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Topamax New User - Advice Please

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Migraine Headache
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Posted 9/14/2011 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
I am new to this site - but I've been creeping for a while blush I have been on Topamax for a month now, and I noticed on the website that it says to give it a few months to see lasting results, and I just wanted people's opinions on this drug?

I tried amitriptalyene (sp) at 10 and 25 mg to no avail, they just ended up making me a crying mess, incredibly dizzy and very prone to vomiting. I then increased my Zoloft to 100 mg a day (have been on 50 for years for neurocardiogenic syncope) and that seemed to lessen the time my migraine attacks lasted, but wasn't preventing them, so now we have stayed at Zoloft 100 and 25 daily of Topamax. I have noticed that I do not get dailies, but I am still having to use Imitrex 3 times a week. I've also noticed if I don't get to the Imitrex, usually if I lay down or put pressure on the left side of my head by my temple, after an hour or so I can function.

Good news is since the Topamax I haven't had any stay in bed all day migraines, but I am still getting them. No nausea like before, and no vomiting - which is such a huge step for me - but I was hoping that this would be a magic pill that cured me from the get go. I used to ride horses twice a week for almost 20 years, and the last few months as my migraines have been getting worse and we've been trying medicines, I have been afraid to get on a horse, lest an attack come on fast and I hurt myself. I guess the fear of getting a migraine is almost as bad as getting one.

Anyways = to the people Topamax has helped, did you notice a difference between month one and month two? The side effects for me have been mild enough compared to others I've been on that I am hopeful this drug is for me. I am very sensitive to medicine - can't even take a children's benadryl without falling almost instantly asleep - so I am very happy we are keeping me at the lowest dose.

Thanks so much for reading!!! Appreciate any advice.
Posted 9/16/2011 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
Yes within a couple months I went from 14-16 migraines a month to 3-4. After that I was able to find my triggers and I hardly get a migraine now.

How I found my triggers is I wrote a migraine diary.... when, what i ate and drank and would put when my migraine started

a couple weeks later i'd look for common factors Ie; migraine starting after breakfast and always haveing a cup of cofffee so I'd cut out the coffee for a few weeks and see if it helped. If it didnt i'd re enter the coffee and see if it was something else.
Posted 9/16/2011 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much - I notice my triggers are mainly weather and sleep related now, which is much easier than having food triggers. Stress - of course - but that is something that we never can control. I am just happy that I seem to be improving daily, even if it is small steps at a time.
Posted 9/18/2011 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
I still have migraines on the Topamax as well but fewer than before and less severe I think. I have been taking it about 4 or 5 months 50 mgs. My main triggers are hormonal and stress. I have given up chocolate and artificial sweeteners as well. The stress is hard to get rid of but the hormonal migraines are less frequent I think. There are certain meds that always trigger a migraine if I take them and it doesn't stop those. i have to weigh the benefit with the down side. Luckily Maxalt usually will get rid of my headache. I think if I find a new job my headaches will become even less frequent ;)
Posted 9/21/2011 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hey!!! ....Topamax has been god send for me... I have been a migraine sufferer for 6 years now and have been on Topamax since begining April 2011. No matter what people may say about the medication, it has changed my life. I have no more migraines at all. I am a University student, work and have internships... and have absolutely no problem concentrating through that. The only side effect for me were weight loss (which I did not want), pops are flat and also I am a bit more energetic than before. Like SmurfyShadow I figured what might triggers were as well... Good luck to you... and also the first two weeks on Topamax are actually quite hard...but after all falls into place, trust me.
K
Posted 9/21/2011 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks - this is week 5 for me and I still feel a little, just, weird, so I am hoping that I will feel back to normal soon. I have noticed that fried food tastes awful to me which is a good thing. No weight loss yet, but I can stand to lose a little. I am having less of the night jitters and it's easier to fall asleep now as long as I actually am tired.
Posted 9/22/2011 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,

