"i took topamax for 12 years as a mood stabilizer for bipolar 1 disorder. it is a great mood stabilizer and i used to be quite heavy and i lost 100 pounds in around 6 months (yes you read that right!). the bad part was horrible side effects. constant itching in the summer. i developed a 9mm kidney stone when i had no prior history. i developed a blood disorder (something acidosis, was told this was a rare side effect, but that was why i stopped taking it. however, if i could go back in time would i still take it? you bet! one of the best mood stabilizers i&#039;ve ever been on. just make sure you eat when taking it, it makes you not want to eat."