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charity	Aug-15-05, 02:30 PM (CMT)
"Topamax Side Effects"
Forgive me if this subject has already been explored. I want to know who is using Topamax, if you like it or not and what side effects you have. I will begin with me. I have only been taking it about nine days but I notice that it has decreased the frequency of the migraines and chronic daily headaches. (I will also post more after about a month of use.) But, I have suffered horrible insomnia, some loss of appetite (I wish there was more), bad constipation, lack of concentration, cannot taste soft drinks (they have a metalic or flat taste), imbalance and a sense of tiredness and malaise all the time. Is this a tradeoff from the headaches? I guess so. If it means that I don't get the migraines, well then I guess I could live with these side effects. Right?
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trade-off, shelllauren, Aug-15-05, (1) RE: trade-off, kaykels, Aug-15-05, (2) RE: Topamax Side Effects, clover, Aug-15-05, (3) RE: Topamax Side Effects, jessipo, Aug-15-05, (4) RE: Topamax Side Effects, Richard, Aug-15-05, (5) RE: Topamax Side Effects, cinjan@bitstream.net, Aug-15-05, (6) RE: Topamax Side Effects, Kathy W., Aug-15-05, (7) RE: Topamax Side Effects, deb26, Aug-15-05, (8) Re: , eskeen, Aug-15-05, (9) RE: Topamax Side Effects, Bure, Aug-15-05, (10) RE: Topamax Side Effects, charity, Aug-17-05, (11)

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Messages in this topic

shelllauren	Aug-15-05, 02:34 PM (CMT)
1. "trade-off"
Hi Charity, I'm glad the Topamax is helping you. I think you're right...it seems to be a trade-off. Migraine or fatigue seems to be the most commom side effect of alot of these drugs. My neuro changed me today to 80 mg Inderal and 20 mg Nortripyline. I tried Topomax but felt really, really, weirded out on it. I wish you well, Shelly
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	kaykels	Aug-15-05, 03:29 PM (CMT)
	2. "RE: trade-off"
	Good luck with the Topomax. It's a rough drug and I had a lot of trouble. I REALLY wanted it to work. I lasted 3 weeks and I think I had every side effect there was. I couldn't think straight, I had auto-immune problems and the worst problem was I had burning and itching under my skin, all over my body. It wasn't a good trade. I've been off of it for over a month and it's not out of my system yet. I can tell because soda still tastes bitter. I hope it works for you. I had insomnia from it too. It also causes hair loss in a lot of people. It's a nasty drug, but I personally know of a few people that said it changed their lives. It's just not meant for EVERYBODY. Hope it's your magic bullet.
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clover	Aug-15-05, 04:05 PM (CMT)
3. "RE: Topamax Side Effects"
For many people, the side effects decrease in severity as their bodies adjust to being on Topamax. This doesn't always happen, of course, but the side effects might be better a month from now. -Kerrie --- http://www.thedailyheadache.com
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jessipo	Aug-15-05, 04:12 PM (CMT)
4. "RE: Topamax Side Effects"
I don't take Topomax, but I thought I might be able to help you out a little bit. Here are a couple of things that may help with the constipation: 2 tbs of Milk of Magnesia (MOM),daily, start with this and you should notice a difference in two days if it's going to work on it's own; drink a cup of soy milk each day (they have lots of flavors now, so it's easier to palate); and if those don't work, ask your doc for a prescription of Miralax, but only do that if you can't tolerate the otc stuff like citrucel, etc. All the otc laxatives give me cramps, (I've tried every single one!), so I use the miralax and it works like a charm. Also, I don't know if you can get a prescription for zelnorm if you don't have IBS w/constipation, but it wouldn't hurt to ask. It works really great. I hope this can help some. I'm glad your head is feeling a little better. Jessi http://migraineforefront.blogspot.com/
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	Richard	Aug-15-05, 04:50 PM (CMT)
	5. "RE: Topamax Side Effects"
	I am glad you are seeing good results from Topomax so quickly. My neurologist told me it would take eight (8) weeks before I would see any positive results. He was correct. I got the bitter soda taste and some other side effects ... but they passed in a few weeks. I take 100 mg in the morning and another 100 mg at night. Hang In There! Tieni Duro! Non Mollare! Tiens Bon! Ne Laches Pas! Richard
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	cinjan@bitstream.net	Aug-15-05, 07:14 PM (CMT)
	6. "RE: Topamax Side Effects"
	I think I'm a little freaky. I had no side effects until a doctor really pushed the dose, and I got kind of stupid. But when I backed it down some, I was fine again. As to whether it helps...it's actually a little hard for me to say, but I haven't wanted to chance things without it, because other preventatives so clearly did not. Good luck. Cindy
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Kathy W.	Aug-15-05, 07:18 PM (CMT)
7. "RE: Topamax Side Effects"
Hi. Topamax helped with my migraines but I had very uncomfortable side effects and I was on a low dose. I had tingling sensations in my hands and feet but that was something I could deal with. I had SEVERE pain in my teeth and my gums bled on contact. The pain was so bad I had great difficulty chewing. As a result I didn't eat much and lost weight ( weight loss seems to be a side effect with this drug but I didn't lose any weight until my teeth started hurting so much). I also has difficulty concentrating and was sooooooo irritable and just plain nasty as times. That is not like me at all (well maybe it is sometimes LOL!). My menstrual cycle was irregular and I felt very uneasy, like I was on guard on all the time waiting for someone to jump out at me. I really felt nutso on it. I stuck it out for 6 months and finally gave up. Unfortunately my migraines came back about 2 months after I stopped taking it. I am hoping to try another preventive when I see my new dr. It's really frustrating when you find something that helps but you're not able to tolerate the side effects. Perhaps after being on it for awhile, your side effects will lessen. I hope so since it helps you. Let us know how it goes. Kathy
