Topamax

[fearfactor]

I could easily get a prescription for Topamax as I have migraines and my doc and I talked about it at our last visit.  I would also LOVE the weight loss side effect.  Anyone that has or is taking Topamax - does it make you feel nervous?  Does it make your heart beat faster and/or palpitations?  I have anxiety so I can't use it if it will make me more nervous.  Anybody have bad side effects from Topamax?

[juliew561ee]

I am age 40 mom and wife of 3 teenagers. I am on Topamax, my dr. just increased my dose to 75 mg and it is helping. I have been on it 1 month now and my miggraines are alot less. I used to get them almost daily, and was so sick of it. I am doing alot better. I am loosing a pound a week, now also and also notice  I dont like soda pop as much either, due the taste of pop is funny. But I still drink it go figure. Now one issue I am scared about is my eyes have been dialated for a few days now and dr. is aware of this, he didnt comment on it, he knows i'm on the medication, my eyes been watery too. I will call him next week if it continues. I am hoping no eye damage from Topamax. I dont want to stop taking it but will if I have to. I wish everyone good luck with this medication. Just start out on a low dose and work your way up that is what my dr. does. I am seeing results with lesser migraines. I am so far ok with the medication except my eyes. I am also happy with loosing 8 pounds this month. Whohoo~~~~~~~

[skippybear672]

I have been on Topamax now for 6 months and it has been GREAT.. I wish they would of given me this years ago.. I have been a migraine sufferer for too long and tried everything even block injections, acupuncture, numerous medications and therapies but nothing worked until Topamax. This is a true wonerdrug with no side effects except weightloss and I mean who wouldnt like that??? At first I got a slight numbness and tingling in my fingers but that went away after a week.. more doctors should give patients this than narcodics which cause rebound heachaches and other side effects that are way worse than weightloss!!!

[brandie514]

To the mom with the 8 year old daughter with migraines, be very wary of taking Topamax, read our experience:

My 8 year old son suffers from horrible migraines. His doctor prescribed him Topamax.  My son was on this medication for about 6 weeks.  His mood started to change and he started showing really agressive behavior towards his brother and his friends.  He was also not sleeping at night......This was not my child, it was sad to see.  I had to make the decision of what I felt was right for my child.  We weaned him off the medicine, and with in a week and a half his behavior returned to normal.  However, here we are 5 weeks with out the medicine and the migraines have returned. He's had 3 in two weeks.  I am hoping there are alternatives to Topamax!

[amanwh4]

hi my child has really bad headaches and they put her on topamax
should i be concern she 8

[jlr1234]

i have read about tingling feet. more like pins and needles in my heels. also read about tingling in face and agree with it being more like electricity running through face. read mostly about potasium helping but someone else swore on zinc. called neurologist, he said to try. i take both potasium and zinc (cheap vitamins from store). almost instand help in heals, not completely gone yet. starting to help with face as well. hope this helps someone else. i am at 50mg twice a day going to 100mg twice a day. no relief from goofy memory loss yet, hoping leveling off at max dose with resolve this like most post say.
Blessings,
J

[TNMom2TwoBoys]

I am a 33-year-old mother of two who has suffered from severe chronic migraines for over six years. I have also run the gammit of migraine medications, without much success for long. Five years ago my neuro doc tried me on Verapamil and Topamax. The Verapamil was fine- no problems there. The Topamax was another story. It was horrible. Joint pain, problems concentrating and overall lack of interest in most everything. I stuck it out until I became pregnant with my second child, but it was hard. Since my second child, my migraines have worsened. I went back to my neuro doc this past Dec. 22nd, 2010. He diagnosed with me with Vascular Artery Disease, HPB and Vascular Migraines. He put me back on both medications. I did fine with the Verapamil again, and at first the Topamax was awesome. I lost 21 lbs in six weeks and I felt wonderful. I slept well, I ate less, I had NO headaches at all and life was good. I did have the tingling in my hands and feet and carbonated beverages were flat, but both of those things I could deal with. What happened next I could not deal with. Last week I began having muscle spasms below my left eye. They progressively got worse to where the whole left side of my face would twitch out of control. On Tuesday of this week I began having slight paralysis of the left side of my face and by Wednesday I had a sort of Bell's Palsy-type of reaction where my the entire left side of my face became slack. Needless to say, I was a little scared. However, if you go back in time on this forum and look at a posting dated Jan. 5th, 2007 at 12am you will find a woman who went through the exact same thing. I d/c'd the Topamax without titrating down, which I am aware is a bad thing to do, and today (Friday) I have very little spasming and my face has returned to a 95% normal function. Yesterday my neuro doc told me on the phone that it was very unlikely that Topamax would ever do this to me, but I beg to differ. There are too many other people out there who have had similar problems for this to be a non-issue. It's really too bad that Topamax does not take it seriously, nor do our doctors. It does make me really disheartened and frustrated, though, because for the first time in SO long I felt really good. For those of you who are taking Topamax successfully and without these horrible side effects, I am really excited for you. For those that have had a similar experience to mine, know that you are not alone- nor are you crazy.