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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fattoush on January 31, 2010, at 1:02:28
I am taking Topamax for migraine. I'm on 100 mgs a day. I think I have been feeling depressed since I started taking it. I know that I could try going to a lower dose and it might still work well as a migraine prophylactic. Would the "depressant" effect diminish?
Posted by Phillipa on January 31, 2010, at 11:10:26
In reply to Topamax Side Effects - Dose Related?, posted by fattoush on January 31, 2010, at 1:02:28
I didn't know it was used for depression thought just a mood stabalizer. Archieves might have some infor on this. Seems so quiet here. Phillipa
Posted by Ron Hill on February 3, 2010, at 2:35:13
In reply to Topamax Side Effects - Dose Related?, posted by fattoush on January 31, 2010, at 1:02:28
> I am taking Topamax for migraine. I'm on 100 mgs a day. I think I have been feeling depressed since I started taking it. I know that I could try going to a lower dose and it might still work well as a migraine prophylactic. Would the "depressant" effect diminish?
Fattoush,Topiramate (Topamax) caused depression for me at 100 mg/day. I was trying it as a moodstabilizer for my bipolar II. I discontinued after about three weeks due to what I perceived as Topamax-induced depression.
I'm very sorry that you have to struggle with migraines.
Read this thread:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070125/msgs/726373.html
Have you tried things like CoQ10, Mg, Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil), and etc?
-- Ron
dx: Bipolar II with ultra rapid cycling and mild OCPD
600 mg/day Trileptal
200 mg/day Lamictal
500 mg/day Keppra
90 mg/day Nardil
1.9 mg/day Deplin (taken with methyl B-12 and P-5-P)
Dark therapy via LowBlueLight glasses
Several vitamins and supplements
Posted by fattoush on February 3, 2010, at 4:40:45
In reply to Re: Topamax Side Effects - Dose Related? » fattoush, posted by Ron Hill on February 3, 2010, at 2:35:13
Hi Ron,
I went down to 50 mgs in the last few days. We'll see. It really is one of the best migraine prophylactics, but - and I hate to say this - your story makes me feel like I wasn't cukoo thinking this so-called mood stabilizier is making me depressed. At this point, I don't know whether I will stick to it. I've added tricyclics to my cocktail because they're good headache prophylactics, all sorts of headaches apparently. But, ugh, the weight gain.
I do have the supplements you mentioned. I'm just not disciplined enough, never taken my supplements as seriously as medication. How much of each do you suggest I take daily?
Thank you.
Posted by Phillipa on February 3, 2010, at 20:16:07
In reply to Re: Topamax Side Effects - Dose Related?, posted by fattoush on February 3, 2010, at 4:40:45
Ron noticed Kreppa also listed as depressive and you take so guessing it doesn't depress you? Phillipa
Posted by fattoush on February 4, 2010, at 9:07:52
In reply to Re: Topamax Side Effects - Dose Related?, posted by Phillipa on February 3, 2010, at 20:16:07
> Ron noticed Kreppa also listed as depressive and you take so guessing it doesn't depress you? Phillipa
I don't take Keppra or Kreppa, whatever it's called.
Posted by Ron Hill on February 4, 2010, at 23:29:44
In reply to Re: Topamax Side Effects - Dose Related?, posted by Phillipa on February 3, 2010, at 20:16:07
> Ron noticed Kreppa also listed as depressive and you take so guessing it doesn't depress you? Phillipa
Keppra makes me depressed at 1000 mg/day. Below that level the AED helps my BP II dysorder.
-- Ron
Posted by Ron Hill on February 4, 2010, at 23:52:07
In reply to Re: Topamax Side Effects - Dose Related?, posted by fattoush on February 3, 2010, at 4:40:45
> Hi Ron,
> I went down to 50 mgs in the last few days. We'll see. It really is one of the best migraine prophylactics, but - and I hate to say this - your story makes me feel like I wasn't cukoo thinking this so-called mood stabilizier is making me depressed. At this point, I don't know whether I will stick to it. I've added tricyclics to my cocktail because they're good headache prophylactics, all sorts of headaches apparently. But, ugh, the weight gain.
> I do have the supplements you mentioned. I'm just not disciplined enough, never taken my supplements as seriously as medication.> How much of each do you suggest I take daily?
> Thank you.Fattoush,
I don't know the proper dosages for the treatment of migraines. Have you ever tried Depakote?
-- Ron
Posted by fattoush on February 9, 2010, at 8:16:40
In reply to Re: Topamax Side Effects - Dose Related? » fattoush, posted by Ron Hill on February 4, 2010, at 23:52:07
> > Hi Ron,
> > I went down to 50 mgs in the last few days. We'll see. It really is one of the best migraine prophylactics, but - and I hate to say this - your story makes me feel like I wasn't cukoo thinking this so-called mood stabilizier is making me depressed. At this point, I don't know whether I will stick to it. I've added tricyclics to my cocktail because they're good headache prophylactics, all sorts of headaches apparently. But, ugh, the weight gain.
> > I do have the supplements you mentioned. I'm just not disciplined enough, never taken my supplements as seriously as medication.
>
> > How much of each do you suggest I take daily?
> > Thank you.
>
> Fattoush,
>
> I don't know the proper dosages for the treatment of migraines. Have you ever tried Depakote?
>
> -- Ron
I was asking about the dosage of the supplements, not any medication for migraine.
I continue to feel depressed daily. I think Topamax has to go. I feel like just cutting it out cold turkey. Do I have to taper off slow?
Posted by mellow on February 10, 2010, at 13:52:23
In reply to Re: Topamax Side Effects - Dose Related? » Ron Hill, posted by fattoush on February 9, 2010, at 8:16:40
> I continue to feel depressed daily. I think Topamax has to go. I feel like just cutting it out cold turkey. Do I have to taper off slow?
>Be careful! I tapered from 100mgs to 50mgs in June of 2009 and felt like death for a few days! Sobbing, delusion, irritable, fatigued...I'm still trying to get rid of the 50mgs in my cocktail right now but i'm gonna make the doc let me step off 25mgs at a time...if 50mgs was that bad i can't imagine 100mgs cold turkey!
Topomax at 100mgs definitely made me depressed, interrupted my sleep, made my toes numb, and screwed me up cognitively...i was constantly dialing the wrong number on my phone and filing paperwork out of order at the office...that drug is a bad mofo!!! Its much more tolerable at 50 mgs but like i said i'm trying to get rid of that as well...
I wish you the best...Peace
Posted by fattoush on February 10, 2010, at 18:04:44
In reply to Re: Topamax Side Effects - Dose Related?, posted by mellow on February 10, 2010, at 13:52:23
I agree with you, it's a dangerous drug. I am now at 50 mgs. I think I was there, even at the time of writing, but who knows. Our brain rots on it. When I asked about cold turkey, I meant from 50mgs to nothing. In the meantime, I talked to my neurologist, because I take it primarily for migraine. He said to go down to 25 mgs and try and stay there a couple of weeks. That's what I'm hoping I can do.
This is the end of the thread.
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