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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pand0ra on April 29, 2002, at 2:20:55
I was recently prescribed 500mg of Depakote,150mg of Wellbutrin, and 25mg of Topamax with an increase of 25mg per week for four weeks to lessen the side effects. It's been exactly one week since I've been taking these medicines and it's been one hell of a ride. I'm under the assumption I was diagnosed as bi-polar, since she never actually said I was bi-polar, when I feel that I'm not manic, I was just suffering from depression. In this past week I've felt all my love for other people turn to hate, I'm engaged and I've started to hate my fiance for no reason, I've felt I've lost my sense of humor which was my only strong point, I feel that I have been stable but I haven't been generally happy. I've also noticed that I have a hard time pronouncing words that were once easy. Today was especially rough which is why I decided to write. I paced around the house, looking for things to clean to keep my mind occupied because I felt suicidal or like I wanted to harm myself. I don't want to be taken off the Topamax because of the weight loss effects and I'm not sure of the Wellbutrin, it's the Depakote that makes me wonder, because it's the anti-mania drug out of the three (correct me if I'm wrong). I went to a psychologist before the psychiatrist who told me that it sounded like I was depressed, and that I got that way because when a person is sad for a long period of time their brain slows down on making serotonin. So I was hoping for an SSRI from the psychiatrist. Anyways, if anyone has any comments or suggestions I'd really appreciate it. I know that I don't like the way that I feel, and I'm wondering if it'll all go away eventually or if I should get off one of these meds. Please help!
Posted by jay on April 29, 2002, at 3:08:05
In reply to Depakote/Topamax/Wellbutrin..something seems wrong, posted by pand0ra on April 29, 2002, at 2:20:55
Hi:I have had some nasty experiences with Wellbutrin, and am coming off it now as it sent me again into a nasty dysphoric mania this past week. (The 'angry' type of mania). I can really relate to your experiences. You are on some good mood stabalizers, and I think possibly Effexor, or any of the SSRI's may be a great addition. I would honestly think your anger comes from the Wellbutrin, but of course can never be 100 percent sure. I have heard this side effect from many, many former users of it, though.
I'd say try a change asap, and tell your doc you can't and won't wait. I know the horrid feeling, and nobody should have to suffer through that.
Good luck...and let us know how you do..
Jay
Posted by katekite on April 29, 2002, at 10:30:02
In reply to Depakote/Topamax/Wellbutrin..something seems wrong, posted by pand0ra on April 29, 2002, at 2:20:55
Your feelings sound a lot like what I experienced on Wellbutrin. The first day I would take it I would have a stressed-out mean angry almost pacing period at its peak a couple hours later, as I continued to take it each day those feelings lasted more and more of the day until it lasted all day. My doc called it 'agitation' and had me stop the Wellbutrin. I wanted Wellbutrin to work bad enough that I did a second trial of it years later while on Neurontin, and the same thing happened. After about 5 days I was at the end of my rope and was seriously considering suicide.
Have you been on both depakote and topamax for one week? Seems odd to start two mood stabilizers at once. Have you been on either before? --kate
Posted by Ritch on April 29, 2002, at 12:48:31
In reply to Depakote/Topamax/Wellbutrin..something seems wrong, posted by pand0ra on April 29, 2002, at 2:20:55
> I was recently prescribed 500mg of Depakote,150mg of Wellbutrin, and 25mg of Topamax with an increase of 25mg per week for four weeks to lessen the side effects. It's been exactly one week since I've been taking these medicines and it's been one hell of a ride. I'm under the assumption I was diagnosed as bi-polar, since she never actually said I was bi-polar, when I feel that I'm not manic, I was just suffering from depression. In this past week I've felt all my love for other people turn to hate, I'm engaged and I've started to hate my fiance for no reason, I've felt I've lost my sense of humor which was my only strong point, I feel that I have been stable but I haven't been generally happy. I've also noticed that I have a hard time pronouncing words that were once easy. Today was especially rough which is why I decided to write. I paced around the house, looking for things to clean to keep my mind occupied because I felt suicidal or like I wanted to harm myself. I don't want to be taken off the Topamax because of the weight loss effects and I'm not sure of the Wellbutrin, it's the Depakote that makes me wonder, because it's the anti-mania drug out of the three (correct me if I'm wrong). I went to a psychologist before the psychiatrist who told me that it sounded like I was depressed, and that I got that way because when a person is sad for a long period of time their brain slows down on making serotonin. So I was hoping for an SSRI from the psychiatrist. Anyways, if anyone has any comments or suggestions I'd really appreciate it. I know that I don't like the way that I feel, and I'm wondering if it'll all go away eventually or if I should get off one of these meds. Please help!
