Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 9390

Shown: posts 1 to 25 of 57. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????

Posted by Terri on July 30, 1999, at 10:45:42

I would like any info I can get on topamax, I am a new user of it. I begin taking it next week. Anyone who can tell me about personal experinces, please answer this plea for help !!

 

Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????

Posted by DEBBIE on August 14, 1999, at 18:52:41

In reply to DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????, posted by Terri on July 30, 1999, at 10:45:42

> I would like any info I can get on topamax, I am a new user of it. I begin taking it next week. Anyone who can tell me about personal experinces, please answer this plea for help !!
>Get ready for the world's driest mouth! Anyway, Terri, thats the way it affects me. Besides a dry mouth, 20 to 50% of users will loose weight. And when I first started using it, liquids had an awful taste. I love soft drinks and yet they all tasted sour to me, but thankfully that did go away in time and there were a few things I could drink without the bad taste. Topamax makes me loopy, slurs my speech, but it has helped me. Overall it is not a bad drug and most people get along well with it. Good luck, Terri.

 

Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????

Posted by v on August 24, 1999, at 16:38:44

In reply to Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????, posted by DEBBIE on August 14, 1999, at 18:52:41

i don't know what dose you're on but i currently take 50mg in the evenings. is it being prescribed for your mood swings/depression? i'm under the impression it's being used for rapid cycling - at least i think that's why i'm taking it... ;)

i've also been on 150mg of egffexor xr but have recently tapered way down to 37.5mg - getting ready to stop i think. i just couldn't take the weight problems. the topamax unfortunatley had no effect on that and to be honest, it was a major reason i was willing to give it a try.

i haven't really noticed many side effects except that i seem more "stupid", which i why i have kept the dose so low

other than that, the effects seem subtle - i think it helps, yet i cannot really explain why or how... perhaps just somehow more even - although if you knew how moody i still was, that statement would make you laugh... :)

i would also appreciate any info you've been able to dig up as well. as you can see, there doesn't seem to be much on it out there

regards,
v

 

Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????

Posted by Jude on August 31, 1999, at 16:34:27

In reply to DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????, posted by Terri on July 30, 1999, at 10:45:42

> I would like any info I can get on topamax, I am a new user of it. I begin taking it next week. Anyone who can tell me about personal experinces, please answer this plea for help !!

Hello,I'm new to this particular message board,but I have had some experience with Topamax.I was placed on it when it first became available.Keep in mind that my experiences may not necessarily be your experiences.I was also on Felbatol and Klonopin.For ITLE.
I did experience a rather negative personality change according to family and friends.I basically disagreed with them and it was as if I could not see the forest from the trees.
The physiological effects I encountered were as follows.Difficutly swallowing and or choking or spasms .Increased Shortness of breath, and vocal changes.

My sense of taste was also affected but once Topamax was finally discontinued,my sense of taste improved over a period of a week or so.But during the first few dat=ys,food took on a very strong unpleasent at times,too rich and perhaps what seemed to be exacerated sense of taste.
Weight loss was also a problem,but keep in mind I was also on Felbatol,which I'm still currently on}.
I felt my worse while on hiogh doses of all three of the AED's. and was basically reduced to a vegitative state.Lethargy,poor coordination/balabnce,irritibilaty...etc.I was not a happy vegetable to say the least.
Not much was really known about potential side effects back then but I was told that other Neuro's had heard comments / reports from family members that also noted a negative personality change once Topamax was introduced.I also know individuals that have great success with Topamax and do not display any of the personality changes I had experienced.Also it might help to know that muy experiences do not necessarily going to be your experiences.We all respond differently to meds.I am also sensitive to most AED's now and can only tolorate Felbatol.Best of luck to you....Jude PS If a family member states that they see changes...trust me,they probably aren't making it up:-)...So just be aware of the POTENTIAL negative effects....

 

Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????

Posted by Jenny on April 17, 2000, at 11:49:48

In reply to Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????, posted by DEBBIE on August 14, 1999, at 18:52:41

> > I would like any info I can get on topamax, I am a new user of it. I begin taking it next week. Anyone who can tell me about personal experinces, please answer this plea for help !!
> >Get ready for the world's driest mouth! Anyway, Terri, thats the way it affects me. Besides a dry mouth, 20 to 50% of users will loose weight. And when I first started using it, liquids had an awful taste. I love soft drinks and yet they all tasted sour to me, but thankfully that did go away in time and there were a few things I could drink without the bad taste. Topamax makes me loopy, slurs my speech, but it has helped me. Overall it is not a bad drug and most people get along well with it. Good luck, Terri.

