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Topic: A WORD about TOPAMAX... (Read 417 times) |
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BarbaraD
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A WORD about TOPAMAX...
« on: Mar 17th, 2006, 8:41am » |
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For those of you who get put on topamax....
I've heard all the horror stories about DOPAMAX... and everyone is scared of it, but...
I've been on it since 99 without the side effects, so here's a word of advice about it...
TAKE THE WHOLE DOSE AT NIGHT!
This will relieve you of the dopey feeling. You'll sleep it off. You may have some short term memory loss (I'm OLD so I have that anyhow - write Post-it Notes to yourself for that).
Again, regardless of what dosage you're on -- take it at night before you go to bed. It's worked for years for me and it's worth a try.....
Hugs BD
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What don't kill ya, Makes ya stonger!
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mynm156
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Re: A WORD about TOPAMAX...
« Reply #1 on: Mar 17th, 2006, 9:47am » |
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Thats how my doctor had me take it but I still had Hallucinations. I never forget when I went back to the doctor I didnt say anything other than something is not right with the topamax and all he asked was " DID IT MAKE YOU GOOFY?" I was floored. I saw things, heard, felt I have never had anydrug affect me like that!!!!
Good Vibes
MYNM156
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rapunzel
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Re: A WORD about TOPAMAX...
« Reply #2 on: Mar 17th, 2006, 9:57am » |
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I took one pill last night with two pills of depakote, and I am just now starting to feel somewhat normal. I am supposed to take the topamax twice a day- but there is no way i am taking it. I have to go to work in an hour. I am too scared.
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BarbaraD
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Re: A WORD about TOPAMAX...
« Reply #3 on: Mar 18th, 2006, 9:15am » |
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What dosage were you taking? I don't know anything about the depakote. I may have taken it at some time (I think I've taken about everything there is at one time or another), but the topamax has been the only thing that's ever worked for me at all. Guess I'm just the fluke that didn't get the side effects. I sleep off the bad stuff and don't have the hangover with it. Right now I'm on 100mg, but have been up to 400mg without the dopey stuff. The only side effect I've ever noticed (or others have) is short term memory loss and I write post it notes for that.
Sorry it didn't work.
Hugs BD
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Bostongirl
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Re: A WORD about TOPAMAX...
« Reply #4 on: Mar 18th, 2006, 10:12pm » |
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I was on topomax for headaches (I think 175 miligrams but he told me I could take more I think) It was last year at this time. I stayed on it for a few months and the headaches went away. The thing was that I was getting short of breath. I should have kept with it. I was also getting really bad with my memory and at times felt stupified when talking to people. I may even have stuttered. My brain seemed to short circuit. I dont care though...I am going to try it again if the doctor tells me to. Enough is enough.
What about working out on it?
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BarbaraD
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Re: A WORD about TOPAMAX...
« Reply #5 on: Mar 18th, 2006, 11:03pm » |
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I never had any shortness of breath (well I'm old - getting out of a chair gives me that  ). Your question about working out - as in physical excercise??? I've been avoiding that stuff for years. But I'm old -- don't go by me. A lot of people here use physical exercise to abort the CH. I've done my share of head banging if that counts, but no routine workouts. I chase a four year old grandson - that's enough exercise for anyone.
About the memory thing. The first few weeks on topamax are the worse for memory. After that you usually taper off (learn to write notes). I have trouble finding words occasionally (easy ones) but I've learned to live with that.
I'm one of the few success stories on topamax, but it's kept me sane for years.
Hugs BD
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rapunzel
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Re: A WORD about TOPAMAX...
« Reply #6 on: Mar 19th, 2006, 6:45am » |
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I want to take it. I will never take the depakote again. It took me 27 hours to clear my head.
Last night convinced me that I have to try something however. I will try just the topamax however I am really scared.
I have no choice but to work. I am a veterinary technician and I deal with drugs, dosages, side effects, symptoms,anesthesia, life support, etc all day long. I really have to use my brain- I cannot afford memory loss. A screw up from me could cost someones animal their life.
I have a very insensitive boss- yesterday she asked me if I was human again- because I was really foggy on Friday, but couldnt find anyone to cover my shift. I had told them I had taken a new medication and it was too much for me on Thursday night, but couldnt find anyone to cover for me. I was honest with them so they wouldnt trust me with dosages etc. But a few comments from her yesterday were really unfair.
I have some weird new episodes happening but i am going to start a new thread for it, to see if others have experienced them.
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thenucman
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Re: A WORD about TOPAMAX...
« Reply #7 on: Mar 20th, 2006, 2:32pm » |
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Like most meds we hear about, YMMV.
I am still trying to hang in there on Topamax, even though I could probably have written the side effects description myself. Everyone reacts differently to drugs. I happen to be to be VERY sensitive to Topamax.
I am up to 50mg after 2 months of slowly increasing my dose. I am still having a variety of symtoms, but I am PF for 3 out of 4 days. It doesn't help when I have to travel yet, however. Flying (altitude changes) still wipe me out.
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FramCire
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Re: A WORD about TOPAMAX...
« Reply #8 on: Mar 21st, 2006, 9:01pm » |
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I was up to 100mg of Topomax a day and when I took it all at night the difference was very big BUT I still had poor short term memory AND some of the that off feeling.
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You've overstayed your welcome since the day we met but it doesn't seem to matter to you. No medications are your master, nothing makes you fret, it's a helpless feeling having nothing I can do
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thenucman
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Re: A WORD about TOPAMAX...
« Reply #9 on: Mar 22nd, 2006, 1:36pm » |
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Yep, I had the short term memory issue when I first started using Topamax. I 'conditioned' myself to Topamax by taking half a pill (12.5mg) for 2 months before starting to increase to the 50mg I am on now.
From my experience, the dose change increments are too large at 25mg making my side effects much worse. I can tolerate a change of 12.5mg, but not 25mg. Again, thats me, not you or anyone else. The result ... FOR ME, is that at 50mg /day the beast only visits every 4 days now. I will be increasing my dose again soon to try and chase him further away. The progress is slow, but progress none the less. I suspect I will need around 100mg to be PF. We will see.
I am hedging my bet, though. I have started taking B2 and Magnesium suppliments as well. 
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