Depakote vs Topamax

[ameller]

Hello and thank you for reading my post. I started depakote two months ago for anger management and mood swings. I really love it, but have already gained 7 lbs. I just lost 35 before I started these pills and I really don't want to gain anymore. My doctor recommended switching me to Topamax. After reading about it, it seems like it is more for depression. I am not depressed at all. Just get real bitchy, real quick. LOL. Anyway, can anyone tell me if you have experienced good results on Topamax for the same issues? Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. I am just really not sure if I should switch or just stay on the depakote and deal with the weight.

[ana2004shs]

I recently broke up from a relationship with my babys father n i were attemptin to work things out. There is a big question as to who needs help in my point of view. In his point of view he has no kind of problem. I can accept that i may need help im just not sure where ? i dont know if im bipolar or have self-esteem issues or just ADD ? Everytime my boyfriend n i disagreed on something i felt as if i coulndt speak up at all because he would completely blow up on me with a bad temper. He never attempted to hit me he hit the walls and threw things like a maniac it was as if he was a completely different guy. He said i was a crazy ***** because i didnt feel comfortable with him being too close to another female which i knew was trying to hit on him...also not only that when i got really frustrated inside because he was not trying to be there for his son, he got so angry saying mean things that just put me down. im not goin to lie but a few times i did go off on him because he put me down like that..i felt i was becoming the girl that would take **** and not say anything... i did it to avoid arguments and because i love him but one day he completely blew up on me and in front of the baby i told him the babys here why are u acting like that  no ones yelling> he just seemed to not care ...i on the other hand also got frustrated with him on different occassions because he didnt want to bring me around his friends ever since our first break up he lost control n pushed me away so he started yelling at me and i slapped him i felt i had to slap him out of it! then when i was pregnant he said he would take me so together we would buy baby stuff but he never kalled to say anything and i called his fone n he turned it off and i had to kall angry to his friends fone and got even more upset to hear he was around girls at a skate park with the guys...yes i ended up cussing at his friend so that was two years ago and this year he just didnt want to tell his friends he was back with me only one knew we would hang out.. but he never wanted to bring baby n i around him...so i felt angry and mad ..and when i questioned him he would lie about where he waas and if he was with girls then he would even get upset if i drove wrong...some one help

[stacielr]

I have suffered the weight gain problem but on Lithium.  I love all the other results of Lithium as a mood stabilizer but it made me gain 30lbs and I could never lose the weight and I really tried with dieting and exercise when I never did either prior to being on Lithium so I know it was the cause.  My current doctor has put me on Topamax to prevent the weight gain. I've only been taking it about 3 weeks now and I'm at 100mg/day. I've already lost 10lbs .  I see how it helps with weightloss, it kills your appetite when you're not feeling nauseaus. I don't have memory loss side effect but the confusion, word loss, vision and clumsiness is something that affects me and my work which is of most concern.  I also have joint pain which is a lesser common side effect. I'd like to know if anyone has gotten over the side effects and can share what side effects you had and how long before  it went away for you.  

[LeftCoastChick]

A lot of times people emotionally eat, the drug itself doesn't cause the weight gain. If you are vigilant with your diet, you won't gain the weight. I gained a little when I started Lamictal and Seroquel, but for the most part, I stay away from sweets and my emotiona eating like I used to do. Actually after 3 months on Lamictal, I dropped a bit of weight because I didn't need to emotionally eat. Depakote for many works exceedingly well, so personally if you are able to tolerate it, stick with it, and watch your processed food intakes including take-out foods.

[syddiesmom]

I have been on both Depakote and Topamax, I have gained on Depakote, but I like the way I feel on it better. With the Topamax, I had problems with word recollection, confusion and disorientation. BUT...I did not gain weight.  I had rather be chubby than on Topamax.

[RubyShooz]

I gained 30 lbs in 2 months on depakote -- doc took me off it and now on Lamictal and Lexapro.  No problems so far, I'm feeling OK, and have lost 24 lbs in 3 months, still losing weight.

[SilentRage]

Are they offering any other meds besides those too. None of them really seem to work that well for me. But in your case if depakote it working for you try to stick with it. As for topamax I had a bad experience Suffered memory loss. Did you try asking your doctor is there anything he can do for the weight gain. If there is please let me know lol