I am on a combination of Topamax, Wellbutrin, Zyprexia, and Neurontin and that combination has helped me tremendously with my manic depression. I have been on these medications now for about 6 or 7 months. The only side effects I have experiences are numbness in my feet.

 

Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????

Posted by Ginny on April 17, 2000, at 12:25:40

In reply to Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????, posted by Jenny on April 17, 2000, at 11:49:48

> > > I would like any info I can get on topamax, I am a new user of it. I begin taking it next week. Anyone who can tell me about personal experinces, please answer this plea for help !!
> > >Get ready for the world's driest mouth! Anyway, Terri, thats the way it affects me. Besides a dry mouth, 20 to 50% of users will loose weight. And when I first started using it, liquids had an awful taste. I love soft drinks and yet they all tasted sour to me, but thankfully that did go away in time and there were a few things I could drink without the bad taste. Topamax makes me loopy, slurs my speech, but it has helped me. Overall it is not a bad drug and most people get along well with it. Good luck, Terri.
>
> I am on a combination of Topamax, Wellbutrin, Zyprexia, and Neurontin and that combination has helped me tremendously with my manic depression. I have been on these medications now for about 6 or 7 months. The only side effects I have experiences are numbness in my feet.

Jenny, I have been taking Topamax for about 2 months now. I take it for migraine and every day headaches. I just saw my neurologist this morning as a matter of fact and we've decided that it's not helping me as we had hoped it would so we're going to reduced my mg back down to 100 per day and add depokote? to the topamax. Maybe that will do the trick for me, who knows. But the topamax made my hands and feet tingle. Has helped me lose a little weight, probably 8 or 9 lbs. Made me feel like a complete moron for quite a while. I work in an accounting dept so that working with numbers was quite difficult for me. I didn't have the dry mouth problem at all as mentioned above. There were times when I was completely depressed and found myself crying for no good reason. The main thing for me was the not being able to process thoughts clearly, speak clearly at times, oh, and it has also affected my vision alot. I've had to change my prescription in my glasses, and back again! Good luck to you! Ginny

 

Re: TOPAMAX different than expected!!!

Posted by Anna P. on April 17, 2000, at 13:14:04

In reply to Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????, posted by Jenny on April 17, 2000, at 11:49:48

> > > I would like any info I can get on topamax, I am a new user of it. I begin taking it next week. Anyone who can tell me about personal experinces, please answer this plea for help !!
> >
I posted here before that I'm scared to take Topamax due to the cognitive side effects. Finally, my Pdoc convinced me to try it with my antidepressant for my treatment resistant depression.
I got no side effects - but I've started from 6 mg, and went up slowly.
TOPAMAX is not for me. It causes anxiety, but everyone is different. I have no cognitive problems that I was affraid of.

Anna P.

 

Re: TOPAMAX different than expected!!!

Posted by PEGGY on April 20, 2000, at 11:57:19

In reply to Re: TOPAMAX different than expected!!!, posted by Anna P. on April 17, 2000, at 13:14:04

>I am looking for info on topamax also. My friend has a 5 month old child who has been taking phenobarbital for seizures but is still having break thru seizures, so the doctor has added topamax 1/2 pill to be increased to 2 a day along with 7cc of pheno twice a day. what should she expect?

 

Re: TOPAMAX

Posted by Anna P. on April 20, 2000, at 12:41:12

In reply to Re: TOPAMAX different than expected!!!, posted by PEGGY on April 20, 2000, at 11:57:19

> >I am looking for info on topamax also.

I'm sorry to hear this is such a small child. Everyones's chemistry is different.
I started Topamax on 1/4 of 25 mg pill, and got no side effects. As my doctor said, this is a mistake of a different specialities doctors to rise the dose to quickly.
I read some people get depressed from it, cognitive slowdown. My only symptom was the increase in anxiety.

Anna P.

 

Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????

