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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> TOPAMAX
        
(Message started by: Jeff_08 on Jun 26^th, 2004, 3:18pm)

Title: TOPAMAX
Post by Jeff_08 on Jun 26^th, 2004, 3:18pm

How well does Topamax work to prevent Clusters.How much do you have to take? Thanks

Title: Re: TOPAMAX
Post by Rock_Lobster on Jun 26^th, 2004, 3:53pm

I take 100mg at sleepy time.
Pretty near PF this entire episode. My cost is about 10-25 IQ points.

Some people cannot tolerate it.
See http://www.crazymeds.org/topamax.html for a list of side effects.

Rokk.

Title: Re: TOPAMAX
Post by Rush on Jun 26^th, 2004, 5:24pm

I had to up my dosage to 300mg a day split to 200mg @ bedtime and 100 @ morning, but I take other meds along with it also! Also suffering in the IQ and memory dept! :(

Title: Re: TOPAMAX
Post by UN_SOLVED on Jun 26^th, 2004, 5:47pm

Must ask your doctor this question. Too much can be toxic ! Must take blood tests to begin.

Ask a DOCTOR !

Unsolved

Title: Re: TOPAMAX
Post by Rush on Jun 26^th, 2004, 6:37pm

UN_SOLVED is absolutely right. I guess I was a bit vague in my last post. What I meant was that my Nuero, raised my dosage to the current level. I recommend that you check with your doc to find out what dosage you need, and what works for you.

Title: Re: TOPAMAX
Post by Redd715 on Jun 26^th, 2004, 7:04pm

on 06/26/04 at 15:18:01, Jeff_08 wrote:

How well does Topamax work to prevent Clusters.How much do you have to take? Thanks

First off not all meds worrk for all people...and the topo will definately take a good chunk of IQ points. if it helps you, therapudic doses vary for everyone...just as any of the other meds.

I've been on 100mg nightly for about 6 weeks I think...(see there's the IQ stuff...I can't remember exactly)...and just started to taper off. doesn't seem to be doing me any good for the HA's but it sure hijacked my smartz.

Anyone know how long it takes to get them back after I'm off this stuff?

Title: Re: TOPAMAX
Post by UN_SOLVED on Jun 27^th, 2004, 7:23am

on 06/26/04 at 19:04:55, Redd715 wrote:

it sure hijacked my smartz. (THE TOPO)

Anyone know how long it takes to get them back after I'm off this stuff?

Not exactly sure how long Topo stays in the body but i'd guess it's not that long. I regained my 'self' back pretty quickly after stopping. I dunt tink teares eny long lassing afex frum it [smiley=huh.gif] LOL

Unsolved

Title: Re: TOPAMAX
Post by Gator on Jun 28^th, 2004, 4:08pm

I got up to 200mg of Dope-A-Max. About 3 weeks into taking it, I had to taper back off. My HA's got worse. More frequent and more violently painful. Lost a ton of IQ points. My wife confiscated my car keys as she and my kids said my driving scared the hell out of them. Apparently I was a danger to myself and others in a car. Besides that, I started having a really bad recurring nightmare.

I am back to driving, the nightmare has all but stopped, I can't say I am as intelligent as ever, but that could be due to other medications I currently take.

Gator

Title: Re: TOPAMAX
Post by thomas on Jun 28^th, 2004, 4:12pm

on 06/27/04 at 07:23:57, UN_SOLVED wrote:

I dunt tink teares eny long lassing afex frum it [smiley=huh.gif]

LMMFAO!!!!!!!! [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: TOPAMAX
Post by UN_SOLVED on Jun 28^th, 2004, 8:59pm

OH YEA ..... 2 MORE WORDS ....

KIDNEY STONES !!

Unsolved

Title: Re: TOPAMAX
Post by pamstroud on Jun 28^th, 2004, 11:25pm

I took 400 mg. What I decided is that taking it is like being in a very small car when charged by a rhino. It helped. But it did not stop the rhino from charging. And it did make me stupid.

Pam

Title: Re: TOPAMAX
Post by buckeyescooter on Jul 4^th, 2004, 5:59pm

I topped out at 200 mgs. and stayed there for about 4 weeks. I think it helped that I was on Verapamil as I was tapering off the T-max. I shadowed pretty heavy the first week or so, but that went away. Am now pain free. The thing that worried most about Topomax was my eyesight. My vision started doing some freaky shit, no eye pain, but got a little "streaky" some times. I thought maybe I'd gone the shroom route, and the Topomax just made me forget!

Title: Re: TOPAMAX
Post by Fugitive on Jul 8^th, 2004, 2:18pm

Interesting posts all. I have been on a combination of Topomax and Effexor for about a month now, but I haven't experienced any of the side effects mentioned here. My headaches haven't gotten better either, but I'm not up to the full Topomax dosage yet. I have lost a little weight, which has been a good thing. I had a bad episode last night and this morning, and I finally succumbed to the urge to go to the emergency room. They dripped some Lidocaine into my left nostril and hooked me me up to an O2 bottle for about 45 minutes and I felt 100% better! They said not to suffer, but to come on in any time, so you bet I'm going to!

Title: Re: TOPAMAX
Post by buckeyescooter on Jul 9^th, 2004, 2:21am

Sounds like a great ER....I didn't get any relief until I hit 150 mgs. I agree with Rock Lobster....the tapering off can be a bit dicey. Lidocaine never helped me.....02 on the other hand is the best abortive me. Try to get yourself some of that on the homefront Fugitive.

Title: Re: TOPAMAX
Post by Lori on Jul 23^rd, 2004, 12:40am

My experience with topomax was about the same..took all of my IQ basically and made me depressed (crying hysterically) and it started messing with my eye. (I have two, it only messed with one) Even though the side effects were horrible, the topomax (100mg) along with verapamil (360mg) made it the best cycle I ever had. Just shadowed some and a couple mild breakthrough HA's. I would use it again if I had to although I hope the lithium I am now on for another disorder will keep the clusters away so I don't need dummy-max again!

Title: Re: TOPAMAX
Post by plazticsoul on Jul 24^th, 2004, 7:03pm

I've just started my 3rd week on Topamax. The first week the doc had me on just 15mg, second week was 30mg, and last night was the first time I was at 45mg and today I'm actually feeling somewhat better than usual (hopefully it's not just coincidence!).

I have noticed being lazier than usual, but not "dumber than a box of rocks" as some have said. I suppose 45mg is not nearly enough to lower one's IQ by a significant amount though.

Also, please know that I have also been on Verapamil for 480mg daily for the past month.

Going back to the neurologist on Tuesday. I've only seen "mild" improvement since starting both medications so I don't know where he'll decide to go from here.

Title: Re: TOPAMAX
Post by Lori on Jul 25^th, 2004, 12:24am

: plazticsoul I seem to recall once that you are less likely to have real severe side effects if the dosage is started low and increased slowly. So maybe that is helping you too.
Good luck to you all trying the topomax. It does seem to be a promising treatment.