Migraine

Hey, gang!

I'm sure all of you have noticed that there are quite a few discussions here about Topamax. Although there are over 100 medications being used for headache and Migraine prevention, there are actually only four of them that have been FDA approved for that purpose -- Depakote, propranolol (Inderal), timolol (Blocadren), and Topamax. Here's some additional information about Topamax, how it's prescribed, the warnings associated with it, etc.

• Topamax (topiramate) Profile
  Get an overview of Topamax, how and why it is prescribed, and the side effects that are most common when taking Topamax.
  
• Dosage and Tapering Topamax for Migraine Prevention
  Dr. Stephen Silberstein, director of the Jefferson Headache Center, shares his approach to Topamax dosage, and the optimal way to taper up to and down from a dosage.
  
• Potential Vision Issues with Topamax
  In September of 2001, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. issued a warning statement regarding potential side effects of Topamax, which may include acute myopia and glaucoma.
  
• Topamax Can Increase Occurrence of Kidney Stones
  A new study from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (UT Southwestern) has shown that Topamax can increase the propensity for calcium phosphate kidney stones.
  
• Topamax FDA Approved for Migraine Prevention
  In August, 2004, the FDA approved Topamax (topiramate) Tablets and Topamax (topiramate capsules) Sprinkle Capsules for the prophylaxis (prevention) of Migraine attacks in adults.

Thank You Teri ...

You're most welcome.

quote:

Originally posted by Neu(t)rino:
Thank You Teri ...

Sweet! A Topamax Omnibus edition! Very useful, indeed.

I'm going to set aside some time tomorrow morning or evening to read through all these and refresh my limited knowledge on Topamax. It's harder to recall info on meds you have no experience with. This is just the ticket. Thanks!

You're welcome, DD. I reread all of it recently and found it really helpful when reading all the questions here.

quote:

Originally posted by dragondroolHOST:
Sweet! A Topamax Omnibus edition! Very useful, indeed.

I'm going to set aside some time tomorrow morning or evening to read through all these and refresh my limited knowledge on Topamax. It's harder to recall info on meds you have no experience with. This is just the ticket. Thanks!

Teri,

Great information on Topamax all in one place. Thanks!

I found the vision issues quite interesting.

Liz

Liz,

Thanks and you're welcome!

quote:

Originally posted by Liz:
Teri,

Great information on Topamax all in one place. Thanks!

I found the vision issues quite interesting.

Liz

Thank you for this!

Maybe all this stuff is out there on the internet somewhere. I get confused because some places don't say where they get their stuff and I don't know if I can trust it. The Topamax info here makes sense and putting so much in one place made it so easy!

I just saw the part of the pages where it says "Note: All clinical content on this site is physician-reviewed, except material generated by our community members." Please don't think I don't appreciate everything you do, Terri, but seeing that makes me feel confident with what I find here.

THANK YOU.

Hi Teri,

With all due respect, that is my issue with doctors, the FDA, and the pharma industry. I don't see anything there that leads me to believe what happened to me would happen.

The obvious answer is it wasn't the Topamax. Then why did I start to go down hill a few weeks after I started it and get immediate response when I stated to taper off?

Just thinking out loud again, Bob

Bob,

With all due respect right back to you it's not possible to report every person's experience. I have done all the research I can, and this is the best information available. Something to consider is that people who are successfully using Topamax have no reason to join forums such as this one, so we're not going to hear much from them.

Whatever the case, there are things for which I have no answers. The severe problems some people have, allegedly from Topamax, aren't going to be solved by our having the same discussion over and over again.

Consider this, please. It would be irresponsible of me to write an article saying that Topamax is dangerous and bad and it has caused people permanent damage because I have only anecdotal evidence from a minority of the people I've talked to who are taking it or have taken it. I could, in fact, be sued for such an article. That's not to say that I don't believe you or TopamaxBrainDamage. But there is a burden of proof to be met before I can make any such conclusion or write anything along those lines.

You won't report this to the FDA because you haven't been able to get information from them that you want. Has it occurred to you that they might not have the kind of information you want because people in situations like yours aren't filing MedWatch reports?

I understand that you want more info made public, that you think there should be stronger warnings. But the bottom line is that discussions here aren't going to make those things happen.

Please consider filing a MedWatch report and/or even calling the FDA to discuss these issues with them?

quote:

Originally posted by Chronic HA:
Hi Teri,

With all due respect, that is my issue with doctors, the FDA, and the pharma industry. I don't see anything there that leads me to believe what happened to me would happen.

The obvious answer is it wasn't the Topamax. Then why did I start to go down hill a few weeks after I started it and get immediate response when I stated to taper off?

Just thinking out loud again, Bob

Hi Teri,

My christian values preclude me from being angry at even the idiot that did this to me, but those same values cause me to realize it is my duty to warn every one I can. I have run into too many victims in casual conversations to believe the research to truly totaly comprehensive.

I'm not trying to tell my story over and over, merely support those who are having trouble and give them hope that the effects will pass with time. But even two years later, I am typing 1/3 to 1/2 of these words twice and proof reading several times, but silly mistakes still get posted.

You can be assured I will file complaints with the state and FDA when the statue of limitations has passed. It is very near. My wife and I will never recover financially from this disaster. I don't remember when I did not have standing job offers. One of them sent me packing from the interview becasue they thought I was on drugs or something. I was, Topamax. Way, way too much of it thanks to the idiot who is one of the only headache clinics to turn up on an internet search.

Unfortunately, it has only been the last 6 months that I have recoved enough to file adequete and comprehensive complaints. I have ask all my fiends who were not too offended by me on Topamax to still be freinds to write letters to send with the complaints. One Dr I talked to by eamil told me candidly, Topamax is a wild card that should only be used as a last resort. He has long felt that it caused depression. His official website doesn't indicate that. He broke it off pretty quick. I'm sure he figured out I was fishing for info.

I know you cannot write warnings, bujt anyone can tell the truth. Anyway, you are right about one thing; the subject has been pretty well covered!

Take care,

Check out my salmon recipe, yummers!

Bob