Posted by roger moore on July 12, 2000, at 15:06:21

In reply to DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????, posted by Terri on July 30, 1999, at 10:45:42

> I would like any info I can get on topamax, I am a new user of it. I begin taking it next week. Anyone who can tell me about personal experinces, please answer this plea for help !!
this is on behalf of my daughter charlene who has had epilepsy in many different forms unusually according to all her doctors.Started off with facial twitches Given epilem with no success;next up tegerotol made her have major fits;next up lamictol showed great improvement minus the tegretol ;but still had facial fits next up lamictol with topamax ;facial fits easing all the time;had discussion with doctor verity of addenbrooks hospital cambridge ;and we all decided to ween her off the lamictol adding more topamax at the same time and gradually her fits have all stopped except maybe absent seizures which are hard to confirm;she is soley on topamax now and hasnt had a fit for over 12 months thanks to topamax and who knows with luck it may help her to grow out of her epilepsy as she grows god willing. some of the side affects she complained of were the feeling of walking down a slope at the begining of her treatment but this has worn off in time;she also finds it hard to learn at school and has a statement and gets help at school ;but i am sure you would agree its better than having fits.all the best roger.

 

Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????

Posted by Terri on July 12, 2000, at 15:18:09

In reply to Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????, posted by roger moore on July 12, 2000, at 15:06:21

> > I would like any info I can get on topamax, I am a new user of it. I begin taking it next week. Anyone who can tell me about personal experinces, please answer this plea for help !!
> this is on behalf of my daughter charlene who has had epilepsy in many different forms unusually according to all her doctors.Started off with facial twitches Given epilem with no success;next up tegerotol made her have major fits;next up lamictol showed great improvement minus the tegretol ;but still had facial fits next up lamictol with topamax ;facial fits easing all the time;had discussion with doctor verity of addenbrooks hospital cambridge ;and we all decided to ween her off the lamictol adding more topamax at the same time and gradually her fits have all stopped except maybe absent seizures which are hard to confirm;she is soley on topamax now and hasnt had a fit for over 12 months thanks to topamax and who knows with luck it may help her to grow out of her epilepsy as she grows god willing. some of the side affects she complained of were the feeling of walking down a slope at the begining of her treatment but this has worn off in time;she also finds it hard to learn at school and has a statement and gets help at school ;but i am sure you would agree its better than having fits.all the best roger.

Hi Roger,
I was on Topamax for a very short time, it seemed to help at first, but within a week or two, I got very Hostile. A complaint I have heard from many people, and it is true. Watch your daughters moods and if she becomes very aggressive or hostile, please let your doctor know right away.
Terri

 

Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????

Posted by roger moore on August 6, 2000, at 13:48:14

In reply to Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????, posted by Terri on July 12, 2000, at 15:18:09

but > > > I would like any info I can get on topamax, I am a new user of it. I begin taking it next week. Anyone who can tell me about personal experinces, please answer this plea for help !!
> > this is on behalf of my daughter charlene who has had epilepsy in many different forms unusually according to all her doctors.Started off with facial twitches Given epilem with no success;next up tegerotol made her have major fits;next up lamictol showed great improvement minus the tegretol ;but still had facial fits next up lamictol with topamax ;facial fits easing all the time;had discussion with doctor verity of addenbrooks hospital cambridge ;and we all decided to ween her off the lamictol adding more topamax at the same time and gradually her fits have all stopped except maybe absent seizures which are hard to confirm;she is soley on topamax now and hasnt had a fit for over 12 months thanks to topamax and who knows with luck it may help her to grow out of her epilepsy as she grows god willing. some of the side affects she complained of were the feeling of walking down a slope at the begining of her treatment but this has worn off in time;she also finds it hard to learn at school and has a statement and gets help at school ;but i am sure you would agree its better than having fits.all the best roger.
>
> Hi Roger,
> I was on Topamax for a very short time, it seemed to help at first, but within a week or two, I got very Hostile. A complaint I have heard from many people, and it is true. Watch your daughters moods and if she becomes very aggressive or hostile, please let your doctor know right away.
> Terri
hi terri we do find our daughter does have mood swings and can be quite ahandfull at times but how can we tell it is because she takes topamax and could you please be more specific on why we should let her doctor no ;because he allready knows she has mood swings but are not severe enough to take her off the drug ;if there is anybody out there who takes topamax ;could you please send any info on to this page so we can all build up abetter picture of any serious side effects;thankyou from roger uk.

