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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by TropicalGirl12 on January 14, 2004, at 22:45:45
In reply to Re: migraine control and weight loss » TropicalGirl12, posted by headachequeen on January 14, 2004, at 22:05:40
Hey, where are you finding this information. I checked out topamax.com and ive been searching online but i cant find anything anywhere.
Posted by Ladee52 on January 14, 2004, at 23:05:47
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by TropicalGirl12 on January 14, 2004, at 22:33:39
> Hey
> I completely understand what you mean. It seems like the topamax makes me walk right by the things i would normally want, and makes me eat the things my body should have. I used to love ramen noodles, chips, peanut butter and fluff sandwiches, and anything sweet. Those foods were not my normal meals, but they were the things i would think about when i was hungry. But when i started topamax all i would want was salad, a veggie sub, fruit, toast, or vegetables. Its great though, i never thought i would be naturally going for those foods. I dont think ill be going for tofu anytime soon though! :)
I have noticed that my tastes seem to be changing. I was a Diet Coke drinker and now they all seem to taste flat. The doctor does have me increasing my dosage at 2 week intervals and I've got one more week at 75 mg's. I go back to see him after I've been on 100 mg's for 2 weeks. My appetite has decreased a little, but I haven't started craving healthy foods yet, unfortunately.
Posted by headachequeen on January 15, 2004, at 13:34:11
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by TropicalGirl12 on January 14, 2004, at 22:33:39
> Hey
> Its great though, i never thought i would be naturally going for those foods. I dont think ill be going for tofu anytime soon though! :)I can't imagine a high enough dose of anything, even Topomax making me want to eat the stuff... LOL
I think I would starve first... correction, I KNOW I would starve first... I have tried it <g>
kat
Posted by TropicalGirl12 on January 15, 2004, at 18:08:46
In reply to Re: topomax » TropicalGirl12, posted by headachequeen on January 15, 2004, at 13:34:11
Haha good point! :)
I actually called ortho mcneill today, the company that makes topamax and asked them about my concerns with it interfering with my birth control. They said that studies really havent proved anything for sure, and that the studies they did do show that it interferes at dosages of 200-800 mg. Pretty much, use a back up method of protection just incase-pain in the butt!
Posted by headachequeen on January 15, 2004, at 19:13:31
In reply to Re: migraine control and weight loss, posted by TropicalGirl12 on January 14, 2004, at 22:45:45
> Hey, where are you finding this information. I checked out topamax.com and ive been searching online but i cant find anything anywhere.
I have asked several doctors... and you can imagine their responses LOL considering my age and the fact that they are highly familiar with my medical history...
but told them that I wanted to know and they all said the same thing that in their experience the dosage had to be high... most hedged their bets saying that they would suggest that anyone taking 800 mg or more should be careful although they all added that anyone needing that much should be considering back up means anyway as epilepsy requiring that much secondary medication was definitely not a situation to consider pregnancy....kat.... who is definitely not considering pregnancy... found out what caused it and put a stop to it
Posted by TropicalGirl12 on January 15, 2004, at 19:34:11
In reply to Re: topomax » TropicalGirl12, posted by headachequeen on January 15, 2004, at 19:13:31
Im definately not considering pregnancy either! :) When i asked my doctor she knew absolutely nothing, and neither did my psychiatrist-i just get too nervous taking it becaue i dont want any babies! Are you taking birth control with topamax? If so, for how long?
Posted by headachequeen on January 15, 2004, at 20:12:09
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by TropicalGirl12 on January 15, 2004, at 19:34:11
> Im definately not considering pregnancy either! :) When i asked my doctor she knew absolutely nothing, and neither did my psychiatrist-i just get too nervous taking it becaue i dont want any babies! Are you taking birth control with topamax? If so, for how long?
As I said before, I learned what caused pregnancy and put a stop to it... I never wanted children at all... now there is a concept and in a society that was at the time extremely family-oriented and in which a woman or girl was not supposed to consider not having a family let alone stating such an idea out loud... oh mon dieu! quel idee!
it was worse than inciting a riot or rebellion.. in fact, rebellion was quite acceptable when I look back on it...
but I wanted to know the risks considering the thread that had been started here... and the neuro and the other doctors treating me all said the same that it became a risk in higher doses...
let us hope they know whereof they speak...
kat
Posted by lizi G. on January 16, 2004, at 15:51:14
In reply to Re: topomax » TropicalGirl12, posted by headachequeen on January 15, 2004, at 20:12:09
I just learned that a fellow groupie took Depakote (as I am) and she gained a bunch of weight on it. The psychiatrist took her off that and put her on topomax and she has lost 80 pounds without complications. She doesn't even look like she could have ever carried that much!
