![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sara Jo on January 13, 2003, at 23:55:24
Is anyone taking both topomax and lexapro? I'm taking 50mg topomax and 20mg lexapro. I've been on the meds for two weeks--just increased the dose of topomax today. I've been diagnosed with Cyclothymia by one Dr. Went for a second opinion and was given a diagnosis of Bipolar II by another. Anyways, the symptoms of extreme rapid mood changes have improved. I feel much more in control yet I'm not "plastic" as I so ignorantly thought medication would do. The side effects I experienced when I started the meds I thought might interfer with my continuation. However, they have subsided. I'm worried about the increased dose. Also, what is the talk about topomax and its "weight loss" features? Is it weight loss or decreased appetite?
Posted by ROO on January 14, 2003, at 8:30:49
In reply to Topomax and Lexapro, posted by Sara Jo on January 13, 2003, at 23:55:24
I take the two together...what are your questions?
I think topomax lessens my appetite to some degree
because food doesn't taste as good to me. I have lost
some weight, but I'm on a higher dose than you (150 per day).
I take 10 mg's lexapro.
Posted by Sara Jo on January 14, 2003, at 9:36:10
In reply to Re: Topomax and Lexapro, posted by ROO on January 14, 2003, at 8:30:49
Thanks for the reply. I was just wondering how other people were doing on the combination. How long have you been on the medication and have you experienced any side effects? Specifically side effects associated with memory loss? If so did they subside with time?
Posted by ROO on January 15, 2003, at 8:17:36
In reply to Re: Topomax and Lexapro, posted by Sara Jo on January 14, 2003, at 9:36:10
> Thanks for the reply. I was just wondering
how other people were doing on the combination.
How long have you been on the medication and
have you experienced any side effects?
Specifically side effects associated with
memory loss? If so did they subside with time?
I've been on the Topamax a few months...it has affected me
cognitively to some degree...can't think as sharply, etc., but
it has subsided some with time. Side effects--well, it seems to make
my lips numb, and my finger tips tingly and numb too. I also have sexual
side effects with it. Things don't taste as good on it. At higher doses it
seemed to depress me, so I lowered it, and raised my antidepressant dose and
that seemed to help. I like the lexapro a lot and hardly have any side effects
at all from it.
Posted by JohnX2 on January 15, 2003, at 15:38:15
In reply to Topomax and Lexapro, posted by Sara Jo on January 13, 2003, at 23:55:24
I seem to recall decreased appetite dominating my weight loss on Topamax.> Is anyone taking both topomax and lexapro? I'm taking 50mg topomax and 20mg lexapro. I've been on the meds for two weeks--just increased the dose of topomax today. I've been diagnosed with Cyclothymia by one Dr. Went for a second opinion and was given a diagnosis of Bipolar II by another. Anyways, the symptoms of extreme rapid mood changes have improved. I feel much more in control yet I'm not "plastic" as I so ignorantly thought medication would do. The side effects I experienced when I started the meds I thought might interfer with my continuation. However, they have subsided. I'm worried about the increased dose. Also, what is the talk about topomax and its "weight loss" features? Is it weight loss or decreased appetite?
Posted by Dinah on January 15, 2003, at 20:30:34
In reply to Re: Topomax and Lexapro, posted by ROO on January 15, 2003, at 8:17:36
I've missed you on Social. Have you been keeping busy?
Posted by ROO on January 16, 2003, at 12:01:09
In reply to Re: Hi Roo, posted by Dinah on January 15, 2003, at 20:30:34
Dinah--Thanks for thinking of me. Still lurking
on social. Yes, keeping busy, thanks for asking
:-) Hope you are doing well...
Posted by Sara Jo on January 20, 2003, at 14:27:07
In reply to Re: Topomax and Lexapro, posted by ROO on January 15, 2003, at 8:17:36
The side effects that I have experieced are as follows: cognitive--forgetting my students names/words to my daughters bedtime songs (delayed remembering); Numbness/tingling--fingers/feet and toes (so glad it's not my lips, knock on wood, I'm a musician); sexual--increased drive (which is quite a change from "don't touch me or even look at me"); Appetite--carbination makes me gag and I crave water. Lexapro seems to be working great for me. So far the combination has worked well but I've only been taking the medication for a few weeks. Thanks for the response!
> I've been on the Topamax a few months...it has affected me
> cognitively to some degree...can't think as sharply, etc., but
> it has subsided some with time. Side effects--well, it seems to make
> my lips numb, and my finger tips tingly and numb too. I also have sexual
> side effects with it. Things don't taste as good on it. At higher doses it
> seemed to depress me, so I lowered it, and raised my antidepressant dose and
> that seemed to help. I like the lexapro a lot and hardly have any side effects
> at all from it.
