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Re: Switching from Depakote to Topamax? opinions pleaseee!

Submitted by K_K on Wed, 2009-10-14 - 04:47

My doctor added Topamax to my medication several years ago, but I am no longer taking it. 

I was about 30 then, and in the best shape of my life....until the Topamax. I never exercised consistently from the moment I started taking it. I was too tired ALL the time. I dropped 40 lbs within months and at one point ended up at less than 100 lbs. I had no desire to eat. (Another weird thing was that for years I swear I didn't dream!)

I've always taken Tegretol (carbamazepine)...but the combination of Tegretol & Topamax made me lose words like crazy. I'd forget the name of common items, but only while speaking. My train of thought slowed considerably and I eventually felt stupid. I think this was because I was so tired. It was like I was trying to function normally in the world while taking sleeping pills all day. Honestly....if I sat still, I drifted off to sleep.

My opinion of Topamax? The only benefit I received was the weight loss, which never came back when I went off the meds. It was awful and embarrassing to sound slow and fall asleep in my chair all the time. 

If you try it, pay attention to how it makes you feel physically. If you feel the same as I did, don't wait years for the doctor to decide to change the meds. Talk to him. You are young & sleeping all day is no way to spend your teen years.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Re: Switching from Depakote to Topamax? opinions pleaseee!

Submitted by teener on Sun, 2009-10-18 - 09:52

When I was first put on topamax, I did loose a lot of weight, and my grades slipped....ALOT. Failed 2 midterms, ended up squeezing by with straight C's that semester. Went off the topamax, took tegretol instead. Next 3 semesters, 4.0. However, topamax is a good drug, it works different on different people.

All the best, Christine

Re: Switching from Depakote to Topamax? opinions pleaseee!

Submitted by lisacollins1997 on Sun, 2009-11-01 - 13:38

My son started on Keppra. It made him very aggressive and even more hyperactive than usual. It was the wrong med for his type of seizures. Eventually, they added Topamax, which helped with the aggression and hyperactivity. Now he's on Topamax and Depakote. He's gained about 12 lbs in 6 weeks on Depakote. The Topamax does mess up your cognitive thinking and reasoning skills. Our son has no short term memory and math is so hard for him. Fortunately, I homeschool him, so we are able to work at his skill level and pace. Public school may be harder. We are going to ask our doc about weening him off of it at our next appt. Just try it and if the side effects are too severe, there are plenty of other options. Praying for you...