Topamax

Im new in here, Just started Topamax 25 Mg with prozac 20 MG for headaches.. working my way up. I was on this medication a few years ago and due to no health insurance I had to go off. No I have the proper insurance to start it again.  

I find this medication combination to be the best for headaches.. I have been under numerous drugs and so many doctors that it made me crazy.. From spinal taps. to cat-scans to MRI's .. They admitted me so many times.. in the past. Then I doctor gave me narcotics.. Oh boy did I love them too much I got so much involed with them that I couldnt get off of them.. Until 3 years gao when I found the right doctor who put me on this combo of topo and Prozac.. I will work through the side effects.. I was wondering if anyone else is on the same combo as me for headaches.

Love to hear from anyone.

     "A day without a headache is truly a blessing"

Nance 

I'm taking Topamax -- 100mg twice a day. I also take Elavil -- 175mg at night and Zoloft -- 100mg a day.  What side effects are you having? I've heard from others who have had crying spells with Topamax. I did, too at my present dose.That's when my doctor prescribed Zoloft. He said it's an antidepresant that is also used for migraine prevention. I still don't have good control. I know of another migrainer who's taking 200mg Topamax twice a day. When I see my doc next time, I will ask if he thinks a higher dose will help.

Nance, I know of two reasons for starting you on a low dose. (1) A low dose might work for you, and it's better if you don't need a whole lot of medicine. (2) Working up to a higher dose, slowly, helps your body get used to the medicine gradually and reduces the chance of side effects.

I'm still having daily migraines. Fortunately, most of the time I can tolerate them. Only 1 or 2 times a week do I have to resort to escaping to a dark and quiet room.

I have a question.  I am new here - 2nd day.  I would like some info on a subject and have tried twice to post a new topic.  Both times it appears to be just a posting even though I am hitting the "new topic" bar.  What am I doing wrong??

Thanks

Dan

Hi

Iam new to this site Iam glad to see Iam not alone I love being on topamax I lived with migraines for as long as I can remember so this is a life saver for me I do not like the side effects I was starting to think it was all in my head. I would like to know if anyone out there that still has break through headaches are they more powerful and do they last longer.       

carolyn

it for at least a year iam only on topamax i to have have

a resent round with depression and uncontrollable crying spells

i blamed it on the time in my life you know mid life   even though

i believe it could be the topamax i felt i was going crazy but

it only lasted about 3 weeks and things got bact to somewhat

normal.

carolyn

Carolyn (And All)

I have recently just started taking Topamax AGAIN, and I am really struggling with the side effects, as I have fallen to my worse trait...my impatience and tapered too quickly!!!

I am up to 200mg already and I have been feeling a little "off." Today is definitely one of those off days so I am trying to be very careful about what I say...to not scare anyone off or terrify someone into not trying Topamax as it can be a wonderful thing....heck, i love it so much I am taking it again...I am just too darn hardheaded to take it nice and slow like I should.

Please someone, relate here....I feel like I am in a fog...(fibro maybe contributing???) I go to say things and can't find the right words, I look at people when they are talking and it takes a minute to understand what they are saying, I am very emotional-extremely happy one minute, sad and almost crying the next and on the verge of being angry, full of energy and then exhausted....hmmm...sounds like med side effects, depression and migraine all mixed together? ha ha ha. I'm ok!

Oh, whoever asked about the eyes...I have had several medications effect my eyes as far as dryness etc. there have even been little warnings or precautions on the information sheets that you get at the pharmacy that say things like dryness may occur or that you may not be able to wear contact lenses while taking x,y,z prescriptions. Just thought I would throw my two cents in!

Sara

(Please don't make fun of this post later....ha ha ha)

Ok, That was for Sara!

I have my prescription form. Personally, the main side affect I've had with Topamax is the crying spells! Drives my husband nuts! 

As far as eye problems goes, my form says "Seek immediate medical attention if any of these RARE eye problems occur: SUDDEN vision change/blurred vision, eye pain or redness."

And "loss of appetite and weight loss may occur." is also listed. 

I had spinal surgery a few months ago. I didn't know it then, but one of my medicines caused my taste to be "off." The only things that tasted the way they were supposed to were juice and canned fruit. But, since I needed to lose some weight, and I was bedridden anyway, it wasn't a big problem. By the time I was ready to start getting up and around, I was done with that medicine and my appetite returned. But because of that experience, I can really relate to the problem of not having an appetite. My husband kept cooking, and kept trying to get me to eat, but how can you eat when nothing appeals to you?

I think a good approach would be to make sure you are consuming calorie rich foods when you DO eat. Get some high calorie shakes like you see advertised on TV. Or make your own with fresh bananas and ice cream. Try to drink a shake whenever you take your medicine. Spread a bagel with nutrition packed peanut butter. Munch on raisins, walnuts, & almonds throughout the day. Have something at your fingertips all day long.

If you don't already, start taking a good multi-vitamin. And ask your doctor for any other ideas (s)he might have. Your local community hospital might have a dietician or nutritionist who can help you also.

Keep us "posted"

~~Pegasis 

I really think you increased your dose too quickly. I know it's really hard to stay at a low dose if you're still having migraines. But going up gradually is supposed to lessen the chance of bad side effects. Many neurologists prescribe an antidepressant in addition to an anti-spasmodic. Some also prescribe a beta-blocker and/or a calcium channel blocker, two drugs whose initial speciality was for blood pressure control.  Talk to your doctor. See if (s)he thinks dose changes or additional meds might be in order.

Good luck.

~~Pegasis 

Hello Dink,

My neurologist explained that the tingling in extremities is a depletion of Potassium. He suggested eating Bananas or taking a potassium supplement if the tingling got really bad.

I think you're doing it right. Going up really slowly. I found out the hard way that increasing too fast ends up in some really adverse side effects. The neurologist originally told me to increase by 25 mg each week but that's how I got in trouble.