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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Elayne on March 10, 2002, at 16:34:27
Has anyone been on Topamax for more than a year and continued to feel ok and not had serious vision or cognitive problems?
What about Gabitril for a mood stabilizer? Any experiences with it?
Posted by trouble on March 10, 2002, at 20:33:08
In reply to Topamax or Gabitril, posted by Elayne on March 10, 2002, at 16:34:27
Hi Elayne,
I've been on Gabitril for 6 weeks as a mood stabilizer, and just started my menstrual cycle yesterday. This is the first time in months I started my period w/out being a weepy, tormented screaming banshee the first couple days so I guess this med is doing its job.
As for side effects, something is wrong w/my memory and concentration, but it may have to do w/psychological issues or even my Wellbutrin, won't know for sure 'til I see my pdoc next week. I am gaining weight though, and would be interested in hearing if others on Gabitril are experiencing this.trouble
Posted by Elayne on March 10, 2002, at 21:34:33
In reply to Re: Topamax or Gabitril, posted by trouble on March 10, 2002, at 20:33:08
> Hi Elayne,
>
> I've been on Gabitril for 6 weeks as a mood stabilizer, and just started my menstrual cycle yesterday. This is the first time in months I started my period w/out being a weepy, tormented screaming banshee the first couple days so I guess this med is doing its job.
> As for side effects, something is wrong w/my memory and concentration, but it may have to do w/psychological issues or even my Wellbutrin, won't know for sure 'til I see my pdoc next week. I am gaining weight though, and would be interested in hearing if others on Gabitril are experiencing this.
>
> troubleWhat dose of Gabitril are you taking? How much weight have you gained? Do you feel as if your appetite is out of control? I'm glad it's helping you feel more in control and not tormented. Still, the other stuff is troubling.
Posted by Bekka H. on March 10, 2002, at 22:07:32
In reply to Topamax or Gabitril, posted by Elayne on March 10, 2002, at 16:34:27
What is Gabatril? I'm not familiar with it. Is it a mood stabilizer or an antidepressant?
Posted by trouble on March 10, 2002, at 23:42:23
In reply to Re: Topamax or Gabitril, posted by Elayne on March 10, 2002, at 21:34:33
>
> What dose of Gabitril are you taking? How much weight have you gained? Do you feel as if your appetite is out of control? I'm glad it's helping you feel more in control and not tormented. Still, the other stuff is troubling.I take ten mg of Gabitril in 2 doses, that's not very much is it? The ap is out of control and stuck on corn chips and burgers, I recently had nothing but take-out pizza for 6 days in a row.
No exercise and smoking too much, I've put on 12 lbs, there's something wrong w/my will to survive that I'm dealing w/ more and more, I think. At least I feel sad now everytime I buy a pack of cigarettes. So, the crummy lifestyle habits have always been w/me regardless of the medication, I guess in my earlier post I was hoping someone would come in and say This is your medication, not you! Go on Topomax at once!
I wish! I'd like to ask my doc to put me on it but he knows I want to lose weight and won't hold w/that motivation.
Funny but I can ruminate over problems for hours and just posting them on the board jumpstarts my brain into thinking differently about them, sometimes even before reading a response. Anybody else got that going on, I wonder?
trouble
Posted by geno on March 11, 2002, at 17:20:00
In reply to Re: Topamax or Gabitril, posted by trouble on March 10, 2002, at 23:42:23
Im not familiar with topamax, but ill tell you gabatril is a nightmare. My doc put me on gabartril to lower my benzo dosing. When i got up to 8mg, i had nasty side effects, dysphoria, detached feelings, numbing of the mouth, panic. I dumped it. 4mg didnt do anything. I guess its only good for people with epilepsy. I took 12mg once and seemed that i had epilepsy!!!!!
Im now on klonopin 1mg a day, and .5mg of xanax for panic attacts. Works great
geno
Posted by Elayne on March 11, 2002, at 20:26:47
In reply to Re: Topamax or Gabitril, posted by Bekka H. on March 10, 2002, at 22:07:32
> What is Gabatril? I'm not familiar with it. Is it a mood stabilizer or an antidepressant?
It's actually an anticonvulsant (like Topamax and Lamictal) that neurologists use to treat epilepsy. Psychiatrists have used it recently as a mood stabilizer, but there's not a lot of info out there on how well it works or what its side effects are like. That's why I wanted to ask you guys.
Posted by Elayne on March 11, 2002, at 20:35:07
In reply to Re: Topamax or Gabitril, posted by trouble on March 10, 2002, at 23:42:23
Hi trouble,
It sounds as if a lot is going on with you right now. And sometimes putting it in writing can be very illuminating. Please make sure you keep your appointment with your pdoc and keep working on getting your life moving the way you want it to. Be well.
Posted by Elayne on March 11, 2002, at 20:39:05
In reply to Re: Topamax or Gabitril, posted by geno on March 11, 2002, at 17:20:00
Hmm... that's not making Gabitril sound so great. Glad you did find a combination that's helping though. Thanks.
Posted by JohnX2 on March 12, 2002, at 0:27:12
In reply to Topamax or Gabitril, posted by Elayne on March 10, 2002, at 16:34:27
Hi Elayne,Just thought I'd given you a dash of Topamax
success...Looks like your thread is pooping on this.For what it is worth, I've been on the med at 400 mg (upper bound)
for close to 3 months with no real nagging side effects.-John
> Has anyone been on Topamax for more than a year and continued to feel ok and not had serious vision or cognitive problems?
>
> What about Gabitril for a mood stabilizer? Any experiences with it?
Posted by JohnX2 on March 12, 2002, at 0:31:19
In reply to Re: Topamax or Gabitril » Elayne, posted by JohnX2 on March 12, 2002, at 0:27:12
>
> Hi Elayne,
>
> Just thought I'd given you a dash of Topamax
> success...Looks like your thread is pooping on this.
>
> For what it is worth, I've been on the med at 400 mg (upper bound)
> for close to 3 months with no real nagging side effects.oh yeah, it does live up to its reputation of
really killing my appetite. It doesn't make
me nauseas, I just don't feel hungry! Yet I enjoy
food when I eat i! Some people complain about the
taste of food, but I don't.>
> -John
>
>
>
> > Has anyone been on Topamax for more than a year and continued to feel ok and not had serious vision or cognitive problems?
> >
> > What about Gabitril for a mood stabilizer? Any experiences with it?
Posted by Elayne on March 12, 2002, at 1:52:20
In reply to Re: Topamax or Gabitril, posted by JohnX2 on March 12, 2002, at 0:31:19
Hi John,
It's good to hear that you've been ok on Topamax, even at the high end of the dosage range -- and that its appetite-suppressing effect acts so benignly on you.thanks for writing. I hope you continue to do well.
Elayne
This is the end of the thread.
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