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	deb26	Aug-15-05, 07:43 PM (CMT)
	8. "RE: Topamax Side Effects"
	My daughter was on topamax for less then a week before she had to stop. the worst side effect was shortness of breath. The doctor told me it would be out of her system in 48 hours but she seemed to still have side effect for the next month both cognative and weight loss. Deb
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eskeen	Aug-15-05, 09:50 PM (CMT)
9. "Re: "
I've been on it since mid May, when I was diagnosed with my migraines. I would say it has helped mine to some degree, and yes, I unfortunately also have side effects as well. I was started out slowly at 25mg and instructed to take one tablet for seven days and then increase one tablet each week until I reached my maximum dosage of 100mg and continue on this. Unfortunately this changed somewhat when I wound up in the ER May 22 with my one and only---so far---migraine-related ER visit. I was instructed at that visit to start taking 50mg and resume my scheduled dosage from there on out. July 20 I had my first post-migraine diagnosis appointment with a first year adult neurology resident---what a joke that was but that's ALL I'll say about that---and she titrated me up to 150mg. I am still at 100mg and tomorrow I finish up a 9 day supply---LONG story, which I won't go into either---and I start on my 150mg regimen Wednesday. I take it once a day---at bedtime and since I don't go to bed until anywhere from 10 PM-after midnight, I still try and get all my medications taken before 1 AM. Sounds weird, but that's just me. My 150mg regimen will consist of one 100mg tablet and one 50mg tablet; originally I was supposed to have one 100mg tablet and two 25mg tablets but my mail order pharmacy--Caremark--called the adult neurology resident and confirmed with her that a switch was necessary or whatever. Go figure...I'm happy/fine with it though. One less pill to take...I also take diabetes medications so that makes it just a tad bit easier. Lastly, I am a rebounder---my medications are in my profile, but I'll list them anyway---or so she says. Abortives: Maxalt-10mg each non-melt Frova-2.5mg each for menstrual migraines--prescribed on July 20, received August 12, and took the first time on that day; went one full day without a headache--the next day Preventive: Topamax-150mg at bedtime Muscle Relaxant/"Other": Zanaflex-4mg, but I get the generic Tizanidine because it's cheaper Diabetes medications: Metformin: 500mg each-2: AM, 3: PM Glyburide: 5mg each-judge according to blood sugar readings but usually the maximum of 4 a day--2: AM, 2: PM Erin P.S. I also suffer SEVERE side effects regarding the Topamax---SEVERE numbness/tingling in ALL extremities EVERY single day, but with also being diabetic, I've been told that is also already a possibility---I was diagnosed August 3, 2004, that was from my family physician and before I was put on Topamax and before I had my second brain surgery which was in May; also, somewhat "severe" short-term memory problems--i.e. memory fog or whatever you want to call it. It's VERY, VERY frustrating, especially as someone who has had short-term memory problems for years now--due to a neurological condition, and also the fact that I am young AND a nursing student, etc. I'm beside myself...anyway, I don't get/never had the metallic tastes or whatnot. I did have the appetite issues---lack of appetite/appetite supression/etc., as well as weight loss, and that lasted a few weeks, I found that a "plus" though. There again though, I'd just had brain surgery and had a VERY difficult time with that issue, more difficulty with that surgery than my previous brain surgery which had taken place just three weeks earlier. Some do...I'm already an insomniac and have been since the age of 13 so...can't blame my insomnia on the Topamax, but I can blame the fact that it worsened/seemed to have worsened since I was "officially" diagnosed. Finally, another forum I'm on---related STRICTLY to my hydrocephalus, which is my neurological condition---there's another young woman who dubbed Topamax "Dopamax" as she said it made her "dopey". I remember telling her that on here, it had been dubbed "Stupimax". We both got a laugh out of each remark. It's unfortunate though, and some doctors will tell patients of this side effect, as well as others and well...others...won't. Some won't tell of ANY of the side effects, or of ANY medications for that matter. 22y/o "former" 30 wker(2#2oz., 10 1/4" long), Grade III IVH(brain bleed), hydrocephalus as a result, 12 surgeries, last revision 4/20/05, MIGRAINES dx'd 5/13/05--as result of the April surgery *AND* one I had May 10, RN student, Dad passed away 10/3/03 @ 48y/o...
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Bure	Aug-15-05, 10:25 PM (CMT)
10. "RE: Topamax Side Effects"
I took topomax for about 3 months at a fairly low dose. While I didn’t get the tingling or burning sensation at all I did lose my ability to read. And of course the extreme lethargy, but I work varying shifts so I’m always tired anyway. My Dr took me off of it as soon as I mentioned not being able to read. Cause that’s a huge sign that’s something is wrong with me. The loss of apatite was so bad I was not eating enough to have the energy to get out of bed. That was not so good. I did loose weight but put it right back on as soon as I started eating because I was totally out of the habit of any kind of exercise. A week after I stopped I was amazed at how much clearer my head was, and my chronic headache wasn’t any worse.
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	charity	Aug-17-05, 09:57 AM (CMT)
	11. "RE: Topamax Side Effects"
	Thanks everyone. I will let you know how it goes.
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