Uh oh! It sounds like Wellbutrin-induced dysphoria to me. It made me very grouchy, hostile, and hateful towards other people at times. My ordinarily warm personality got quite cold and brittle. I had plenty of energy, but it made me mean. The Topamax is probably the med that is causing your word-finding problems, just my 2 cents. Depakote will do that to me as well, but nothing like Topamax! You need to tell your doctor about all of this ASAP. The Depakote+Topamax combination could be causing a toxic reaction (unlikely-but still possible).Mitch
Posted by pand0ra on April 29, 2002, at 13:12:25
In reply to Re: Depakote/Topamax/Wellbutrin..something seems wrong, posted by katekite on April 29, 2002, at 10:30:02
> Your feelings sound a lot like what I experienced on Wellbutrin. The first day I would take it I would have a stressed-out mean angry almost pacing period at its peak a couple hours later, as I continued to take it each day those feelings lasted more and more of the day until it lasted all day. My doc called it 'agitation' and had me stop the Wellbutrin. I wanted Wellbutrin to work bad enough that I did a second trial of it years later while on Neurontin, and the same thing happened. After about 5 days I was at the end of my rope and was seriously considering suicide.
>
> Have you been on both depakote and topamax for one week? Seems odd to start two mood stabilizers at once. Have you been on either before? --kateThese are the first medicines I've ever been on. The Topamax was mainly given to me because I'm a heavy set girl and she didn't want me to gain weight with Depakote. Why is it that Wellbutrin causes these feelings of anger/rage/suicide? Why do doctors keep prescribing them? I'm generally scared that my doctor will ignore my request to quit taking it.
Posted by katekite on April 29, 2002, at 14:43:01
In reply to Re: Depakote/Topamax/Wellbutrin..something seems wrong, posted by pand0ra on April 29, 2002, at 13:12:25
Yes topamax is one of the few mood stabilizers that can even help people take off a few pounds. I agree with Ritch that maybe the word finding problems could be related to it though.
Talk to your doctor about the suicidal ideation -- since mood stabilizers shouldn't have that effect, its either you or the wellbutrin. It could easily be the wellbutrin. So maybe ask not about going off an antidepressant altogether but switching to a different less agitating one. A few people say it starts out agitating but that goes away... I don't know. All I know is if you feel suicidal and you didn't before its time to get chummy with your shrink asap. They won't mess around making you stay on something known to worsen some people's agitation.
You were saying you weren't sure what their diagnosis of you was: next time you see them be sure to ask. Sometimes mood stabilizers are prescribed just for moodiness, sometimes for borderline personality problems, sometimes for bipolar I or bipolar II, a few other reasons. But it will only help you if you know what lines they are thinking along with you as far as the diagnosis.
Lastly, you sound pretty coherent for having been on two mood stabilizers for only a week. That's lucky! Often people can be pretty out of it for a while. So you may find that if you don't change your dose of depakote or topamax too quickly, that you will adjust to them and the word finding problems go away. If you are not dangerously depressed then I'd recommend going real slow upping the doses, trying to make sure that you adjust cognitively to each new level before trying to steop it up. Rather than getting to a target dose that your doc has found works, make sure you get and stay at a dose that works for you where you are stable and can still find words.
Good luck, kate
Posted by Dr. Bob on April 29, 2002, at 17:55:49
In reply to Re: Depakote/Topamax/Wellbutrin..something seems wrong, posted by pand0ra on April 29, 2002, at 13:12:25
Pand0ra,
Sorry, but I'm going to ask you to choose a different name to post under. I'm afraid this one could be confused with Pandora. Thanks,
Bob
PS: Follow-ups regarding posting policies, or complaints about posts, should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration; otherwise, they may be deleted.
Posted by Ritch on April 29, 2002, at 23:30:34
In reply to Re: Depakote/Topamax/Wellbutrin..something seems wrong, posted by pand0ra on April 29, 2002, at 13:12:25
> > Your feelings sound a lot like what I experienced on Wellbutrin. The first day I would take it I would have a stressed-out mean angry almost pacing period at its peak a couple hours later, as I continued to take it each day those feelings lasted more and more of the day until it lasted all day. My doc called it 'agitation' and had me stop the Wellbutrin. I wanted Wellbutrin to work bad enough that I did a second trial of it years later while on Neurontin, and the same thing happened. After about 5 days I was at the end of my rope and was seriously considering suicide.