>
>
Posted by BlackSheep on January 24, 2003, at 7:56:46
In reply to Re: Topomax and Lexapro, posted by Sara Jo on January 20, 2003, at 14:27:07
I started this Combo recently and just about at the end of my rope. A little history. When I first when on a combo of Topomax and Effexor a couple of years ago is was wonderful for a few months. Appetite was way down and I was upbeat, socialized, dressed better, although I was somewhat weaker and had insomnia. Than came the poop out, upping the dosage, and well, things were never the same. Changed meds, had some temp success with other stuff, then poop out, etc.
Fast forward. Now on 20 mg of Lexapro and 150mg of Tompomax. Added the Topomax 'cause of the weight gain recently from excercise burn out. I titrated at 50mg per week. I'm dumb as a lamp post. Used to be able to do the NY Times crosswork puzzle at least on Mons and Tues now I look at it and go Duh and can only get a few things. Sleep 10 hours a night and could go longer. Try to get for walk most days for daylight, used to run but burnout a few weeks ago. (Cold as the North Pole right here now which doesn't help for outside light.) Crave sweets all the time and just want to eat cookies and donuts all day and do alot of the time. Drink sometimes to excess. Cry a lot. Get to the gym sometimes but normal workout is a chore and much harder than used to be. EVERYTHING that use to be easy is a CHORE. Think about how much I wish I were dead. Pray every night that I will die in my sleep or I will be killed driving or something.
PDoc just keep telling me how wonderful Lexapro is. I think it sucks. What should I do???
Posted by ROO on January 24, 2003, at 8:43:04
In reply to Re: Topomax and Lexapro - HELP!, posted by BlackSheep on January 24, 2003, at 7:56:46
It might be the Topamax....it depressed the hell
out of me....Also, you could need to raise the dose
of the lexapro...it didn't work for me until I raised
it...
Posted by BlackSheep on January 24, 2003, at 10:05:59
In reply to Re: Topomax and Lexapro - Black Sheep, posted by ROO on January 24, 2003, at 8:43:04
Thanks, but isn't 20mg of Lexapro high? Most are on 10mgs per day. I'll gladly lose the Topomax. Just don't understand how it used to work once.
Posted by ROO on January 25, 2003, at 10:12:32
In reply to Re: Topomax and Lexapro - Black Sheep, posted by BlackSheep on January 24, 2003, at 10:05:59
I'm not sure why the topamax worked for you at one
time and then didn't. It was that way initially for
me too. I think because I was in a VERY bad place...I
was very unstable and suicidal and on NO drugs...so when
I was put on the topamax, I DID feel better. But the longer
I stayed on it, and the more the dose was increased, the more
depressed I got. Who knows why. But depression is listed as
one of the side effects on the package.I think there are plenty of people on 20 mgs of lexapro. Maybe
you could try 15mgs. I think it depends on how sensitive you are to
meds. I don't know...not a doctor. But I hope you find something
that works. I just know that for me, raising the dose helped. I also
know that, for me, Topamax added to my depression.
Posted by Sara Jo on January 29, 2003, at 20:33:54
In reply to Re: Topomax and Lexapro - Black Sheep, posted by ROO on January 25, 2003, at 10:12:32
I'm on 20mg of Lexapro and 50 of topomax. The combo seems to be working really well. I've been on the same does for almost three weeks. Initially I too was depressed--wouldn't get out of bed to go to work. Wishing someone would run into me when I did drive to work--stuff like that. The MD raised my Lexapro from 10mg to 20mg and it really did make all the difference. I noticed the difference very soon after the increase. Anyways, my suggestion is don't worry about increasing the dose of lexapro--if it doesn't work go back. It worked wonders for me!
> I'm not sure why the topamax worked for you at one
> time and then didn't. It was that way initially for
> me too. I think because I was in a VERY bad place...I
> was very unstable and suicidal and on NO drugs...so when
> I was put on the topamax, I DID feel better. But the longer
> I stayed on it, and the more the dose was increased, the more
> depressed I got. Who knows why. But depression is listed as
> one of the side effects on the package.
>
> I think there are plenty of people on 20 mgs of lexapro. Maybe
> you could try 15mgs. I think it depends on how sensitive you are to
> meds. I don't know...not a doctor. But I hope you find something
> that works. I just know that for me, raising the dose helped. I also
> know that, for me, Topamax added to my depression.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.