Topamax Depression Side Effects
The most common side effect of topamax antidepressants is depression. Topamax depression can occur within one hour after taking the drug or up to two weeks later. Some symptoms include: loss of appetite, insomnia, feeling restless, decreased libido, fatigue and weight gain. These are just some of the possible side effects that may happen with topiramate antidepressants.
What Are the Symptoms of Depression?
Depression is a very common condition. There are many reasons why someone might experience depression. One reason could be due to the fact that they have suffered from depression before. Another reason could be because their life situation has changed and they no longer feel happy or fulfilled in their current lifestyle. A third reason could be due to other medical conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc., which affect moods and emotions.
How Long Does Topamax Work For Anxiety?
When it comes to depression, there are different types of medications available. They all work differently and each person will respond differently to them. Some of these drugs include:
Amitriptyline (Elavil) – Amitriptyline works best when taken every day for at least three months. It helps in reducing depressive episodes and improves sleep quality.
Desipramine (Norpramin) – Desipramine is an older antidepressant that is helpful in relieving pain, but it can take up to three weeks before its therapeutic effect occurs.
Fluoxetine (Prozac) – This medication is used for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder, but also helps relieve symptoms of depression.
Imipramine (Tofranil) – Imipramine is another older drug that is still used for treating depression.
Paroxetine (Paxil) – Paroxetine is in a class of drugs called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This means it slows the reabsorption (reuptake) of the “feel good” chemical serotonin in the brain. It is also used for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and panic attacks.
Tranylcypromine (Parnate) – This drug blocks the removal (metabolism) of the “feel good” neurotransmitter norepinephrine in the brain. It should be noted that this drug has a high risk for abuse and can cause severe complications with eating, extreme sleepiness or agitation.
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) – These drugs include amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others. They also help block the reuptake of serotonin, but they also affect other chemicals in the brain. These are usually used when other antidepressants haven’t worked.
How Long Does It Take For Topamax To Work For Bipolar Disorder?
When it comes to bipolar disorder, finding the right medication is very important. There are many types of bipolar disorder and different types of medication are used to treat each one. Certain types of medications are used specifically for manic episodes, while other drugs are used for depressive episodes. Some medications can be used for preventing the symptoms from coming back and are known as long-term treatments.
Does Topamax Get You High?
If you are looking for a recreational drug that will get you “high,” Topamax is not the answer. This drug is not used for this purpose and there is no evidence that it gets you “high.” If you are taking this medication for the treatment of seizures, then it should not be combined with other drugs that have a tendency to cause euphoria or otherwise alter your consciousness.
Does It Cause Weight Loss?
Some people may lose weight while taking this medication. Other people may not experience any change in their weight while taking it. This is something you should talk to your doctor about, if this is a concern for you.
Is It Addictive?
This drug has not been shown to be physically addictive, but you still should always take it exactly how your doctor tells you to. Don’t suddenly stop taking it without speaking to your physician first, as this could cause some withdrawal symptoms.
Does It Cause Secrecy?
Some people may become a little more withdrawn or private while taking this medication, but this is a common side effect of most anti-seizure drugs. If you start feeling this way while taking the drug, talk to your doctor about it to see if there is another medication that might work better for you.
Does It Cause Memory Loss?
Some people experience memory loss while taking this drug. Again, this could be a sign that it is not the best treatment for you. It also may be something that can be managed with proper lifestyle alterations and possibly a change in medication.
Can You Take Topamax With Other Drugs?
This is a common question for many prescription drugs.
How will this drug interact with another prescription or over the counter medicine that I’m taking?
Since you are taking this drug for seizures, it is best to check with your physician before taking any additional medicines, over the counter or otherwise. Even some herbal supplements can interact with anti-seizure drugs and cause problems.
If you do take more than one medication, be sure to let your doctor know exactly what you are taking both over the counter and by prescription. This will help your physician keep you safe and ensure that you are getting the proper treatment for your condition.
Does Topamax Cause Weight Gain?
Some people experience weight gain while taking this medication. Most of the time, this is simply because people are not as active while they are on the drug. This lack of activity can lead to weight gain even if you’re eating the same that you always have. If you experience weight gain while taking this medication, try to stay as active as you normally would and monitor your eating habits.
Does It Cause Hair Loss?
