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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Does anyone have good News on Topamax
        
(Message started by: eileen on Mar 9^th, 2004, 7:48pm)

Title: Does anyone have good News on Topamax
Post by eileen on Mar 9^th, 2004, 7:48pm

Going to see the Dr. on Thursay to talk about CH that are expected in August. Trying to Block them before them come. I was told to try Topamax and wanted to know if everyone has bad sideafects. and are they worth it????HELP PLEASE..........

THANK YOU !!!!

Title: Re: Does anyone have good News on Topamax
Post by Prense on Mar 9^th, 2004, 8:23pm

The side effects can be VERY bad. Minimize the chances by tapering up SLOWLY. Something like 15mg a week, then up it 15mg a week untill you reach a desired dosage. If your doc starts you out at like 100mg, you will be in for a rough ride (most likely). Other than that, it is helping quite a few folks these days.

One other note, drink plenty of water with this med.

Chris

*edit*
Of course, all this needs to be discussed with your doc before doing it.

Title: Re: Does anyone have good News on Topamax
Post by MarkV on Mar 9^th, 2004, 8:26pm

Look at the next page - there are two posts at least that were talking about recent experiences on Topamax.

In short, like most meds, some people have side effects, some don't. For those who have the side effects, some choose to tolerate them vs. the pain of CHs, some don't.

A Topamax + Verapamil combo helped my headaches for about a year.

Hope it gives you relief - :)

Mark

Title: Re: Does anyone have good News on Topamax
Post by MarkV on Mar 9^th, 2004, 8:28pm

Prense, I increased at 25mgs. Not sure if its available in 15 - if it was I probably should have done that instead though. I went up way too fast.

Title: Re: Does anyone have good News on Topamax
Post by 357Mag on Mar 9^th, 2004, 8:53pm

Eileen,

According to the preceeding posts, and several others scattered throughout this site, I may be an exception to the rule.

I was on Topomax for a little over a year [25mg x2] which did nothing to prevent an attack when in cycle.

Becoming very desperate one night, I decided to up the dose on my own. I took it to 100mg x2 in one shot. That very night my HA's ended. I encountered a few minor shadows for a week, but have been completely pain free for 50+ days now.

My cycle is over and have taken the dose down to a maintenance level of 50mg x2 [1 wk at 75 and the next at 50].

Two weeks after starting this high level, I saw a new Neuro who concurred with the increased dosage and suggested the tappering to maintenance level after my cycle ended.

The plan for my next cycle is a 2-wk pred taper while ramping up to 100mg x2 over a 2 wk period on the Topomax.

Side effects even with the drastic and rapid increase included typing difficulty, a hard time finding words while conversing, and short term memory loss [like walking up the stairs and not remembering what for].

I drink between 1.5 to 2.5 gallons of water per day.

Peace and good luck on Thursday,
dan

Title: Re: Does anyone have good News on Topamax
Post by Renee on Mar 9^th, 2004, 9:54pm

I just went thru the Topamax trip that it gave me. Three days into a 15mg per day rx for week one I forgot everything..totally disoriented! Friend called the neuro and they yanked me off of the topamax immediately!

In all fairness, I'm very susceptible to getting side effects on most meds.

good luck
renee

Title: Re: Does anyone have good News on Topamax
Post by catlind on Mar 9^th, 2004, 10:41pm

See the post on general entitled Help, I had a good result, just was one of the rare ones with the rare side effects.

Please pay attention to the warning signs from that post.

Cat

Title: Re: Does anyone have good News on Topamax
Post by Rock_Lobster on Mar 9^th, 2004, 11:19pm

I am ramping up on it now. Did 25mg for 7 days. Now on my third day of 50mg. Planning to go to 75mg tomorrow, then keep it there for a week or so.

No side effects, except for some definite stupidity for 2-3 days when I started/upped the dose. Not sure if the dumbs went away or if I just became used to them.

On a Pred taper right now to keep it down. Starting Verapamil tomorrow as well.

Rock

Title: Re: Does anyone have good News on Topamax
Post by toader on Mar 10^th, 2004, 12:39am

shit people, you're missing out on all the fun

TOP 25 - mmmm - it tastes like chicken to me! ;;D ;;D

ok folks, here's what ya do - taper up to 200mg (or more) real quick like 3-4 days. Then do the following:

1) go to the store and get some Garfield books. sit around and read them and laugh out loud in front of your family. drink milk and eat carrots while doing this for added effect
2) watch Spongebob and sing along
3) get a bunch of sticky notes. Draw paw prints on them. Play your own version of "Blues Clues" by placing clues around the house on various objects
4) get a roll of toilet paper and a bucket of water. go outside and chuck spit wads at the fence

ok, ok so maybe this can be extreme for some ;)

yes, it will make you stupid (or, in my case, more stupid)
but hey, if you are suffering from the pain of headaches and out of commission anyway, there are worse fates than silliness and stupidity.

Title: Re: Does anyone have good News on Topamax
Post by 357Mag on Mar 10^th, 2004, 1:54am

toader,

Sounds like we could have a topo blast for a few days long as no one gave us a pop quiz on what we did during that time. [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: Does anyone have good News on Topamax
Post by Tiannia on Mar 10^th, 2004, 11:48am

I think the Topomax might had actually helped my HA if I could have stood the side effects. I could not tolerate this med at all. Ended up with stomach cramps and vomiting within 24 hours of me starting the med. I stayed on it for 10 days and finally could not take it anymore and called the doc and got off the med.

I know that Jackie's Husband had great success with Topomax. So there are people who do very well with it.

I wish you luck
Tia

Title: Re: Does anyone have good News on Topamax
Post by Edski_1 on Mar 10^th, 2004, 1:40pm

I've been on this dope for about 2 months with pretty good effects. The last time I've needed to use Zomig as an abortive was the 2nd day I was on topamax. :)

I did 3 days a 25 mg, 9 days at 50 mg, and have been on 100 mg since. I had noticeable HA's about once a day for about 2 weeks, but they were far less severe than the normal CH, and gradually went away. So did the side effects of dopeyness...

I lost my job about a week after starting the med, so I've been under stress...I missed a dose one day; not a good thing. I feel the stuff does some major psychological stuff under the hood that is not completely understood. I was near depressed for a couple of days after missing that dose, and had VERY bad thoughts... :-[

I *think*, finger crossed, that my cycle might be broken. I don't have a lot of experience, but I have not had even shadows for a while, maybe a week or so...I am thinking of discussing this with the neuro and maybe starting to ramp down, maybe doing the 50 mg for a week, then 25 mg for a week...

I really don't think this is a good med to be on for long periods from what I've read, but if you can tolerate it's side effects there's the potential for it to do a lot of good and it's worth a try. But it's certainly a very heavy-duty med.

BTW, I also take Diovan and Norvasc for HBP, but nothing else but Zomig for CH...