My neuro is switching my meds from Lamictal to Topamax. Although it's only my fourth day at 25mg of Topa, I'm very sleepy! I'm not being weaned at all from Lamictal until I've reached my therapeutic dose of Topa. Is it possible I've misunderstood the nurse? In other words, is this typical? Any other time I've been weaned off of one and switched to another med, it's been simultaneously. I'm wondering if this is why I'm so tired. Thanks is advance!
I was building the topamax up and lowering the lamictal down. Now I am just on the topamax. The side affects seem quite scary to me, severe dizziness and very off balance, I am always tired and have tingling in the hands and feet. I seem loss for words and confused. Will these side affects deteriorate over the a certain amount of time? It is difficult when I have to go to work and live everyday life. Please help.
what mood stasblizer wont cause weight gain if any??? exclude serquil and lithiem and topamax..cant do these already been on them..
i say my new neoro today and he wanted me to look at 3 other meds(lamictal, topomax, and trileptal) and they all have just as bad or more side effects including severe acne.
ive been trying to ghave a good attitude but its starting to get to me and it has almost eliminated my social life. i dont care what ppl think. acne does make a difference and i dont think a good looking girl would like me with my face all messed up.
i agree that it's very odd for a doc to leave the med decision up to you. i don't have epilepsy (my son does); but i've been on both of these meds. i've been on the lamotrigine for depression (it didn't work) and i currently take the topamax to control migranes. yes, topamax is also called "topastupid" and "dopamax" because i swear i loose IQ points on a daily basis. LOL!!
Good luck.
I'm on Lamictal and it's working well for me so far. It is a slow taper, 25 mg every two weeks until 100 mg, then you can go up by 50 mg every two weeks. So it takes a while to work, but it's really good for the depressive phase. It's great for BP II, and it's approved I believe as an add-on med for BP I stabilization.
Topomax does get used for bipolar, but it causes major cognitive side effects in a lot of people, to the point of getting nicknamed "Dopamax".
I'm so sorry you are going through this.
I had my first grand mal 8 years ago. I was put on Carbatrol, but am now on Lamictal because I am trying to get pregnant. They say Lamictal is the safest to be on right now. I did have another one in 2004 because my doctor thought it was ok to take me off of the medicine since I hadn't had any problems for a few years, but I had another gran mal while on vacation in Vegas, so needless to say, I am back on medication.
It's so frustrating!
He developed a mild rash (not really sure it was due to the Lamictal) after 1+ yrs. and the Dr. took him off the Lamictal immediately. Thankfully, he remained seizure-free. It really is hard to tell if my son's fatigue is due to the Depakote. He still maintains excellent grades and participates in school sports. In his free time, he mostly parks himself on the couch, but that is pretty normal for teens. He does need at least 8+ hrs. of sleep per night.
The first time I was on Lamictal I took it in conjunction with Topamax. I believe it was the Topamax that was responsible for some weight loss, but it could have been Lamictal, too. I remember being specifically told that if I had winter carbohydrate craving they would probably go away from one or the other. Unfortunately, they were not effective for my bipolar.
I have not taken an SSRI in years after bad experiences with Zoloft and Paxil so I can't advise you about the Prozac.
My question is have you experienced one or both of the side effects? Is hair loss always accompanied by weight loss or vice versa? Are there any tricks you've developed that really work to prevent hair loss?
The other option, the name I've spaced on, has hair loss and weight gain. Lose all around.
Also, how well has topamax worked for anyone using is as a mood stabilizer?
Hello! I'm currently on Lamictal but considering changing to Topamax since this drug (topamax) more effectively treats partial seizures and migraines. What is your experience with it?
Hello and thank you for reading my post. I started depakote two months ago for anger management and mood swings. I really love it, but have already gained 7 lbs. I just lost 35 before I started these pills and I really don't want to gain anymore. My doctor recommended switching me to Topamax. After reading about it, it seems like it is more for depression. I am not depressed at all. Just get real bitchy, real quick. LOL.
I have been treated for tension headaches and migraines since 2009. I was diagnosed with JME when I was 13. I'm currently on 150 topamax and 500 lamictal for seizures. I have tried antimigraines, analgesics, muscle relaxants, nonsteroidal-anti-inflammatory and steroids, ssnri antidepressants and obviously acetaminophen and aspirin for headaches . I have one every single day but the severity of it varies. Within the past few days I have noticed slight shaking and weakness in my hands.
Hi Friendlysky137,
Yeah my neurologist put me on the Lamictal with the Keppra to try stop everything but my eyes were still fluttering so he added the topomax after many years of just the Lamictal and Keppra. When I started the Lamictal, I felt fine but over time, I started feeling like you, my mind was starting to go. I have always been great at remembering numbers and things like that and found myself to be forgetting simple things.
Right, I agree. Like I've said before, trust in my doctors has come hard before, and now w/ wanting to be stable, trusting them is key, and trusting myself to know when I'm feeling bad is key. I don't want to feel bad anymore. I've researched everywhere, asked you probably a MILLION questions right?!!! I called or emailed my doc every day for the first week because of s/e, but that was from Risperdal, now that I'm off that **** and just on Lamictal and Topamax I'm fine.
I saw a new therapist immediately before the start of 2017 who unofficially diagnosed me with Bipolar and decided to prescribe Lamictal, gradually increasing dosage until I could safely discontinue Abilify. Once I reached the therapeutic dose of Lamictal, I stopped Abilify and immediately experienced rapid fluctuations between depression and mania and my therapist told me to go back on Abilify at a reduced 2.5 mg.
I am BP and I try to convince my pdoc to try lamictal. He put me on tegretol instead which I couldn't bare. I read good things about lamictal. Why pdocs prefer AC as MS because more effective and longlasting than AP.
Although I am on seroquel which is OK, I believe the best 2 meds invented so far though not tried neither is lamotrigine (lamictal) and abilify.
Recommended
