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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Prozac + Topamax + Imitrex = Breathing Difficulty
        
(Message started by: kcakebread on Jul 19^th, 2006, 3:58pm)

Title: Prozac + Topamax + Imitrex = Breathing Difficulty
Post by kcakebread on Jul 19^th, 2006, 3:58pm

My doctor recently started me on Topamax as a prophylactic. I'm in my 8th week of an episode. Ugh. Last night, I woke with the start of a headache. I took my Imitrex nasal spray. I felt that flush rush down my body that means I didn't get it in time. But then, I felt weird. It started getting hard to breathe. I woke my husband up. The difficulty lasted several minutes. The good news: my headache went away. The bad news: that was frightening. My doctor blamed the Imitrex. Anyone hear of an experience like this? I know hyperventilation is a known side effect of Topamax...

kfc

Title: Re: Prozac + Topamax + Imitrex = Breathing Difficu
Post by thomas on Jul 19^th, 2006, 4:09pm

Sounds like a reaction to the trex.

Title: Re: Prozac + Topamax + Imitrex = Breathing Difficu
Post by kcakebread on Jul 19^th, 2006, 4:31pm

Seemed like a strange thing to happen after so many years on Imitrex. Then again, I was just doing more research. This is the longest episode I have ever experienced, I am on the strongest dose of Prozac ever, and I have also been experiencing exaggerated reflexes, muscle twitching, confusion... Serotonin syndrome perhaps?

kfc

Title: Re: Prozac + Topamax + Imitrex = Breathing Difficu
Post by thomas on Jul 19^th, 2006, 4:43pm

on 07/19/06 at 16:31:26, kcakebread wrote:

Serotonin syndrome perhaps?

kfc

You'd better hope not. Have you mentioned SS to your doctor?

Title: Re: Prozac + Topamax + Imitrex = Breathing Difficu
Post by floridian on Jul 19^th, 2006, 4:43pm

Mixing a SSRI like Prozac with an S like Imitrex might result in excess stimulation of the serotonin sites. Talk to your doctor - sounds like you might need to reduce the dosage of one or more meds.

Edited to add:
Also, see Melissa's thread: "Migraine drug with antidepressants may harm: FDA" ... they just put out a warning on mixing triptans and SSRIs. I'm kinda surprised we have gotten this far without one - probably doesn't affect everyone, but enough to be mentioned as a precaution.

Title: Re: Prozac + Topamax + Imitrex = Breathing Difficu
Post by kcakebread on Jul 23^rd, 2006, 12:22pm

My doctor dismissed the SS out of hand and prescribed relpax, but I didn't get to my pharmacy in time.

The first time I woke up that night with the beginnings of a headache, the self-hypnosis worked. The second time, the scalp massage worked. The third time, it was clear that pain was on the way so I went back to the Imitrex pills (the nasal spray had resulted in breathing problems). In minutes, my husband called the EMTs. Looks like the Imitrex triggered the hyperventillation side effect of Topamax. By the time the EMTs got there, I was semi-concious and my hands had turned to fetal claws. I revived pretty quickly and refused transport to the hospital.

I visited my doctor the next day, with cognitive function side effets from Topamax beginning to show. He still dismissed the SS suspicions, despite my report of hyperreflexes, twitching, etc. and put me on Ambien, Percoset, and Zonegran. Zonegran is considered Topamax-lite.

Well, at this point, I was too scared to try anything unfamiliar, so I just slept through the next few headaches, courtesy of Ambien and percoset. I know I had at least one headache, because I woke up with the <<bong>>> kinda feeling you get after a full-blown headache without benefit of abortive.

Now, I'm detoxing from everything and feeling a bit better. Been two nights without headache or meds, though I have a constant minor pain, like the start or finish of a headache. My husband has taken on himself to locate a specialist in the area. Crossing my fingers.