TOPAMAX FOR TREATING BIPOLAR DISORDER

HELLO
I AM DIAGNOSTED FOR MANY YEARS WITH BIPOLAR AND DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS AND AFTER I COULDN'T TAKE ANYMORE LYTHIUM , I AM TAKING NOW FOR MANY YEARS TEGRETOL 800MG AND ELATROL.
LATELY I WAS ADVICED TO TAKE TOPAMAX - THE PSYCHIATRIST SAID IT MAY HELP TO MY KIND OF BIPOLAR DISORDER. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IN MY COUNTRY TOPAMAX IS USED UNTIL NOW FOR NEUROLOGICAL NEEDS ONLY
AND BECAUSE OF INSURANCE MATTERS, I CAN ONLY GET 75 MG OF TOPAMAX A DAY - PLUS - TEGRETOL AS MUCH AS I NEED.
MY QUESTION IS : CAN THIS KIND OF DRUG COMBINATION [TOPAMAX + TEGRETOL] - BE EFFECTIVE FOR BIPOLAR DISORDER - AT LEAST UNTIL I GET ALL THE TOPAMAX I NEED ? AND ALSO : WHAT IS THE MINIMAL AMOUNT OF TOPAMAX THAT IS NEEDED [WITHOUT TEGRETOL]- FOR TREATING BIPOLAR DISORDER.

THANK YOU
SHULAMIT

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

There is no official dosage schedule for the use you described but itis used for this purpose more often on a case by case basis. MOst of the time people start with dosage as low as 25 mg and go up, so you might be just fine with 75mg.   In any case it has to be done on a step by step basis.

[desertsky]

I have been on Topomax (topamax) for 9 days and I am losing weight but am concerned that I am more forgetful and have a harder time concentrating. I have read that it may cause cognitive dullling. Is this true of all anti-seizure meds, or a specific side effect to Topomax (topamax)? Any other comments on Topomax (topamax)???