![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by galkeepinon on June 29, 2003, at 13:31:15
I've been on Topamax for 2 months now. I take 200mg. I've had few side effects, but the few I've had are somewhat bothersome. A few of my nails are actually lifting. Not like a fungus, just white spots that are actually lifting from my nail bed, and some of my hair is coming out, like when I wash it, there is a little more in my brush than ususal Yikes! Actually last night quite a bit. I bought some vitamins that I think I will start today, does anyone know what would help these side effects? Any specific vitamins? I also cannot even pick up a soda, even Sprite tastes like either metal or just plain downiright nasty-it is relly weird, so now I drink that Propel fitness water or just iced tea. Then when I get hungry and eat, I get through like a few bites and I just can't finish what I eat. Which of course I don't mind, I need to lose a few heheh I also have the feeling, which is getting better, of absolutely no motivation and sleeping a lot. I would wake up, eat crackers, then go back to bed, wake up, take meds, go back to sleep. This side effect bothers me because I have loads of schoolwork to catch up on after I just went through a whole medication change and took a "hiatus" from life for a month and to open my books and concentrate is a toughie. I've lost about 25 Lbs. This med is a trip. Does anyone out there have any feedback or experience they would be willing to please share with me?
Thank youGal
Posted by Temmie on June 29, 2003, at 18:34:40
In reply to New To Topamax-Please Help, posted by galkeepinon on June 29, 2003, at 13:31:15
Dear Gal,
I was on Topamax during the summer of 2001, and it was a nightmare. Problems started with food tasting funky. Funky like the beach towels you forgot in the trunk of your car over Memorial Day weekend. I also had numbness/tingling of hands and feet. Really disconcerting. Then came cognitive problems (duh, huh?), being unsteady on my feet, and tears. Floods and floods of tears. I broke down in the public library one day because someone took the computer I'd stood up to reserve. "Maybe I'm getting in touch with deeper feelings," I thought .... But things kept getting weirder. I had visual hallucinations. "Things" (Bunnies? Squirrels?) kept darting in and out of view on my peripheal vision, and then one night, the cicadas and warmth of the breeze coming in my bedroom window began to "talk to me." To borrow from "Sound of Music," the air becams "alive" with the sounds of nature -- woodlands, and moss -- everything beckoning for me to come out to the garden ... and hang myself. "Well," I thought, "I'll just get that little red ladder out of the garage and go hang myself out back." At the same time, I was able to observe this thinking as a -- well -- as an observer, but it seemed so real -- I felt my spirit had already slipped out the bedroom window and that I'd already gone out to the garden, that I'd already gotten the ladder, and I could see the whole thing so clearly, felt so much that it had already occurred (on some kind of level or another), that were I to awaken with brambles in my hair, I would not have been surprised. It was weird, weird, weird. I kept calling my p-Doc, and he kept saying I needed more. Then the stomach cramps began. I had such pain in my abdomen, I thought my womb was falling out of my body, and made an emergency appointment to see someone in urgent care. They checked ovaries, womb, etc., everything clear -- but there was -- I forget what they called it -- evidence of some kind of problem, bloating, upset or sensitivity in my intestines. It was so bad I was unable to work. Still, noting suicidal ideation, trembling, irritable because "food" didn't taste like "food" anymore, I was still unable to persuade my p-Doc to let me take a holiday. Why I felt so compelled to be faithful to his recommendations, I'll never know -- but finally -- thank God -- the internist I saw gave me the okay -- and got the okay from the p-Doc for me to stop the Topamax and -- just -- like -- that -- the problems stopped.
I hated that drug. I had such a horrible, horrible experience with it -- and found tons of stuff online re. side-effects that supported my experiences (but which my p-Doc wouldn't listen to). To the end, he was saying, "I doubt your abdominal problems are related to the Topamax, but I guess you could try going off for a week or so." One of the sheets noting side-effects I found online noted abdominal complaints #1. Also noted were increased suicidial ideation, depression, unsteady gait, etc., and a host of things I've already noted.
I don't have anything good to say about this drug, as you can see. I have dual problems with anxiety/depression and my p-Doc described/prescribed it as a "mood stabilizer," but I would never, ever, ever go back (and I've switched docs as well). Hope this helps. Do some research on line. Follow your gut.
