Coming off of Topamax
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May 19, 2009 - 7:20 pm
Hello all,
I've got a couple of things going on here... so hang with me for a minute.
First, I am a bariatric patient. I had weight loss surgery (a lap band) 5 years ago. So, when my Pdoc put me on Seroquel, we were both very concerned with the potential weight gain. I didn't have weight loss surgery just to have a psych med help put it all back on me. Thankfully, my Pdoc agreed. So, once I was stable on Seroquel for mood and sleep, he added Topamax purely for the weight management aspect of that medication. Oh sure, Topamax has some nice mood stabilizing properties... but, it was clear that I was taking it because a side effect is often weight loss. It has helped some, but not significantly. I have gained a modest amount of weight on the Seroquel in the last two years.
Topamax also has some significant other side effects. First, there are the cognitive things... forgetting names, losing words in the middle of sentences, some loss of concentration, and other annoying little quirks. Topamax can also cause dry mouth and overheating during exercise. THEN, there are the digestive side effects. It can contribute to constipation.
Due to a 10+ year history of chronic constipation that has been getting much worse in recent years with serious bloating, cramps and unbelievable lower abdominal pain, I have been going through an evaluation with a G.I. doc. The results of that eval is that I am going to have to have a large section of my colon removed. Not the outcome I expected. I'm "only" 47. These kinds of problems seem to be for people MUCH older than me... lol
Anyway, my Pdoc has decided to take me off the Topamax for two reasons. First, he doesn't want anything in my med list that is "optional" to bother my digestive system. Second, we're just not sure that it has been doing any good, anyway. It is much too problematic of a medication to be messing with if you're not seeing a genuine benefit.
He has begun to titrate me down, 50 mgs per 10 days. He doesn't want to cause me to have withdrawal seizures. So, we'll see how it goes. I'm nervous about coming off it. I mean, what if it was helping with appetite suppression more than I realized? The weight is a big deal. For the first time in my life, I'm a "normal" size. I'm also very aware that we're doing a wise thing here. My colon needs to be in the best shape possible for this surgery, and I don't need ANYTHING going on that will slow down my digestion after this surgery. I will need to heal.
Just wanted to share. Thanks for listening.
Be well,
Jules
I've got a couple of things going on here... so hang with me for a minute.
First, I am a bariatric patient. I had weight loss surgery (a lap band) 5 years ago. So, when my Pdoc put me on Seroquel, we were both very concerned with the potential weight gain. I didn't have weight loss surgery just to have a psych med help put it all back on me. Thankfully, my Pdoc agreed. So, once I was stable on Seroquel for mood and sleep, he added Topamax purely for the weight management aspect of that medication. Oh sure, Topamax has some nice mood stabilizing properties... but, it was clear that I was taking it because a side effect is often weight loss. It has helped some, but not significantly. I have gained a modest amount of weight on the Seroquel in the last two years.
Topamax also has some significant other side effects. First, there are the cognitive things... forgetting names, losing words in the middle of sentences, some loss of concentration, and other annoying little quirks. Topamax can also cause dry mouth and overheating during exercise. THEN, there are the digestive side effects. It can contribute to constipation.
Due to a 10+ year history of chronic constipation that has been getting much worse in recent years with serious bloating, cramps and unbelievable lower abdominal pain, I have been going through an evaluation with a G.I. doc. The results of that eval is that I am going to have to have a large section of my colon removed. Not the outcome I expected. I'm "only" 47. These kinds of problems seem to be for people MUCH older than me... lol
Anyway, my Pdoc has decided to take me off the Topamax for two reasons. First, he doesn't want anything in my med list that is "optional" to bother my digestive system. Second, we're just not sure that it has been doing any good, anyway. It is much too problematic of a medication to be messing with if you're not seeing a genuine benefit.
He has begun to titrate me down, 50 mgs per 10 days. He doesn't want to cause me to have withdrawal seizures. So, we'll see how it goes. I'm nervous about coming off it. I mean, what if it was helping with appetite suppression more than I realized? The weight is a big deal. For the first time in my life, I'm a "normal" size. I'm also very aware that we're doing a wise thing here. My colon needs to be in the best shape possible for this surgery, and I don't need ANYTHING going on that will slow down my digestion after this surgery. I will need to heal.
Just wanted to share. Thanks for listening.
