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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by willyee on August 25, 2005, at 20:36:34
Im wondering if any person/persons on topamax a fair amount of time can tell me if the drug posses any pro-social effect,meaning does it give the desire to drop what your doing and just talk to people,get outof the house,a desire to interact with people.
Even when im not i lack the desire to associate with anyone then get lonly at night when no ones around,ironic isnt it.
Posted by Nickengland on August 26, 2005, at 6:34:39
In reply to Topamax users..., posted by willyee on August 25, 2005, at 20:36:34
Hi Willyee,
I can't say that I've been on Topamax a fair amount of time (about 2 months-ish) I can say though that during the time I have been taking it I have noticed a pro social effect. Its not a huge difference, but every little helps and it has helped me in that area. It has a certain calming effect which can make you feel more at ease, also possibly more talkative.
Strangley enough, I don't feel like having a drink of alcohol or anything like that since I've been on it, not that alcohol has been a problem in the past, but this is something I would want to take to be more social, but with the topamax I dont feel the need.
Also found that before I was taking the dosage in the day time ~ I didn't feel that social, I tired taking it twice a day, morning and night, again didnt feel that social but still some improvement. However taking the dosage all at night before going to sleep has decreased side effects during the day, I feel made the drug work better for me and had a more pro social effect.
Hope this helps.
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by willyee on August 26, 2005, at 12:22:47
In reply to I find it pro social... » willyee, posted by Nickengland on August 26, 2005, at 6:34:39
Great response,thank you.If it works even half as good as Neurontion in high doeses ill be staisfied.
Posted by Nickengland on August 26, 2005, at 13:05:14
In reply to Re: I find it pro social..., posted by willyee on August 26, 2005, at 12:22:47
I take Neurontin too ~ Topamax/Neurontin are the medications that I think i'm going to be taking longterm (unless something new and better comes out lol)
The 2 in combination seems to do the trick for me. Both in their different way of course. I've tried both by themself, and whilst they both had benefits that way (less side effects) taking them together has been better for me personally.
Best of luck.
Nick
Posted by willyee on August 26, 2005, at 14:39:04
In reply to Re: I find it pro social... » willyee, posted by Nickengland on August 26, 2005, at 13:05:14
So you believe there is definatly a pro-social effect with the two,excellent!
I have both and the combo does sound good.Its a problem cause even when the depression is subdude
parnate makes me wanna stay alone and start a project,it does give me that push to want to be interactive with my family friends etc.Well i will ask one last time from my doc,if she says no,i will still HAVE the med very soon.
Posted by MoparFan91 on August 27, 2005, at 11:24:31
In reply to Topamax users..., posted by willyee on August 25, 2005, at 20:36:34
Topamax enhances GABA transmission much like Neurontin. This might be responsible for its anti-anxiety/pro-social effect. GABA is the calming neurotransmitter and keeps the brain from going into overdrive. It's implicated in anxiety, insomnia, and some forms of depression. The GABA and Glutamate systems are implicated in bipolar disorder hence anti-seizure meds.
I just had Topamax added to my 300mg Lamictal. I will be titrating in 25mg weekly increments to 100mg initially. I'm taking it for residual Ultradian cycling.
I wonder if taking GABA supplements (with cofactors to get it into brain) would help Topamax work better.
> Im wondering if any person/persons on topamax a fair amount of time can tell me if the drug posses any pro-social effect,meaning does it give the desire to drop what your doing and just talk to people,get outof the house,a desire to interact with people.
>
> Even when im not i lack the desire to associate with anyone then get lonly at night when no ones around,ironic isnt it.
Posted by willyee on August 27, 2005, at 12:19:16
In reply to Re: Topamax users... » willyee, posted by MoparFan91 on August 27, 2005, at 11:24:31
Appreciate the response,but im still a little curious,did u find urself talking more,or wanting to be around people more?
Posted by Declan on August 27, 2005, at 15:43:04
In reply to Re: Topamax users..., posted by willyee on August 27, 2005, at 12:19:16
You know how you can want to be around people, ie you're lonely, but it seems too difficult and anyway you know how it's going to work out so you don't do it.
So Topomax and Neurontin may be somewhat helpful for that sort of thing?
And they don't make sleep worse?
I got sick of forcing myself into things that didn't work.
Declan
Posted by willyee on August 27, 2005, at 16:35:51
In reply to Re: Topamax users..., posted by Declan on August 27, 2005, at 15:43:04
> You know how you can want to be around people, ie you're lonely, but it seems too difficult and anyway you know how it's going to work out so you don't do it.