> >
> > Have you been on both depakote and topamax for one week? Seems odd to start two mood stabilizers at once. Have you been on either before? --kate
>
> These are the first medicines I've ever been on. The Topamax was mainly given to me because I'm a heavy set girl and she didn't want me to gain weight with Depakote. Why is it that Wellbutrin causes these feelings of anger/rage/suicide? Why do doctors keep prescribing them? I'm generally scared that my doctor will ignore my request to quit taking it.That is interesting. When I read the meds you were taking (the combo all at once), the impression I got was a pdoc that was thinking you were bipolar, wanted to prescribe a "1st line" med for bipolar (Depakote), but didn't want you to gain weight, so added on some Topamax (to offset the weight gain of the Depakote), and added on an antidepresant which is "supposed" to cause the least amount of cycling problems for bipolars (Wellbutrin). They dumped too many meds on you at once, IMO. The main thing is to get switched off the Wellbutrin as soon as you can. Tell your pdoc about an SSRI instead. They need to know about your hostility.
Mitch
Posted by josiejo on May 1, 2002, at 2:54:41
In reply to Re: Depakote/Topamax/Wellbutrin..something seems wrong » pand0ra, posted by Ritch on April 29, 2002, at 23:30:34
> > > Your feelings sound a lot like what I experienced on Wellbutrin. The first day I would take it I would have a stressed-out mean angry almost pacing period at its peak a couple hours later, as I continued to take it each day those feelings lasted more and more of the day until it lasted all day. My doc called it 'agitation' and had me stop the Wellbutrin. I wanted Wellbutrin to work bad enough that I did a second trial of it years later while on Neurontin, and the same thing happened. After about 5 days I was at the end of my rope and was seriously considering suicide.
> > >
> > > Have you been on both depakote and topamax for one week? Seems odd to start two mood stabilizers at once. Have you been on either before? --kate
> >
> > These are the first medicines I've ever been on. The Topamax was mainly given to me because I'm a heavy set girl and she didn't want me to gain weight with Depakote. Why is it that Wellbutrin causes these feelings of anger/rage/suicide? Why do doctors keep prescribing them? I'm generally scared that my doctor will ignore my request to quit taking it.
>
> That is interesting. When I read the meds you were taking (the combo all at once), the impression I got was a pdoc that was thinking you were bipolar, wanted to prescribe a "1st line" med for bipolar (Depakote), but didn't want you to gain weight, so added on some Topamax (to offset the weight gain of the Depakote), and added on an antidepresant which is "supposed" to cause the least amount of cycling problems for bipolars (Wellbutrin). They dumped too many meds on you at once, IMO. The main thing is to get switched off the Wellbutrin as soon as you can. Tell your pdoc about an SSRI instead. They need to know about your hostility.
>
> Mitch
Interesting how different meds affect different people. My doc put me on Depakote about 2 years ago but only for a short time. I was also on Wellbutron to try and quit smoking (maybe someday...) and the combination made me angry all the time. Driving was insane... I screamed at everyone who turned in the wrong lane or changed lanes without signaling. I flipped out at my boss and nearly lost my job.
Glad I got off that combination of drugs!!
Posted by Lateralis on May 1, 2002, at 12:46:48
In reply to Re: Depakote/Topamax/Wellbutrin..something seems wrong, posted by josiejo on May 1, 2002, at 2:54:41
This is pand0ra, I had to change my name, etc. I went to my doc the other day. I don't think I like her very much, I could hardly get a word in. She took me off Wellbutrin and was disappointed that it was causing hostility. And, that was it. Didn't do anything else. One of the main reasons she gave me the Wellbutrin was for concentration and focus and I definately noticed a change but she hasn't given me anything else for that. She wants to see me back in two weeks. Is this so that the Depakote and Topamax can stablize? The Wellbutrin can leave my system? She said she didn't want to give me an SSRI because of weight gain and sexual dysfunction, so I'm thinking I don't want one either. Any advice, information, two cents, anything will be appreciated! thank you!!
