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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by sarita0001 on January 21, 2004, at 19:31:20
In reply to Ladies, have you had a perm after starting Topamax, posted by msmelissa on January 20, 2004, at 10:25:37
Hi,
Some anticonvulsants can change hair texture temporarily( eg, smooth to coarse, curly to less curly. My hair is straight and every now and then has the tendency to become frizzy on top, this happened more on Tmax.
Sara
Posted by headachequeen on January 21, 2004, at 20:06:35
In reply to Re: Just for weight loss » Tierra, posted by helenag on January 20, 2004, at 16:24:33
>
> It is certainly not harmless or akin to Slim Fast or some other over the counter pill (which have their own side effects, I would imagine.)
Many of the over the counter pills and potions have truly frightening side effects
when one considers that they are not monitored by physicians of any sort they are even more frightening.. there have been deaths attributed to some of them btwIt is important to remember that Topomax has a link to weight loss but as a SIDE EFFECT of its primary intent...
kat
Posted by Beck on January 21, 2004, at 20:35:07
In reply to Topamax Experiences?, posted by Kingfish on January 4, 2001, at 7:29:48
Yipee!!!! no more topamax! My neurologist said I could just stop taking it. I REALY disliked that med! I admit, yeah sure if I had Bipolar or seizures or somthing more serious than migrains onece or twice a week, then maybe, just maybe, I could put up with the horrendous side-effects, but nope, this med isn't for me. I think 23 is to young to loose your hair, maybe I'm just vain though. Due to other problems I oonly get 60oz of water a day, I worry this is not enough to prevent kidney stones. i lost weight, then gained it bck, so that did nothing. Forgetting everything just does not work with me(I'm proud of my memory), and my fiancee is trying to be patient but I repeat myself, stutter, and do just plain dumb stuff, and somtimes he gets a bit irritated. So Bye Bye to this medicine! My question is, should i listen to my neurologist and just quit cold turkey? I take one 25mg. in the am, 1/2 of a 25mg in the pm.
Any help would be appriciated!
Posted by ren on January 22, 2004, at 6:55:47
In reply to Re: Topamax Experiences?, posted by Beck on January 21, 2004, at 20:35:07
Hi Beck.... I'm with you... I was also taking this for migraines. I have vertigo as well, which the nuero thinks is coming from the headaches, however on the Topamax I felt foggier than ever! Along with the other side effects, I was beside myself!! And that was at only 25mg, which I was suppose to increase weekly until I reached 100! We decided to cut back to 25 every other day to get started more slowly, but I swear I feel better on the days I don't take it... I don't think its the right med for me either and am deciding to stop it all together... I hope you find something that works, medications are soooo fustrating....
good luck...
Ren
Posted by Dr. Bob on January 24, 2004, at 13:21:11
In reply to Re: Tomamax for weight loss, posted by Magazine Reporter on November 25, 2003, at 8:46:38
> I am a reporter for a national women's magazine writing an article on drugs that people use for weight loss, and on people's real experiences with those drugs...
For those who are interested, the article's out:
One Pill Makes You Smaller?
by Eliza McCarthy
http://www.elle.com/article.asp?article_id=3828Bob
Posted by blueeye on January 26, 2004, at 22:55:04
In reply to Re: Just for weight loss » Tierra, posted by helenag on January 20, 2004, at 16:24:33
I have to laugh about all the weight loss stuff and topomax. I took Depakote for ten years, and have taken Topomax for just over a month and dropped the 20 pounds Depakote packed on. The hair loss is nothing like the clumps that fell out with Depakote. One thing-my pdoc said people on Topomax were "collapsing;" three to five people in my rural area-anyone heard of that? I TAKE it for bi-polar and seizure disorder, so for God's sake...
She switched me to trileptil and is ever so slowly bringing me back up on the topomax (25mg per 2 weeks) for the bi-polar treatment. Yes, it makes you feel like a walking drunken idiot for awhile, but THAT PASSES. It seems many forget that the side effects do actually PASS.
God Bless.
