Is it safe to take Topamax & Marijuana together & should a Schizophrenic take Topamax for cravings?
Question posted by tila on 20 March 2011
Last updated on 28 February 2022 by Daphalanche03
8 Answers
I just recently started Topamax, because lithium was not a safe prescription drug for me anymore. I was hospitalized due to this and when i got out i smoked immediately. I had asked my Psychiatrist if they knew if they were any side effects beforehand, but they just told me they didn’t know. After just five minutes, i started to lose all feeling in my hands and lips. I dissociated my entire body, had conversations with myself as if i were multiple different people, hallucinated moving shadows, became very anxious, and when i looked over at my dog from the corner of my eye, his face started to shift weirdly. I have never had a negative high like that before. I was completely paralyzed for over 2 hours. I had decided the next morning that maybe, i just needed to micro dose. I took one hit and the same thing happened. I haven’t smoked in over like 2 months now, because its not safe for me to do so. I was kind of hoping that i would find some information about it. Part of me still wants too, but i know i can’t and shouldn’t.
Technically for your health unless you suffer heart issues it is fine. However beware of these awful side effects. I blacked out and then when I woke back up I forgot who I was and everything I've ever learned in my life. But it all flooded back at once. I had to remember everything like the word sleep, who I was, names, what a pickachu was, my cat, my boyfriend, events of the day, where I was, and then I realized my heart was beating extremely fast and then I couldn't speak my body wouldn't let it happen until I got my breath back and then my speech was impaired. It was spaced out almost like a computer was speaking so I just couldn't process it to get it out. And then my body started "seizing" but the hospital said it wasn't a seizure because I was alert through it all and I didnt pee myself or bite my tongue off but I had no control over my body and every muscle was spasming and I could feel every single one.
My eyes rolled in the back of my head and were twitching but I could still answer the questions for my boyfriend and 911. Eventually it stopped after about 3-5 minutes. And then I felt fine except for the fact that my nerves felt like they were on fire and tingling everywhere. And my heart rate was elevated and some in and out confusion. The hospital said it was just anxiety but after doing some research as a psychology student its not just anxiety and come to find out its not. Its actually an interaction between topamax/topiramate and marijuana consumption because topamax is a neurotransmitter and thc mimics the chemical anandamide which affects brain communication. So your brain becomes flooded with thc and anandamide which then causes topamax/topiramate to run rampage on your nerves which sends your nervous system and hence forth your body into shock. Hence the lack of speech, lack of breathing, elevated heart rate, spasms, and even memory loss.
I suffer migraines, multiple sclerosis, asthma, anxiety, and depression. And many stomach acid issues.
I did it just yesterday. THE WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. I lost touch with reality, I felt like I was constantly falling through dimensions. I saw my whole life flashing in front of my eyes. I felt like nothing was real. "How is any of this real? All these objects, all these people, everything. It's just an illusion." I heard Einstein telling me: “The distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion”. At some moment I felt like I was doing astral projection. One moment I started randomly laughing, it got more and more intense (u can only imagine how creepy it looked) until I couldn't even breathe because my brain found something extremely funny. My friend thought I was possessed (I had the same feeling). Also, I broke his bong. oops..
I kept doing the same movement over and over like thousands of times until I was in so much pain and I couldn't breathe anymore. I felt every emotion possible. It seemed like days were passing by seconds. I collapsed a lot. Anyways a horrible experience.
I have been on Topiramate (Topamax) for Bipolar for a few months now and I’ve been a smoker (only smoking Indica) for a few years and never had a bad reaction. It’s actually helped a lot more with my moods and keeps them stable.
I do believe that everyone reacts differently though
Dr just prescribed Topamax to me. Says to Not Use Marijuana. Why?
I recently had a patient who was on topamax and took edibles to help her sleep after a long bout of insomnia. She went into an uncontrollable panic and wasn't able to walk on her own. Lasted several hours but managed to recover after treatment for the panic. This is my only experience with this combo that I'm aware of, and from this my conclusion is that it remains risky at best.
I would not do this. I am an occasional smoker, however last time I smoked was this first time I was on Topomax and smoking at the same time. DO NOT DO THIS. I had a really bad reaction where it was like I was having a seizure except I was aware for most of it. I was shaking really bad, couldn't stand, couldn't talk and it lasted a really long time. Maybe an hour? I don't know. I eventually just passed out and woke up the next day. I've read a lot about others having bad reactions but basically its really risky and I wouldn't.
I am not schizophrenic, but I am epileptic and do take both topamax and marijuana together for my adult onset seizures I have. I am now fully medicated on the topamax (ie, I am "ramped up" to the full dose I am to take).
The side effects of the topamax are difficult to deal with right now. The main ones that are affecting me include (but are not limited to) the following:
numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, sometimes in the lips
slowed reactions
speech problems, especially difficulty thinking of specific words
memory problems in general
confusion
nervousness/anxiety
difficulty urinating
Of course, marijuana has its own list of side effects, and most of them are quite similar to the list above. I had been self medicating with this drug for years prior to being medicated with prescription meds, so I have had time to adjust to its side effects. Ironically, just because the side effects are the same for topamax as they are for marijuana does not mean that the side effects are easy for me to deal with on that drug. Psychotropic drugs are difficult to handle no matter how they effect you.
To sum up, I have a feeling that the results will be similar, but there won't be too many doctors here who can give a good answer to you. The sad answer is that there is not enough studies done to have answer here to a good satisfaction. Side effects are hit and miss, and mixing two psychotropic drugs can be hit or miss regardless, but having said that, marijuana generally speaking is not a drug that mixes bad with other drugs (again, generally speaking).
Speaking of schizophrenia, I am not sure. Side effects would be different, and therefore the end results would be different. I would be frank and honest with your health care provider. If your desire for the marijuana is for health, your health care provider should be onboard for this. Ask them. If they don't know, explain you wish to add it as a medicine for a specific reason and you want them to observe for intended results.
Related topics
topamax, interaction, marijuana
Further information
- Topamax uses and safety info
- Topamax prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Topamax (detailed)
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