(In case you're wondering, at present I seem to be doing pretty well on 200 mg. Serzone (not quite in the therapeutic range), .25 Lexapro, and Xanax on an as-need (although rrely used) basis. Good luck!)
Temmie
Posted by Temmie on June 29, 2003, at 18:37:37
In reply to New To Topamax-Please Help, posted by galkeepinon on June 29, 2003, at 13:31:15
I was barely functional when using Topamax. I could get up and get dressed, but would then sit on the sofa and just stare into space. It was hard to do anything, I felt (and looked) like a zombie. I wanted nothing more than to sleep, but was trying to be a good mother and get up, get dressed, at least put on the pretense of being functional. Ugh! I'm happy for your weight loss, but concerned about the other things you've mentioned, especially school work. I understand!
Posted by MizDazee on June 29, 2003, at 21:16:57
In reply to My Nightmare Experience/Topamax, posted by Temmie on June 29, 2003, at 18:34:40
At first I considered Topomax my long-sought-after miracle drug. I'd never been so stable, mood-wise, since probably age six! My doc doubled my dosage because of a scheduled holiday trip about which I was pretty agitated. Well, my son and daughter-in-law found me to be a new person--they could finally get a word in edgewise! So after I returned home I stayed on the high dosage that seemed to be working well.
I collect dolls (there’re all over the place), and it wasn't long before they began to make subtle movements (but only after I took evening meds), followed by eye contact, and ultimately NOT so subtle movements. Gradually, always in the last few minutes before bed, I began talking to them, explaining that I understood they couldn't answer but it was okay cuz I knew they could hear me. But over the next few days I began to get irritated that they wouldn't move when I stood before them. I’d also been feeling the “presence” of lots of other people in the room and slight glimpses of someone “slipping by,” but this didn’t seem to bother me (which certainly isn’t my “scared of every noise” nature).
I had seen my doctor and called the nurse several times about stopping Topomax but they wouldn’t believe me! I’ve never had anything CLOSE to a hallucination in my life, no voices, anything like that. But I was on three other meds and hadn’t been able to prove Topomax was the culprit causing this weirdness.
Then one night I got very sarcastic and went around the room scolding each doll: “I KNOW YOU CAN MOVE.” How ridiculous that they’d move like animated manikins if I walked away but would “pretend” they couldn’t when I was in front of them! Then I walked into the bathroom and saw multiple "clones" of myself in the mirror (it’s one of those three-way things), but they were not me, only looked like me. They, of course, mimicked my movements. They were in various partitions behind the mirrors, each wearing a different outfit that I recognized and used to wear to work, and each standing near office equipment, such as a copier and a word processor. I calmly told them I was getting sleepy and wanted them to leave, but they just stood there, with their hands on their hips like me. So I left the bathroom and played my keyboard a while, waiting for them to leave cuz I didn’t want to be rude. My keyboard began changing shape and color and so did the music I was playing. The living room was now big and round, not square, and everything was turning pink. I went back into the bathroom, told the people how inconsiderate they were since I’d ASKED them to leave. They just stared at me. Finally I sloughed them off and said loudly, "Okay--do what you want, but I'm going to bed!"
I awoke the next day, with all the lights on, and found it odd that I'd remembered all this so clearly as I looked in the mirror and walked around the apartment. NOW I WAS scared, having to face the fact that I'd talked to all those clones of me and chewed out all the quite-normal-looking porcelain dolls. Surely I'd gone CRAZY!
My psychiatrist never did believe that Topomax was giving me hallucinations—even though it all stopped immediately—I never took another Topomax pill after that night and haven’t had one doll move a finger. Ha! But every time I’d bring up the subject, she’d try to attribute it to my childhood PTSD issues. And she’d ask me if I “found talking to the dolls COMFORTING”!!! I still get furious thinking about it. Needless to say, I no longer "employ" that particular psychiatrist.
Posted by galkeepinon on June 29, 2003, at 22:22:11
In reply to Another Wild Topamax Experience, posted by MizDazee on June 29, 2003, at 21:16:57
wow Temmie and MizDazee I don't know what to say. Sounds like you two haven't had very good experiences at all on Topamax-I'm sorry. I have had an ok time on it, today I have just gotten the pins and needles in my feet really really bad! No hallucinations at all---yet thank god! I hope to have a better experience and again I'm sorry you both didn't have a very good experience with Topamax and I thank you very much for your feedback.