 

Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????

Posted by Terri on August 6, 2000, at 13:59:53

In reply to Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????, posted by roger moore on August 6, 2000, at 13:48:14

> but > > > I would like any info I can get on topamax, I am a new user of it. I begin taking it next week. Anyone who can tell me about personal experinces, please answer this plea for help !!
> > > this is on behalf of my daughter charlene who has had epilepsy in many different forms unusually according to all her doctors.Started off with facial twitches Given epilem with no success;next up tegerotol made her have major fits;next up lamictol showed great improvement minus the tegretol ;but still had facial fits next up lamictol with topamax ;facial fits easing all the time;had discussion with doctor verity of addenbrooks hospital cambridge ;and we all decided to ween her off the lamictol adding more topamax at the same time and gradually her fits have all stopped except maybe absent seizures which are hard to confirm;she is soley on topamax now and hasnt had a fit for over 12 months thanks to topamax and who knows with luck it may help her to grow out of her epilepsy as she grows god willing. some of the side affects she complained of were the feeling of walking down a slope at the begining of her treatment but this has worn off in time;she also finds it hard to learn at school and has a statement and gets help at school ;but i am sure you would agree its better than having fits.all the best roger.
> >
> > Hi Roger,
> > I was on Topamax for a very short time, it seemed to help at first, but within a week or two, I got very Hostile. A complaint I have heard from many people, and it is true. Watch your daughters moods and if she becomes very aggressive or hostile, please let your doctor know right away.
> > Terri
> hi terri we do find our daughter does have mood swings and can be quite ahandfull at times but how can we tell it is because she takes topamax and could you please be more specific on why we should let her doctor no ;because he allready knows she has mood swings but are not severe enough to take her off the drug ;if there is anybody out there who takes topamax ;could you please send any info on to this page so we can all build up abetter picture of any serious side effects;thankyou from roger uk.

Roger,
You will know if your daughters mood swings and hostility are from the topomax, she will be ALOT more aggressive than she was before the drug. No matter what you say to her, you will always be wrong in her eyes, she will fight you with Hosility ( words & Actions ). You can ask your phamacist for a printout on Topamax, I also have a website that has the most updated info on Mental Health drugs. It is at:
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/9001
It is called Sandollar1's Homepage, A link to finding peace.
Good Luck Roger, I will be watching this thread to see how your doing.
Terri

 

Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????

Posted by Sapan on August 9, 2000, at 16:10:39

In reply to Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????, posted by Terri on August 6, 2000, at 13:59:53

I take Depakote and have gained alot of weight. My doctor put me on Topamax 2 months ago to counter the affects of Depakote and hopefully take me off of it all together. I have been very pleased with it because I have lost 20 pounds.
Sapan

 

Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????

Posted by Robert Campbell on October 21, 2000, at 14:28:35

In reply to DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????, posted by Terri on July 30, 1999, at 10:45:42

My wife had been suffering from migraines for several months and was prescribed Topamax. She took a 100mg dose on an empty stomach before bedtime on Oct.16th and never woke up. The autopsy results showed no abnormalities. Women who suffer from migraines want relief without weight gain and are being prescibed this drug. My wife of 36 years (56 years old and in exceptional health except for migraines) is gone....I NEED HELP!

 

Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ???? » Robert Campbell

Posted by Merolz on October 21, 2000, at 16:57:28

In reply to Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????, posted by Robert Campbell on October 21, 2000, at 14:28:35

> My wife had been suffering from migraines for several months and was prescribed Topamax. She took a 100mg dose on an empty stomach before bedtime on Oct.16th and never woke up. The autopsy results showed no abnormalities. Women who suffer from migraines want relief without weight gain and are being prescibed this drug. My wife of 36 years (56 years old and in exceptional health except for migraines) is gone....I NEED HELP!

Hi Robert
You really shocked me with this message, I'm very sorry for your loss. It seems as though you blame Topamax for causing your wife's death. I know a bit about Topamax, and there is no reason to think that this incident is due to the drug. Nearly half a million people over the world have been on Topamax, and while it certainly can cause side effects for some people, there is still no clinical evidence to suggest that it causes sudden unexpected death. It's much more likely that it's a coincidence that your wife died soon after she took the tablet. I wanted to post this message up because your message could cause other people taking Topamax to be very concerned for their own safety. I can't begin to put myself in your shoes for the loss that you feel, I'm very sorry.

