Expert: Joyce A. Anthony - 6/26/2008

Question
That's not really a question is it?
I'm 26 , I've been pretty successful so far, but it's been difficult and very stressful at times in my life. I've recently with the suggestions and support of my loving partner gone for some help and been diagnosed with Bipolar..rapid cycling...possible ADD(WHEN i WAS A KID?) an eating disorder(bulimia) has been caught up along the way...and ticks like hair pulling and touching, zoning out in general etc
Im in a foreign country so help has not been easy to get, Im here for a while...at least another year. Anyway..to get to the main point of what I'm trying to ask you:
my medication was Dopamine 200mg for one week but is totally boshed me and I couldn't do anything and Im really really active and it made me eat like a pig and throw up even more so I changed to Topomax which was 100mg for a week and now has been 125mg's for 2weeks. It's been brill...but for some moody spells. Ive reduced my obsessive food/diet thinking and vomiting by at least 85% which is great, Im eating normally, Im calmer...a bit spaced out...but Im getting a bit TOO zoned out and spacey at times..headaches sometimes...achey joints and muscles feel tight...I feel pretty depressed at times too, quite hopeless. A bit panic struck.sometimes I wander if now that Im not fixated on eating/vomiting/dieting cycles, I have that empty space and it's causing me to feel insecure so I could fill it will something great and wonderful like more martial arts practise or meditation or painting or reading or playing...
are these topomax side effects likely to go away after a couple more weeks...or lessen? Also what dosage should I expect to go up to? He said about increasing. Also...this doctor is JUST a prescribing doctor...i need to be talking things out too not just reading books and self study/help about BPD. Im moving to a big city in a few weeks when there is an excellent therapist who can help me in terms of chatting about ways I can help myself because Im intelligent enough to have gotten this far in life so I'm sure I can keep going!!
I just feel, had I had gotten a diagnosis earlier in my life, school, university, grad school...everything would have been easier...I would have been nicer to myself, I wouldn't have been so horrible and puzzled by my behaviour!
Can you give me any good book names, web pages...anything where I can learn, see, chat, what about topomax...
thanks, what your doing is so nice and helpful..I hope I can do the same some day when I know a little more.
Best wishes
Om

Answer
Hi Kayte:

Any time a person first receives a diagnosis, they become scared.  What you are going through is a normal reaction.  I am glad you are going to have a talk therapist, as that will help the fear problem and help you learn how to function with your disorder.  You need to remember--you did well before the diagnosis, you'll do even better now! Once you make the move, also inquire about local support groups.

In the meantime, go to
http://groups.yahoo.com/
and put "bipolar" in the search box.  It will bring up a long list of support groups.  You may have to try a few, but one will fit with your needs.

These two websites:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
http://www.bipolarworld.net/
will give you much information about living with bipolar disorder.

Finally, give the Topomax another two weeks.  After that, any side effects should lessen or completely disappear.  If they remain troublesome after that time period, let your prescribing doctor know and see if it can be changed.  The optimal dosage is 400 mg a day, but this can vary depending on your needs.

You are very welcome, Kayte.  I am sure you will one day be able to do the same.  If you have other questions, please feel free to ask.

                        Joyce A. Anthony