Gal
> At first I considered Topomax my long-sought-after miracle drug. I'd never been so stable, mood-wise, since probably age six! My doc doubled my dosage because of a scheduled holiday trip about which I was pretty agitated. Well, my son and daughter-in-law found me to be a new person--they could finally get a word in edgewise! So after I returned home I stayed on the high dosage that seemed to be working well.
>
> I collect dolls (there’re all over the place), and it wasn't long before they began to make subtle movements (but only after I took evening meds), followed by eye contact, and ultimately NOT so subtle movements. Gradually, always in the last few minutes before bed, I began talking to them, explaining that I understood they couldn't answer but it was okay cuz I knew they could hear me. But over the next few days I began to get irritated that they wouldn't move when I stood before them. I’d also been feeling the “presence” of lots of other people in the room and slight glimpses of someone “slipping by,” but this didn’t seem to bother me (which certainly isn’t my “scared of every noise” nature).
>
> I had seen my doctor and called the nurse several times about stopping Topomax but they wouldn’t believe me! I’ve never had anything CLOSE to a hallucination in my life, no voices, anything like that. But I was on three other meds and hadn’t been able to prove Topomax was the culprit causing this weirdness.
>
> Then one night I got very sarcastic and went around the room scolding each doll: “I KNOW YOU CAN MOVE.” How ridiculous that they’d move like animated manikins if I walked away but would “pretend” they couldn’t when I was in front of them! Then I walked into the bathroom and saw multiple "clones" of myself in the mirror (it’s one of those three-way things), but they were not me, only looked like me. They, of course, mimicked my movements. They were in various partitions behind the mirrors, each wearing a different outfit that I recognized and used to wear to work, and each standing near office equipment, such as a copier and a word processor. I calmly told them I was getting sleepy and wanted them to leave, but they just stood there, with their hands on their hips like me. So I left the bathroom and played my keyboard a while, waiting for them to leave cuz I didn’t want to be rude. My keyboard began changing shape and color and so did the music I was playing. The living room was now big and round, not square, and everything was turning pink. I went back into the bathroom, told the people how inconsiderate they were since I’d ASKED them to leave. They just stared at me. Finally I sloughed them off and said loudly, "Okay--do what you want, but I'm going to bed!"
>
> I awoke the next day, with all the lights on, and found it odd that I'd remembered all this so clearly as I looked in the mirror and walked around the apartment. NOW I WAS scared, having to face the fact that I'd talked to all those clones of me and chewed out all the quite-normal-looking porcelain dolls. Surely I'd gone CRAZY!
>
> My psychiatrist never did believe that Topomax was giving me hallucinations—even though it all stopped immediately—I never took another Topomax pill after that night and haven’t had one doll move a finger. Ha! But every time I’d bring up the subject, she’d try to attribute it to my childhood PTSD issues. And she’d ask me if I “found talking to the dolls COMFORTING”!!! I still get furious thinking about it. Needless to say, I no longer "employ" that particular psychiatrist.
>
Posted by galkeepinon on June 29, 2003, at 22:28:59
In reply to P.S. Re. Sleepiness, posted by Temmie on June 29, 2003, at 18:37:37
Temmie,
Did these feelings get any better as time went on???? I felt like this all day today. I hate this part of it. I wonder if it will go away.
> I was barely functional when using Topamax. I could get up and get dressed, but would then sit on the sofa and just stare into space. It was hard to do anything, I felt (and looked) like a zombie. I wanted nothing more than to sleep, but was trying to be a good mother and get up, get dressed, at least put on the pretense of being functional. Ugh! I'm happy for your weight loss, but concerned about the other things you've mentioned, especially school work. I understand!
