Topamax/Lamotrigine Side Effects

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-28-2003
Topamax/Lamotrigine Side Effects
2
Thu, 05-19-2005 - 3:05am

I've been on Topamax and Lamotrigine for 6 weeks now and I've been slowly increaseing the dosage. The current dosage is Topamax 100mg twice a day (200mg total), and I just increased the Lamotrigine to 100mg today. The other meds I'm on are Concerta, Effexor XR, and the Birth Control patch. But the Topamax and Lamotrigine are the only new ones, the other ones I have been on for a while. Anyhow, back to my point, the side effects, I get alot of headaches, I don't sleep proper....I either sleep for 13 or 14 hours at a time and absolutely nothing will wake me, or I sleep for 4 or 5 hours and am awake every half hour. And my biggest concern is I can't eat. Thinking about eating, or trying to eat makes me really nauseous and I just can't do it, and the little bit I do force myself to eat makes me feel even worse and more uncomfortable. I've lost 20lbs in 5 weeks. And I really don't think the medication is making much of a difference, my mom doesn't even see much of a change in my moods with the meds, but the doctor wanted me to continue to increase them.

Ok, I'm done complaining. I was just wondering if anyone has had these side effects with these meds and what they did, or if anyone has any advice other that eat....I am so tired of people tell me "just eat, you need to eat, it's not healthy to not eat".....I'm not stupid, I know that, and I can feel what it is doing to my body! Sorry....I wasn't yelling at anyone in particular, I'm just so frustrated

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 05-19-2005 - 9:12am

Hi and welcome!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-17-2003
Thu, 05-19-2005 - 12:01pm
Well, the Topamax is probably what's causing the appetite issues and weight loss- Topamax is notorious for causing weight loss. I *like* that side effect of it, but I'm not getting the nausea with it either- that would probably change my mind real quick if I was! I will say that I do not think that Topamax is quite as effective as the Depakote I was on before was (I went off Depakote due to weight gain). So I'm not surprised to hear that it's not really working for someone. You're on a good bit more Topamax than I am, too, so it's no wonder that you're getting more negative side effects. I'd go back and gently-but-firmly tell your doctor that you're not happy with it. Sometimes you kind of have to put your foot down with them, sad to say.
UCAUTIONIN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY IT IS ADVISABLE TO KEEP ERIN AWAY FROM FIRE AND FLAMES.
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