Author |
Topic: Topomax Question (Read 319 times) |
|
buckeyescooter
New Board Veteran
Screw Fear!
Gender: 
Posts: 123
|
 |
Topomax Question
« on: May 10th, 2004, 3:02pm » |
 Quote  Modify
|
I know a lot of you have had horrible side effects from this drug, but for those of you that were able to tolerate it, and had some success, at what dosage did you start to see some relief? I'm currently at 125 mgs with my docs goal being 200 mgs. So far no real problems with side effects. I think the fact that that I was on an anti-seizure prior to going on Topomax may have something to do with this....then again ....who the fuck knows. Anyway, any insight would be much appreciated....Scott
|
|
 IP Logged |
Clusterheads are a rare breed.
|
|
|
HypnoticFreddy
Guest
|
Hey Scott,
I started to get relief at 75 mg. I started at 50 mg. Kept it there for 3 days, then kept upping the dose by 25 mg every three days (I was somewhat aggressive with the dosing) until I peaked at 175 mg.
So I would say for me, I broke the cycle at 75 mg. Who knows. I think 100-200 mg is the therapeutic ceiling for most people with both clusters and migraines. However, I know Karla was on 600 mg?? of Topamax. That is a LOT of Topamax. Usually (as far as my doc told me), such high doses are for people with other conditions like seizures.
Good luck.
-Scott
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Edski_1
New Board Veteran
All the years combine...they melt into a dream...
Gender:
Posts: 197
|
|
Re: Topomax Question
« Reply #2 on: May 12th, 2004, 10:59am » |
Quote Modify
|
I was suposed to start at 50 mg for about 10 days then go to 100 mg. There was one extra 25 mg pill inthe sample bottle, so I decided that first day to take only 25 mg...
It hit me hard with the dopey/spacey feeling, so being that it was mid-week and I still was working I decided to go slow, and take 25 mg for that Thursday and Friday...
I had my last true CH requiring an abortive that Thursday (2nd day at 25 mg). I started on 50 mg a day that Saturday...did that for 9 days.
I still had some headaches, but they were generally about 12-16 hours after I took my dose, and far less severity than my normal CH, and went away pretty quickly (half hour or so).
I stayed on 100 mg a day for about three months. Been off for six weeks plus now, and occasionally have what *might* be a shadow...*might* just be a normal tension headache. Anyway nothing near requiring a dose of Zomig.
So I feel that I was getting some results at 50 mg, but it seemed that 100 mg "broke" the cycle.
|
|
IP Logged |
This is the mystery of the quotient; upon us all a little rain must fall...
|
|
|
HypnoticFreddy
Guest
|
I stopped Topamax almost 2 weeks ago. No cluster headaches in almost 2 months. I am noticing that I am slurring words occasionally (after being off Topamax). This is NOT helpful or beneficial for my job.
But still, as I said, it beats the hell out of having constant CHs.
-Scott
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Dave_W
New Board Junior
Pain Free Days!!!
Gender:
Posts: 83
|
|
Re: Topomax Question
« Reply #4 on: May 14th, 2004, 1:23pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Hi Scott,
I started at 100 mg, and had immediate 3 days pain free, then started to get a mild attack back in the mornings. At suggestion of a couple of fellows here, I asked the doc and increased to 125 mg, then in 3 days to 150 mg. That's where I am now. I still have one headache each day around lunch time, but it's very mild and I'm not complaining. Sometimes I don't even do oxygen for it, but sometimes (like if I have a meeting) I'll snort my Imitrex nasal spray and kill it off.
The evening and middle-of-the-night headaches are gone completely from the first dose, and had been having killers this year. Side effects: numb face, almost gone after two weeks; carbonated beverages taste like they belong in the toilet, still here (but lemonade and tea taste fine); go to bed earlier by about two hours, still here (10 PM instead of midnight), still here but probably good for me; reduced appetite still here but also probably for the best.
I'm going up one more level to 175 mg this weekend I think, see if I can knock out that last headache, and stay there for a few weeks...
Best of luck to ya!
Pain Free Days, All!
Old Weig
|
|
IP Logged |
Old Decrepit Dave
|
|
|
Edski_1
New Board Veteran
All the years combine...they melt into a dream...
Gender:
Posts: 197
|
|
Re: Topomax Question
« Reply #5 on: May 14th, 2004, 1:58pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Dave, the HA you're reporting sounds like the HA's I had initially on Topa...they went away in about 2 weeks without any increase in doseage.
|
|
IP Logged |
This is the mystery of the quotient; upon us all a little rain must fall...
|
|
|
Dave_W
New Board Junior
Pain Free Days!!!
Gender:
Posts: 83
|
|
Re: Topomax Question
« Reply #6 on: May 14th, 2004, 5:02pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Hey, thanks Edski!
That's a hopeful comment.
Today's nooner was a walk in the park, I just let it happen. About a "2" on the Kip scale. I'll bear with this Topa therapy a few more weeks before I goof around with it any more.
Patience was never one of my strongest attributes, but I've found that the combination of crossing the age of 45 and realizing that I've endured clusters for 20 years and abstained from alcohol for 13 years (all things I never thought I'd do) mean that maybe I'm patient after all, huh? For all but the last 8 years I didn't know what these horrible headaches were, I just lived with them and enjoyed the time I had between the attacks. The euphoria when a "10" goes away is probably the highest of all natural highs...
Love you all -- Pain Free Days!
Old Dave
|
|
IP Logged |
Old Decrepit Dave
|
|
|
buckeyescooter
New Board Veteran
Screw Fear!
Gender:
Posts: 123
|
|
Re: Topomax Question
« Reply #7 on: May 16th, 2004, 2:22am » |
Quote Modify
|
Thanks guys for all the posts....it seems like the success stories are somewhat hard to find on Topomax. I'm going up to 200 mgs tonight, thats the dose my neuro wanted me to get to, and level off there. Hard to tell if it's working because of the pred taper. I'm down to 40 mgs on that, followed by 20 on Monday- Wednesday. It's a terrible drug but the ha's were so bad that it was literally the only option if I wanted to leave the house. The only side effect's I've had are slight tingling in the hands, and appetite loss. Those I can live with. I'll keep you posted. 
|
|
IP Logged |
Clusterheads are a rare breed.
|
|
|
zebb37
New Board Newbie
God damn the pain
Gender:
Posts: 37
|
|
Re: Topomax Question
« Reply #8 on: May 18th, 2004, 9:47am » |
Quote Modify
|
topomax? Forgive my british ignorance - but what is is it?
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Edski_1
New Board Veteran
All the years combine...they melt into a dream...
Gender:
Posts: 197
|
|
Re: Topomax Question
« Reply #9 on: May 18th, 2004, 2:28pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Topamax is the american name for Topiramate.
|
|
IP Logged |
This is the mystery of the quotient; upon us all a little rain must fall...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home
Help
Search
Members
Member Map
Login
Register
Reply
Notify of replies
Send Topic
Print
Remove
test rss