Migraine

I'm sorry, Bob, but I guess I'm going to have to risk ticking you off. I simply cannot agree with you. Prepare for the worst? Do you know what that can do? Are you familiar with self-fulfilling prophecy, the placebo effect, the nocebo effect?

If someone prepares for the worst, that's most likely what they'll get. That's self-fulfilling prophecy. If you start a medication or treatment sure that it won't work, it won't. If you're sure you're going to have side effects, you will. The mind is quite powerful. This is proven in every placebo controlled trial where these two things happen:

• Some of the patients taking the placebo experience the benefits of the medication they think they're getting because they've been told what the benefits will be.
  
• Some of the patients taking the placebo experience the potential side effects of the actual medication because they've been told what they are.

We work hard here to be both realistic and optimistic. We do NOT go into things expecting the worst.

Respectfully,

quote:

Originally posted by Chronic HA:
Good luck Joanne,

You never know until you go. Hope & prayfor the best, prepare for the worst, where ever you land, at least you won't be taken by surprise. Bob

quote:

Originally posted by Joanne:
Thank you for the replies! I ended up starting on the Topamax 2 nights ago and going to follow the package instructions for increasing dosage from 25mg up to 100mg over a month. But I might stretch it out a little longer than a month, I'll just see how it goes. I was a little worried about the potential side effects at first, but then again, I'm already dealing with the 'side effects' of almost daily migraines, so it's definitely worth a try. Oh yeah, and I wouldn't mind the weight loss thing either!

Joanne - I wanted to let you know about my Topamax experience. I did have some cognitive side effects when I first started on it, but they did go away. After that, I noticed that my memory actually went back to where it used to be and hadnt been for quite some time even before the Topamax. My memory was actually quicker then it had been in quite some time and it almost felt like its old self. To me Topamax has been a great help with my migraines and also the sharpness of my memory. I was apprehensive to start it in the beginning because of the potential side effects, but it was well worth it for me and Im glad I went ahead with it. I am on 100 mg a day and did titrate up to that amount slowly. I experience very little side effect and just make sure I drink plenty of water.

Teri,
These boards are for healthy discussions... I hope Bob doesn't get ticked off. AND, I hope I don't tick you off with my thoughts either.

I actually agree, to a point, with preparing for the worst.

While there is certainly a placebo effect with many drugs, there are also CERTAINLY real, difficult, and sometimes dangerous side effects we can experience from these drugs. I think getting well-educated about the possibilities is important. AND, preparing is important too. There is nothing worse than getting caught unprepared as I have...

I had to try a lot of high risk drugs to combat some of my health issues. I also have a 5-year-old and a husband that depend on me (for the little I'm capapable of). I've been UNEXPECTEDLY put out of commission a number of times from the drugs. I don't have any family members nearby to call on in emergencies.

My lesson? I ALWAYS learn the possibilities, and prepare for them. I have no choice. Placebo effect or not, I can't afford to be unprepared.

No, you don't tick me off, but truthfully, posts such as this one frustrate the daylights out of me. At NO time do I say NOT to learn about potential side effects. I ALWAYS say to be aware of them. The problem is that some discussions here border on obsessing on the potential side effects.

There is a placebo effect with EVERY drug. And the nocebo effect and self-fulfilling prophecy are very strong indeed.

Bottom line? Everyone should know both the potential effects and potential side effects of every medication and supplement they take, whether prescription or over-the-counter. However, if dwelled upon, those POTENTIAL adverse reactions are far more likely to occur.

I get very frustrated when someone asks WHEN they should expect an adverse reaction to occur, not IF. Those are the people who will, most likely, experience those adverse reactions, and we'll never know if it was actually the medication or the nocebo effect.

No, I don't want to see anyone injured by adverse reactions, but I also don't want to see someone miss out on a potentially effective treatment.

quote:

Originally posted by Counting.Sheep:
Teri,
These boards are for healthy discussions... I hope Bob doesn't get ticked off. AND, I hope I don't tick you off with my thoughts either.

I actually agree, to a point, with preparing for the worst.

While there is certainly a placebo effect with many drugs, there are also CERTAINLY real, difficult, and sometimes dangerous side effects we can experience from these drugs. I think getting well-educated about the possibilities is important. AND, preparing is important too. There is nothing worse than getting caught unprepared as I have...

I had to try a lot of high risk drugs to combat some of my health issues. I also have a 5-year-old and a husband that depend on me (for the little I'm capapable of). I've been UNEXPECTEDLY put out of commission a number of times from the drugs. I don't have any family members nearby to call on in emergencies.

My lesson? I ALWAYS learn the possibilities, and prepare for them. I have no choice. Placebo effect or not, I can't afford to be unprepared.

Understood... we are in agreement!

Hi guys, i'm not going to get ticked off :-)) afterall, I'm no longer manic now that I'm off Topamax :-))

"Perparing for the worst" vs. how ever else you say preparing for what ever happens how ever good or bad it may be? Teri has some good points about the self filling prophecy. I am always questioning whether the pain I feel is real or all in my head? There's a loaded question, Eh?

I always go through the trial periods and beyond to make sure the sides are real or the results are real. My daughter works in health care. Now, when the docs deny it is the med, she checks it out and usually she tells me that is a common side and it usually passes in X amount of time. This is as much of an ignorant Dr issue as it is a side effect issue.

Happy to have found you guys and looking forwad to pain free days over the horizon.

Bob

Bob,

I do thing you, CS, and I are really on the same page, just saying things a bit differently.

It was one of our forum members on About.com who had the first documented case of glaucoma caused by Topamax. It's a balancing act. Informing and learning, without dwelling on SEs and getting into that self-fulfilling prophecy realm.

If you haven't already, you'll see us reply to posts and give members info on SEs that their docs didn't. You'll also sooner or later see me jump right on it if anyone even mentions a vision or eye pain problem while taking Topamax. IMO, waiting even a couple of days to call the doc in such cases is too long.

I'm glad you found us too. :-)

quote:

Originally posted by Chronic HA:
Hi guys, i'm not going to get ticked off :-)) afterall, I'm no longer manic now that I'm off Topamax :-))

"Perparing for the worst" vs. how ever else you say preparing for what ever happens how ever good or bad it may be? Teri has some good points about the self filling prophecy. I am always questioning whether the pain I feel is real or all in my head? There's a loaded question, Eh?

I always go through the trial periods and beyond to make sure the sides are real or the results are real. My daughter works in health care. Now, when the docs deny it is the med, she checks it out and usually she tells me that is a common side and it usually passes in X amount of time. This is as much of an ignorant Dr issue as it is a side effect issue.

Happy to have found you guys and looking forwad to pain free days over the horizon.

Bob

Hey, gang,

Now that the loose ends are tied up on this thread, I'm going to close it to new posts and move it to the archived threads folder. It will stay there and be available for everyone to read. It has nothing to do with the topic. It's just that once threads get this long, it's more and more difficult to find anything in them or follow them well. If and when the need arises, someone can start a new thread.

Thanks!