Posted by galkeepinon on June 29, 2003, at 22:40:50
In reply to My Nightmare Experience/Topamax, posted by Temmie on June 29, 2003, at 18:34:40
Temmie, I can relate to you here somewhat. Food does taste funny almost no taste actually. Smells are weird, and even cigarettes taste weird. It's all weird. Today the tingling in my feet were almost unbearable I had to wait until it wore off. You mention "getting in touch with deeper feelings" I was feeling the same thing a few weeks ago. I thought to myself that I have no crutch anymore. It was like "I am actually feeling my feelings here!" When in fact I am and it is uncomfortable at times. I don't have any hallucinations though. You went through some pretty heavy duty stuff with your intestines and I am glad that they finally took you off the Topamax. and *cough* the symptoms stopped? Had to be the Topamax then right?! No wonder you hated that drug. Sometimes doctors won't listen to us when we tell them things. I had to tell my doctor about the Lithium experiences three times and I still don't think he got the point that I finally took myself off it. I see him Wednesdday and he better not be shocked. I do know that in trials every single side effect a person has with a medication the manufacturer is responsible for noting -regardless. It makes it difficult because we all are different and we all have different chemical make-ups if you know what I mean. Anyway, I am glad you are doing well on the Serzone so far and thank you for sharing with me.
Gal
> Dear Gal,
>
> I was on Topamax during the summer of 2001, and it was a nightmare. Problems started with food tasting funky. Funky like the beach towels you forgot in the trunk of your car over Memorial Day weekend. I also had numbness/tingling of hands and feet. Really disconcerting. Then came cognitive problems (duh, huh?), being unsteady on my feet, and tears. Floods and floods of tears. I broke down in the public library one day because someone took the computer I'd stood up to reserve. "Maybe I'm getting in touch with deeper feelings," I thought .... But things kept getting weirder. I had visual hallucinations. "Things" (Bunnies? Squirrels?) kept darting in and out of view on my peripheal vision, and then one night, the cicadas and warmth of the breeze coming in my bedroom window began to "talk to me." To borrow from "Sound of Music," the air becams "alive" with the sounds of nature -- woodlands, and moss -- everything beckoning for me to come out to the garden ... and hang myself. "Well," I thought, "I'll just get that little red ladder out of the garage and go hang myself out back." At the same time, I was able to observe this thinking as a -- well -- as an observer, but it seemed so real -- I felt my spirit had already slipped out the bedroom window and that I'd already gone out to the garden, that I'd already gotten the ladder, and I could see the whole thing so clearly, felt so much that it had already occurred (on some kind of level or another), that were I to awaken with brambles in my hair, I would not have been surprised. It was weird, weird, weird. I kept calling my p-Doc, and he kept saying I needed more. Then the stomach cramps began. I had such pain in my abdomen, I thought my womb was falling out of my body, and made an emergency appointment to see someone in urgent care. They checked ovaries, womb, etc., everything clear -- but there was -- I forget what they called it -- evidence of some kind of problem, bloating, upset or sensitivity in my intestines. It was so bad I was unable to work. Still, noting suicidal ideation, trembling, irritable because "food" didn't taste like "food" anymore, I was still unable to persuade my p-Doc to let me take a holiday. Why I felt so compelled to be faithful to his recommendations, I'll never know -- but finally -- thank God -- the internist I saw gave me the okay -- and got the okay from the p-Doc for me to stop the Topamax and -- just -- like -- that -- the problems stopped.
>
> I hated that drug. I had such a horrible, horrible experience with it -- and found tons of stuff online re. side-effects that supported my experiences (but which my p-Doc wouldn't listen to). To the end, he was saying, "I doubt your abdominal problems are related to the Topamax, but I guess you could try going off for a week or so." One of the sheets noting side-effects I found online noted abdominal complaints #1. Also noted were increased suicidial ideation, depression, unsteady gait, etc., and a host of things I've already noted.
>
> I don't have anything good to say about this drug, as you can see. I have dual problems with anxiety/depression and my p-Doc described/prescribed it as a "mood stabilizer," but I would never, ever, ever go back (and I've switched docs as well). Hope this helps. Do some research on line. Follow your gut.
>
> (In case you're wondering, at present I seem to be doing pretty well on 200 mg. Serzone (not quite in the therapeutic range), .25 Lexapro, and Xanax on an as-need (although rrely used) basis. Good luck!)