Some people experience hair loss while taking this medication. If you are experiencing hair loss, let your doctor know and see if there is anything that can be done about it. In some cases, the hair will eventually grow back again and in other cases, it won’t.
Does Topamax Cause Confusion?
Confusion is a potential side effect of any drug, including Topamax. If you experience confusion while taking this drug, let your physician know immediately. If the problem continues or gets worse, you may need to stop taking the medication to see if that is contributing to the problem.
Does It Cause Liver Problems?
The liver is responsible for removing toxins from the body and breaking down a lot of different drugs. For some people, this drug is just too much for their livers to process properly. If you experience any kind of liver problems while taking this medication, let your physician know immediately. You may need to stop taking the drug altogether and if that’s the case, your physician may have you take something else to prevent your seizures instead.
Does It Cause Drowsiness?
Some people experience drowsiness while taking this medication. This is especially true in higher doses. If this is a problem for you, you might want to stay away from driving or operating heavy machinery.
Is Topamax Addictive?
No, this drug is not addictive. There is no euphoria associated with taking this medication so there’s no desire to take more of it to try to increase that feeling. However, if you stop taking the drug altogether you are at a higher risk of having a seizure due to your condition. You may need to talk to your physician about weaning off of this medicine instead of stopping it suddenly if you choose to do that.
Does It Cause Dry Mouth?
A dry mouth is a very common side effect of this medication. Drinking more water and chewing sugar-free gum can help. If the problem persists, talk to your physician or dentist about it.
Does It Cause Confusion?
As with many seizure medicines, confusion is a potential side effect of this medication. If you experience confusion, let your physician know immediately. You might need to have your dosage adjusted or you might need to try a different treatment altogether.
Does It Cause Diarrhea?
Diarrhea is another fairly common side effect of this drug. This is due to the way that it interferes with something called GABA in the brain. In addition to causing seizures, this drug can also cause a condition called temporal lobe syndrome. In some people, this syndrome can cause a range of psychiatric problems including depression, anxiety and mood swings. If you experience diarrhea during treatment with this drug, let your physician know. He or she may be able to change up your dosage to help this problem. However, diarrhea isn’t a common side effect of this medication and most people don’t experience it at all.
Does It Cause Nausea?
Just like diarrhea, nausea is also not a very common problem with this medicine. Most people experience it during the first two weeks of treatment and then it goes away. If you are experiencing nausea as a side effect, talk to your physician about changing up your dosage or changing your dosing schedule.
What If The Medication Doesn’t Work?
Some people just do not respond well to this drug. There are a lot of factors that can contribute to this problem. It could be due to your particular medical condition or even a genetic factor. If the drug isn’t working for you, your physician may try you on something else if he or she thinks that the problem is caused by the medication itself.
If your physician thinks that the problem is with your condition or its management, you might be recommended to see a neurologist who can give you a second opinion. Alternatively, you may need to try something more invasive like surgery or a special diet.
What Else Should I Know?
There are some other things that you should keep in mind when taking this medication. First of all, don’t stop taking it suddenly. Most seizure medications work by manipulating something in the brain called GABA. This medication does the same thing but in a slightly different way. If you stop taking this drug suddenly, your brain will start reverting back to its previous state and you’ll be at an increased risk of having a seizure. Talk to your physician if you want to stop taking this medicine. He or she will instruct you on the best way to do so.
Secondly, don’t take any other medicine or supplements without first talking to your physician. There are a lot of drugs and supplements that can react with this medication and cause serious complications. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Finally, make sure that you stick to the diet that your physician has given you. You’ll need to keep a detailed food diary and give it to him or her on your follow-up visits. If you have any questions about the diet, don’t be afraid to ask. Your physician needs to know exactly what you’re eating in order to adjust your medication properly.
If you’d like more information on this medication, here is some additional information that can help you:
Brand Name: Keppra; generic name: levetiracetam
Common Side Effects: Dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue and weakness
Drug Interactions: Don’t take Keppra if you’re also taking Zidovudine (Retrovir), Mexiletine (Mexitil), Carbamazepine (Tegretol), Phenobarbital, Phenytoin (Dilantin) or Primidone (Mysoline). You should also avoid combining it with Acetazolamide (Diamox), Divalproex (Depakote), Felbamate (Felbatol), Valproic Acid (Depakene) or Mephenytoin (Tegretol).
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Edited by Vinsky, 25 May 2014 – 05:42 PM.
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