I hope the doctor will do the switch for me as I am turning into a balloon!
Posted by bridgey1128 on January 16, 2004, at 16:01:41
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by lizi G. on January 16, 2004, at 15:51:14
I flat out told my Dr I refused to take anything that would make me gain weight...PERIOD. NO IF ANDS OR BUTS. THE END. And he put me on Zyprexa at first. I told him..if I gain..it's gone. He agreed. Well...I gained 5lbs in 3 days.. I said NO MORE! So now I am on the Topomax. Girl, sometimes you just gotta put your foot down and tell them what for! It's YOUR body. And being overweight CERTAINLY doesn't help depression. They really need to do more research on drugs that don't make you gain weight! DUH HELLO! WHy are so many of us depressed? BECAUSE WE'RE FAT! And they think giving us a drug that makes us fatter is going to help? Shoot no, I'd rather be crazy. Maybe Topomax won't work, but hey, it's worth a shot. It has so many uses I never knew it had until I came on here. Tell him you are sick and tired of gaining weight and fighting it and you WANT to be on Topomax, do some research and tell him what you have found. He can't argue with intelligent answers. Worth a shot! Good luck!
Posted by Karen_kay on January 16, 2004, at 19:16:39
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by TropicalGirl12 on January 15, 2004, at 19:34:11
There are bc options, they just have to be high in estrogen. I'm on demulen 1/50, but the side effects aren't tolerable for me. It's causing extreme acne. I believe you can also use the patch. I'm fairly certain of this, in fact. I'm going next week to find out what other options I have. I know you can take bc, it just has to be high in estrogen. Demulen is high in estrogen, but it caused me to also get a yeast infection (oh no!!! can you believe that?). I'll find out what ALL of the options are and report back. I'm taking 300 mgs a day, bTW. And again, you need to be sure that you tell your OBGYN that you're taking topamax before starting bc. I'll let you know what happens...
Posted by TropicalGirl12 on January 16, 2004, at 19:53:30
In reply to Re: topomax » TropicalGirl12, posted by Karen_kay on January 16, 2004, at 19:16:39
Thanks, i was actually on the patch. I didnt like it because it caused acne also, i know people say that topamax does but i was taknig it for a few months before and had no problems with that. Then when i started ortho evra, my face broke out. I looked and felt terrible. The patch also made me really hungry, it just gave me a lot of cravings- i guess it was due to the high level of hormones. So now im gonna try othro tri cyclen lo. My doctor knows im on topamax and didnt tell me it interfered with BC, i found out on my own research. But if the patch will work better than the pill, im willing to go back and ask about other options for acne. Thanks for your help :)
Posted by headachequeen on January 16, 2004, at 21:11:29
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by lizi G. on January 16, 2004, at 15:51:14
She doesn't even look like she could have ever carried that much!
>
> I hope the doctor will do the switch for me as I am turning into a balloon!Between depression and medications I had ballooned from a reasonable size 10 to a size 16 sometimes size 18 and weighed over 200 pounds...not much over admittedly but enough to make me feel disgusted with myself and that added to the depression ...
the topomax and its effect upon my appetite has had an effect upon my weight that diets could not achieve... diets and illness would take the weight off but I could not keep it off for any length of time...
this time the weight has started to come off (the weight loss began last January) and has continued... the other day I was pleased to discover that I had to buy a size eight pair of jeans if I wanted to look neat and tidy and not sloppy... and the winter jacket I have been wearing is too large and looks untidy; I had to buy a small ... many of the sweaters I have I can wear as they look intentionally large but the x-l ones have to go... and I have had to go out and find some small size sweaters for the dressier look I prefer... I have this tailored look hang-up... oh there is another thing the psychologist can hang his hat on next session LOL...
