Is there clinical evidence that the new mood stabilizer Topamax causes weight loss?
A. Studies of Topamax in people with seizures or mood disorders have demonstrated that 20 to 50 percent lose a significant amount of weight. Topamax is the first mood stabilizer that has weight loss as a possible side effect. Q.Is an MAOI patch in the pipeline? What are its advantages? A. MAO inhibitors taken by mouth require that a diet be modified to prevent the interaction between the drug and foods rich in tyramine such as red wine and cheese. Such interactions can lead to dangerous increases in blood pressure. If MAO inhibitors could be absorbed through a patch, there would be no need for food restrictions. While such patches have been used experimentally, it is not clear how effective they will be for depression. Q. I have been diagnosed as being in an episode of “Bipolar Depression.” I have had hypomanic episodes in the past, and now I am too depressed to work. My doctor says I have to “tough out” my depression, because he believes any anti-depressant I might take may push me in