Be well,
Jules
Hello all,
I've got a couple of things going on here... so hang with me for a minute.
First, I am a bariatric patient. I had weight loss surgery (a lap band) 5 years ago. So, when my Pdoc put me on Seroquel, we were both very concerned with the potential weight gain. I didn't have weight loss surgery just to have a psych med help put it all back on me. Thankfully, my Pdoc agreed. So, once I was stable on Seroquel for mood and sleep, he added Topamax purely for the weight management aspect of that medication. Oh sure, Topamax has some nice mood stabilizing properties... but, it was clear that I was taking it because a side effect is often weight loss. It has helped some, but not significantly. I have gained a modest amount of weight on the Seroquel in the last two years.
Topamax also has some significant other side effects. First, there are the cognitive things... forgetting names, losing words in the middle of sentences, some loss of concentration, and other annoying little quirks. Topamax can also cause dry mouth and overheating during exercise. THEN, there are the digestive side effects. It can contribute to constipation.
Due to a 10+ year history of chronic constipation that has been getting much worse in recent years with serious bloating, cramps and unbelievable lower abdominal pain, I have been going through an evaluation with a G.I. doc. The results of that eval is that I am going to have to have a large section of my colon removed. Not the outcome I expected. I'm "only" 47. These kinds of problems seem to be for people MUCH older than me... lol
Anyway, my Pdoc has decided to take me off the Topamax for two reasons. First, he doesn't want anything in my med list that is "optional" to bother my digestive system. Second, we're just not sure that it has been doing any good, anyway. It is much too problematic of a medication to be messing with if you're not seeing a genuine benefit.
He has begun to titrate me down, 50 mgs per 10 days. He doesn't want to cause me to have withdrawal seizures. So, we'll see how it goes. I'm nervous about coming off it. I mean, what if it was helping with appetite suppression more than I realized? The weight is a big deal. For the first time in my life, I'm a "normal" size. I'm also very aware that we're doing a wise thing here. My colon needs to be in the best shape possible for this surgery, and I don't need ANYTHING going on that will slow down my digestion after this surgery. I will need to heal.
Just wanted to share. Thanks for listening.
Be well,
Jules
I've got a couple of things going on here... so hang with me for a minute.
First, I am a bariatric patient. I had weight loss surgery (a lap band) 5 years ago. So, when my Pdoc put me on Seroquel, we were both very concerned with the potential weight gain. I didn't have weight loss surgery just to have a psych med help put it all back on me. Thankfully, my Pdoc agreed. So, once I was stable on Seroquel for mood and sleep, he added Topamax purely for the weight management aspect of that medication. Oh sure, Topamax has some nice mood stabilizing properties... but, it was clear that I was taking it because a side effect is often weight loss. It has helped some, but not significantly. I have gained a modest amount of weight on the Seroquel in the last two years.
Topamax also has some significant other side effects. First, there are the cognitive things... forgetting names, losing words in the middle of sentences, some loss of concentration, and other annoying little quirks. Topamax can also cause dry mouth and overheating during exercise. THEN, there are the digestive side effects. It can contribute to constipation.
Due to a 10+ year history of chronic constipation that has been getting much worse in recent years with serious bloating, cramps and unbelievable lower abdominal pain, I have been going through an evaluation with a G.I. doc. The results of that eval is that I am going to have to have a large section of my colon removed. Not the outcome I expected. I'm "only" 47. These kinds of problems seem to be for people MUCH older than me... lol
Anyway, my Pdoc has decided to take me off the Topamax for two reasons. First, he doesn't want anything in my med list that is "optional" to bother my digestive system. Second, we're just not sure that it has been doing any good, anyway. It is much too problematic of a medication to be messing with if you're not seeing a genuine benefit.
He has begun to titrate me down, 50 mgs per 10 days. He doesn't want to cause me to have withdrawal seizures. So, we'll see how it goes. I'm nervous about coming off it. I mean, what if it was helping with appetite suppression more than I realized? The weight is a big deal. For the first time in my life, I'm a "normal" size. I'm also very aware that we're doing a wise thing here. My colon needs to be in the best shape possible for this surgery, and I don't need ANYTHING going on that will slow down my digestion after this surgery. I will need to heal.
Just wanted to share. Thanks for listening.
Be well,
Jules
Joined: 10-30-2007