Posted by jime (206.8.53.1) on November 13, 1999 at 01:13:00:
Topamax seems to be doing the job. Two weeks pain free and counting. Now for the two and a half month frustrating story that got me here.
I started taking 1-25 mg. tablet a day, the beginning of September. The neuro explained that it would make me feel stupid. The first week it was just very sedating. No change in the clusters.
The next week it was 2 tablets and my left side clusters seemed to be subsiding. Not bad, so I stayed on 2 tabs for the next 2 weeks. Well, the clusters had their own agenda. This was one of their two week breaks before switching sides. They came on with a vengeance hitting every hour or two day and night. Oxygen aborted most of them but sleep was at a premium. Side effects were getting to be a problem. Thick headed, lack of concentration and minor problems with speech (forgetting words) to mention a few.
Over the next three weeks I worked up to 6 a day with NO relief. The nurse explained that it takes time to get the levels up in the blood stream. During this time the side effects lessened. I guess my body started to deal with the drugs a little better. After 2 weeks at 6 a day and 6 to 8 headaches mainly at night now I was ready for a change. I decided that I was going to call the neuro the next day to go back on sansert or try something else but...maybe I'll try 7 pills just tonight. I slept 8 hours straight through. OK this cluster is through right! Went back to 6 the next day and had 4 CH's that night. I have been on 7 ever since and the side effects get less every day.
It was a rough road to get here but I am not sorry I did. The only side effects I have left are a low grade fever for a while after I take the meds and occationally dizzy. I take them at dinnner time and at bed time so it's not much trouble for the results.
Here is a link to the complete prescribing info for the stuff including all the details on the side effects.
http://www.ortho-mcneil.com/products/pi/pdfs/tpamax.pdf