Topomax is my godsend drug. Without it I have absolutely no mood stabilization. Have been on 200 mg am and pm for about 2 years now which have been the most stable-for me-in a long time. I still cycle up and down but with all my other treatment stratagies and plans in force plus my other bipolar meds of Celexa 60mg and Vistaril at HS (like super Bendadryl plus I have year round allergies so its a good pick for me) but the peaks are less painful and out of control.

The depression, which has always been my worst, is still dark and deep and often prolonged especially in the winter months.

For me, the side effect of weight loss is such a plus. All my other meds had just piled and piled on the pounds so this was elating to see some of come off with work and Topomax.

Hope this helps someone.

I\'m on the wagon for Topamax. I had tried numerous meds and several of them put tons of weight on me. Some of them caused horrible side effects. And there were some of them that just didn\'t even do anything. This is the first one that I noticed that I actually feel something on and that is NORMAL.

Now the side effects at first were scary and I was just about to stop it all together but the benefits of the med totally outweigh the negatives now. The worst side effect that has stayed though that the doctors don\'t really tell you about is that you can\'t drink carbonated drinks after you start taking Topamax. They will taste absolutely horrible from now on. Plus side effect ~ weight loss just in 6 months I\'ve lost nearly 40lbs and counting with my target goals being another 10lbs. Woohoo!!!! Biggest side effect for me though-----I\'m finally stable now.


This is the first time in my life that I can say that I can walk amongst the real world and not have a panic attack, just out of the blue, I can tell when I\'m actually sad for a real reason and it\'s not a bout of depression coming on, and I can go shopping and have a list and not fear that I\'m going to go bankrupt. It\'s amazing.

Hi I am new to the community. When I saw this discussion on Topomax I just had to jump in.
I have been on Topomax for 4yrs now and it has been the best mood stabilizer I have taken yet. I have been on them all and for various reasons have had to come off them over the yrs. I am also on other meds along with the topomax.
I have Bipolar with schizo effective disorder which is not uncommon but not diagnosed as often. It has taken me many treatments and Doctors to be correctly diagnosed. I have had 27 ECT treatments in the mid 80s when they were different and have suffered severe long term memory loss and before that and after that till I met the Doc I have the treatments of meds and hospitals were like prison for me.
I live each day thankfully for Topomax but mostly for what I have learned from the past 6 yrs from some wonderful people in therapy and especially my Doc. I do have slight highs but only due to peri menopause but suffer lows with the seasons and too much stress. I do have a wonderful support system and skills that keep me going. I have learned to live with the illness and not fight it.
Now all we need is for the FDA to accept it as a mood stabilizer for mental illness so insurance will be kinder in paying for it. It just takes so long and its all politics. That is why a lot of Docs wont use it. So people need to ask for it.

Great to hear everyones experience
As many of you know it is approved for migraine/headache prophylaxis so thats a nice benefit it you are on it for another reason...have you all experienced the somnolence (feeling sleepy)-- that is why some of my patients who are on it...have to stop...but Im encouraged by your stories.
Dr O.

I also suffered from migraines which was one of the reasons why I asked for Topomax. I was sitting at my primary care docs office one day with a severe migraine and he suggested I mention Topomax to my pysch. dr. Get two birds with one stone.

Needless to say, I haven\'t had one migraine in over 6 months. Woohoo!!!!! Forgot to mention that in my other message b/c I just don\'t think about them anymore since I don\'t have them anymore.

Great news for you!
hey...get on the migraine community because someone posted a ? about topamax for migraines...you can share your experience
dr o.

I started topamax for degenerative disc disease stiff neck and occipatal neuralgia and find it does calm me and evens my moods. My neurologist was happy to know that i was also having that effect as well. I also notice pain relief from lamictal and i don't need the neurontin much anymore,

This is very interesting...I have been taking 400 mg of topomax for years...over 4 I am sure...anyway...I asked my doc on Monday...what it does..or why am I taking it..and he said to keep my weight down...I had no idea it was a mood stabilizer or that it helped with migraines..I guess my headaches from hell must not be migraines...seems like the headaches and joint pain all started after the lithium but the doc said that isn't possible.

A question to any of you out there who are taking TOPAMAX on a daily basis:

Does it have a side effect to give you ....how should I put it.......A weird
taste in your mouth all the time???

I was told that I should get & wear a "MEDICAL ID BRACELET ALERT" becuz I'm taking TOPAMAX. Not only my doctor told me that but my pharmacy & hospital told me the samething as well.It even said so in Medical Books too. Not a bad idea...never know when it may come in handy to save your life one day!!!

Yes I agree, I take the omega 3-6-9 and it works wonderful..

And I thought she was fake! She never comes out when I need help!

What'up Dr. O! Oh, it's Doug that's why you posted. Grrrrrrrrrr

Topamax works well. I have no side effects. I hardly know I'm taking it!

I requested Topomax to counteract the weight gain of Seroquel. Pdoc had no prob with that.
I have a problem now that nothing tastes the way it should, so I dropped the Topomax for about a month now......it was NOT the culprit. Will be starting it again soon.