Topamax -- Good or Bad???

I have some information I would ask you to definitely consider. Ok here goes I was on Depakote for 4 years, I had put on good amount of weight so I decided to change medications to Topamax. I had headaches, but I did lose a nice amount of weight. After a couple of months and the Depakote was out of my system, I started to get really depressed. So I was put on Zoloft, the Dr. started to add all sort of different medications. Basically I was on 6 different medications at one time. I have come back to the Depakote. I have been seizure free since I have been titrating back to a dosage of that and my memory is better. If you really want to be on the topomax, or the Depakote was that bad there is a possibility that you could take a smaller dosage of that and have good effects. I guess in the end it is up to you and your Neuro.

I have been on topamax for about 5 months now after being on tegretol XR for 4 years prior to it... I made the switch because I gained 60lbs while on tegretol and no matter what I tried I could not lose the weight... my doctor suggested I try topamax... At first topamax was tiring... my mind was foggy, I had word search problems, I suffered from nausea after I got up to about 125 mg (and I am now on 200mg/day)no matter what I ate... BUT... when I reached my final dose and switched from taking 8 - 25mg pills total (to make a total of 200mg) per day to instead taking 2 - 100mg per day it all changed, honestly I think the pills were geting into my system too fast... I feel much more leveled out now. I have lost 35lbs and have anoth 25 or 30 I'd love to lose but I'd say if your doctor feels it would work for you try it... but like everyone else has said "results may vary" so everyones experience is different... I hated it... now I am ok with it... it controls my seizures and that is most important. (btw my seizure types are:nocturnal grand mals and simple partial seizures in my left hand and arm) Sorry for the long reply. good luck, let us know how it goes! Kristin