>
> So Topomax and Neurontin may be somewhat helpful for that sort of thing?
>
> And they don't make sleep worse?
>
> I got sick of forcing myself into things that didn't work.
>
> Declan
Im hoping the combination works,so far ive combine nardil/parnate and while anxiety was qwelled,i felt really yucky,depression went no where,not to mention i work out constantly yet still gre quite a big belly and people noticed so i chucked that idea.Last and present its wellbutrin/parnate and what this is doing is allowing me oddly enough to take a higher dose of parnate,50 mg,something i coould not do.
Its not doing much for lifting my depression,the stimulant properties of wellbutrin seem to subdued by the parnate.
SO with Neurontion having worked partialy,im hoping the combo topamax/neurotion will do the trick,and add a social effect,as in wanting to be around people and wanting to go out,and remerbering what bored felt like!
Posted by ClearSkies on August 27, 2005, at 16:36:46
In reply to Topamax users..., posted by willyee on August 25, 2005, at 20:36:34
I'm adjusted to my current dosage of 75mg/day (after 2 weeks of titration) and find that my social anxiety is not as bad as it's been in the past. I am more likely to go out in my car and run an errand than try and do it on the internet (so as not to have to face other people).
I am making an effort, but I do think it is getting easier.
I am also making inroads on some of my other other issues, so perhaps it's a gestalt effect. I think the Topamax increase has helped, though.
I still have to go out and make the contacts and friends, which will be another hurdle for me. There are more days than not, though, when I think I'll be able to achieve it.
ClearSkies
Posted by Nickengland on August 27, 2005, at 17:00:59
In reply to Re: Topamax users... » willyee, posted by ClearSkies on August 27, 2005, at 16:36:46
I just feel totally more relexed with the whole idea of being social on Topamax. Things don't bother me so much anymore, my mind want 'race' with those kind of anxious thoughts you get when you think about being in a soical situation or when i'm actually in one.
Its funny to feel this way, as i've never felt so relaxed or at ease in such a long time. I think I can actually concentrate better because of this reduction in anxiety lol which funnily enough is a contradiction of the dopamax effect.
Be extreamly careful with the dosage increase willyee, one thing about Topamax and how it is very different from Neurontin ~ is that with Neurontin (i'm sure you may have found) you can play around with the dosage, i.e have 300mg oneday the next have 1200mg, you can be quite flexable with the drug, take lots, take less, and everything is okay depnending on the mood at the time and how much relief you want from it.
With Topamax, at least in my experience, I wouldn't dare miss a dose (have done before, it wasn't too pleasent I had to go without for a week, long story lol) I also wouldn't bump up the dose oneday just to see the effect or to try and be more social with it. I started with a 25mg sprinkle caspsule, I split it into 12.5mg - took that for at least 2 weeks. Then up to 25mg, again stayed for at least 2 weeks, I then tried 37.5mg, it didnt go down to well so I've stayed at 25mg. Everything is fine and I might to try increase once more to see what happens. The thing is, be careful not to push the dosage and rush into it. Its really best to take it easy with this stuff. When I take Neurontin in comparison, its like eating candy, whereas Topamax seems like one powerful drug. That said i'm still very grateful for the calming effect I get from Neurontin.
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by Nickengland on August 27, 2005, at 17:10:40
In reply to Re: Topamax users..., posted by Declan on August 27, 2005, at 15:43:04
G'day Declan
>So Topomax and Neurontin may be somewhat helpful for that sort of thing?
>And they don't make sleep worse?
If anything, Topamax can disrupt sleep abit ive found. Its worse if I take it in the daytime, if I take the dosage before I go to sleep though I sleep pretty good. Out of the 2, topamax does have the potential to cause alittle insomnia ~ its a wierd kind though, I had far worse from Lamictal.
Neurontin however is pretty good at helping you sleep, or it helps me at least. It has a good claming, soothing feeling ~ in that respect I guess it helps you get to sleep. When I've taken Neurontin by itself I slept like a baby, maybe alittle too much, getting the dosages right between the 2 drugs I guess it the key. I'm sleeping on average now inbetween 7-8 hours a night. Thats with 25mg topamax and 900mg neurontin, both pretty low dosages of each.
Kind regards
Nick
Posted by willyee on August 27, 2005, at 19:59:21
In reply to Re: Topamax users... » Declan, posted by Nickengland on August 27, 2005, at 17:10:40
Thans guys great answers!!!
This is the end of the thread.
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