Topamax Side effects!!!

Treatments, Rehabilitation, and Recovery
ubpnmoderator5@yahoo.com
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2004 4:04 pm

Re: Topamax Side effects!!!

Post by ubpnmoderator5@yahoo.com »

NOTE FROM THE UBPN BOARD MODERATORS

This thread is closed to any future posting all posts after this date will be deleted.
The subject of this thread does not meet our Mission Statement.

We wish to help you find the support you need.
Here are some sites dedicated to topomax...

http://p217.ezboard.com/bthetopamaxtrip

http://www.topamax.com/patients/index.htm

http://remedyfind.com/rem.asp?ID=5536

http://www.topamax.com/news/index.htm
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 19873
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:59 pm

Re: Topamax Side effects!!!

Post by admin »

I have been on Topamax for 1 year now and I am up to 200 mg. I started at 50 and went up slowly. I have very complicated migraines with stroke like symptoms. I lose my speech and vision and my arm goes numb. Topamax helps me not have them as often. However it also makes me never want to eat and gives me some heart trouble.

Anne
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 19873
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:59 pm

Re: Topamax Side effects!!!

Post by admin »

I have been on this med since lst Sept. started at 25mg now at 100mg BID (twice a day) I have lost 61 pounds and have only had one migraine. The side effects take about 6-8 weeks to go away, but my feet will still go numb every now and then. Memory loss (short term) is a problem but I am dealing with it. I now am dealing with severe pain in my legs mostly upper thighs - can't figure out if this is related yet. Stay with the the dosage and increase slowly. Migraine free is beautiful!!
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 19873
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:59 pm

Re: Topamax Side effects!!!

Post by admin »

I have been on wellbutrin for a long time and topamax for about a month and i am taking 75mg a day. i was supposed to be taking 100mg, but taking the second dose of 50mg was too much and i felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest and my eyes were going to bulge out of my head. i still feel like i have heartburn and i'm not as hungry as i was before i started taking the topamax, but i can't have an orgasm anymore. i am taking the medications for borderline personality disorder, not a seizure problem, and so i am a little worried about the side effects vs the pros. the effects on my birth control scare me as well. is my nurse practitioner as informed as she should be?
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 19873
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:59 pm

Re: Topamax Side effects!!!

Post by admin »

Hi,
Iv'e been taking Topmax for over 2 1/2 yrs for cluster &migraine headaches. I did have a few months ago some kidney work up done for some other reasons and my kidneys came out super clean blood work and had a Cat scan done too, no problems due to the Topamax from what I can figure out for the kidneys. Hope this helps, I do have lots of other problems with topamax but so far not the kidneys.
Karen McClune
Posts: 746
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2003 4:58 pm

Re: Topamax Side effects!!!

Post by Karen McClune »

NOTE FROM THE UBPN BOARD MODERATORS

This thread is closed to any future posting all posts after this date will be deleted.
The subject of this thread does not meet our Mission Statement.

We wish to help you find the support you need.
Here are some sites dedicated to topomax...

http://p217.ezboard.com/bthetopamaxtrip

http://www.topamax.com/patients/index.htm

http://remedyfind.com/rem.asp?ID=5536

http://www.topamax.com/news/index.htm

admin
Site Admin
Posts: 19873
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:59 pm

Re: Topamax Side effects!!!

Post by admin »

I have been off Topamax for 2 years - after having taken it for about 4 months. My eyes had begun to hurt, my migraines increased, not only in number but in severity. My doctor took me off the medication immediately when the symtoms began and advised me that the eyes would get better. I have been suffering these past two years with constant eye pain. They treated me first for vertigo and when that cleared up and the eyes didn't improve they sent me to an specialist who could fine only that my peripheral vision has deteriorated and the muscles in my eyes are deteriorating. I am still under his care and will get final results on 9-16-04. I truly feel that the damage has been from taking topamax.
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 19873
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:59 pm

Re: Topamax Side effects!!!

Post by admin »

I was taking wellbutrin and topamax together and yes I had the same problem, however I had an allergic reaction to it HIVES and also joint swelling and horrible pain. Also had a nasty case of conjuntivitis. BAD stuff. Not sure if it was the combo of the two or just the topamax. It really worked great for my headaches too.
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 19873
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:59 pm

Re: Topamax Side effects!!!

Post by admin »

Denise, you seem to be one of very view who found the concentration effects rather troubling, as did I. I have been on Tegretol 400mg & Lithium 300mg both twice daily for years for migraine prophylaxis. My neurologist wanted to add Topamax at bedtime to this regimen. The dose he had hoped I would work up to was 200mg! I have managed to tolerate my present meds fine but upon trying Topamax, I embarked on a rollercoaster ride which the neurologist could never have prepared me for. Just with the 25mg added, I found that after 3 days, I was absolutely in-the-bag tired, could not concentrate worth crap, and also exhibited all the adverse effects the manufacturer's literature mentions--difficulty thinking,trouble coming up with a particular word you're thinking of,forgetfullness,and worse. I work in a computer-driven environment where I am required to make critical decisions quickly and repeatedly over the course of my work day. Topamax literally turned me into a blithering idiot with no mental retention ability left. I desperately wanted to keep on with the trial as I realize many adverse reactions fade over the course of treatment, but I could ill afford to risk my 15 year job in hopes of merely improving my migraine outlook, as much as I had hoped that Topamax would be THE silver billet for me. So, after the 3 day trial, I had no alternative but to go back to my old preventative regimen. At least the Tegretol/Lithium combination had more than cut the number of attacks in half, not to mention reducing the severity of the attacks in general. Currently, I only get perhaps one intractable attack per month, which I have learned to live with. Hope this is of some help or comfort to you. I appreciate your comments. Good luck, Craig in Canada.
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 19873
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:59 pm

Re: Very Scary Issue for Me

Post by admin »

I had a scary expeience on topamax and marijuana. I thought i was dying and I ended up in hospital dehydrated. NEVER EVER mix thos two to anyone who reads this.
Locked