>
> Temmie
Posted by Temmie on June 30, 2003, at 6:28:17
In reply to Re: My Nightmare Experience/Topamax » Temmie, posted by galkeepinon on June 29, 2003, at 22:40:50
Wow, interesting posts here. Gal, I was only on Topamax six-weeks, so I can't say things got better. Good luck, and best wishes! Temmie
Posted by Temmie on June 30, 2003, at 14:04:23
In reply to Re: My Nightmare Experience/Topamax » Temmie, posted by galkeepinon on June 29, 2003, at 22:40:50
Gal, I neglected to mention ... re. "getting in touch with feelings ..." All that crying I was doing? I *thought* it represented something ... well ... significant, but I'd never felt that teary before (or since). I have problems, but not at the level of falling apart in the public library. Listen to what your heart is telling you re. "feeling your feelings." It might be that Topamax is accentuating things that aren't there. That's how it seemed in my case. Can also relate to the tingling. It can be quite debilitating! Again, take care. Temmie
Posted by galkeepinon on June 30, 2003, at 14:49:29
In reply to Re: My Nightmare Experience/Topamax, posted by Temmie on June 30, 2003, at 14:04:23
Temmie, I hear you. Gosh that is horrible! especially in a public place-not good. I'm having weird dreams on this med I know that and they are kind of like nightmares but not quite. Just a lot of things from the past-but I have a VERY difficult time letting go of the past anyway. So we'll see. I haven't had the crying you mention, but I have had the depression feelings, especially yesterday, like mostly about "where is my life really going to end up" sort of thing. I have goals but man this no motivation thing sucks. It comes and goes.
Take care
Gal> Gal, I neglected to mention ... re. "getting in touch with feelings ..." All that crying I was doing? I *thought* it represented something ... well ... significant, but I'd never felt that teary before (or since). I have problems, but not at the level of falling apart in the public library. Listen to what your heart is telling you re. "feeling your feelings." It might be that Topamax is accentuating things that aren't there. That's how it seemed in my case. Can also relate to the tingling. It can be quite debilitating! Again, take care. Temmie
Posted by ROO on July 1, 2003, at 11:32:59
In reply to Re: My Nightmare Experience/Topamax » Temmie, posted by galkeepinon on June 30, 2003, at 14:49:29
Be careful and watch the depression with Topamax.
I was really depressed and suicidal on it, but convinced
myself it was just me, not the drug. But I'd never ever
been suicidal for 8 months in my life before--it was rare and odd,
although I lost perspective of that the deeper I spiraled down.I finally went off of it and I felt so much better mentally. I truly
think that the drug made me more depressed, and also very zombie like.Everyone's different....but just really watch the depression. Take care of
yourself.
Posted by galkeepinon on July 1, 2003, at 16:25:40
In reply to Re: My Nightmare Experience/Topamax, posted by ROO on July 1, 2003, at 11:32:59
I'm sorry to hear that! What dose were you on and for how long ROO? Did you feel like "just not doing a dang thing"??? I've been on it for 2 months now and I'm like so laaaaaaaaazzzzzzyyyyyyy for me that is very odd! I have schoolwork to catch up on or my college career may be over. I am finding that I just don't want to get up get dressed go out and do what I need to do, my appetite was zip and now it's coming back did you have any of those side effects???
COuld you please share?
Thanks so much Gal> Be careful and watch the depression with Topamax.
> I was really depressed and suicidal on it, but convinced
> myself it was just me, not the drug. But I'd never ever
> been suicidal for 8 months in my life before--it was rare and odd,
> although I lost perspective of that the deeper I spiraled down.
>
> I finally went off of it and I felt so much better mentally. I truly
> think that the drug made me more depressed, and also very zombie like.
>
> Everyone's different....but just really watch the depression. Take care of
> yourself.
Posted by ROO on July 1, 2003, at 20:28:27
In reply to Re: My Nightmare Experience/Topamax » ROO, posted by galkeepinon on July 1, 2003, at 16:25:40
Well I don't want to scare you if you like the drug.
For some people it's great, and like I said, everyone
is different. I was on it for about 9 months. I think
at one point I was up to 175 mgs, but I think that's as
high as I got. I did lose weight on it, which of course
can be nice...I probably lost over 20 pounds...I think about
23 pounds total. But after the initial vanity of that wore off,
I really missed _liking_ food. I really didn't like food on
the drug...it just makes stuff taste really mediocre and it
actually became a problem for me...I was hardly eating and didn't
care about eating, and of course that probably made my depression
worse, because I wasn't getting nutrition and nutrients, and I'm
also slightly hypoglycemic, so going for long periods with not
eating probably wasn't helping my moods either.