 

Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ???? » Robert Ca

Posted by Karla on October 21, 2000, at 19:48:59

In reply to Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ???? » Robert Campbell, posted by Merolz on October 21, 2000, at 16:57:28

> > My wife had been suffering from migraines for several months and was prescribed Topamax. She took a 100mg dose on an empty stomach before bedtime on Oct.16th and never woke up. The autopsy results showed no abnormalities. Women who suffer from migraines want relief without weight gain and are being prescibed this drug. My wife of 36 years (56 years old and in exceptional health except for migraines) is gone....I NEED HELP!
>
> Hi Robert
> You really shocked me with this message, I'm very sorry for your loss. It seems as though you blame Topamax for causing your wife's death. I know a bit about Topamax, and there is no reason to think that this incident is due to the drug. Nearly half a million people over the world have been on Topamax, and while it certainly can cause side effects for some people, there is still no clinical evidence to suggest that it causes sudden unexpected death. It's much more likely that it's a coincidence that your wife died soon after she took the tablet. I wanted to post this message up because your message could cause other people taking Topamax to be very concerned for their own safety. I can't begin to put myself in your shoes for the loss that you feel, I'm very sorry.

Dear Rober,
I am sorry to hear of your loss. My Husband can almost relate. I am 34 years old. I am also taking Topamax for migraine and cluster headache prevention. I am now up to 125 mg. I also take celexa and vepramil with it to prevent the headaches which still isn't working that well. I take zomig and percacet to abort them to try to stay out of the
ER. One night I had a bad headache and went to the ER. The Dr. in the ER gave me a shot of 6mg of dilaudid. I had been in the ER for an hour ok. I was home for a while ok. My husband was downstairs playing with the children while I slept upstairs. The office is right across the hall from our bedroom. He went in there to get a portable phone. When he left the office he saw me blue and not breathing. He dialed
911 and got the paramedics. The gave me narcan and pulled all the narcotics out of me. Game me an iv, oxygen, etc. They said another 15 min. and I would have been non recoverable. What I found out is that there has been no research between the interactions of narcotics and topamax. So now whenever I get a shot the hospital keeps me for 2 hours and my husband and kids rotate staying up with me.
So I know that Topamax does have some nasty interactions there. I am glad I was able to escape with my life. It did give me a different outlook and view on life. I did talk to the ER dr. to. Sorry again to hear of your loss. I will be praying for you.

 

Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????

Posted by TrishaH on November 3, 2000, at 21:19:56

In reply to Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ???? » Robert Ca, posted by Karla on October 21, 2000, at 19:48:59

> > > My wife had been suffering from migraines for several months and was prescribed Topamax. She took a 100mg dose on an empty stomach before bedtime on Oct.16th and never woke up. The autopsy results showed no abnormalities. Women who suffer from migraines want relief without weight gain and are being prescibed this drug. My wife of 36 years (56 years old and in exceptional health except for migraines) is gone....I NEED HELP!
> >
> > Hi Robert
> > You really shocked me with this message, I'm very sorry for your loss. It seems as though you blame Topamax for causing your wife's death. I know a bit about Topamax, and there is no reason to think that this incident is due to the drug. Nearly half a million people over the world have been on Topamax, and while it certainly can cause side effects for some people, there is still no clinical evidence to suggest that it causes sudden unexpected death. It's much more likely that it's a coincidence that your wife died soon after she took the tablet. I wanted to post this message up because your message could cause other people taking Topamax to be very concerned for their own safety. I can't begin to put myself in your shoes for the loss that you feel, I'm very sorry.
>
> Dear Rober,
> I am sorry to hear of your loss. My Husband can almost relate. I am 34 years old. I am also taking Topamax for migraine and cluster headache prevention. I am now up to 125 mg. I also take celexa and vepramil with it to prevent the headaches which still isn't working that well. I take zomig and percacet to abort them to try to stay out of the
> ER. One night I had a bad headache and went to the ER. The Dr. in the ER gave me a shot of 6mg of dilaudid. I had been in the ER for an hour ok. I was home for a while ok. My husband was downstairs playing with the children while I slept upstairs. The office is right across the hall from our bedroom. He went in there to get a portable phone. When he left the office he saw me blue and not breathing. He dialed
> 911 and got the paramedics. The gave me narcan and pulled all the narcotics out of me. Game me an iv, oxygen, etc. They said another 15 min. and I would have been non recoverable. What I found out is that there has been no research between the interactions of narcotics and topamax. So now whenever I get a shot the hospital keeps me for 2 hours and my husband and kids rotate staying up with me.
> So I know that Topamax does have some nasty interactions there. I am glad I was able to escape with my life. It did give me a different outlook and view on life. I did talk to the ER dr. to. Sorry again to hear of your loss. I will be praying for you.