Posted by headachequeen on January 27, 2004, at 16:54:23
In reply to Re: Just for weight loss, posted by blueeye on January 26, 2004, at 22:55:04
> I have to laugh about all the weight loss stuff and topomax. I took Depakote for ten years, and have taken Topomax for just over a month and dropped the 20 pounds Depakote packed on. The hair loss is nothing like the clumps that fell out with Depakote. One thing-my pdoc said people on Topomax were "collapsing;" three to five people in my rural area-anyone heard of that? I TAKE it for bi-polar and seizure disorder, so for God's sake...
> She switched me to trileptil and is ever so slowly bringing me back up on the topomax (25mg per 2 weeks) for the bi-polar treatment. Yes, it makes you feel like a walking drunken idiot for awhile, but THAT PASSES. It seems many forget that the side effects do actually PASS.
>
> God Bless.
I take it for epileptic seizures as a secondary med and it has never caused any sort of collapse or my neuro would never have prescribed it...
epilepsy is a big enough problem for heaven's sake without that...
anyone I know who is on Topomax is usually prescribed it on a slow schedule of increments... 25 mg for two weeks then a 25 mg increase for the next two weeks and so on...
at the moment I am taking 400 mg each evening and 400 mg each morning so as to be able to cut back on TEgretol to see if that makes any difference in the reactions to the tegretol...
the side effects to the topomax have reduced greatly over the months but the tegretol seems to keep on keeping on...
and it did not really take effect until the topomax was added...
so why is topomax secondary is what I want to know...
as for collapsing??? this is the first I have heard of it....
interesting indeed
kat
Posted by terrics on January 29, 2004, at 15:22:40
In reply to Re: The benefits of Topamax, posted by phillybob on January 9, 2001, at 12:46:41
Hi anyone, Are you using topamax for bipolar? Or if not what does it treat? Hope this is not a stupid question. theresaM
Posted by headachequeen on January 29, 2004, at 16:40:51
In reply to Re: The benefits of Topamax, posted by terrics on January 29, 2004, at 15:22:40
> Hi anyone, Are you using topamax for bipolar? Or if not what does it treat? Hope this is not a stupid question. theresaM
Hi
Topomax was originally developed to deal with seizures. As I am an epileptic I take it to help prevent further seizures (to back up the dread Tegretol)
apparently it has shown, as one of its side effects, some efficacy in dealing with migraines another of the problems I live with and wish I didn't.
The neuro prescribed it instead of increasing the tegretol...
he warned me though that topomax also had a side effect of causing weight loss which has happened too ...kat
Posted by PoohBear on January 29, 2004, at 17:26:56
In reply to Re: The benefits of Topamax, posted by terrics on January 29, 2004, at 15:22:40
> Hi anyone, Are you using topamax for bipolar? Or if not what does it treat? Hope this is not a stupid question. theresaM
There are no stupid questions...
I take Topamax for sleep and as a mood stabilizer. I have clinical depression/ADHD, and it looks like I may have bipolar 2 as well, so the Topamax will fit right in with the Effexor. It's worked quite well so far, sleep has been good, with no side effects. Haven't noticed any weight LOSS, but at least no weight GAIN, like on Remeron...
Tony
Posted by Karen_kay on January 29, 2004, at 20:06:52
In reply to Re: The benefits of Topamax, posted by terrics on January 29, 2004, at 15:22:40
I take topamax for Bipolar I disorder. I've been taking it for about 8 months now and have lost over 25 lbs. I'm taking 300 mgs per day. And it has helped me Tremendously!!! If you have any other questions, feel free to enquire! And there is no such thing as a stupid question, dear! Didn't you learn anything in school? :)
Posted by Sooshi on January 29, 2004, at 21:17:54
In reply to Re: The benefits of Topamax, posted by terrics on January 29, 2004, at 15:22:40
I take it for BPII and it has helped, along with Effexor. Lots of side effects at first, which have mostly gone away as I've adjusted to the med.
Posted by headachequeen on January 30, 2004, at 16:23:35
In reply to Re: The benefits of Topamax » terrics, posted by PoohBear on January 29, 2004, at 17:26:56
> > Hi anyone, Are you using topamax for bipolar? Or if not what does it treat? Hope this is not a stupid question. theresaM
okay folks, speaking of questions that may or may not be stupid and probably are and are probably repetitive in that I have probably asked before...
what is the difference between BipolarI and BipolarII ???
thanks
kat who is so easily confused
Posted by PoohBear on January 30, 2004, at 16:40:11
In reply to Re: topomax » PoohBear, posted by headachequeen on January 30, 2004, at 16:23:35
Headachequeen:
Again, not a stupid question...