Yeah, I was tired on it. I slept an awful lot. I felt unmotivated.
I really felt dead inside...it DID help with cycling, it does it's job
there, but I felt so damn flattened that I felt dead. No creative
inspiration. Ruined my sex drive and response completely. At first
when I started taking it I remember having darker or more morbid thoughts
than usual. I have depression, so yes, I have a tendency to think darkly
at times, but this felt different...it felt drug induced somehow. Like
"sick" thoughts and images would enter my head. An example is, one time
I was walking down the street and saw a bottle. And the thought/image entered
my head of taking the glass bottle, bashing against the street and gouging my
arm with it. After awhile, those thoughts calmed down somewhat, but
I think I also just started getting used to being darker the longer I was
on it and didn't notice it as much. I had the classic symptom of feeling
more stupid on it, which I didn't mind too much at first, but that too grew
old. I'm a writer, so I like my thinking to feel sharp and clear. I never
felt sharp and clear on topamax. It's like my head was full of cotton and my
thoughts and words were hard to grasp.I feel SO much better off this drug...so much more sharp, clear and alive. And
I'm enjoying food more, and eating more, which is giving me the energy to think
and work out, etc. I do hope I can maintain most of the weightloss. I will say,
it is good for that. But not worth the price in my opinion.If you need a mood stabilizer, I'd try lamictal. It's the only
one I ever tried, and I didn't feel depressed at all on it. I felt
energetic and good. I stopped it because I gained weight on it (most people
don't, I just happened to be the rare one) and I couldn't sleep on it (again
this isn't the case for most people).I hope this helped. Good luck. And remember, this is just MY experience, topamax
could very well be a great drug for you. I just wanted to warn people who are experiencing
depression on it because they might not be aware that the severity of the depression
can be topamax induced, as it was in my case.
>
>
>
>
> >
Posted by ROO on July 1, 2003, at 20:35:39
In reply to Re: My Nightmare Experience/Topamax, posted by ROO on July 1, 2003, at 20:28:27
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention--my hair started falling
out too. It took me awhile to notice that one, because
I have really thick hair. Then I started to notice it
wasn't looking so thick anymore...it had thinned out a lot.
Then I noticed, yes, I'm constantly shedding, there is hair
all over me, all the time, falling out of my head! The texture
also changed...I have really nice hair...really slick and shiny, and
it started taking on a dull, frazzled look....like someone who's dyed
their hair too much or had too many perms.I've only been off it a month or so, and I will say, that once
you go off, that seems to improve quite a bit. My hair is starting
to look like it used to. Of course, I'm also taking some supplements
with selenium in it, which is supposed to be good for your hair and nails.
Posted by galkeepinon on July 2, 2003, at 0:19:18
In reply to Re: My Nightmare Experience/Topamax, posted by ROO on July 1, 2003, at 20:28:27
ROO, thanks so much for taking the time to inform me of all this, I will, definately take it all into consideration. It's hard to find the right med for yourself when we all have different ways we react to them. I seem to be doing ok on Topamax so far, except for the few things I mentioned. Funny, though, I've lost about 22 Lbs and I am now just getting my appetite back-weird may be the weight loss limit on the drug-who knows? Obviously sounds like it wasn't the drug for you and I'm glad you found that out! I see my doctor tomorrow and will talk to him about Lamictal. My friend is on that med and she said it has helped her even out. Again, thank you, you were a big help for taking the time to write all this back.
Take care,
Gal> Well I don't want to scare you if you like the drug.
> For some people it's great, and like I said, everyone
> is different. I was on it for about 9 months. I think
> at one point I was up to 175 mgs, but I think that's as
> high as I got. I did lose weight on it, which of course
> can be nice...I probably lost over 20 pounds...I think about
> 23 pounds total. But after the initial vanity of that wore off,
> I really missed _liking_ food. I really didn't like food on
> the drug...it just makes stuff taste really mediocre and it
> actually became a problem for me...I was hardly eating and didn't
> care about eating, and of course that probably made my depression
> worse, because I wasn't getting nutrition and nutrients, and I'm
> also slightly hypoglycemic, so going for long periods with not
> eating probably wasn't helping my moods either.