Posted by Ritch on May 1, 2002, at 13:27:26
In reply to pand0ra here. New Visit to Doctor. New Questions. , posted by Lateralis on May 1, 2002, at 12:46:48
> This is pand0ra, I had to change my name, etc. I went to my doc the other day. I don't think I like her very much, I could hardly get a word in. She took me off Wellbutrin and was disappointed that it was causing hostility. And, that was it. Didn't do anything else. One of the main reasons she gave me the Wellbutrin was for concentration and focus and I definately noticed a change but she hasn't given me anything else for that. She wants to see me back in two weeks. Is this so that the Depakote and Topamax can stablize? The Wellbutrin can leave my system? She said she didn't want to give me an SSRI because of weight gain and sexual dysfunction, so I'm thinking I don't want one either. Any advice, information, two cents, anything will be appreciated! thank you!!
Hi,Sounds like she is concerned that antidepressants of any kind may be destabilizing you, OR (more likely) she wants to see you without the Wellbutrin *first*, to make sure that was the med that was indeed making you feel hostile. How do you feel without the WB now? Probably, when you see her in two weeks she might try something different for focus/depressive stuff. At least you only are going to wait two weeks!
Mitch
Posted by BarbaraCat on May 2, 2002, at 0:53:20
In reply to Depakote/Topamax/Wellbutrin..something seems wrong, posted by pand0ra on April 29, 2002, at 2:20:55
Hi Pandora,
I was briefly on Topamax to counteract the weight gain from Remeron and Lithium. Within a few days of taking it I started to feel agitated and snappish. Was on it for 1 month and started to descend into depression from all the anxiety and tightness I was feeling. Stopped and within 3 days felt soooooo much better. This whole combo you're on sounds like a recipe for ballistics. - BarbaraCat
Posted by La'Trice on December 30, 2002, at 14:37:00
In reply to Re: Depakote/Topamax/Wellbutrin..something seems wrong » pand0ra, posted by Ritch on April 29, 2002, at 23:30:34
I've taken Depakote (I'm bipolar), but became jaundice. I was sleepy all the time almost to the point of not being able to function. Does Topax have the same side-effects as Depakote? I currently take Wellbutrin and Adderall.
Posted by Ritch on December 30, 2002, at 14:58:45
In reply to Re: Depakote/Topamax/Wellbutrin..something seems wrong, posted by La'Trice on December 30, 2002, at 14:37:00
> I've taken Depakote (I'm bipolar), but became jaundice. I was sleepy all the time almost to the point of not being able to function. Does Topax have the same side-effects as Depakote? I currently take Wellbutrin and Adderall.
Did you actually get jaundice from the Depakote (did you get liver function tests done, etc.)? It is common for Depakote to cause excessive sleepiness in many. It is only a problem for me when I am cycling through depressions. I don't know if you are going to find Topamax much better. You can give it a shot and see. I was taking Neurontin+Topamax once and the TOP addition made me very sleepy (it was GREAT for insomnia though). I would just konk out on someone's couch and start snoring away! However, I have read a few posts here about Topamax inducing mania and being quite activating. Everybody's different. One thing that seems relatively common-you don't have to worry much about weight gain with it, it is generally good for migraines, and some folks with PTSD symptoms seem to do well on it. good luck.. Mitch
Posted by Ponder on January 4, 2003, at 23:50:50
In reply to pand0ra here. New Visit to Doctor. New Questions. , posted by Lateralis on May 1, 2002, at 12:46:48
Lateralis,
I do hope you will continue to post on your experience. It is so helpful when people share information. I am on a combination of stabilizers and Wellbutrin as well and get pretty snippy sometimes. Had thought it might be, well, just me. But perhaps the WB is causing a little bitchiness. Let me know how you do coming off the WB. I have tried getting off of it before and found myself getting sleepy and depressed, but I'm a long-time user. Sometimes it's difficult to phase off of meds the body has grown attached to over the years (sigh).
Posted by Trippin on February 24, 2003, at 22:17:03
In reply to Re: pand0ra here. New Visit to Doctor. New Questions. , posted by Ponder on January 4, 2003, at 23:50:50
What a relief to hear all this about topamax and wellbutrin customers! I definitely had the weight loss, the extreme anger/agitation, kidney stones, loss of job, slow speech...ugh...thanks to Prozac, I'm better now. Anyway, how much liability do docs have for misdiagnosis anyway? I was told I was bipolar, put on Luvox, didn't sleep for 158 hours b/c of it, then put on topamax 25mg. this went all the way up to 300 mg and wellbutrin sr. Since then, I've been rediagnosed by a different doc has only having depression, and a minimal amount of prozac is doing great. Do I have any recourse?
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