Topomax-I want to hear your stories!!!

I defo second that about ABilify  - I have been on everything except Topamax, not gonna go there, dont need the dopey effect, but since I added Abilify whoa!  Best I've ever been.  Didn't quit any of the others, but it was the icing on the cake.   Good mood every day, way less sensitive to criticism, and I dont take accidental comments to me as always an insult!  I have NEVER  been like this, calm serene, not dopey and still have a sense of humour.  It didnt change my personality at all, just made it better.  Awesome med!

Hi, Trish!

I'm glad you are feeling good still about the divorce, you will be so much better of emotionally ,and I hope you got a good settlement, lol!

Don't know much about Austin, but summers here average 98 degrees and humid.  Absolutely miserable and this year had a 5 day run of 100+ in March!!! No break one of the worst in the 20 years I've been here, but the last week has been awesome, 70's like California, I have just been fantasizing.........lol.  Actually could open windows, breeze too, what a treat!

Keep healing, I hope it is almost there, and happy Halloween to you too, one of my fave holidays!

Shannon

I take 50mg of topamax twice a day in combination with 75mg of seroquel {3x a day} and 25mg of naltraxone {once a day}. I've been on topamax and seroquel since march, I got put on it while in a psych hospital. My medicines before that were trileptal and abilify.. so going from those 2 to seroquel and topamax was a big change, well going from any medicine is different I guess. I've noticed that the topamax does make me feel slightly slow, I forget my words and try and think about what I have to say a lot {usually I'm sharp sometimes I'm not though} and I mix up words like 'little girl' I'll say 'gittle lirl' etc. -so embarrasing lol, it really is :/
the seroquel makes me gain weight, and I'm on a low dose.. not even gain a ton of weight just EAT constantly!! the topamax doesn't even help w/ reducing appetite or losing weight, I don't think at least.. well who knows what I'd be like without it I guess? I might get an increase in a month. I just got started on naltraxone 2 weeks or so ago to help w/ urges to cut {it's used mostly for alcohol and opiates}
hope I helped a little (:
best of luck
-col

Hi Everyone,

I just thought I might add my own two cents regarding Topamax; in other words.. my personal experience regarding this specific drug for my Bipolar Dx. It might be noted that many ppl are initially drawn to Topamax due to its appetite supression appeal. And being the addition to a Bp cocktail, Topamax might very well be the drug to balance a persons appetite. I can say that I had some very, very adverse reactions to Tpmx. I just want to forewarn ppl that the aftermath of being on a drug such as Tpmx (or any other drug where one suffers adverse reactions from) can be devastating. There is the always the possiblity of wondeful outcomes, yes.. but for myself.. it was devastating. Within 3 months of being on Tpmx, I came to have some deeply suicidal thoughts. I also became angry-- with my family, the world.. my treasured dog (whom I love more than anything). All of these feelings causing me to feel terrible guilt which therefore heightened my suicidal feelings. I felt as if I had drifted so very far from myself; I no longer knew the woman I once was. I lost all self-confidence, became completely self-critical and drew away from all those who love me. I also became increasingly paranoid and perhaps the most difficult for me to deal with when on this particular med was the overwhelming anxiety that accompanied me day in and day out-- it was incessant. I had always considered myself to be a somewhat articulate teenager and young woman. However, on Topomax I found I had lost the majority of my word-finding ablilty. I found this very embarassing. I found myself to be 'spaced out' all the time-- ALL THE TIME. I could no longer hold down a full-time job. I went on disability. My short-term memory seemed to have completely deterioated. The effects were simply overwhelming. I had been on multiple drugs prior to Tpmx for my Bp with no luck in the stability of my overall mood, but had never experienced such negative side effects such as the ones listed when on Topamax.
But listen.. this is just my story. I am simply one of millions of people who have used the drug Tpmx for Bp, or to control seizures or migraines, and I have heard of Tpmx working very well for some. I am simply recommending that all who consider taking this drug proceed with extreme caution, as with any other pharmaceutical drug. We have to be proactive about our health, yes.. this is true-- but be smart, please be very, very smart. Always consider your well-being. And with regard to Topomax and the perks of weight-loss? If you try Tpmx and find you are, in fact, losing weight.. but are receiving no other benefits.. please, please, please.. get off the drug. It is not worth it. You know it is not worth it.. doesn't take me to tell you.
If you are taking a drug and are really feeling unlike yourself.. talk to someone, talk to qualified people. I know that the Bp road (specifically) is a very hard road and that sometimes we feel as if it is actually ourselves we cannot trust. But never falter. I still truly believe, in all essence, that we know ourselves the very best-- whole, whole-heartidly. So please keep these words near. I wish all of you happiness.. and good fortune on this walk of life that we all must walk. Take long strides.. or short strides; stride in whatever fashion suits you best. All that matters is getting there, getting here, getting somewhere.. getting to a place that feels good in your bones and knowing you are never, ever alone in your troubles.

Peace and love,

Meg