Posted by nancyc (64.12.104.59) on December 02, 2001 at 16:35:04:
In Reply to: Topamax is a posted by riccardo on December 02, 2001 at 16:10:55:
Yes, Paul, I am on Topamax. And so is Barb D. Both of us are chronic and both of us are pf on Topamax..it has been our lifesaver..but we did not start on Topamax like most people did..We started on high doses. Most Docs start you on 25mg and work you up. If they suggest this, forget it...it does not work...I tried it and so has alot of clusterheads and I don't know many it has worked for. After I got to the point of almost giving up, my neuro said.."Let's get aggressive here!" and he did...he told me to take 200mg the first nite...well, I took it and have been pf since...that was about 3 months ago. Barb has been on it for a long long time though and is doing good but just has to regulate her dose according to how she feels...I do the same now. Anyway, the first 3 weeks for me were pure hell as far as side effects. I experienced every side effect in the PDR, even the uncommon ones. Fatigue, drowsiness, memory loss, agitation, severe suicidal ideations, even psychosis. I did not miss a one, I don't think...It was so bad that my poor Neuro actually called me every nite to check on me as I live alone. Think he was afraid he was gonna have to committ me . LMAO..But I am so glad I stuck out the side effects cause it has been a lifesaver. Barb D. started at 75mg the first nite, I think and worked up to 200mg in a few weeks. You may want to email her about it though. She did not have any side effects like I did...But as I said, I was pf the very first nite...and I had been getting hit about 3 to 4 times a day (mostly at nite). Not completely sure why Topamax works. It is a seizure medication. Feel free to email me anytime...I will be glad to help you anyway I can...smiles,nancyc