Since I'm NOT currently taking Topamax for Bipolar but rather for sleep, perhaps someone else can answer this better than I, but I'll take a stab at it...
As I understand the difference is in the amplitude or severity of the difference between the high of the mania and the low of the depression parts of the disease. If you understand waveforms and amplitude (height) and frequency (distance between crests), then it will make understanding bipolar much, much easier, because that's really what it is:
a rhythmic cycling of emotional highs and lows.
The cycles (frequencies) can be very longgggggg or they can be very short or they can even be mixed.
Bipolar I is the more severe form while Bipolar II is the less severe. A good website is:
http://www.dbsalliance.org/info/bipolar.html
Cheers!
Tony
> > > Hi anyone, Are you using topamax for bipolar? Or if not what does it treat? Hope this is not a stupid question. theresaM
>
>
> okay folks, speaking of questions that may or may not be stupid and probably are and are probably repetitive in that I have probably asked before...
> what is the difference between BipolarI and BipolarII ???
> thanks
> kat who is so easily confused
Posted by Karen_kay on January 30, 2004, at 19:26:29
In reply to Re: topomax » PoohBear, posted by headachequeen on January 30, 2004, at 16:23:35
Bipolar I dx is made when a person has had at least one manic or mixed episode, lasting for one week, unless hospitalization occurs (I think??) and at least one major depressive episode (though you don't have to have a depressive episode to be dx).
For me personally (Shhh, you won't tell, right???) I had a habit of getting nakie in public and walking around town at four o'clock in the afternoon, I've flashed police cars, random strangers, slept with strangers off the street. Of course my sister suggested I do it (walk around town naked, that is), and she knew I wasn't "feeling well" but she didn't know I had Bipolar Disorder. She just thought I was a riot (it's not quite so funny now). I also spent money I didn't have (to the sum of thousands of dollars while I was a starving college student), shop lifted, and gone on very little sleep for numerous days.Bipolar II Disorder dx is made when a person alternates between major depressive episodes and hypomanias. So, hypomania is a form of mania, only less severe and may not last as long as mania. Hypomania usually doesn't require hospitalization, and some people find it to be enjoyable. Usually I'm very talkative, need only a few hours of sleep, am very productive, have increased energy.
Hope that helps explain things with my embarrassing stories :)
Posted by headachequeen on January 30, 2004, at 23:00:32
In reply to Re: topomax » headachequeen, posted by Karen_kay on January 30, 2004, at 19:26:29
> Bipolar I dx is made when a person has had at least one manic or mixed episode, lasting for one week, unless hospitalization occurs (I think??) and at least one major depressive episode (though you don't have to have a depressive episode to be dx).
> For me personally (Shhh, you won't tell, right???) I had a habit of getting nakie in public and walking around town at four o'clock in the afternoon, I've flashed police cars, random strangers, slept with strangers off the street. Of course my sister suggested I do it (walk around town naked, that is), and she knew I wasn't "feeling well" but she didn't know I had Bipolar Disorder. She just thought I was a riot (it's not quite so funny now). I also spent money I didn't have (to the sum of thousands of dollars while I was a starving college student), shop lifted, and gone on very little sleep for numerous days.
>
> Bipolar II Disorder dx is made when a person alternates between major depressive episodes and hypomanias. So, hypomania is a form of mania, only less severe and may not last as long as mania. Hypomania usually doesn't require hospitalization, and some people find it to be enjoyable. Usually I'm very talkative, need only a few hours of sleep, am very productive, have increased energy.
>
> Hope that helps explain things with my embarrassing stories :)Thanks for the explanation...
I have been treated for depression for a longer time than I can remember eventually ending up in hospital a year and a-half past... my doctor thought I was bipolar actually; the psychiatrist who admitted me said I was not bipolar and diagnosed me as something else entirely, the which I have forgotten; actually she said she suffered from the same disorder and was really helpful.