Topamax for me was also taken with Imitrex and Maxalt as needed. The Topamax took about 2-3 weeks to really do some good. I lost a lot of weight and hair. wWhen I stopped taking it for some reason I had a seizure. Never had a seizure before. Physician not quite sure if it was other meds or stress induced. It's all a mystery. My whole health -life issues are a mystery. But anyway, Topamax is a heaven send, less migraines and I can now pinpoint my triggers. I also took Pepsid with Topamax to help with nausea. Follow the medication regimen strictly and keep your neuro abreast of everything. Keep a journal.
Posted 9/22/2011 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
WELL MY FIRST VISIT TO THE NEOROLOGY THEY GIVE ME THE TOPAMAX AND THEN THEY SENT ME TO MRI I WENT FOR THE RESULTS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY FOUND WHITE SPOTS ON MY BRAIN I ASKED WHAT THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN THEY TOLD ME THAT IS A BLOOD CELL THAT DAMAGE YOUR BRAIN ON THE LONG WEEKEND I THINK I HAVE A SEIZURE THEY ALREADY SENT ME TO GET BLOOD TEST DONE I HOPE THIS IS NOTHING SERIOUS I HAVE TWO LITTLE ONES AND I GOING THRU A LOT RIGHT NOW THIS IS THE LAST THING I NEED IN MY LIFE.
Posted 9/25/2011 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
White spots could mean nothing - they told me they thought I had some years ago and that I had - drs words - MS and to find myself a neurologist. Turns out it was nothing - had all the tests done and everything. I ended up having neurocardiogenic syncope - but then my migraines were totally unrelated to that.

Good luck!!

What dosage are all of you on? I am on 25 and am wondering if/when I should increase??
Posted 9/27/2011 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there,
I don't believe that 25mg is considered a therapeutic dose, but you did mention that you are very sensitive to drugs so I'm sure that your MD has a plan. In general it gets tapered up until you find a dose that is right for you (reducing migraines without causing bothersome side effects). I was on 100mg/day in split doses for a long time, and that dose worked will for me. I did lose about 10 pounds initially, and also lost hair like someone said below. But it worked well to reduce frequency and severity of my attacks. I just don't like taking medication of any kind of I can avoid it! Like others said, finding triggers is really important, and any preventative med will work better if you do your part to avoid those.
Good luck!
Posted 9/27/2011 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
What is considered a therapeutic dose then? I can't go to my doctor all the time because I have no insurance and am also between jobs, so it's been more of a call in situation. I am getting about one migraine a week now as opposed to almost one a day, so I am thinking it's helping a lot. I get the numbness in my fingers at night and I can't sleep, but I also read on the "official" website that it takes about 2 months for your body to adjust to the meds as well. When I do get a migraine, Imitrex does the same thing that lying down for an hour does, so I have been lying down instead of taking the Imitrex, because that drug - ick.
Posted 9/29/2011 7:28 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on it now for 16 months. I take 125mg, split 50mg AM,75mg PM. It did take me a few months at my current dose to get the full effect, but I started seeing some positive results once I hit 75mg. It was a gradual decline in the quantity of migraines though, not overnight. And yes, a definite difference between the first month and the second month. Between month one and month 3 when I hit the dose I am still on, I went from having some level of migraine pain on a daily basis and severe migraines that left me in bed completely disabled 3-4 days per week to having 3 or less per month, and the severity of the pain has been significantly reduced when I do get them. Most of the side effects warned about didn't start until I hit 75mg and after a few months, most of them went away. The only thing I can really say that still lingers is a complete aversion to carbonated beverages.

I take Maxalt for my breakthrough migraines, and now that I am on the topamax I can usually take 1/2 of a 10mg maxalt and have the pain go away.

I believe 100mg is considered to be the therapeutic dose for migraine treatment.
Posted 10/12/2011 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
I just started Topomax 2 days ago. The finger tingling is driving me crazy!
Posted 10/15/2011 9:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I have been on Topamax since Middle of July and I am taking 400mg (200mg in am and 200mg in pm) it along with all my other med have been working great to help with my migraines. I havent found anyone else that has been at such a high dose but I did find online that high of a dose is usually given to seizure paitents, so I am not sure why my neuro has me at that high of a dose I have never had seizures before.

Along with the topamax I take..

am meds

200 mg Topamax

150 mg Effexer ex

20 mg Adderall ex

pm meds

200 mg Topamax

10 mg Flexeril

Neuro has also taken me off all forms of caffiene says that is causing my migraines also. So now my migraines have went from having them 95% of the time to probably 25% or less and alot less severe.

 

Posted 10/21/2011 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
My doctor increased my generic Topamax to 100Mg in the AM and 100 Mg in the PM. I take Propranolol 20 Mg two times daily for migraines and hypertension. I also take Naratriptan tab 2.5 Mg as need for migraine. Sinse increasing of the Topamax, I have not had a migraine sinse Julu 27th!!! My MD switched me to Naratriptan because it works for about 72 hours. Imitrex only worked about 7-12 hour for me. For just a headache I take Tylenol Arthritis Pain caps (2) 650 Mg each. I can't take aspirin. I also rub peppermint oil on my forehead, back of my neck, & inside of my nose. It helps!
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