Barb symptoms and conditions

First I want to say, after reading several posts, that it seems a lot of you are taking Topamax without food, which may be causing your "spaciness." My doctor suggested always taking it with food, even though it says with or without food, and I only experienced spaciness the few times I took it at bedtime without food. Once I started taking it with breakfast and dinner, that never happened again.

I am a 48 year old woman, prescribed Topamax in September of 08 for migraine associated vertigo without headaches, with facial numbness. The first thing I noticed was I immediately had headaches, which to me indicated it was dehydrating me as that is the only time I get a "normal" headache. So I knew I had to drink a lot of water. Soon after starting Topamax I developed a dry cough that lasted the entire time I was on the med. I did not relate it to the drug at the time, however. It never even occurred to me. After about two months on the drug I started having trouble breathing with extreme dryness in my airways. I was prescribed an albuterol inhaler which did not help. I was then prescribed a corticosteroid inhaler which also did not help. I thought the trouble breathing was from taking Nadolol which I was prescribed for occasional heart fluttering - the neurologist said this was a normal side effect of Topamax. I stopped taking the Nadolol but the trouble breathing continued. I also had more migraines with vertigo and facial numbness than before I started taking the drug. I hoped it would eventually stop and the drug would kick in to help the vertigo, so I stayed on the drug. I had very minor tingling in my feet, but it was tolerable. I became very stressed out, had trouble sleeping, depression, my face started breaking out in November (and still is), I lost interest in everything that I normally enjoy - reading, photography, following politics in the news (sort of an obsession of mine). In December I was so depressed that for the first time in my 11 year career I started canceling appointments and eventually took three weeks off from work to "re-group." In January the neurologist decided that we would increase the dose from 100 mg to 150 mg for one more month, and if it did not get rid of my migraines with vertigo, we would discontinue the drug. The first day on the increased dose I had a killer headache, and I drank 150 ounces of water before it went away. That night I did not have to go to the bathroom during the night, unheard of for me. That's a lot of water to drink and not have to pee. Within two days of increasing the dose, my cough became much worse, and within three days, the breathing became more difficult. Within five days, I was having trouble speaking because my airways felt so dry. I called the doctor the next morning and he said it was not the drug, but if I wanted to, stop taking it. So I went off it cold turkey, per his instructions. I had rebound migraines every day for a week or two and my heart was pounding, sometimes for three or four hours at a time. Eventually the cough and trouble breathing went away, however, I had to continue drinking lots of water or I would notice that I didn't have to urinate, sometimes not at all. Again, unheard of for me. I saw a cardiologist at the neurologist's urging and they said the heart pounding was just anxiety. I disagree, as did another doctor of mine. We both believe it was withdrawal. I have now found out (by getting copies of my medical records) that the neurologist is now attributing all of my side effects from the Topamax to "somatization." In other words, psychosomatic - not a side effect, but just a way of getting medical attention. I am seeing a few people on this board who have also experienced a dry cough and trouble breathing. Can I have the same side effects as other people and have them still be psychosomatic, even though I had no idea those side effects could occur? I don't think so.

I have a theory that Topamax interferes with hormones which causes a lot of the side effects like lack of concentration, memory loss, anxiety, depression, insomnia, acne, and hair loss - all symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause. Ask any woman in her 40's or 50's if she has these symptoms and most of them will say yes. My face has not been this broken out since high school! My hair is falling out at a rapid rate. I won't even bother mentioning these to the neurologist. He'll just say it's not the drug.

I'm very frustrated and not sure what to do at this point. The neurologist has me taking a supplement called Migrelief now, but I think it takes three months to kick in, so I have no relief at this point.

Has anyone else experienced the trouble breathing with dry cough? I don't believe for a moment that it was psychosomatic.

I took this medication after outpatient surgery before going to bed and could not get to sleep. By 3:00 A.M. I was dizzy, almost fainted, panting, and had extreme hot feeling under my skin which started in my arms. Thank God I was staying at my daughters and was able to wake her up for help.

She put ice cold tea towel on back of my neck got me to take deep breaths, and put my head between my legs. Within few minutes I began to stablized but was and am still screwed up from it after 6 days.

I also suffered constipation for 4 days after taking it.

I'd be very leary of this drug.

I'm currently on blood pressure and thyroid medication so I don't know if there was some type of interaction with them or what. Very unpleasant. It through me into horrible panic attack.

Barb

I TOOK LEVAQUIN IN MAY, 2006 AND STILL HAVE SIDE AFFECTS. HAS ANYBODY HEARD ANYMORE ABOUT A CLASS ACTION SUIT, AND IF SO, I WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF IT, BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT IT. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANKS BARB

I just read these articles about taking Levaquin. I too just took this month ago for an UTI infection. The 3rd day I started to feel awful, I started out feeling lightheaded, dizzy, chills, nauseated, then the 4th day started with feeling really tired, and like I was going faint, the depression set in. By the 5th day, I have started with this awful burning aching sensation in BOTH of my arms. Needless to say, stopped taking this awful medicine after the 6 th day, was suppose to take it for a total of 10 days. I have been back and forth to the doctors getting shots, medicine and nothing seems to help. I know I got this from taking Levaquin and I too have had these awful side affects. NOW I may have to go to a specialist about my arms. Some of the side affects have gone away, except for my arms. bouts with chills, and being nauseated. Its been 3 weeks and still no improvement. I just wondered how if any of the posts have improved. You read all these about the side affects BUT no after affects of improvemen, and is there any hope at all to feeling better . I hope others will respond back to these who have gone through the same side affects. BARB

I have only been taking Toprol for a week to ten days now.
Over the past few days my heart has been beating irregular to the point wher it is scary.Has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks,
Barb!

I have been on Yasmin for 7 mos. For birth control and PMS or possible perimenopause. Well, I can hardly get out of bed in the morning. I am fatigued all the time. Depressed. NO energy. Muscle pains? Could it be Yasmin? The 1st 6 mos on Yasmin I had severe naseua in the morning. Barb

I have been taking enbrel for almost 4 months now for a really severe case psoriasis. I have noticed of course the injection sites are sore, however I am so tired sometimes I can't hardly move . Is this a side affect ,it said fatique is one side affect but this is more than just being tired. Thank you
Barb

Dec. 9, 2004 - earlier this week (2-3 days ago) I wrote an item about my side effects of prednisone. I think I failed to give my e-mail address which is ******. I wrote regarding rying to get off and about the burning I have around my rib cage and breasts. I guess I will have to try and rewrite it. Sorry about this. Barb ***

It is nearly 2 years since having a bilateral mastectomy with affected axillary lymph nodes removed on both sides. This was followed by AC and CMF chemo and radiotherapy, all completed a year ago.
I was put on Tamoxifen but after a while I had side effects such as aching of muscles and joints. I was then put on Arimidex, but by April, I could no longer function through loss of sleep caused by the aches etc. I came off it for 3 months to go on overseas.
I resumed taking Arimidex and now after 3 months, I began to take them every other day to see if the symptoms would lessen. They didn't in any way, and now I have decided not to take anymore until I see the specialist in January for my check up.

I am unable to take anything stronger than paracetamol and then in moderation as it brings on IBS which is not any fun either!
Barb
4daisy@tpg.com.au