The psych in charge of the department decided my mixture of symptoms was so interesting he would take my case; told me that himself eventually and made me feel like a some sort of insect on a pin being examined under a microscope or something... really wonderful feeling believe me! then went on to tell me I was not depressed at all but had a personality disorder and was hypomanic and did not need psychiatric care...
totally confused me by the time he was finished and I am still confused... but struggling to get through it all without him...
find more help here than he could ever provide...
I am thinking though of finding a way to arrange treatment with the first one... except she treats in-patients only and that is not an option I care to consider if possible...
contrary aren't I?
kat
Posted by Sooshi on January 31, 2004, at 11:56:34
In reply to Re: topomax » Karen_kay, posted by headachequeen on January 30, 2004, at 23:00:32
Kat-your hospitalization sounds a lot like my first hospitalization. They didn't know how to dx me either. Basically, I ended up with a dx of Major Depression, NOS, because back in the day (early 80's) there wasn't (I'm guessing) a BPII dx. Every time they would put me on a tricyclic ad (I don't think they were even using Prozac then), I'd get manic, although I had never had a true "manic" episode in my life. But when they would put me on lithium or tegretol, it would horribly aggrivate my depression (besides the fact that I was allergic to both, and got a terrible rash!). I was eventually released taking Desyrl and Xanax in megadoses and was back in the hospital within two weeks!
Anyway, I think one of the ways they dx BPII is how one responds to antidepressants...if you get hyper/manic on them, they tend to lean toward a dx of BPII.
Posted by Sad Panda on January 31, 2004, at 13:00:25
In reply to Re: topomax » PoohBear, posted by headachequeen on January 30, 2004, at 16:23:35
> what is the difference between BipolarI and BipolarII ???
BP1 is the classic Manic Depression.
With BP2 there is little & sometimes no mania, sometimes there is extreme iritability & crankiness instead, so it can easily be confused with the various types of depression.
What are your symptoms?
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by headachequeen on January 31, 2004, at 17:42:11
In reply to Re: topomax » headachequeen, posted by Sad Panda on January 31, 2004, at 13:00:25
> > what is the difference between BipolarI and BipolarII ???
>
> BP1 is the classic Manic Depression.
>
> With BP2 there is little & sometimes no mania, sometimes there is extreme iritability & crankiness instead, so it can easily be confused with the various types of depression.
>
> What are your symptoms?
>
> Cheers,
> Panda.
>I am going to try and answer both Panda and Sooshi in one post here...
and probably we will all end up as confused as I...
my depression treatment started years ago as a diagnosis of Seasonal Affective Disorder because my depression that according to that wondrous psychiatrist is not a depression, always peaks in late Februaary early March. At that time I was put on some anti-depressant or other whose name I now forget... this was back in the eighties...
it did do one thing that was good, it suppressed my appetite and when I am depressed, or unhappy as so many of my acquaintances seem to view it, I go on eating binges and I have only now realised after reading information published to coincide with eating disorder week, that I was a binge eater, oh the things I am learning about myself that I really don't like---
I was losing weight on the stuff, but it was prescribed only during those winter months... January the doctor would start me on it and wrap up the treatment in April as a rule... he was good at listening and we would talk about my feelings and symptoms and I really respect his efforts
eventually he switched me to Luvox and I was using that for several years whenever the symptoms overtook me, and they often overtook me when it was not winter but no one seemed to think that this was anything out of the ordinary... he and I would talk and he would impress upon me the fact that I was not crazy as I would often insist...
it was overwork, stress, and so on...
and he would insist on helping me through it all... but then he retired and the man who bought his practice had a thing about women of a certain age...
EVERYTHING was to do with women of a certain age and I apparently fell into that age... even the tumour that had to be removed was first diagnosed as being pain that related to being a woman of a certain age so the depression I felt was also that of a woman of a certain age... he would under duress prescribe the Luvox while muttering about women of that age who wanted attention their husbands would not give them...
if I were to break a leg it would be because of my age.... so I changed doctors and the new one was fabulous...
he did not think anything had to do with the fact that I was in my forties and had everything to do with real symptoms and he did not feel that prescribing the meds in March would help; the new trend he said was to prescribe antidepressants year-round for SAD... so he did and then slowly began to change from Luvox to Wellbutrin, then added Effexor...
when I was diagnosed as being epileptic the wellbutrin had to go, so in came zyprexa... the immovane had been introduced to turn off my mind at night so I could sleep...
and by this time the SAD had been ruled out...