the topomax does help with weight loss; the dramatic weight loss does not come overnight but even the little losses are a boost to the ego, trust me... I know <GGG>
kat
Posted by Karen_kay on January 17, 2004, at 8:16:45
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by TropicalGirl12 on January 16, 2004, at 19:53:30
I can't afford all of these doctors!!! ARG!!! I'm not paying out of pocket to see a dermotologist. You said the patch caused acne for you? Then I'm not doing it. I'm going to just assume that all bc with high levels of estrogen cause acne. Demulen caused acne really bad, and I've never really had a problem in the past. Slightly with topamax, but I use Clinique 3 step and it helps keep it at bay. I give up. Back to condoms. My boyfriend can suffer, as I WILL NOT!!! Not on this one. I did read though that the interaction rate, if you take 400 mgs/day is estimated to be at about 20% , 200 mgs is 18% and 800 mgs topamax is 30 %. that's from topamax.com on teh third page under oral contraceptive section. And again,they aren't completely sure...
Posted by TropicalGirl12 on January 17, 2004, at 15:29:02
In reply to Re: topomax » TropicalGirl12, posted by Karen_kay on January 17, 2004, at 8:16:45
Doesnt that annoy you, the fact that they dont know exactly if the medication is gonna interfere, and get you pregnant. Supposedly the birth control i staretd taking, will help clear up acne. I just stopped taking topamax temporarily until i figure everything out. I just wanna test whether or not its the topamax by itself causing acne, or it being combined with birth control. We'll see how that goes
Posted by Karen_kay on January 17, 2004, at 23:22:24
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by TropicalGirl12 on January 17, 2004, at 15:29:02
I love topamax much more than sex. So, if I have to chose, I know where I stand :) I couldn't get an appointment before my BC ran out, so I'm up poop creek without a paddle. Back to condoms for a month, I suppose. My therapist actually suggest the old pull-out method. I was shocked! That's like 12% effective, HELLO! Maybe that's why he has 2 kids! :) But, I'm going to see my OBGYN this week and saying, "Listen, no acne and no yeast infections. What's going to work?" If they don't have any suggestions, then I'm back to condoms or abstinence. I just don't care anymore. I'm done with this whole business. Maybe I'll become a born-again virgin! At least my skin will improve and I won't have to worry about scratching myself in public, YIKES, I almost feel like a man :)
Posted by Aubrey13 on January 18, 2004, at 2:16:09
In reply to topomax, posted by Ellen Brodie on April 19, 1999, at 15:58:40
Be careful with daily use of Klonopin. It is a highly addictive controlled substance, in a different classification of drugs than the mood stabilizer. I could not believe I was prescribed Klonopin in the hospital after I told them I had been abusing it(someone else presciption). At the time I truely wanted to get well an refussed to take it.
Posted by Sooshi on January 18, 2004, at 18:01:48
In reply to Re: topomax watch out for the klonopin, posted by Aubrey13 on January 18, 2004, at 2:16:09
Has anyone had an adverse reaction when taking a Klonopin WITH Topamax though? I took .5mg at night with my 100mg nightly dosage of Topa, and never felt "drunker" in my life...I had to call for help to get off of the floor and into bed! Really weird, since I'm very tolerant of benzos, but something about this combo wacked me out....
Posted by Sooshi on January 18, 2004, at 18:16:56
In reply to Re: topomax watch out for the klonopin, posted by Aubrey13 on January 18, 2004, at 2:16:09
Has anyone had an adverse reaction when taking a Klonopin WITH Topamax though? I took .5mg at night with my 100mg nightly dosage of Topa, and never felt "drunker" in my life...I had to call for help to get off of the floor and into bed! Really weird, since I'm very tolerant of benzos, but something about this combo wacked me out....
Posted by lizi G. on January 21, 2004, at 18:38:06
In reply to Re: topomax » lizi G., posted by headachequeen on January 16, 2004, at 21:11:29
Thanks to all the postings on topomax. I feel armed enough to confront my MD about it and if he isn't interested, I'll lose him and find someone who is!