Robert, I am so sorry to hear about your wife passing away. I must say this concerns me a great deal as I have just started taking Topamax for basilar migraines. I was told it has no real side effects but have already noticed a feeling of being disconnected and am only starting out on 25 milligrams. Also have noticed liquids having a funny taste, especially soft drinks. Anybody out there taking this for migraines and having a good outcome ? Will these side effects lessen or get worse as I continue to up my dose ? Anyone out there with basilar migraines and has found a good treatment ???? Thanks.

 

Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????

Posted by Merolz on November 4, 2000, at 3:42:15

In reply to Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????, posted by TrishaH on November 3, 2000, at 21:19:56

> > > > My wife had been suffering from migraines for several months and was prescribed Topamax. She took a 100mg dose on an empty stomach before bedtime on Oct.16th and never woke up. The autopsy results showed no abnormalities. Women who suffer from migraines want relief without weight gain and are being prescibed this drug. My wife of 36 years (56 years old and in exceptional health except for migraines) is gone....I NEED HELP!
> > >
> > > Hi Robert
> > > You really shocked me with this message, I'm very sorry for your loss. It seems as though you blame Topamax for causing your wife's death. I know a bit about Topamax, and there is no reason to think that this incident is due to the drug. Nearly half a million people over the world have been on Topamax, and while it certainly can cause side effects for some people, there is still no clinical evidence to suggest that it causes sudden unexpected death. It's much more likely that it's a coincidence that your wife died soon after she took the tablet. I wanted to post this message up because your message could cause other people taking Topamax to be very concerned for their own safety. I can't begin to put myself in your shoes for the loss that you feel, I'm very sorry.
> >
> > Dear Rober,
> > I am sorry to hear of your loss. My Husband can almost relate. I am 34 years old. I am also taking Topamax for migraine and cluster headache prevention. I am now up to 125 mg. I also take celexa and vepramil with it to prevent the headaches which still isn't working that well. I take zomig and percacet to abort them to try to stay out of the
> > ER. One night I had a bad headache and went to the ER. The Dr. in the ER gave me a shot of 6mg of dilaudid. I had been in the ER for an hour ok. I was home for a while ok. My husband was downstairs playing with the children while I slept upstairs. The office is right across the hall from our bedroom. He went in there to get a portable phone. When he left the office he saw me blue and not breathing. He dialed
> > 911 and got the paramedics. The gave me narcan and pulled all the narcotics out of me. Game me an iv, oxygen, etc. They said another 15 min. and I would have been non recoverable. What I found out is that there has been no research between the interactions of narcotics and topamax. So now whenever I get a shot the hospital keeps me for 2 hours and my husband and kids rotate staying up with me.
> > So I know that Topamax does have some nasty interactions there. I am glad I was able to escape with my life. It did give me a different outlook and view on life. I did talk to the ER dr. to. Sorry again to hear of your loss. I will be praying for you.
>
>
> Robert, I am so sorry to hear about your wife passing away. I must say this concerns me a great deal as I have just started taking Topamax for basilar migraines. I was told it has no real side effects but have already noticed a feeling of being disconnected and am only starting out on 25 milligrams. Also have noticed liquids having a funny taste, especially soft drinks. Anybody out there taking this for migraines and having a good outcome ? Will these side effects lessen or get worse as I continue to up my dose ? Anyone out there with basilar migraines and has found a good treatment ???? Thanks.

