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Topic: Another question about Topamax (Read 302 times) |
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Virginia
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Another question about Topamax
« on: Apr 29th, 2004, 4:57pm » |
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Is Topamax making me depressed or is it just all the crap in my life that's doing it?? 
Thanks,
V.
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The Clusterhead formerly known as 9erfan.
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HypnoticFreddy
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Re: Another question about Topamax
« Reply #1 on: Apr 29th, 2004, 6:01pm » |
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V,
I have been posting a lot on Topamax for the past month or so.
I was prescribed it for my episodic CH cycle. Thank God it worked. I only had the Tingliness. A lot of it. But compared to the agony of CHs, it was well-worth it. Some people are very intolerant to this medicine. My advice is to taper up slowly, and discuss this matter with your prescribing doctor. Perhaps, there is something else you can take in addition to Topamax to counteract the depression-effects you MAY be getting from Topamax. It is possible.
Topamax has a plethora of side-effects. Mood changes are VERY possible.
Please see this website:
http://www.crazymeds.org/topamax.html
Good luck!
By the way. I was looking through the archives recently. Topamax ain't new and it ain't new for CH and other headache treatment. I was reading some posts from '99 on here about it. Just for the record.
-Scott
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Karla
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Re: Another question about Topamax
« Reply #2 on: Apr 29th, 2004, 6:28pm » |
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The shrink I was seeing said that topamax is a mood stabalizer. It isn't supose to depress you. Its supose to make you feel good about yourself.
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Karla
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HypnoticFreddy
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Re: Another question about Topamax
« Reply #3 on: Apr 29th, 2004, 6:49pm » |
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When I am given a new mood stabilizer. This has been going on since 2001. I have been on a lot, at different times, and in different combos. Zoloft, Serzone, Wellbutrin, Abilify, Lamictal, Topamax, Neurontin, and perhaps some more.
The thing is....I don't sit around and wait for this magical day when I am going to awaken and suddenly feel happy. I don't think most mood stabilizers (and I mean anti-depressants or drugs commonly given to manic depressives). work like that.
Talking therapy is important. If God willingly, you have health insurance and they will help with that, my advice is to use it. At least try it out.
But by far, as long as you can muster up the energy.
The best advice in addition to all the other therapy. You must engage your mind and body.
Reading, walking or playing sports, yoga, meditation, and breathing are really helpful for your overall well-being. Taking time to relax and treating youself well. Treating others well. And something I recently started to do....is I joined an organization that is active in my community.
So I think, if you can get yourself to do it ( I have been in the throes of severe depression. I could barely pick up my fork). Anyways, if you can, keep active. As active as you can.
Eat well. Try to be even more conscious of what you eating. Supplements such as melatonin, magnesium, and vitamin B2 have been recommened to me and are talked about here. Sleep well. Hopefully you can manage sleep, which I know can be so hard when sufferring through depression.
As far as a magic wand for happines, illicit drugs will do that, but of course, they have their consequences.
And in this category, I most certainly include alcohol. I know it is llicit, but it has somehow become socially acceptable to get drunk a lot and when you drive anywhere you pass liquor stores and bars, etc.
Depression is brutal. Having only 2 major episodes of depression. Which roughly last the same amount of time my CH cycles do, I might rather have CHs. I have management over my CHs. One big reason is this website.
-Scott
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Lobster
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Re: Another question about Topamax
« Reply #4 on: Apr 29th, 2004, 10:32pm » |
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My main side effect, as detailed on crazymeds.org...
"It makes you really receptive to the GABA you have in your brain. Not barbiturate-level receptive, but pretty damn receptive. That's why it knocks you out and leaves you feeling pretty worn out all day. "
I have zero energy... zero initiative on the Topa. Looking forward to the taper off.
Rock
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HypnoticFreddy
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Re: Another question about Topamax
« Reply #5 on: Apr 29th, 2004, 11:27pm » |
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Interesting about the GABA. I believe you can increase GABA levels by taking a product called Sam-E. It is sold OTC. I think Sam-E helps your body naturally produce GABA. I believe it is prescibed in Europe as an anti-depressant.
Check out this website:
http://www.depressionremedy.com/sam-e/depression/herbalremedy/article.ph p
-Scott
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| « Last Edit: Apr 29th, 2004, 11:30pm by HypnoticFreddy » |
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CJohnson
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Re: Another question about Topamax
« Reply #6 on: Apr 30th, 2004, 10:19am » |
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As a drug, topiramate acts as an antagonist of the kainate/AMPA glutamate receptors. More specifically, it antagonizes glutamates' effects at non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (non-NMDA) receptors, inhibiting the ability of glutamate to essentially 'do its job,' particularly in places like the nucleus accumbens (note: the nucleus accubens has been found to possibly be the area that becomes activated in situations that involve reward and punishment), where it acts as a neurotransmitter that is intimately involved in sending the "ahhhh...that's-good-shit"-signal, and also the expectant "ahhhh...that-will-be-good-shit" signal in 'stimulatory' situations. Now, coupled with topiramate's ability to facilitate GABA activity, topiramate likely does an exceedingly good job of 'numbing' the mind to the oft-intoxicating effects of good food, alcohol, and/or some forms of narcotics by inhibiting mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) release.
This from here:
http://www.avantlabs.com/page.php?pageID=194&issueID=17
PFDANs
-Curtis
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Edski_1
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Re: Another question about Topamax
« Reply #7 on: Apr 30th, 2004, 11:04am » |
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A couple of people have stated that after a long time on Topa they felt that it had precipitated a depression. I found that while I was taking it, if I missed a dose I would have a VERY bad day emotionally.
As I've been off for about a month now, I find that there are subtle differences in my mood/motivation. A very small example is making the bed in the morning. My wife goes to work early, and I usually made the bed and put all her stuffed animals on it. While on Topa I would often not make the bed at all, and never put more than a couple of the stuffed animals on the bed.
Now off the stuff, the 1 minute it takes to put the stuffed animals up is not a bother. I don't think it's coincidence. Not a lot is known about how Topamax actually works on headaches, and it's designed to combat seizures. Being that's it's also used to treat bi-polar, I feel that there are many possible SE's that can happen.
If you are feeling depressed, 9ersfan, please talk to someone...and mention it to your doc. If you are episodic, and have been having a good run at PF (or significantly PF) days, it might be a good idea to see if the cycle is broken and stop taking the Topa. Under doctor supervision I would suggest, although I did not follow my own advice... 
But I've been unemployed for over 3 months, so my excuse is economic. Hope you start feeling better soon! 
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