Posted by Ponder on November 12, 2002, at 12:34:14
In reply to Topamax Success Stories: Any Good News?, posted by Leighwit on June 4, 2002, at 18:38:36
I have a new p-doc who is encouraging me to try Topamax. His clinical experience suggests that it is a "sleeper." He commented that Neurontin gets a lot of attention, but has been disappointing; Topamax gets dismissed but can be quite effective for many patients.
Because many of my stalwart and courageous p-babble cohorts have found Topa to be intolerable, I have been afraid of it. Why, then, have I decided to try it? In part because of some intriguing hints that there may be some good synergy between Topamax and Lamictal (which I'm already on) and that being on Lamictal already might ameliorate side-effects of Topa as it is introduced. The experience of JohnX2 has been encouraging in that the combination of L. and T. have been effective for him and have not caused cognitive side effects.
So...a week ago I introduced Topa, not at 50 mg twice a day as my p-doc had prescribed, but at 12.5 mg at bedtime only. I have experienced a reduction in anxiety, have been able to eliminate my sleep meds, and so far have not had cognitive effects. The last couple of nights I have taken about 3/4 of a 25 mg. tablet; tonight will go to 25 mg. If anyone is interested in further reports, I'll be glad to post them. No effect on appetite yet, although this is not a big factor in my interest in this drug.
poster:Ponder
thread:108673
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021108/msgs/127379.html