A Few Questions About Topamax

Hello all,

I searched around for this but couldn't find any posts on it. Forgive me if I overlooked a thread with this information already addressed.

I was just prescribed 25 mg of Topamax to combat the weight gain from my Seroquel.

Background: I'm currently on Lamictal 300mg and Seroquel XR 300 mg. It's been an extremely successful combination for me. I'm coming up on my one year anniversary of starting these meds and I am starting to feel completely normal again (knock on wood)! The only side effects I've had are the severe sleepiness and increased appetite from the Seroquel. My weight gain is only moderate, 15 pounds.

about how long after taking Topamax will I feel drowsy? My Seroquel XR gives me about 3 hours before it knocks me out, and as long as I get 6-8 hours I'm fine in the morning. Will the Topamax have a time window, or does it put you down immediately after taking it?

Also wondering if any of you see curbed appetite after just 25-50mg?

Finally, I take Lamictal as a mood stabilizer and it is such a miracle for me. Wondering if any of you have had luck with Topamax as a mood stabilizer as well? I don't want anything to offset my Lamictal.

I know I'm a worry wart but I try to be as conservative with my med dosages as I possibly can be. I tend to tolerate most meds extremely well, I've only had issues with Lithium (great mental results but caused my feet to swell and hurt and gave me a tremor), and Abilify (disaster).

Thank you so much for reading!

Hi Jeny thanks for your response, that information really helps me I appreciate it.

My doctor told me never to take it during the day and only to take it before bed because it will knock me out. I just figured not to mess around with it because my Seroquel is like an elephant tranqulizer and if I wake within 1-2 hours I feel drunk like I can't get up to go to the bathroom because I will fall over!

I'll do what I always do- take my first dose on a non-work/school night to test it out! I am really happy my doctor prescribed me this drug, it seems like a lot of people have had great results with it.

Hi I just wanted to let you know a little known fact about Topomax it can cause Kidney stones. My dr warned me of this when he put me on it. I totaly forgot all about him saying that untill I got my 2nd 6mm stone and needed a stent. I loved Topomax and would still be on it if I did not get the stones. I was on a 50mg a day and took it in the morning and it never made me tired. I also lost around 30 pounds. If you start to experience dark urine urgency to go with little or no production contact your dr. I wish I would have heeded his advice so I would not have gotten the 2nd stone. Not trying to scare you just wanted to give everyone an FYI.

SLZ

I've been on Topamax for about two years I'd guess and I believe it did make me tired. If I remember correctly, I was concerned about taking it at the same time as my Zoloft which I took at night so I'd started by taking the Topamax in the morning. But I think it made me drowsy so I took it at night instead. Not super drowsy just a little. Nothing much. However pay close attention to what they put you on for what. I mean, it is always a little unnerving how ready doctors are to dispense Topamax, a moodstabilizor and anti-siezure and anti-migraine medication, for weight gain. They act like it's candy or something. When I was put on it I wasn't even told it was a mood stabilizer. Now I can't get off of it. The only issues I have with it is that it makes it impossible for me to be able to try many alternative remedies such as St. Johns Wart and that it may be causing some circulatory problems in my hands and arms. Also keep close attention to your... um, brain. If you start to have trouble thinking or remembering things remember there are a lot of people out there who have dubbed the drug Dope-amax for good reason. It makes zombies out of some. Prolly in high doses. But good to know anyway.

Hi tom,

Welcome!

Moving your post to a new thread.

UA