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Has anyone had a problem with lowered blood pressure on Topamax. My Blood Pressure has always been very good and lately I have gone to the Doctor and my Blood Pressure and been extremely low, almost to the point of Hypotension. Nothing I have read has ever said this about Topamax but just wanted to know if anyone had any comments or suggestions. Thanks!
I am not sure about the blood pressure thing and Topamax. I know my BP is normally normal/low that is why my dr. did not put me in BP medication to control migranes. I know it can effect the acid in your blood and can also possibly cause or contribute to clots - but I am really not sure about the blood pressure thing. Maybe that is why when you first start taking it you feel a little dizzy!
Hi Walter. I am SO sorry I didn't see your post and welcome you sooner... you kind of snuck in on us!
So, welcome to MyMigraineConnection. Does your wife also suffer from Migraine disease? We have lots of info and support here and it really is a wonderful site.
Here is a link to the FDA Medwatch site that reports adverse events on medications.Click here About halfway down the page is info on topamax. You may find this very interesting and I would call the doc may be in order to discuss this, telling him it is from the FDA gov. site. Some doctors today seem hesitant about talking to their patients about internet sources. I don't know how they can argue with the FDA site. I hope your wife is ok, and if you need more help or info please let us know.
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Originally posted by Walter: My wife has been taking topamax for quite a while as a mood regulator together with anti-depressant drug. Do any of the users of this news group have read any report about the possibility of topamax causing pulmonary thromboembolism? If so, I would like to read more about that. The reason for my request is that my wife has recently developed pulmonary thromboembolism,and so far we have not been able to identify the reason/cause of this problem. She does not fit in any possible profile. Thanks for your comments and help.
Hi, goodqueenbess, This is my first post, I've been kind of hanging around just reading for a while. I started taking Topamax a little over a year ago and have been through all the same side effects that are so annoying. But rest assured that they do ease up as time goes by. My first one was trying my best to pronounce a word after trying my hardest to think of what that word was. And then that word never came out of my mouth as the word I intended to say! That took some getting use to. And the tingling in my hands and feet were enough to drive me crazy, but I found out very quickly that drinking tons of water made all the difference in the world. And if you throw in a bottle of gatorade now and then, it replenishes you and helps even more. Yes, your balance may be off a little and I still tend to misjudge exactly how close I am to the wall or doorway. I take my dose at night because I would never be able to function during the day if I didn't. I've been one of the lucky ones that this medication has worked for. I have suffered with migraines most of my life. I averaged 3 to 4 migraines a week and now have 1 migraine every other month, if that. So it was well worth going through the adjustment of the side effects in the beginning. I also lost 43 pounds, so that was a plus. I realize that everyone is different and what works for one does not always work for another. Whatever you decide, I wish you the best!
Has anyone experianced depression with Topamax? I started taking this medication about three weeks ago and have begun feeling depressed which is completely out of character for me. I was wondering if you have have experianced this?
Posts: 2 | Location: Bay Area, Ca | Registered: 05-22-2007
Nevermind, I just finished reading all the posts..I'm not alone. Which on one hand makes you feel some sort of twisted comfort but on the other I have so much empathy for you all.
Posts: 2 | Location: Bay Area, Ca | Registered: 05-22-2007
Welcome to MyMigraineConnection, BenniHana. We are glad you found us. MyMigraine has wonderful information and lots of support we hope you find helpful.
How long have you been on topamax? It can take up to 3 months for your body to adjust to the right dose and hopefully some of the potential side effects to go away. Does that help any?
It took me a long time to get up to 75 mg a day. Then I cut back to 50 a day to save on prescription costs. I had some of the same problems you mentioned. In addition, I have scars on both knees from slipping(motor slowing)in my hallway. I was never able to bump myself back up to 75 mg again when I got a plan that had a three-tier co-pay. I'm glad I stuck with it, but some docs just don't get it when you try to tell them that you are really NOT adjusting. It's like for some of us, we get to this one place and just can't get through it.
Has anyone experienced abnormal bleeding or spotting with Topamax. I've been taking it for 1 month and have had spotting for an entire month, been to the ER and doctor with no abnormal findings.
