Migraine

Just wanted to give everyone a positive report on Topamax...I've been on it now for 4 weeks. I'm up to 50 mg/day. It's only been one month, but I am oh so very cautionsly optimistic!

I've made it through my first menstrual cycle in a year without vertigo...and my first cycle since the age of 13 (25 years) without aura and migraine. I could sing Topa praises from the rooftops.

My PCP wants to hold at this dose for now...and wean me off of the verapamil to see what happens. I am feeling REALLY good - aside from the usual verapamil side effects (my blood pressure is sitting at 87/52) - I'm always tired and a little a woozy due to that...

The only side effects from the Topa to date are the topa-tingles in the balls of my feet in the a.m. and occasional bouts of the "stupids"...in fact, the pediatricians here at work call topa "Dope-A-Max"...LOL. It's a convenient excuse for being a ditz on occasion.

Just wanted to give a positive spin to the Topamax saga...

Pain free wishes to all.

Jodi

Jodi

I'm so happy for you. It's great when you find something that works well and isn't causing too many unpleasant side effects.

My son is going to be starting it soon. Your comments make me very hopeful.

What was your titration schedule?

Jean Ann

Congratulations! That gives me a lot of hope, as well. I had to double check the name, especially since I just started Topamax (Dop-a-max) as well, and for the same reason (menstrual related migraines) - my name is Jodi as well - spelled exactly the same! Best wishes! I'll keep you updated on my progress as well. The side effects so far haven't been that bad for me, either!

Congratulations!
I've been on Topamax since August. I'm currently taking 225 mg; working my way up to 300 mg! I haven't noticed the same side affects as others.

I'm glad it's working for you.

We did a slow titrate up...12.5 mg at a time. This involved splitting pills, which was a pain, especially since pills don't have a "split guide" on them - but it all worked out so far.

The neurologists here (Mayo Clinic) have found that the medication is better tolerated with the slowest titration rate you can manage to have.

Whatever it was, it worked for me. I'm tolerating the drug well so far. No insomnia...which was my biggest fear. I'm also making sure eat at least one banana a day and drinking lots and lots and lots of fluids. (please excuse while I run to the bathroom again...)

Okay, I'm back. I forgot to mention earlier...I really pushed the meds this past month. I had an incredibly stressful time of things, both at work and at home...sleep deprivation, the whole works. Yippee!

Oh, and I live with two types of migraine - the classic aura type and also basilar migraine with hemilplegia. Due to the basilar/hemiplegia, I am unable to take the normal abortive type medications. So this really is a GODSEND for me

Best of luck to your son, Jean Ann - I hope he does at least as well as I have. And Jodi - please keep me updated and I'll do the same.
Jodi

Jodi congrats on your medication success! BTW, do you know about pill-cutters? It's a little thing you can get at the pharmacy, that holds the pill in place and when you close it a blade slices the pill in half, kind of like a little guillotine (but safe). You can then cut the halves in half, etc.

Hope that helps.

- Megs

Hi!

I'm also on Topamax. I'm taking 100mg and have been for about. . .3 months now. I have noticed I get migraines less frequently, but it seems like recently I am having them come back. Did this happen to anyone else? I take zomig 5mg for emergencies. . .but that only stops them where they are. . .it doesn't reduce the pain. . .just halts it. . .and I have nausea meds too. . .

I am wondering if my dose needs to be adjusted?

I am currently looking for another doctor though. . .so I don't even know what I should do when my prescription runs out! I have a few refills though until then, so hopefully I'll find another doc before I run out and I can get back on track with them!

Any ideas?

Jade

Hi Jade

My son had a similar experience while he was taking neurontin. The first month on the drug he had a huge reduction in the number of migraines. But, the following month the migraines were increasing again. This continued on into the next couple of months.

I notified the doctor and he increased the dosage. My son eventually had to stop taking the neurontin because the side effects at the higher dose were unacceptable. He eventually had to get off the neurontin completely. I assume it could be the same thing with the topamax.

Can you continue to speak with your current doctor until you find a new one? Maybe he can advise you about increasing the topamax and also keep your prescription filled until you find someone new.

Good luck
Jean Ann