Hi Trisha
The sort of side effects that you're experiencing with Topamax are common and recognised side effects of Topamax. They might lessen OR get worse as you bump up the dose; the drug affects people differently. You may find that you have to discontinue Topamax because the side effects are affecting you too badly.
Karla above has another nasty story involving Topamax, and unfortunately it has the tendency of scaring people like you unnecessarilly. It is true that there has been no research between the interactions of topamax and narcotics. There also hasn't been any research to see if it interacts with Big Macs either, but that doesn't mean you have to worry when you go to McDonalds. Considering half a million patients have started Topamax there every reason to expect that if a reaction with narcotics existed it would been documented and researched long ago, and as it stands, there is no reason to expect it does.
Here is the website for Topamax. It includes Patient Information.

http://www.ortho-mcneil.com/topamax/index.htm

It is common to become unnecessarilly concerned about drug misinformation. If you want the facts, the best place to go is to the people who know.
Best of luck with your migraines
David


 

Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????

Posted by mike on November 24, 2000, at 18:36:42

In reply to DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????, posted by Terri on July 30, 1999, at 10:45:42

> I would like any info I can get on topamax, I am a new user of it. I begin taking it next week. Anyone who can tell me about personal experinces, please answer this plea for help !!
Hi! I have been taking Topamax gradually for almost four weeks now for migraines. I have tried everythig else in the drug store to get this nine month head ache under control with limited success.
I have been taking Stadol with it (a pain killer) and am slowly feeling better. But today I got a tremor down my left hand making my fingers shake and my vision is a little blurry.Has any one else had this happen with this drug?

 

Re: TOPAMAX be careful

Posted by Mary Schultz on June 11, 2001, at 4:00:47

In reply to Re: TOPAMAX different than expected!!!, posted by Anna P. on April 17, 2000, at 13:14:04

I was put on Topamax for MS to control pain. I had a near fatal allergic reaction to it only half an hour after taking.

 

Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ???? » roger moore

Posted by Kookiecola on June 28, 2001, at 1:48:48

In reply to Re: DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????, posted by roger moore on August 6, 2000, at 13:48:14

Hello Roger,
I have been taking 300mg of Topamax a day for the past 5 years now. Reading about your daughter brings back memories from when I started taking this medication. I was put on it for my Epilepsy, and it has helped me tremendously. I think I have been through every other medication out there! haha But finally, now, I am doing fine on Topamax and Lamictal. I had the mood swings you speak of.....I also would fall asleep almost in mid-sentence. If I were standing, I would sway from side to side or back and forth at times. I lost 30 lbs.! YAY! But not the way I was looking to lose it, but hey...I wasn't really arguing! haha But it took almost a year and a half for my body to adjust to this medication. It took so long because my doctors were experimenting with dosage. But, I have to tell you, if this is the medication that is right and works for your daughter, it is well worth that year. Be patient, and if after that year, if her moods haven't improved any, then I would discuss an alternate medication with her doctor. Everyone deserves to be happy in life, and no disorder should get in the way nor any medication for that disorder. I wish the very best for you and your daughter. If you ever want to talk or have any questions, I believe my email addy is attached to this....please don't hesitate.

> but > > > I would like any info I can get on topamax, I am a new user of it. I begin taking it next week. Anyone who can tell me about personal experinces, please answer this plea for help !!
> > > this is on behalf of my daughter charlene who has had epilepsy in many different forms unusually according to all her doctors.Started off with facial twitches Given epilem with no success;next up tegerotol made her have major fits;next up lamictol showed great improvement minus the tegretol ;but still had facial fits next up lamictol with topamax ;facial fits easing all the time;had discussion with doctor verity of addenbrooks hospital cambridge ;and we all decided to ween her off the lamictol adding more topamax at the same time and gradually her fits have all stopped except maybe absent seizures which are hard to confirm;she is soley on topamax now and hasnt had a fit for over 12 months thanks to topamax and who knows with luck it may help her to grow out of her epilepsy as she grows god willing. some of the side affects she complained of were the feeling of walking down a slope at the begining of her treatment but this has worn off in time;she also finds it hard to learn at school and has a statement and gets help at school ;but i am sure you would agree its better than having fits.all the best roger.
> >
> > Hi Roger,
> > I was on Topamax for a very short time, it seemed to help at first, but within a week or two, I got very Hostile. A complaint I have heard from many people, and it is true. Watch your daughters moods and if she becomes very aggressive or hostile, please let your doctor know right away.
> > Terri
> hi terri we do find our daughter does have mood swings and can be quite ahandfull at times but how can we tell it is because she takes topamax and could you please be more specific on why we should let her doctor no ;because he allready knows she has mood swings but are not severe enough to take her off the drug ;if there is anybody out there who takes topamax ;could you please send any info on to this page so we can all build up abetter picture of any serious side effects;thankyou from roger uk.

