Have just started Topamax...

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  • youngmomtaz
    youngmomtaz Posts: 1,075 Member
    Well, like I said upthread; beta blockers, amitriptyline, elavil, multiple rescues and nothing helped. Well actually, the amitriptyline was awesome! I have had general head pain daily since I was a child. Every. Day. and now in adulthood add in 2-3 migraines a week as well. Absolutely zero head pain with this med. I had energy like I assume a “normal” person has in a day, I was calm and happy, take away pain and that happens. But, severe insomnia, very high heart rate and blood pressure spikes even on the lowest dose made the doc take it away from me. All the meds I tried affected heart rate and blood pressure poorly in one direction or another. The elavil caused such extreme nausea I lost 15lbs in 2weeks. So I am now on day three of Topamax. My resting heart rate is back tonormal which means I can actually exercise without it going very dangerously high, my head pain is reduced, and aside from some mild tiredness right when I take it, no side effects yet. Cross your fingers for me we can keep the dose low and the side effects at bay!!
  • AmyC2288
    AmyC2288 Posts: 386 Member
    I took Topamax for about a year and eventually was increased up to 200mg. I did lose about 30 lbs in the first 5-6 months however for the year I took it- it was a very scary time in my life due to the side effects. I would be driving and completely forget directions or where I was going and then panic because I didn't know where I was. I had severe memory issues, and still to this day feel like I "lost a year" because I have little to no memories during that time. I was getting severe facial numbness and tingling plus I would lost my train of thought in the middle of sentences and just trail off....

    It was absolutely awful and as soon as I stopped taking it the weight came right back. As for whether it helped the migraines or not- I actually can't remember!
  • samiam1091
    samiam1091 Posts: 12 Member
    I was previously on Topamax for migraines years ago. Took it for almost 6 months. I stopped for some other negative side effects however, I did notice I lost weight faster. But I was also walking every day and cut out fast food from my diet so I had already been losing weight prior to being prescribed. Aside from the weight loss side effects, pay attention to any body changes with this med and know the side effects. It really helped but the side effects were so bad I had to stop.
  • EZGruv
    EZGruv Posts: 215 Member
    I've been taking Topamax (50mg twice a day) for 17 days now. I've lost 10 pounds - not trying to lose any - just not interested in eating. I make myself eat based on the clock, not because I'm hungry.

    The side effects are really real. My main ones are the tingling in the hands and face, and I'm ultra-thirsty.
    So far, I've only had the occasional day when I've had any mental slowness, or all-over physical tingling/funny feeling.

    I'll take all of that over the chronic migraines. I've had only two 'regular' headaches, and zero actual migraines since I started taking Topamax. Normally in a 17 day span, I would likely have had about 7 migraines and 8 'regular' headaches.

    These pills have fundamentally changed my life.
  • AmyC2288
    AmyC2288 Posts: 386 Member
    edited March 2019
    A few years back I took Topamax for close to a year for migraines. I lost 40lbs and my migraines were well controlled. The long term side effects became increasingly scary and eventually it was not worth it to continue on the medication. Very very scary stuff and could have ended really badly. My Dr. had me pretty quickly work up to 200 mg per day, which ultimately I would later realize through a different Neurologist was too high of a dosage for me.

    Be careful with this stuff as it is no joke. I took it as prescribed to me by a very respected Neuro in my area. It took about 6-9 months before I was back to "normal" after sloooowwlly weaning off of it (during which time my migraines were the worst they had ever been and I also gained the 40 lbs back)

    ETA: Just realized this thread was resurrected from last year. Oh well. My response still stands :smile:
  • youngmomtaz
    youngmomtaz Posts: 1,075 Member
    I have been on topamax for 9 months now. 50mg once per day has reduced my migraines from 12-13/month to 1-2. I will take it! The word slowness, tingly fingers and nose, weird tasting food, and tiredness all dissipated within 2 months. I lost no weight but don’t really feel like eating until 2 or 3pm. No biggie. If I eat earlier I feel mildly ill. I hope it keeps working for me, I have a huge chunk of my life back!!
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