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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by galkeepinon on June 29, 2003, at 0:38:42
Hi, I heard about this board from another site called Topamax Talk that I participate at. I am bipolar 2 and have been diagnosed with major depression since 1995. I recently started Topamax about a month ago. I also was put on a trial of Lithium 450mg three times a day. Holy Moly did I ever get the tremors, blurry vision, and nausea. I gave it 9 days, then had to discontinue it. It was a shame because it was helping me a great deal to calm my thoughts as well as my mood. I'm still on the Topamax and it is working well. Does anyone have any experience they would be willing to share with me about Topamax and their experience and also their Lithium experience if they were on it? I have quite a history and recently a doctor tried some heavy duty meds such as Abilify, Geodone (sp?) and Thorazine. I really felt like a guinea pig. I really enjoy interacting with others and hearing and sharing stories and experiences about what we all have been through and are going through. I hope to hear back with any input or feedback.
Thank you,Gal
Posted by fallsfall on June 29, 2003, at 10:17:24
In reply to Hello, Just Call Me Gal, posted by galkeepinon on June 29, 2003, at 0:38:42
Did you work your way up to that Lithium dose, or just start it all at once? My experience (if I remember, it was 1995) is that the side effects do diminish as you get used to it. Also I have Inderal to take when the tremors are a bother. I love my Lithium - 8 years and counting.
Good luck and welcome.
Posted by galkeepinon on June 29, 2003, at 13:19:26
In reply to Re: Hello, Just Call Me Gal » galkeepinon, posted by fallsfall on June 29, 2003, at 10:17:24
Yes, I started out at 450mg twice a day for about 5 days and my level was .6, then my psychiatrist increased the dose to 450mg three times a day and my level hit .8 in which i remained on it for the remainder of therapy all spread out over the course of my day. I was taking Benadryl for a while to help with the tremors and it seemed to help a little but the other side effects were too much to bear.
What is Inderal? I am really glad that Lithium has helped you, that's wonderful, are you at a high dose? Did you get any major side effects that did eventually go away for you? It turns out that my Topamax has done quite the similar that the Lithium was doing so it seems to be working out so far. I never expected Topamax to do what it has done for me.
Thank you so much for your input, much appreciated.
> Did you work your way up to that Lithium dose, or just start it all at once? My experience (if I remember, it was 1995) is that the side effects do diminish as you get used to it. Also I have Inderal to take when the tremors are a bother. I love my Lithium - 8 years and counting.
>
> Good luck and welcome.
Posted by fallsfall on June 29, 2003, at 21:02:36
In reply to Re: Hello, Just Call Me Gal » fallsfall, posted by galkeepinon on June 29, 2003, at 13:19:26
I started Lithium so long ago that it is hard for me to remember all the details. Usually you are less likely to get side effects if you start with a small dose and go up gradually. 900mg to start seems like an awful lot to me. I currently take 1200mg, but I've taken 900mg a day much of the time. (In the US, capsules are 300mg, I believe that in some other countries they are 450mg)
Inderal is a blood pressure med (I think), but it helps with the tremors. At one point though, I was taking a lot if Inderal and it lowered my blood pressure enough to make me MORE depressed. Now I just take it when I need it.
Tremors and dry mouth (I think). It was so long ago that I really don't remember!
I'm glad the Topomax is good for you. It's really nice to find something that works.
Posted by galkeepinon on June 29, 2003, at 22:27:05
In reply to Re: Hello, Just Call Me Gal » galkeepinon, posted by fallsfall on June 29, 2003, at 21:02:36
When I started Lithium, I was on 450mg twice a day. I was fine for about a week, then when my doctor increased another 450mg to it, I became a wreck. I was very worried about the weight gain side effect I was reading and hearing about also among the other side effects ie. nausea, etc. I had already gained from some precious meds I was on over the years. I do hope the Topamax continues to work and hopefully has even better success with my particular chemical make up. I appreciate your feedback and yes it is certainly nice to find something that works. Thanks
> I started Lithium so long ago that it is hard for me to remember all the details. Usually you are less likely to get side effects if you start with a small dose and go up gradually. 900mg to start seems like an awful lot to me. I currently take 1200mg, but I've taken 900mg a day much of the time. (In the US, capsules are 300mg, I believe that in some other countries they are 450mg)
>
> Inderal is a blood pressure med (I think), but it helps with the tremors. At one point though, I was taking a lot if Inderal and it lowered my blood pressure enough to make me MORE depressed. Now I just take it when I need it.
>
> Tremors and dry mouth (I think). It was so long ago that I really don't remember!
>
> I'm glad the Topomax is good for you. It's really nice to find something that works.
This is the end of the thread.
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