Posted by Murphia on November 18, 2003, at 16:22:11
In reply to re:topamax experiences, murphia, or anybody?, posted by helenag on November 18, 2003, at 15:16:10
One of the side effects of topa is depression. It's is great for mania, but not much good for depression and can even send a person into depression. That's why it is partially good for bipolar. If you swing a lot on the manic side, topamax will pretty much kill that. You either need an AD add-on, or another mood stabilizer. Lamictal is a mood stabilizer that is great with topa, becuase it doesn't do much for mania, but works pretty well on depression. Lamictal has to be titrated up very very slowly, as it has it's side effects also, one being the Stevens Johnson rash... and you would have to go off immediately. Topa by itself is not recommended as a mood stabilizer, but mainly as an add-on. It failed clinical trials at a MS. That's why your doc is talking about lithium...it is a salt that has amazaing properties of halting both mania and depression, and is the first line of defense in mood stabilization. Sort of the tried-and-true war horse of stablization. Hope this helps some. Murph
> Hi..Enjoy the topamax discussions. Been on it since May. Am on 250mg for mood stabilization and to help alcohol cravings. Also on 300mg Effexor XR, and low dose of seroquel. Question: have been feeling depressed. This came about after a spell of increased anxiety I blamed on increased hours and stress at work. Wasn't sleeping well, couldn't sit still very well and calmed myself by playing word games on the computer for hours at a time. Unfortunately, I also took myself to the bar a time or two and regret that immensely.
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> I wondered if the depression was from relapsing, so I pulled myself together and resumed AA meetings and the depression is still on my shoulders. Now it is occuring to me...depakote did the same thing to me..could the topamax be doing likewise??? I would hate to give the topamax up because it sure did stop the wide mood cycling that was going on prior to by being placed on.
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> I did call the pdoc and he mentioned going on lithium. Am not up for a medicine-go-round. Last time that occured, I got worse and worse and wound up hospitalized.
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> Am wondering...do you all think it is wise to sit this out and wait to see a while if this passes??If it is the drugs, won't it keep up and then I'll know? If it's situational, wouldn't mood improve as I clean up my act and continue on with behaving myself?
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> It is difficult to be both bothered with mood disorders and substance abuse..they feed off eachother like parasites. They bring me down fast. I'm doing all I can to keep my canoe in the water. Help. Helen.
poster:Murphia
thread:50878
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031116/msgs/280930.html