do ok. I want to go up in dosage and my doctor wants to go slowly up to avoid any side effects.
Just be open with your Doctor and hopefully that will take care of things for you.
Good luck to you,
Nissy
Posted by galkeepinon on September 18, 2003, at 5:59:30
In reply to Re: Topamax Weight Loss Advice?????, posted by California_Princess on September 16, 2003, at 13:35:15
You sound like me......except the manic area, (and I might add I was diagnosed with BP II in 199~which I don't fully agree with but........) lol
I can relate to you 100% I binge when I'm happy, stressed, angry, but never when I'm depressed, just don't feel like eating then. Guess that could explain my increased appetite on Lexapro all of the sudden, must be feeling happy, I certainly don't eat when I'm depressed.
I'm looking at buying Dr. Phil's new book, but dang it's just ANOTHER book/method to lose weight~whadddya do?
How can we beat this stuff?
I honestly do think it's possible, don't ever give up hope my friend, I pray everyday for it!!!!
Keep posting:-)> I certainly will let everyone know it I find something good for weight loss AND depression/moon swings. My problem is not a diet problem but a mental problem that has caused me to gain and gain. I’ve fought that admission for years thinking it’s better to hate myself for being a will-less, out of control fatty. I guess it was better to find fault for not having self control then to admit the REAL problem, compulsive binge eating during my manic cycles.
>
> Over this last week since I finally got the confirming diagnosis as having Bi-Polar Disorder I’ve had that “ah ha moment” that Oprah is always talking about. It’s been a break though for me. I remember a show she did with Dr. Phil that she said you will not be able to lose weight for good until you find, or come to terms with WHY you’re overweight in the first place. Then once you have found the reason, work on that new found reason.
>
> I have always been thinking, “Ah uh, sure…. I am fat because I’m an out of control, big, fat, looser.” But now, since I have been really looking back at my life, I can CLEARLY see distinctive patterns woven through my whole life. When I’m manic I either binge like crazy, (not only on food, but spending too) or join a new gym and start a new diet. These two “mini cycles” compete with one another the whole time I’m manic. Needless to say, the relatively short binging cycles cause me to gain more weight than I loose during the relatively short “diet & exercise” cycles. So I gain… and gain… and gain.
>
> I don’t understand why I haven’t seen it before now! I’m 35 years old and it’s like I’ve just now “grown up” enough to see me for who I am and to inspect my life for what it is!
>
> For the most part, I LOVE my manic cycles because I can get so much more done. It’s like I’m really living! I’m more creative and have the focus and energy to spend writing or painting and the possibilities are endless for me. And the best part, I’m HAPPY! Unfortunately, that creative energy and happiness comes with a heavy price: compulsion.
>
> If I can just learn how to control that compulsion and lessen my depressed cycles I will be almost “normal”! :O)
>
> But I don’t know if that’s even possible…
> Melissa
>
Posted by Bob on September 18, 2003, at 11:43:38
In reply to Re: Topamax Weight Loss Advice????? » California_Princess, posted by galkeepinon on September 18, 2003, at 5:59:30
> You sound like me......except the manic area, (and I might add I was diagnosed with BP II in 199~which I don't fully agree with but........) lol
> I can relate to you 100% I binge when I'm happy, stressed, angry, but never when I'm depressed, just don't feel like eating then. Guess that could explain my increased appetite on Lexapro all of the sudden, must be feeling happy, I certainly don't eat when I'm depressed.
> I'm looking at buying Dr. Phil's new book, but dang it's just ANOTHER book/method to lose weight~whadddya do?
> How can we beat this stuff?
> I honestly do think it's possible, don't ever give up hope my friend, I pray everyday for it!!!!
> Keep posting:-)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > I certainly will let everyone know it I find something good for weight loss AND depression/moon swings. My problem is not a diet problem but a mental problem that has caused me to gain and gain. I’ve fought that admission for years thinking it’s better to hate myself for being a will-less, out of control fatty. I guess it was better to find fault for not having self control then to admit the REAL problem, compulsive binge eating during my manic cycles.
> >
> > Over this last week since I finally got the confirming diagnosis as having Bi-Polar Disorder I’ve had that “ah ha moment” that Oprah is always talking about. It’s been a break though for me. I remember a show she did with Dr. Phil that she said you will not be able to lose weight for good until you find, or come to terms with WHY you’re overweight in the first place. Then once you have found the reason, work on that new found reason.
> >
> > I have always been thinking, “Ah uh, sure…. I am fat because I’m an out of control, big, fat, looser.” But now, since I have been really looking back at my life, I can CLEARLY see distinctive patterns woven through my whole life. When I’m manic I either binge like crazy, (not only on food, but spending too) or join a new gym and start a new diet. These two “mini cycles” compete with one another the whole time I’m manic. Needless to say, the relatively short binging cycles cause me to gain more weight than I loose during the relatively short “diet & exercise” cycles. So I gain… and gain… and gain.
> >
> > I don’t understand why I haven’t seen it before now! I’m 35 years old and it’s like I’ve just now “grown up” enough to see me for who I am and to inspect my life for what it is!
> >
> > For the most part, I LOVE my manic cycles because I can get so much more done. It’s like I’m really living! I’m more creative and have the focus and energy to spend writing or painting and the possibilities are endless for me. And the best part, I’m HAPPY! Unfortunately, that creative energy and happiness comes with a heavy price: compulsion.
> >
> > If I can just learn how to control that compulsion and lessen my depressed cycles I will be almost “normal”! :O)
> >
> > But I don’t know if that’s even possible…
> > Melissa
> >
>
>
Have you ever noticed how many of the most successful and energetic/vibrant people out there seem to go through life in a perpetually hypomanic state? I agree with you that manic (or at least hypomanic) states are great for me. I can clean my house, and even do more than one thing in a day without having to go straight to bed. There's no other way to live, really.
Posted by Bear on September 19, 2003, at 12:53:03
In reply to Topamax side effects, posted by Lily83 on September 16, 2003, at 12:29:58
> My doctor started me on Topamax about 3 months ago to supplement a new migraine medicine i was trying out. He told me that the bonus to using Topamax would be that I would find myself losing "a great deal of weight" (his exact words).
When I got up to 300 mg a day, I noticed the migraines were MUCH less frequent and I had already lost 20 lbs (in about 2 months time). >May I ask a question?
What were you eating in those 2 months?
Lettuce leaves only? And 23 hours of exercise a day? Eating normally but sensibly? Eating 3 meals a day? Eating anything? Just curious how this thing makes you lose....Im now at 200mgs a day and eating maybe 1-2 meals a day but Im 3/4 disabled from an accident so exercise is not a poss. Thanks.
Oh! This is open to anyone who's lost on Topamax.
Cheers
Bear
Go forward in thread:
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.