Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome For traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post concussion syndrome (PCS).


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Old 08-01-2013, 01:05 PM #1
rob_d87 rob_d87 is offline
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rob_d87 rob_d87 is offline
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Default Dopamine is a good thing?

I've been wondering about this for a while since i started taking Topiramate for headache management. Topiramate is a known dopamine antagonist and for what i've read, that might be a bad thing.

From what i understand, dopamine enhances brain function and recovery after injury (among many other things) So it wouldn't be a good idea to continue taking a medication that blocks it.

I'm at the mid point of a one year treatment with topiramate but I'm already feeling a lot better and i would like to suggest to my neurologist to start tapering it off but I'd appreciate your advice before. Thanks!
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Old 08-02-2013, 12:31 AM #2
Mokey Mokey is offline
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I am taking Amantadine to increase the dopamine. It is an important neurtransmitter and is often affected by brain injury. It can help with fatigue, motivation, energy, etc. I thinkmit may have helped me endure noisier environments.

I would be leery of taking something that reduced my dopamine levels.
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What happened: Legs pulled forward by a parent's hockey stick while resting at the side of the rink at a family skate....sent me straight back. I hit the back of my head (with helmet) on the ice, bounced a few times, unconscious for a few minutes. September 11, 2011. Off work since then…I work part-time at home when I can. It has been hell but slowly feeling better (when I am alone☺).

Current symptoms: Vision problems (but 20/20 in each eye alone!) – convergence insufficiency – horizontal and vertical (heterophoria), problems with tracking and saccades, peripheral vision problems, eyes see different colour tints; tinnitus 24/7 both ears; hyperacusis (noise filter gone!), labyrinthian (inner ear) concussion, vestibular dysfunction (dizzy, bedspins, need to look down when walking); partial loss of sense of smell; electric shocks through head when doing too much; headaches; emotional lability; memory blanks; difficulty concentrating. I still can’t go into busy, noisy places. Fatigue. Executive functioning was affected – multi-tasking, planning, motivation. Slight aphasia. Shooting pain up neck and limited mobility at neck. Otherwise lucky!

Current treatments: Vestibular therapy, Vision therapy, amantadine (100 mg a day), acupuncture and physiotherapy for neck, slow return to exercise, magnesium, resveratrol, omega 3 fish oils, vitamins D, B and multi. Optimism and perserverance.
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rob_d87 (08-02-2013)
Old 08-02-2013, 11:51 AM #3
rob_d87 rob_d87 is offline
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Amantadine? I just did a quick search through the local drug store website and it appears as a a cough treatment. Is it an off-label use?


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Originally Posted by Mokey View Post
I am taking Amantadine to increase the dopamine. It is an important neurtransmitter and is often affected by brain injury. It can help with fatigue, motivation, energy, etc. I thinkmit may have helped me endure noisier environments.

I would be leery of taking something that reduced my dopamine levels.
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