Posted by Elena on March 26, 2000, at 8:16:38
Does anyone out there have experience with Topomax and/or Ambien causing depression? A brief history: Diagnosed with unipolar depression in 1986 and very successfully treated with Parnate. After two years, three unexplained hypertensive episodes in four days necessitated immediate withdrawal resulting in depression. Hospitalized at Payne Whitney in NYC for 3 months. Medicated with Prozac with which, finally, at 60 mg. there was good response. Stopped working 4 yrs. later. Ever since, various ssri's and combos have only worked for 2 years. Hospitalized again in November at Dartmouth Hitchcock. (Oh, forgot--meanwhile, five years ago diagnosed with ADD)NOW...new Pdoc says I'm bipolar and that's the reason for constant depression breakthrough. Last month I tried Topomax and Zyprexa together. Anticholinergic affect of combo intolerable. Increased depression, irritability and lability, but pdoc said "not the drug, the disease." Now, after a 7 day remission (but only after I begged her to raise Celexa dose to 60 from 40) I've had to add Topomax and Ambien for stabilization and sleep. At first was only groggy and stupid from Topomax. After two days that went away. On the third day, however, I began to feel literally unstable. By last night I was sobbing and hopeless. And now today is starting out the same way. I know if I tell my pdoc she'll just give me a patronizing answer about rapid cycling and mixed states.One thing I know absolutely: I have severe anticholinergic reactions. Could that be happening on as little as 25mg of t-max and 5 of Ambien? I know one of you brilliant brain chemists out there will know the answer to this. There was a post I found from sometime back in either Feb. or Jan. I think, by Amanda. She was reporting a similar unstable feeling after three days on T-max. I left a follow-up but haven't heard anything yet. I appreciate any help at all and wish to thank all of you for the tremendous help and knowledge you've already given me since I first discovered this site. Thanks. And I'm sorry this is so long. Elena.
poster:Elena
thread:28178
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000321/msgs/28178.html