 

Re:TOPAMAX FOR PAIN

Posted by bluecat on August 3, 2001, at 20:50:25

In reply to DOES ANYONE HERE TAKE TOPAMAX ????, posted by Terri on July 30, 1999, at 10:45:42

MY WIFE DIAGNOSED WITH HERNIATED DISC IN HER BACK WITH SCIATIA TOLD TO TAKE TOPAMAX WHAT DO YOU THINK. THERE SURE IS A LOT OF SCARY STUFF ON THIS DRUG.
BLUECAT

 

Re:TOPAMAX

Posted by Johan on August 16, 2001, at 4:31:48

In reply to Re:TOPAMAX FOR PAIN, posted by bluecat on August 3, 2001, at 20:50:25

I've been on Topamax for the last 3 months, starting at 25mg, 2 times a day, for the first month, 50mg, 2 times a day, for the second month, and currently 100mg, 2 times a day, for the third month.I was diagnosed with petit mal epilepsy and I had migrine for up to 4 days a week. I've been free of the migrine for about two months now in for the first time since high scool so it's great, but the side effects is a bit worrying. I'm experiencing numbness, needles- and pinns feeling both hands hand feet, but more so on the right side. Some times weird tastes of soft drinks. A Shhhhhh sound in my ears. I have a very shorth attention span (which was'nt the case before) and trouble remembering things. Sometimes I have trouble finding the right words to express myself. I think the idea, but I cannot say what I want to. I also have a problem studying. Friends and family also complain that I am became agressive.
Are these side-effects here to stay or do they disappear after a while. I tried to see the doctor again, but I can only get an appointment in three months time. His assistant told me to hang in there until then. My job is depending on me being sharp and being able to think on my feet. Three months might be too long to wait.

 

Re:TOPAMAX

Posted by Katee on August 16, 2001, at 8:44:34

In reply to Re:TOPAMAX , posted by Johan on August 16, 2001, at 4:31:48

I'm a 26 yr old bipolar female that's been taking Topomax for a year. I currently take 200 mg in the morning and another 200 mg just before bed. (I also take 300 mg of Wellbutrin and 150 mg of Zoloft.) It has been a lifesaver for me. Before I started taking the Topomax, I had been treated with Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin and Zoloft alone, Elavil, etc. all with miserable results. Last September, I was hospitalized after a suicide attempt (not my first) and *finally* correctly diagnosed as bipolar with traits of borderline personality disorder. My doctor originally also treated me with 1mg of Risperdal. He said it would help the other meds work more aggressively, but because it has some rather negative side effects he didn't want to use it long term so I am off that now (as of July). Now that I am on the 3 meds, including the Topomax, I feel better than I have in years...I have stable moods, can concentrate, actually finish things, don't act like a shrew 24-7 *smile*. Like I said it's been wonderful. However, the first month was awful. I encourage you all to hang in there. I experienced quite a few side effects the first few weeks--dry mouth, extreme drowsiness, trouble concentrating, trouble with word choice, general mental dullness, memory problems, tingling in my feet & hands, decrease in sex drive, poor sleep, poor appetite and frequent urination. They all faded rather quickly those first two weeks..and most were gone by the third week. The mental slowness lingered a little longer but got better a little bit at a time and was gone after a few months. The only one's that still bother me are the tingling in my feet & a poor sex drive. But considering how miserable I was before, those are tradeoffs I gladly make. And on the plus side...in the last year I have lost 53 pounds and feel marvelous. So Topomax is definitely an treatment option...keep it in mind. However, if you aren't experiencing a good tradeoff between positive results and side effects you can live with...there are other treatment options...talk to your doctor. Just don't give up hope on getting better.


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