Posted by Bette Powers on February 10, 2002, at 23:58:47
In reply to Re: Topamax Experiences: Long Term Use, posted by shersher on January 6, 2002, at 7:34:48
First of all, I pray for all of us SO many times a day.....not always a formal prayer but often an almost unconscious "Oh, God, Please make this next hour easier on Sher, on John, On Kingfisher....etc...." I'll learn everyone's name.
It is day 5 of Topamax...25 mg morning, 25 mg evening.No effect, no side effects...plus 300mg lithium....I refuse to take more lithiuim....I have refused to take more than 300mg for the last 8 weeks because I am SO TIRED of the sleepiness and lethargy.
It took me 8 months to adjust to 900 mg of lithium....then a new Dr. promised me a sinecure with A NEW DRUG, trileptal...which is one of the 3 ingredients in depakote.....DEPAKOTE just went "out of patent" so the drug companies broke it down and decided trileptal was the operative chemical for bipolar treatment. When I took it I was NEVER SLEEPY, I lost weight.....I FELT things, I was happy! I was assertive vs. "Oh well".....and then I had a ministroke after 5 weeks and spent 7 days in the hospital....I could not see out of my right eye, could not talk, or move...all down the right side. After 200 tests they said the 1800 mg trileptal was the cause...and believe me, I had 3 neurologists....
so now I'm fat and on lithium again. I just heard about the topamax.....my Dr. suggested it because she says Zoloft is wrong for me....I am rarely depressed.....I am really manic 99% of the time....I have 1 mg Xanax for the times when the anxiety hits......and I become extremely functional and efficient when I take a Xanan.....I ran my own 14 person, 2 office law firm for 20 years on this manic bipolar energy, controlling it with the Xanax......it was only when I went to work for a corporation that the bipolar became a problem.....I think of you all, constantly.......if there's anything I can do.....please let's keep in touch....IS ANYONE SIMPLY ON TOPAMAX? DOES ANYONE HAVE PROBEMS FALLING ASLEEP OR TYING ASLEEP AT NIGHT? WHAT DO YOU DO FOR THAT? WHAT DOES THE DR. SAY ABOUT IT?
poster:Bette Powers
thread:50878
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020208/msgs/93691.html