Posted by lizi G. on January 21, 2004, at 18:41:24
In reply to Re: topomax » TropicalGirl12, posted by Karen_kay on January 17, 2004, at 23:22:24
> I love topamax much more than sex. So, if I have to chose, I know where I stand :) I couldn't get an appointment before my BC ran out, so I'm up poop creek without a paddle. Back to condoms for a month, I suppose. My therapist actually suggest the old pull-out method. I was shocked! That's like 12% effective, HELLO! Maybe that's why he has 2 kids! :) But, I'm going to see my OBGYN this week and saying, "Listen, no acne and no yeast infections. What's going to work?" If they don't have any suggestions, then I'm back to condoms or abstinence. I just don't care anymore. I'm done with this whole business. Maybe I'll become a born-again virgin! At least my skin will improve and I won't have to worry about scratching myself in public, YIKES, I almost feel like a man :)
I think I could really like you! You are a kick in the pants! lizi G.
Posted by headachequeen on January 21, 2004, at 19:57:14
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by lizi G. on January 21, 2004, at 18:41:24
At least my skin will improve and I won't have to worry about scratching myself in public, YIKES, I almost feel like a man :)
>
> I think I could really like you! You are a kick in the pants! lizi G.There are several people here who truly 'a kick in the pants' and soooo likeable... they are the ones who keep the rest of us going when the going is almost un-go-able... and we are so glad they are here...
kat
Posted by hockeymom on January 22, 2004, at 11:40:24
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by Davina on March 15, 2003, at 19:42:48
hello all! i'm new to forum but hopefully I can find some answers! i have been on several AD for past 4 to 5 years for my OCD and they have helped. These have included prozac, celexa and paxil. My problem is that I've also gained about 50 pounds in that same amount of time. It seems that once I start eating, I can't stop! Everything looks so good. My problem is that I'm so depressed about my weight and I know that this all ties in together somehow! If I could just lose weight then maybe some of my my other problems would also decrease. sorry for the babbling - it just seems that I finally found some people who can relate! I was wondering if topamax would help with the weight loss and how do I approach it with my doc?
thanks for any input
Posted by bridgey1128 on January 22, 2004, at 14:32:47
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by hockeymom on January 22, 2004, at 11:40:24
I am not sure if topomax is used for just depression or not. I use it for my bipolar disorder. It definitely helps you lose weight. I understand COMPLETELY! What you mean. You take AD for depression, sometimes about weight issues and they just compound the problem!!! It's a Catch 22. It really sucks. It would be worth a shot. All the drugs you have mentioned are REALLY bad at weight gain. Have you discussed how depressed you are over the weight gain? You'll always be dependant on them if you can't get rid of the reason you are on them to begin with because they are adding to the problem! Are you really, really depressed without them? Is a diet and exercise reasonable for you? These are some things to look at too. When you are depressed you don't feel like exercising but it can boost your own endorphines. Have you ever looked into the Atkins diet? Even on AD that can help. This is a message board filled to the brim with people who have tons of experience just like you! You aren't alone so hang on there girl! Don't be afraid to talk to your Dr about otehr options. This is your body, and weight is a definite issue to be talked about. He/she doesn't have to walk around with the extra pounds. Topomax MAY be an answer but I am not sure if it's just for depression. It may help the OCD, who knows! It seems to be a wonder drug actually. Good luck and God bless.
Posted by Catsy on January 22, 2004, at 15:06:39
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by nancy on April 21, 1999, at 12:00:06
I've taken topamax for five years for bipolar disorder. It helped me almost overnight. Not only with the manic symptoms but the weight gain I experienced from all of the other meds I had tried. I don't necessarily think its just a head thing with the weight, something you can merely "talk" yourself out of. This drug has helped me a lot and since I've been on it I've lost 40 pounds and I eat what I want, when I want it. Just the amount of what I eat and the frequency has changed.
Posted by Karen_kay on January 22, 2004, at 16:07:43
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by lizi G. on January 21, 2004, at 18:41:24
Very much!!! I think at times I could use a kick in the pants. It helps to have support when you are starting a new medication. I quit my birth control. Havent' told my boyfriend yet, but I haven't had a need to either. He smells funny :)
Have you heard about the blood tests with Topamax? My Pdoc just informed me about it.... See the following thread.
What ever will I do without Topamax? Maybe I'm just freaking myself out for no good reason. But, if I can't take it, I'l go back to being "Crazy Karen," as my friends used to call me. No Depakote for me. Thanks, but I'll pass on that one. Weight gain? Oh please, can I please pack on an extra 80 lbs, cuz I'm not fat enough already.... Sheesh!!!
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