I have incredible highs brought about by successful creative spurts... I bring them on myself, celebratory as it were... they are not the bi-polar manic highs...
but I do have incredible lows, I become so depressed that I cannot leave my bed or my room instead I stay in the darkened room for days on end until I am able to face the world again and I do not know what triggers these spells for lack of a better word...
tears start for no reason... I can be in the middle of doing something or with people I enjoy in the midst of pleasurable activity and suddenly the tears start and the feelings of rejection and extreme loneliness and being shut off from the world set in...
I have found myself sitting on the floor in my own home rocking back and forth crying for no reason...
the list goes on and on...
a piece of music...
the smell of pipe tobacco of a particular brand...
cigar smoke...
these will send me into a total downspin toward total depression from which I cannot climb toward normal behaviour for days...
by the same token a piece of music or a certain scent or aroma or a certain accent or inflection on words can send me into such a sense of contentment and memory that I am totally at peace with the world for a while...
My manic periods are of such joy and delight with myself and my abilities... I do not do the wild spending or disappearing acts... I simply want to share the happiness of what I have accomplished with those around me...
my down periods are withdrawn and afraid and black and lonely...
those times when I do not appear to question or support are the times when I have taken to hiding from my fears or the blackness... and the past month or so there have been many such times..
my psychologist says that there is no need for years of therapy and has cut me loose, saying that I do not need him any more. If I have bad times I should call him and he will set up an appointment...
guess all the dark days are in my head and time to get over it...
wish the topomax would work for this hyomanic thing...
kat
oh and by the way...
I decided to do my own little torture test of it...
for the past couple of days I have not been taking it...
took only the tegretol and the 'tingling' in my hands and feet not only continued despite the lack of topomax it increased. Today the so-called 'tingling' was so intense in my hands that it was painful...
wondering now if the topomax somehow moderates the tingling from the tegretol...
have decided to arrange an appointment with the neuro to ask him about it and to see if he will increase the topomax and lessen the tegretol...
at times I can hardly use my hands the pain is so intense...
and without the topomax the pains in my stomach and the nausea returned full force...
so I rest my case: tegretol makes the topomax seem like a walk in the park on Sunday afternoon in the fifties...but they tell me I do not suffer from depression...
and would not benefit from psychiatric care... I needed instead a psychologist and meds...
which set me to wondering why the provincial health plan pays the psychiatrists so much money and does not recognise psychologists...
they also told me it would take years of psychotherapy to overcome not being depressed...
and then told me I could go home in a week or so...
Posted by figmentspark on February 4, 2004, at 18:35:39
In reply to Re: Topamax Experiences? Â » sherry gomez, posted by maribeth on January 25, 2001, at 7:37:38
Has anyone out there experienced problems with breathing while taking topamax? It seems to have an effect on my ability to take in deep breaths, and I don't know what to do. I think I'm going to have to stop taking it, which is so frustrating because it has really seemed to help with the Bipolar symptoms.
Posted by Maxime on February 8, 2004, at 19:46:41
In reply to Topamax help =(), posted by figmentspark on February 4, 2004, at 18:35:39
> Has anyone out there experienced problems with breathing while taking topamax? It seems to have an effect on my ability to take in deep breaths, and I don't know what to do. I think I'm going to have to stop taking it, which is so frustrating because it has really seemed to help with the Bipolar symptoms.
Hello. Yes, it did with me. It made my asthma worse. I do remember reading that one of the side effects can be an increase in upper respiratory tract infections.
Maxime
Posted by sickofmyfatclothes on February 20, 2004, at 13:25:06
In reply to Re: Topamax help =(), posted by Maxime on February 8, 2004, at 19:46:41
I started on topomax for weight loss about 3 weeks ago building up from 25 mg. for 2 weeks to now 50 mg. at night and have been taking for one week. I have had no side effects really to speak of. I take 200 mg. Zoloft for depression. have for years. Can anyone with some experience with this tell me when I should, at what dosage start expecting some weight loss? I do know that I get full very easily now. I have never been a big eater though. I have very much enjoyed reading these past messages. I go back to my Dr. next week, and I think she may bump up my dosage, as I have had no adverse reactions. Anyone have any advice or ideas for me? THANKS so much in advance.
