Posted by Brenda on March 14, 2000, at 10:15:03
In reply to Topomax as mood stabilizer?, posted by KarenB on March 13, 2000, at 22:37:12
> I have read that Topomax has been used as a mood stabilizer and is associated with weight LOSS, rather than weight GAIN. Anyone have any experience with this? I am atypical Bipolar II with extreme fatigue symptoms when off meds (or when on the wrong ones).
>
> Thanks!
>
> KarenBKaren - I was on Topamax 100 mg. for about 3 months as a mood stabilizer. It DEFINITELY caused weight loss. If you have hypoglycemia it's important to make sure you eat. The most annoying symptom I had with this med was ringing in my head and a sensitivity to noise. I was having a Major Depressive episode and the Dr. thought I was BPII. It did help with the depression. However, I noted a lack of creativity or rather a desire for creativity. That feeling, though, could also have been a result of the depression. It's hard to say. I quit taking the Topamax and stabilized on Zoloft alone. My creativity is back - and the suns out again, too. It's probably all tied together. I have a cousin who is BPI and on Topamax and Depakote and she has lost lots of weight, without the icky side effects of Lithium. Even at a low dose of 50 mg. a day, my depression stabilized and the side effects lessened. I didn't have tremors or anything else associated with Lithium. I realize 100 mg. a day is a low dose, but I feel that the recommended dosages of a lot of meds are set by the pharmaceutical companies - and lots of times a lower dose will work just fine.
Good luck to you. B.
poster:Brenda
thread:26929
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000312/msgs/26973.html