bunnychicksf Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Hi there - I was recently diagnosed with Bipolar II, and have started on Lamictal. Currently at 50mg and titrating up slowly. I am also on Lexapro (15mg) and weaning my way down from Paxil (evil!). I had a question about your Topamax experience. I am getting headaches on Lamictal, and I have a history of chronic headaches. Also, have noticed that I'm more irritable and spending a lot more money. I've heard Topamax can help with all three of these but I'm terrified of the cognitive side effects! Can anyone tell me about their experience on Topamax at a LOW dose, like 25mg or 50mg? I've heard contradictory stuff that at a low dose, you don't become stupid :-) Thanks! Serena PS Does it cause sedation? Do you take it at night? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 It made me as dumb as a doorbell for about six weeks and then all the side effects vanished. I started at 50 mgs and am now up to 200. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamagotchi Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 I am getting headaches on Lamictal, and I have a history of chronic headaches. Also, have noticed that I'm more irritable and spending a lot more money. All of these side effects sound pretty normal to me at a low dose of Lamictal, they may all go away as you raise the dose and/or adjust to the med. Headaches are common, irritability and spending money could be related to mild hypomania which is very normal at such a low dose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddy Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 I had trouble at low doses but once I got up to 200 mg I was fine. I'm up to 400 mg per day now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 I made my husband's neurosurgeon take him of Topomax, he became a zombie. I took Zonegran, which I believe is a metabolite, and had all kinds of gastro-intestinal shit, and the stupids. My doctor wouldn't take me off it until he found out it had damaged my kidneys. Oops. And my headaches didn't stop. I am a pretty bad migraneur, and I use Lamictal, so wait until you are titrated up to decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SashaSue Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Topamax is only effective in preventing migraines, if you're having non-migraine headaches, I doubt it would be much help. The headaches you're currently having probably have to do with your lamictal titration. Give it a little while, and see if they don't get better. Topamax is rarely effective as a mood stabilizer, whatever you may have heard. I found it intolerably stupefying at every dose, personally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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