> Yeah, I was tired on it. I slept an awful lot. I felt unmotivated.
> I really felt dead inside...it DID help with cycling, it does it's job
> there, but I felt so damn flattened that I felt dead. No creative
> inspiration. Ruined my sex drive and response completely. At first
> when I started taking it I remember having darker or more morbid thoughts
> than usual. I have depression, so yes, I have a tendency to think darkly
> at times, but this felt different...it felt drug induced somehow. Like
> "sick" thoughts and images would enter my head. An example is, one time
> I was walking down the street and saw a bottle. And the thought/image entered
> my head of taking the glass bottle, bashing against the street and gouging my
> arm with it. After awhile, those thoughts calmed down somewhat, but
> I think I also just started getting used to being darker the longer I was
> on it and didn't notice it as much. I had the classic symptom of feeling
> more stupid on it, which I didn't mind too much at first, but that too grew
> old. I'm a writer, so I like my thinking to feel sharp and clear. I never
> felt sharp and clear on topamax. It's like my head was full of cotton and my
> thoughts and words were hard to grasp.
>
> I feel SO much better off this drug...so much more sharp, clear and alive. And
> I'm enjoying food more, and eating more, which is giving me the energy to think
> and work out, etc. I do hope I can maintain most of the weightloss. I will say,
> it is good for that. But not worth the price in my opinion.
>
> If you need a mood stabilizer, I'd try lamictal. It's the only
> one I ever tried, and I didn't feel depressed at all on it. I felt
> energetic and good. I stopped it because I gained weight on it (most people
> don't, I just happened to be the rare one) and I couldn't sleep on it (again
> this isn't the case for most people).
>
> I hope this helped. Good luck. And remember, this is just MY experience, topamax
> could very well be a great drug for you. I just wanted to warn people who are experiencing
> depression on it because they might not be aware that the severity of the depression
> can be topamax induced, as it was in my case.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >
Posted by galkeepinon on July 2, 2003, at 0:22:10
In reply to Re: Gal, P.S. Hair stuff, posted by ROO on July 1, 2003, at 20:35:39
Ditto!!!!Ahhhhhhhhh Selenium........ what dosage are you finding is helping with the hair restoration? I have thick hair too and I'm not too worried about it BUT, I am noticing a lot of hair in my brush and on the back of my shirts etc. so I don't want to think I can get away with not adding some supplements that could otherwise help a great deal.
> Oh yeah, I forgot to mention--my hair started falling
> out too. It took me awhile to notice that one, because
> I have really thick hair. Then I started to notice it
> wasn't looking so thick anymore...it had thinned out a lot.
> Then I noticed, yes, I'm constantly shedding, there is hair
> all over me, all the time, falling out of my head! The texture
> also changed...I have really nice hair...really slick and shiny, and
> it started taking on a dull, frazzled look....like someone who's dyed
> their hair too much or had too many perms.
>
> I've only been off it a month or so, and I will say, that once
> you go off, that seems to improve quite a bit. My hair is starting
> to look like it used to. Of course, I'm also taking some supplements
> with selenium in it, which is supposed to be good for your hair and nails.
>
Posted by justyourlaugh on July 5, 2003, at 1:01:24
In reply to Re: My Nightmare Experience/Topamax, posted by ROO on July 1, 2003, at 11:32:59
i took topamax aswell(with wellbutrin ,thyroid replacement and anti-c.
i went right bloody mad...
i was convinced husband wanted me to .."go away"
so he didnt have to divorce me....
unmarked police cars follow me everywhere...
i was always being watched and acted like i was in a movie..so i would "tip them off"
its funny now...
but topamax is something that one takes and should be watched...like "all"of these meds..even the "natural"ones...
j
Posted by Temmie on July 5, 2003, at 10:24:26
In reply to Re: My Nightmare Experience/Topamax » ROO, posted by justyourlaugh on July 5, 2003, at 1:01:24
So interesting to note these posts and the unsettling experiences many of us have had with Topomax. Good advice (above), best wishes to all. Temmie
This is the end of the thread.
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