I've had almost every side effect you can name on topamax since I started taking it last summer (tingles, fatigue, nausea, weight loss, hair loss, whacky menstrual cycles, irritability, a bad case of the stupids, etc) but I've stuck with it. I felt an immediate decline in my migraines and felt it was worth it. what helped me was to titrate up slowly by taking the sprinkle capsules, 15 mg at a time and going up 15 mg a week. I'm now taking prescription potassium supplements for a bad case of potassium deficiency from it and a low dose of prozac for the irritability. the plus side is that I don't have migraines every other day, which is terrific. so after ten years I'm getting migraines maybe 5x a month and i've lost 35 lbs, most of it gained via taking other migraine meds. for me it's allowed a great quality of life, esp once i managed to figure out the potassium deficiency.
i'd suggest that folks drink a lot of water with this drug, including electrolytes. my fav is smartwater, which doesn't have the added calories or artificial sweeteners of other drinks but any of them will do. my doc suggested at least 80 oz of water and I've been sticking with that. I'd also suggest a good multivitamin, esp those having trouble eating well. it's true, it works well for some and bites for others. for most of us it's more complicated than that, lol. still I love the drug. it's given me back my life.
Does anyone know if some of the side affects can be permenent once off Topamax??
What can happen if the doctor made you increase your dosage by 50 mg in one (evening knowing that you have severe reactions to meds & were having major side affects already) night & told you it was ok to take a triptan for a basilar migraine several days later? Can there be long term problems (I had a severe "seizure-like episode" where my arms & leg stiffened & curled up & clenched w/electric bolts & was sent to ER- nothing found)?
I've been off of Topamax for 8 weeks & still have these problems (which started or became worse since I had the sharp increase in Topamax & Maxalt): short term memory difficulties, paresthesis, weird limb sensations & sharp, sudden headache episodes, mostly due to environmental triggers, stiffening & clenching of limbs at times & occasional weird movement episodes & waking up screaming(often at night, esp. during menstration) light blood spotting mid month, abnormally short, but extremely painful menstration (about 1& 1/2 days long), facial hair, very lonnnnng basilar migraines (between 5 days-3 weeks) & increased hemiplegic migraines/lasting one sided weakness, plus my sleep problems are still pretty bad (never good, but last 6 months have been terrible). (oh & some burning in lower stomach & blood in stools, but I don't think that is related)
I was told Topamax leaves the system in 3-5 days & while my appetite, taste, ataxia, long term memory & complete zombiness improved (thankfully), these other things are still lingering around even though I have been off of it for 8 weeks. How is this possible? Any idea when I should be functional again? Have there been any reports of people ending up with lasting affects? Can anything be done or should have any tests? My electrolytes are normal, so is my kidney & liver & I am not dehydreated...
Posts: 303 | Location: Boston, MA | Registered: 05-10-2007
Originally posted by LisaCACO: I've had almost every side effect you can name on topamax since I started taking it last summer (tingles, fatigue, nausea, weight loss, hair loss, whacky menstrual cycles, irritability, a bad case of the stupids, etc) but I've stuck with it. I felt an immediate decline in my migraines and felt it was worth it. what helped me was to titrate up slowly by taking the sprinkle capsules, 15 mg at a time and going up 15 mg a week. I'm now taking prescription potassium supplements for a bad case of potassium deficiency from it and a low dose of prozac for the irritability. the plus side is that I don't have migraines every other day, which is terrific. so after ten years I'm getting migraines maybe 5x a month and i've lost 35 lbs, most of it gained via taking other migraine meds. for me it's allowed a great quality of life, esp once i managed to figure out the potassium deficiency.
Funny you mention the potassium deficiency....I asked my doctor and 2 pharmacies about this....Topamax does not cause a potassium dificiency.....I was getting calf cramping and thought that was what it was - Nope! Just a side effect - nothing to do with potassium! I now take a lower dose of the topamax with a mulit-vitamin which seems to be helping this time around.
Just letting anyone know that has had problems with spotting and irregular bleeding; I stopped taking Topamax and within less than 24 hours my bleeding decreased by more than 50% and 36 hours later is nearly gone.
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