Migraine

I'm starting to think that Topamax is going to need its own discussion forum with all the questions it gets j/k.

I have been taking Topamax now for about 4 months with my most recent dose adjustment to 50mg in the morning and 100mg at night. I've noticed since taking the Topamax that I've been getting more and more edgy and sort of aggressive. What I mean by that is that is arguementative and confrontational in an aggressive manor. I'm taking 25mg of Paxil CR for Depression/Anxiety but this behavior seems different than just feeling irritable when you don't feel well, when you're depressed, or just out of sorts.

Has anyone else had any reactions like this from medications? Has anyone heard of Topamax doing anything like this? I know that side effects do different things to each individual but I thought I would pose this question and see how people respond.

I don't go see my neurologist for another month so I won't be able to bring this up with him until then.

Thanks

PSK

I'm not very familiar with topamax. My 14 year old son will be starting it very soon as his next preventative though.

When my son was on neurontin (also an anti seizure drug) he was experiencing some of the behavior you are mentioning. We called it hostile behavior. He was very aggressive. I did ask the doctor about it and he lowered the dose. I also found some research that identified that type of behavior as a possible side effect.

I found the topamax side effects on this website and it says that "this medication rarely may cause mood or behavior changes such as anxiety, agitation, hostility, pressured/rapid speech or thoughts of suicide. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop unusual (possibly sudden) mood changes. " (Sorry I don't know how to post the link.)

You should call your doctor ASAP. Let us know what happens. Take Care.
Jean Ann

I agree, PSK, don't wait for your appointment. Call the doctor right away if you suspect Topamax is affecting your mood or personality. Here's the link:

TOPAMAX Oral

I felt so horrible while I was on Topamax that I know I was edgy and angry a lot of the time. It just drug me further and further down the longer I was on it. I don't know if that is how you would describe what you are experiencing, but I know I was miserable and cranky while I was on it.

I wish you good luck in determining whether you should stay on it or move on to something else. Take care.

Diana

I wasn't edgy and aggressive like what you're describing, but I did have definite mental/mood changes at 75 mg about 6 weeks after I got to that dose (or, that's when I really noticed it). The Topa definitely contributed to my depression, as well as making me *much* more anxious and more moody in general. I could go from happy and carefree to irritable and cranky in a snap. These mood changes were what finally caused me to back my dosage down to 50 mg.

When I increased my dosage, I did notice a difference in my personality, although the brunt of it was that I felt that I was completely out of it all the time, so I just went back down and stayed there. I should be taking twice as much as I am now, but that's something that everyone is different about. You should talk it over with your doctor. If you feel that the medication is working for you at 50mg in the morning and 50 at night, then don't increase your dosage if it makes you uncomfortable. Right now I'm only taking half of what you're taking and I plan to stay with it. It's whatever works in this field, as everyone is different. Just make sure that you feel good about what you are doing.

Moody would definately be a good way to describe it. I feel like I can go from being happy one moment to being angry the next. I have very little patience with people and little things seem to really make me on edge. I have had issues with anxiety and depression but this feels different....seems much more reactive. It probably doesn't help that I've been feeling much more tired, depressed, and have had several bad migraines the last couple days. We all know all of those things can make someone feel edgy!

I'm going to try and get a hold of my doctor and let him know how I've been feeling and see what he says. Thanks for all your suggestions and support

Let us know what he says, ok?

quote:

Originally posted by psk2250:
Moody would definately be a good way to describe it. I feel like I can go from being happy one moment to being angry the next. I have very little patience with people and little things seem to really make me on edge. I have had issues with anxiety and depression but this feels different....seems much more reactive. It probably doesn't help that I've been feeling much more tired, depressed, and have had several bad migraines the last couple days. We all know all of those things can make someone feel edgy!

I'm going to try and get a hold of my doctor and let him know how I've been feeling and see what he says. Thanks for all your suggestions and support

Left a message for my doctor and waiting for a reply. In the meantime I've backed the dosage down to where I was at before 50mg in the morning and 50mg at night. We'll see what he says.

My neurologist had me come in today and see him. He's taking me off Topamax completly after tapering it off and putting me on Depakote. He feels that since we've tried a bunch of other prevenatives he is going to try the Depakote and look into Botox injections. I know there was no way I was going to be able to continue on the Topamax the way I was going, at least not at that dosage.

I'm a little nervous the Botox injections but from looking around here it looks like lots of people have tried them. At this point I guess I'm willing to try anything to take the pain away.

I'm glad to hear your doc is willing to take you off the Topa if you were having moodiness problems with us. Good luck with the Depakote - let us know how it goes, ok?

Thank you. I'll post on the Depakote. I start it this week. I'm hoping I don't have as many problems as some people have had with Depakote. I go in for the consultation on the Botox injections in 2 weeks.

I saw someone posted in another post about their lives being like a soap opera. I can definately say that is true for me. Always something going on, something changing, new meds to take, etc. My wife and I try and keep a good sense of humor about it by joking around and say that I take more meds than my 90 year old grandfather...or that Glaxo Smith Kline should be sending us a rebate for all the drugs we buy from them.

I took 150 mg of Topamax and had horrible aggresion problems. That and severe weight loss was enough for my neuro to switch me over to Cymbalta.

The slightest most insignificant things would trigger a complete rage. Looking back I am surprised my wife didn't leave me.

When I got up to 125mg/day, water bottles started flying. Yes, the agression was pretty bad and the mood swings were awful. One moment I was furious with no reason why and the next I was crying because I was so frustrated that I had no contol over my body.

My Neuro has me tapering off the stuff due to the fact I almost lost my vision and had severe eye pain/pressure. Now that I am back down to 50mg/day I feel so much better, the mood swings have minimized and I don't feel like I have no control any more. I can't wait till 3 June when I am officially off the stuff!

Good luck with the Botox!