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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> Topamax, anyone?
        
(Message started by: gtar_man on Oct 6^th, 2002, 3:00pm)

Title: Topamax, anyone?
Post by gtar_man on Oct 6^th, 2002, 3:00pm

So I went back to the neuro last week. Shrooms are helping, but not ending my cycle. Neuro thinks Topamax will help. I tell him I'm really not predisposed to start another one of medical science's body-wrenching, side-effect inducing, long-term, maybe-it'll-help-maybe-it-won't chemicals. He says I should give it a shot and writes the scrip. $175 and 3 days later I feel like I'm taking rat poison. My heart's pounding, I feel like crap, can't get off the couch. Before I call him tomorrow and tell him to shove this stuff sideways, is anybody having any success with it?
If I sound a bit ill and fed up with this whole circus of horrors, I am.

Title: Re: Topamax, anyone?
Post by Lori on Oct 6^th, 2002, 10:31pm

I took topamax and verapamil during my cycle Feb-May this year. I can't say for sure..since I was on the two..that the topamax had the most effect. I can say, that for the first time in the 10-12 yrs of having ch cycles, I had the least painful cycle ever. I did experience alot of side effects from the topamax but they did subside for the most part to a tolerable level after about two weeks. The doc started me on 25mg..increased to 50mg a week later and then increased to 100mg about three weeks later. I believe the theraputic dose has been said to be around 100-150mgs daily. I personally think the topamax helped..if you can handle the side effects for a little while. Everyone is different though. But this was my experience. I hope you find relief soon!

Title: Re: Topamax, anyone?
Post by Karla on Oct 7^th, 2002, 11:36am

I tried up to 400 mg of Topamax and had no luck with it. In fact I think it made my ha worse and more frequent. I noticed at 200mg I had memory problems. Couldn't remember names or how to get to places. So I went off the stuff.

Title: Re: Topamax, anyone?
Post by Charlie on Oct 7^th, 2002, 8:53pm

With Topamax, it's either a wonder drug or it is pretty tricky. It's a great anti seizre drug but I can't handle the thing. If it works, terrific. Good luck

Charlie

Title: Re: Topamax, anyone?
Post by gtar_man on Oct 8^th, 2002, 5:20pm

I'm with you, Charlie - can't take the stuff. By Sunday I was ready to jump off a bridge, and the wife was ready to push. I seem to be especially sensitive to most drugs (well the legal ones anyway) and ALL the drugs they prescribe for CH give me the heebee-jeebees. :P
Now my neuro is peed at me and won't call me back. Hummmpf. I wish somebody'd drive a railroad spike into HIS head and then prescribe rat poison for it and see how HE likes it... >:(

Title: Re: Topamax, anyone?
Post by Charlie on Oct 8^th, 2002, 9:39pm

I took it for seizures. Never had a drug that killed them 100%. Topamax did. Here I was thinking what kind of car I could drive someday. Then Topamax started to turn into a terrified lunatic. You have no idea how much fun it is to know there is a drug that kills my seizures that I cannot take. >:(

My doctor had be taper off. I hope you are doing that as well.

Charlie

Title: Re: Topamax, anyone?
Post by gtar_man on Oct 9^th, 2002, 7:13am

Yah. I'm back to being just a regular ol' clusterhead, but it sure gave me a few bad days.
Seems like most "wonder drugs" have side effects equivalent to the problem they're supposed to cure. I had really bad arthritis/bursitis in my left elbow a few years ago - could barely move my arm, really painful. Doc gave me an anti-inflammatory pill, two days later, my elbow was good as new, but my stomach had become a toxic waste dump. :P Take yer pick, sucker.
Meanwhile, I've got a medicine cabinet that looks like a mini-pharmacy of pills I wouldn't take at gunpoint.
Hang in there, man. We can either laugh AT it or cry ABOUT it. ;D

Title: Re: Topamax, anyone?
Post by Beah on Oct 9^th, 2002, 10:53am

Didn't read any of the other posts to you but I had a pretty bad reaction last time and think it was due to taking Topamax. I kind of felt like the doctor was guinea pigging me on it, and during that time they were reluctant to prescribe the meds that we had had success with in the past. I had what could best be described as massive panic/anxiety attacks--yet the doc did not ascribe it to taking Topamax. My new neuro feels that Topamax has significant side effects and felt that I should not have taken it.

Title: Re: Topamax, anyone?
Post by gtar_man on Oct 9^th, 2002, 2:59pm

Severe emotional distress seems to be the name of the game with Topamax - the wife was ready to shoot me & put me out of my misery.
I'd like to see these neuros try taking some of the stuff they prescribe and see how long THEY can handle it.
Jonny swears by Lithium and Verapamil combined, but Verap gave me insomnia and (blush) constipation and Lithium's got a list of side effects a mile long. I'd have to get truly desperate to go that route.
What meds WERE you having success with, Beah?

Title: Re: Topamax, anyone?
Post by Charlie on Oct 9^th, 2002, 5:40pm

Topamax, besides making me forgetful, nervous, and very unsure of myself, also made my ears ring ALL THE TIME......and no, it wasn't high blood pressure; it was fine. Damn stuff must have been developed by the CIA.

PFDAN, kids.

Mean old Charlie

Title: Re: Topamax, anyone?
Post by karen j on Oct 9^th, 2002, 6:40pm

I just went to a new neuro last week and he put me on topamax along with prednisone. So right about now with six days of 60 mg/day prednisone and increasing my topamax to 50mg(increasing by 25mg each week), I am feeling like a crazed person-mood swings, hyper, feeling caged. Thing is, no headaches since I started. Not sure if it is the combo or just one of the medicines. So now I have to decide, headaches or solitary confinement ::). Luckily, my kids have figured out to have the house cleaned, the homework done and be out of the house by the time I get home from work-seems to be the best for everyone right now-good to have great kids. Hoping once I start easing off the prednisone, things will even out. Till then, you can find me in my padded room!

Karen

Title: Re: Topamax, anyone?
Post by gtar_man on Oct 10^th, 2002, 3:15pm

Everybody's different. Some ppl have cast-iron digestive systems and can tolerate these torture pills - but I ain't one of 'em.

Title: Re: Topamax, anyone?
Post by Lenny on Oct 10^th, 2002, 10:17pm

I have to agree with everything Karla had to say about the topamax. The only thing i could say posative about it,that i used the bathroom on a regular basis ( those of you that are familiar with verapamil know what im talking about ). Hopefully PFDAN to you.
Lenny