Topamax Side effects!!!

[jewliett]

I have been on Topamax for two months now and have had no seizures, the side effects however are terrible. I have the lower back pain my kidneys I am guessing, the tingling in my feet, weight loss (15lbs), can't sleep, legs hurt, shakes and poor memory. I was wanting to know if anyone else has had the lower back pain as well and what there experience with that has been?
Thanks jewliett

[admin]

Just been reading this board, with increasing alarm. I have suffered with migraines for 30 years, nothing helped, then was under a professor of neurology,in best headache clinic in London. He has put me on a preventative, he gave me lots of choices, most preventatives make u put on a LOT of weight, which I really did not need or want!. Topamax sounded very appealing because of the probable weight loss, but I knew it has some(!) side effects. in the end I opted for Amitriptyline, which makes u put on some weight, but not as much as most preventatives. It has really worked, have been on it for 7 weeks, and migraines/daily headaches are much, much better, but am putting on a bit of weight, so thought maybe I would try the Topamx, so i will be thinner, but the side effects I have read on this board, are really frightening. I wish you all well.

[Curious]

I have been slowing switching to Topamax from Depakote. I also take other pyche meds as part of my coctail. The Topamax appears better than Depakote for my migraines. Like many of you, my appetite for food is noticably smaller but I have not lost as much weight as I would have hoped. My somewhat worsened memory could be due to Topamax or to perimenopausal hormones (a joy in themselves- This month's hormonal surge was the worst I have ever had, as those around me will atest.) Still, it's better than the complete memory fuzz of a migraine. I haven't heard voices, or felt numbness or experienced a lack of orgasm that I have before- but the coctail of meds may be taking care of that.

No one drug is right for everyone. No one doc is right for everyone. I have a wonderful psychopharmacologist/therapist. If you do not have a good rapport with your doc - take control!

[admin]

Hello there, i was just wondering about topomax being used for chronic pain/ back pain/ neck pain from a car accident. been on it for 3 days at 25mg at night, for 1 week and then going to 50 mg for 1 week, and so forth up to a 100 mg daily, or that maybe my dr will go higher than that who knows he;s kind of a bugger instead of giving me muscle relaxers he gave me this which has me puzzled cause after all ive read here, i don't suffer from seizures or anything you all mention here. But every morning i have a hard time waking up and talk like a drunk, i feel very hot all the time and can never have enough water my pepsi tastes awful and i am married with 2 kids and waking with my kids in the morning is unreal, i can barely see, nor move and my eyes burn and are blood shot all the time, when they never did before. Has anybody heard of taking this drug for muscle pain like i have? any info would be greatly appreciated thanks and have a good day

[admin]

god I hear you cant spell simple words and math is impossiple when your on 400 mg a day.

[admin]

you need to stop taken topamax!!! I lost my eye sight
for 2wks of hell. I still have problem.

[admin]

Mandi,

My wife has been on Topomax for a 4-5 years now and our sex life is basically non-existent! She never says no - but she also never, ever wants to herself. There is also the pain of no physical touch during the everyday lives of a married couple! She doesn't seem to know that I am even there or have the desire to even see me in that way.

Can you explain your feelings as you are experiencing them to me??

Mike

[admin]

My friend takes 600mg of Topamax a day and sounds like she is a mean drunk. She is verbally abusive,speech slurred,staggers,and is so agitated that I am afraid of her. Has anyone else heard of this? Her doctor told her to take 400mg per day due to side effects, but forget that she told her this. She doesn't feel she acts any differently and wants to stay on it as she has lost over 100 lbs. I am afraid for her and myself. HELP!!!

[Salemc]

Hi,
I'm really at the end of my rope! 2003 may have been the worst year of my life. I suffered a severed Achilles tendon in June 12 weeks on crutches-my graduate work is in dance and I run a non-profit theatre arts organization and I finished the year with a hysterectomy. This children’s theatre company is my life’s work, which I founded 10 years ago, and its on the verge of going under. I’ve been on Topomax for 18 months and it’s the last of the Bi-Polar meds to offer any hope. However, I feel so depressed right now that I’m actually thinking of disappearing. Over the past year when on Topomax I’ve pushed myself so hard that I’ve burned numerous bridges pushing everyone around me. I can’t sleep. I work 15 a day; I’m at the office at 4 AM and get home at 9 PM. Despite my efforts, I’m afraid we will have to close the doors this spring. All of this rambling is to ask these questions: Am I feeling this heart broken and unable to go on BECAUSE of the medicine or because of the overwhelming loss of this work? Is there anything new out there other than Depakote, Lithium, Tegrital?

Rachel

[admin]

Hi- my neurologist has prescribe Topamax for chronic headaches (going on 6 months of a single, continuous but not severe headache). My question is- I believe that migranes have been ruled out in my case (the symptoms don't fit). Has anyone heard of this being used in cases other than migranes? I'm just not sure I want to start the med. based on the side effects I've heard about but the nuero. really wants me to (I've already put him off about it for 2 months). Thanks for any help.