Posted by headachequeen on February 20, 2004, at 16:13:53
In reply to Re: Topamax help =(), posted by sickofmyfatclothes on February 20, 2004, at 13:25:06
> I started on topomax for weight loss about 3 weeks ago building up from 25 mg. for 2 weeks to now 50 mg. at night and have been taking for one week. I have had no side effects really to speak of. I take 200 mg. Zoloft for depression. have for years. Can anyone with some experience with this tell me when I should, at what dosage start expecting some weight loss? I do know that I get full very easily now. I have never been a big eater though. I have very much enjoyed reading these past messages. I go back to my Dr. next week, and I think she may bump up my dosage, as I have had no adverse reactions. Anyone have any advice or ideas for me? THANKS so much in advance.
I have said this so often... and am saying it again...
do not increase the dosage too fast or the side effects will really hit you...
continue with the 50 mg for at least another week before any increase then aim for the next 25 mg...
the weight effect seems to kick in according to the individual's metabolism is all I can figure...
I am always amazed that people do not see the weight loss start at once... I did...
it was not a huge weight loss but it was a weight loss ... 3 pounds in the first week...
and this week I discovered that I have lost another five pounds... had given up checking as I thought I had reached a permanent plateau...
was talking with my sister-in-law who was on topomax for several years to control a 'jumping around effect' as she calls it... she broke her spine about fifteen years ago and has suffered all sorts of side effects from that.
Now her doctors and there are dozens, have decided she is depressed and have her on effexor and another anti-depressant whose name I forget but it sounds like ampybutaline to my pathetic memory... shall check it out.. she was on welbutrin but that happy face offended her LOL...
and I am offended by the antidepressants for a person who is anything but depressed especially the effexor !!!!!!! ...
and on something that is to controlly the sudden twitches or spasms or seizures that her body goes through from the spinal cord damage... they took her off topomax...
she had no side effects other than it controlled her weight for ages...
she has been a one meal a day person for as long as I can remember... and now I know why... apparently the effect lasts...
I still have no urge to eat sweets and no real wish to indulge in heavy meals... and this from the person who found food the way to escape the things that upset or depressed me... amazing...
and to think that if I stop taking it the effect will last...
now to find out if the anti-seizure part lasts <g>
oh, relax folks, I know it won't, just a pathetic attempt at a joke...
had two seizures, mild ones but of the embarrassing sort for the type of epilepsy that I have... thank heaven for the type of epilepsy I have I guess...
and it annoys me to all get out that with the meds to control the seizures and the meds to control the nausea and abdominal pain that the tegretol causes and the meds to control the meds, the seizures still can happen...
I want to live in a perfect world...
to be young, slim, and happy all the time too...
and I want it all yesterday....
kat
Posted by helenag on February 21, 2004, at 20:12:56
In reply to Re: Topamax help =(), posted by sickofmyfatclothes on February 20, 2004, at 13:25:06
Weight loss for me started at 200mg and above. Am at 300mg now and have seen significant loss of appetite at this dose.
Posted by sjb on February 22, 2004, at 7:25:33
In reply to Re: Topamax help =(), posted by sickofmyfatclothes on February 20, 2004, at 13:25:06
I have not read this entire thread, so if I'm repeating something already said, my apologies.
First, not ALL experience weight loss with Topomax, and for those that do, it is generally temporary. Also, at higher doses, cognitive difficulties and lethargy are a frequent problem.
Topomax worked well for me for a couple of months but that was it.
A quote from a article in the New Yorker about the supplement industry was helpful for me and may be for others as well:
"Yet, despite thousands of weight-loss studies and an increasingly focused search for solutions, there is NO (caps inserted by me) evidence that any prescription, over-the-counter product, or supplement has ever kept a person's weight down for much more than a few months. At best, such drugs or supplements are short-term answers to lifelong problems; at worst, they intensify the disorders they attempt to cure." From Miracle in a Bottle by Michael Specter, The New Yorker, February 2, 2004
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