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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by CEK on April 4, 2006, at 15:15:17
Has anyone tried this combination? I took Effexor before but did not like not being able to concentrate and focus to learn something. I also hated the urge to eat all the time. I was just wondering if the Lamictal and Topamax could off set these side effects at all. At least the eating. I've given up on brain functioning. I don't think that's going to happen as long as I'm on any meds for my depression and rapid cycling. I'm desprate right now and am thinking about refilling these old prescriptions that I have on my Effexor. I still have these prescriptions at the pharmacy for the Topamax and Lamictal but I didn't know how they would work together. I hate going back to Effexor since it was so hard to get off of it but so far nothing has taken away the anxiety and irritability like the Effexor has. The depression was there still but at least I wasn't crying and lashing out at everyone all the time. My pdoc won't help me and I don't see a new pdoc until May 4. I need to do something until then and thought maybe this would work somewhat for now?
Posted by Racer on April 4, 2006, at 18:47:43
In reply to What about Effexor, Topamax and Lamictal?, posted by CEK on April 4, 2006, at 15:15:17
I wouldn't suggest starting anything now, before seeing a new pdoc, because there could be interaction potentials that would require you stop everything for a while next month. The good news is that 4 May is less than six weeks. (I know, not a great deal less, but gotta find something good, eh?)
On the other hand, if the Effexor was working that well for your mood and anxiety, and the Topomax was working for your compulsive eating, I think I'd call your doctor, say that you really feel as though you have to do something while you wait, and ask if those two would be OK together. If you got a rash while on Lamictal, don't think about restarting it until you've been on a stable dose of other meds for a couple of months. Reduces the risks involved. (And if the pdoc started the Lamictal at the same time as the Zoloft, he needs a spanking.)
My last pdoc told me "there's nothing left to try..." In that case, though, what I think he was trying to tell me was that "there's nothing left to try, unless you're willing to risk trying some of the drugs that you've refused to try..." I was afraid to try a couple of drugs that he really liked, because of bad reactions I'd had while taking them in the past, and I refused to take a couple of others because of weight gain. It sounds as though the doctor you saw was too new for it to be something like that, though. Sounds much more as though he's hinting that medications won't help, because your problems are all psychological. (Twist your mind around that for a while, and you'll see a little problem...) Maybe he's a big believer in the magic of CBT.
Speaking of which, do you have a therapist? Not necessarily CBT, which I'm not real big on, but just a psychotherapist of some flavor whom you see regularly for talk therapy? Optimal treatment would include both medications and psychotherapy, and if you're only getting the meds, it's worth trying the other as well. (Wait -- my aching brain tells me you do have a T. If so, never mind...) Assuming you do have a therapist, can you ask him/her for help with this? Even call today to ask?
Good luck.
Posted by deirdrehbrt on April 4, 2006, at 21:17:22
In reply to Re: What about Effexor, Topamax and Lamictal?, posted by Racer on April 4, 2006, at 18:47:43
I've been on Effexor, Topomax and Lamictal, but only the Effexor and Topomax at the same time. About all I can say is that I really didn't like the way Topomax made food taste for me.
Sorry I can't be of more help.
--Dee
Posted by CEK on April 4, 2006, at 21:50:39
In reply to Re: What about Effexor, Topamax and Lamictal?, posted by deirdrehbrt on April 4, 2006, at 21:17:22
That's ok. Any response is helpful to me. I personal liked that it made my food taste funky. I didn't want to eat it so much. I ate to survive. I didn't survive to eat anymore.
Posted by CEK on April 4, 2006, at 22:18:40
In reply to Re: What about Effexor, Topamax and Lamictal?, posted by deirdrehbrt on April 4, 2006, at 21:17:22
Racer, I've been seeing a psychologist in Memphis since Feb 17. (he's the one that referred me to the creep pdoc that I'm now seeing) He is trained to do neurofeedback besides CBT and other types of talk therapy. We have been working on retraining my brain on how it thinks. We are trying to get rid of all of the negative thinking. He's wonderful in some aspects. The neurofeedback seems to make me feel better, but wears off after a day and a half. I was seeing him for double sessions twice a week until money got low. Now I see him for one 45min. session once a week. His objective is to retrain the brain and to get his patients off all of the meds eventually. This is why I chose him. He also has lots of background study in religion and is a good Christian. He has his own office that is called the Memphis Integral Neurofeedback Institute. There is a website for this that tells all about him. The only thing that I don't like about his way of practice is that he doesn't believe in talking about past hurts. He thinks the past is the past and there is no point in talking about it. He says we need to focus on the future and there's nothing we can do about the past. I have alot of past hurt in my bagage that I don't know how to put down that I feel like is effecting me to this day. I thought most therapists wanted patients to come to terms with these past hurts. But anyway, I see him tomorrow morning. 45 minutes go by so fast. I don't feel like it does much good. The pdoc wants to see me next week to discuss the meds. This way he makes sure he gets paid for it. I would call him to ask about the Topamax and Effexor but I figure he'd get mad and want to charge me. He does that. He charges for phone conversations. Oh, and get this. When I first saw him, my disability insurance needed a statement from him to let them know what his diagnosis was and what meds he was putting me on to update their file since I hadn't seen a real pdoc before. He refused! He said it was none of their business! How is that? They need to know everything to keep a claim going. The dis.insur. sent him 1 form to fill out and when I saw him last week the girl at the front desk told me it was going to cost me $50.00 for him to fill it out! $50.00!!!! For one form! I'm surprised he didn't charge me to use his bathroom. Oh yeah and toilet paper would be extra. My psychologist has sent the insur. anything they have needed and never charged a penny. My psyc said it was all part of taking care of me and it had to be done. I know lots of doctors do charge to file out forms or give you your file, but $50 just seemed excessive to me. I knew he was going to be trouble when he refused to send them any info. I'm thinking about calling my pharmisist tomorrow. He is wonderful. The most helpful person I've ever met! I thought about asking him about the Topamax and Effexor. He knows my history, I've been seeing him for my meds for years. He's not a pdoc, but I know he's tell me if it was a bad combo or harmful. Why is Zoloft and Lamictal bad together? Thanks so much Racer. Sorry to go on and on. A person has to have alot of time on their hands to read one of my threads.
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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