Posted by Lainie on April 12, 2001, at 21:30:57
In reply to Re: About to start on Topomax » Dawn Setzer, posted by phillybob on April 12, 2001, at 14:30:58
>I'm totally new to this thread and appear to have a pretty different situation from everyone who's posted since 1/4/01, which is as far back as I find available for viewing, anyway. You all appear to be taking Topamax for depression and/or bipolar and/or mood disorders (and now Dawn has added ADD to the list).
My lifelong problem is migraines, now diagnosed as rebound headaches caused by the narcotics and ergotamine suppositories my (former) neurologists have supplied me with daily for many years. I'm now (for the past three weeks) seeing an internist and clinical psych at a headache clinic here in N. CA who have had me withdraw from all rebound-causing pain meds, even OTC, and I've been off them for 7 days now, but am still "allowed" to take my Imitrex tabs up to 3 times a week (soon to be down to 2) twice a day. Don't know if you can imagine how bad the other four days of the week are.
I started on Topamax 3 wks. ago and am now up to 25 mg. AM and 50 mg. PM, have had terrible insomnia so have upped my dose of Serzone (antidepressant) from 100 mg. PM to 150 mg. PM. I also take 15 mg. Paxil (10 AM, 5 PM), 10 mg. Klonapin (5 AM, 5 PM), and 20 mg. Propranolol PM.
For the insomnia I'm taking 2 Restoril at 9 PM and 1 Sonata when I invariable wake up again at 2 or 3 or 4 AM because everything I read says I HAVE to get sleep.
Does anyone know anyone else using Topamax to prevent migraines? I know from this thread that we're supposed to get up to at least 200 mg. for it to really take effect, but if this insomnia doesn't get better I might not be able to make it that far.
I wear an ice pack as a lovely head decoration most days, take bubble baths with candles 2-3 times a day, do my relaxation in bed 2-3 times a day, and try not to do anything too taxing - all this is possible because I quit my hugely stressful job the end of September; I had to do something about the daily migraines or lose my mind or my life.
Thanks for letting me get all this off my chest. I've enjoyed reading all your experiences - you are a refreshingly literate group and you all hang in there through thick and thin - as must we all!
poster:Lainie
thread:50878
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010411/msgs/59615.html