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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bumper on May 28, 2004, at 13:48:55
hi i've recently started taking topamax for bipolar doisorder and was wondering if anyone else out there is taking it? my phsychiatrist is trying me on it so i'm only on 25mg. for a month then i get the dosage upped i've lost 10 pounds so far from it! but i am experiencing other side effects that i don't know if i'm going to be able to live with the main one is sleep i don't seem to be able to sleep at times anyone out there taking it please give me some feedback on how or if it has helped you for bipolar or manic depressant thanks
Posted by Sabina on May 28, 2004, at 22:54:46
In reply to using topamax for bipolar disorder, posted by bumper on May 28, 2004, at 13:48:55
topamax has helped me for BPII. the se's diminished within the first month or so. i also take seroquel at night, so i don't generally have a problem with sleep. the topa doesn't make me agitated at all anymore, though now that i think about it, i was really feeling strung out for the first month. for me, it was worth the effort. i did lose my appetite, which can be a convenient se if you're on a diet to lose weight. if you don't want to lose any more weight, just make sure you don't let your loss of appetite allow you forget to eat your normal diet. i don't know. that's just been my experience with the weight thing. overall, i think it's been a good med for me. i hope this helps.
Posted by bumper on May 29, 2004, at 12:54:42
In reply to using topamax for bipolar disorder, posted by bumper on May 28, 2004, at 13:48:55
thanks for the reply sabina in regards to taking topamax for bipolar i'll have to talk to my psych about the seroquel for sleeping at night he has me taking clonazepam a low dosage but it don't help i've been taking that for over a year it used to help with the lithium i was taking but can't take anymore from side effects i was getting like runny nose forover a year and upset stomache headaches etc. so at the moment i'm taking the new medicine topamax then the other meds clonazapam and celexa-low dosage too,and i'm also on high blood pressure medicine it runs on my mom's side of the family. I feel better in the head from the topamax i can think more clearly and i have tons of more energy i can't drink sodas at all which bothers me but not all that much turkey hill tea satifies me and folgers french java ice coffee for the caffiene rush i'm praying this medicine works for me i'm sick and tired of all the meds i've been on in the last 13 years for my bipolar illness you see i'm very sensitive to medications and start developing side effects after awhile so i'll just have to wait and see how this works for me.
Posted by Sabina on May 29, 2004, at 18:11:57
In reply to Re: using topamax for bipolar disorder, posted by bumper on May 29, 2004, at 12:54:42
wow! i can't believe you were able to put up with those se's from Li for an entire year. i'm glad the topa is working for you now and i hope it continues to do so. i don't know about everyone, but i was able to enjoy fizzy drinks (like sodas) again after several months; so don't give up hope!
i've been on seroquel for close to a year and the topamax since last october. seroquel had it's fair share of se's at first, too. i had crazy dreams for a bit, but i got over the bumps pretty quickly. although some people use atypical antipsychotics purely as a sleep aid, i've found that it also helped with aspects of my BPII.
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