Topamax/Steve or any one

[debhun]

Dr gave me this today for my migraines. I really don't know about this. Should I wait till I go the PM the 31 of May before I take this?

Thanks

[Pharmacist.steve]

Dr gave me this today for my migraines. I really don't know about this. Should I wait till I go the PM the 31 of May before I take this?

Thanks

http://www.chronicpainresourcecenter.com/misc/topamaxwarning.pdf

Here is a recent warning on Topamax.. concerning kidney stones. It is used for migraines .. so I would think that it would not violate any PM contracts... but not have read all contracts... if that is a concern .. call PM and confirm/deny

[cindybear]

topamax isn't a narcotic...It's a anti-seisure drug..Its given to people for migrains and for other reasons.. I have Trigeminal Neuralgia and it works really well for those horrible ZAPS and Shooting Pains in the head that are there 24 / 7...Takes them away to hardly any a day to where I'd suffer anywhere from 30 a hour...Which made my horrible headpain even worse...Now my sister and a couple friends uses it for migrains and they say it really works...They hardly ever siffer with them like they use too. I just know, When I started taking it, It was best ti start slowly. very slow..Like 25mgs every 4-6 weeks then add 25 mgs untill you get to where you are adjusted to what you are going to need..I ended up at 200 mgs a day..But I am also pretty weird..I can't take a nightly dose,,,It causes me severe vivid dreams (nightmares )..I think it has some stuff in it that works with depression, maybe increases your seritonin..And I'm pretty senitive to seritonin..I have noticed drugs that biuld that in your body or puts that in your body causes me vivid nightmares...Another horrible drug for me was amitryline..That was a nightmare drug...Good luck !! hugs, Cindy

[bluebirdy]

Topamax can be a miracle drug but also can have serious side effects - including Osteopenia - which it caused in my case.

So I cannot take it at the usual higher doses for pain relief. I DO still take it at the smallest dose for migraines - and it helps a great deal.

good luck, bb

[spoiledbeth]

I was on topamax, 200mgs tid for about a year, until I switched neurologists. I switched to a much better neurologist, who actually looked at my history, and took me off of it because I already have a history of kidney stones. I did notice an increase in my migraines when we stopped it, but the main reason I was on it was because, like cindybear, I have tn. They don't call it the suicide disease for nothing! It helped me alot with the pain, but still, to this day, we haven't found a combo that makes me pain free, just a little more tolerable. This medicine is worth giving a try, you never know whether it is going to give you bad side effects or not until you give it a chance... and if it stops the headaches, then it's worth trying!

[Meowkitkat]

I have taken topomax for migraines since last October. I am on a low dose and it has worked really well for me. I only take 50 mg at night and have not had any side effects at all. I have lowered the meds that I took for migraines - imitrex and fioricet - alot. It is not a narcotic but an anti seizure med. You might want to notify you PM to let them know you are adding this to your drug regiment.

[Sara1979]

Topamax worked well for my head pain but I didn't tolerate the side effects. I am one of the unlucky ones who got a kidney stone but I also had serious problems with word recall, and it made food taste funny. On the plus side I did lose some weight on it.

[debhun]

Not going to take it till I see the PM next week. I had to much trouble this week to start something new. I think it is best I wait and get my BP down first. It is down right now145/98 but head is sore that is all. Other than Being in pain from my every day pain I feel a lot better than the last 5-6 days. I hope I never get hight BP like that again. Thanks to Steve he seared my hubby out of his mine. For that I own my life to him.

[Pharmacist.steve]

Thanks to Steve he seared my hubby out of his mine. For that I own my life to him.

I just gave you a SHOVE.. the ER doc did all the real work....I am just glad that I was in the right place at the right time to be able to SHOVE

[MamaRider]

I LIKE Topamax. For ME it has lessen the amount of Migaines and CDH as well as my day-to-day all over body pain. I haven'tnoticedany real negituves with it, and plan to keep on taking it. It has kept me out of the ER with Major HA's for 5-6 month peroids . THAT is TOTALY cool with me..

[debhun]

Well I have decided not to take this till I go to PM. I have so much going on right now. I just found out that I have thyroid nodules and have to see a surgeon and A pinch nerves in my neck that is giving me Migraines. I have been though he!! the last few months.

I am coming off the cymbalta too. I want to start with a new start. I am going to have my PM to get me a new Dr that is good. It is at a very big teaching hospital. But it is 2 hours away from here. We will see what happens Thursday.