July 29th
2008
9:54 PM
My psychiatrist started me on Topamax 2 yrs ago for depression from being 75 lbs overweight. Started at 25 mg/day up to 50/day for 2 yrs. Lost 70 lbs and kept off with only minor side effects. Also took 150/day Wellbutrin during this time. (For being kind of a neat freak and washing my hands a lot.- didn't affect my social or work life much) Have slowly started gaining the weight back (+12 lbs). Seem to have built up an immune to the 50/day dosage over the 2 yrs. So he added 25 in the am in addition to the 50 I've been taking in the evening. (1 mo. ago) Having some strange reactions. My memory seems to be taking a real hit. I am a CPA (passed these exams 15 yrs ago) and now I'm studying for the Cert.'d Internal Auditor exams. I am having a great deal of trouble trying to memorize for these 12 hour long tests! I feel fatigued every day. My blurred vision (that requires reading glasses) has gone crazy. I can't read the song book at church at all. And I'm only 47!. I've had acne like bumps all around my nose and face. How could such a slight increase cause so much change? Also sometimes my heart feels like it is going to beat out of my chest. And I'm losing patience w/my 13 yr old son who's pushing my buttons to see how much he can get away with. He seems to sense that I'm not at my best. But if I go off this Topamax and gain back my 70 plds I know I will plunge into a DEEP depression. Has any one talked to their doctor about the possibility of these side effects going away after time? My tingling hands and feet did and my slight hair loss did. And my weight loss is trying to go away but I don't want that. I'm majorly concerned about the memory loss and blurred vision eventually going away. DALIAL
-- By manerva | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
May 22th
2008
1:46 PM
My husband had a day fuzzy thinking and memory loss That scared me more then I can explain. With years of Joint pains back pains, loss of patiences and sometimes showing signs of depression for unknown reasons. He has a lot weakness in his arms and legs,he is tired more then ever. I thought he was just being lazy. constant fatigue and the shakes real bad. His knees pop in and out sometimes.
He difficulty with short-term memory and when we tell him things he did or said he has a hard time believing it. Also through the night he has to 'go' more often then ever. I always wondered where it came from.
Lipitor has almost destroyed our life in ways that we hope to be able to overcome in time. This is the only medicine he took so it has to be the BLAME.
April 7th
2008
3:16 AM
I was on Lamictal for 4 years and after the first year I suddenly started having all kinds of teeth and gum problems for no discernible reason. But since Lamictal has the possible side effect of "sores or blisters on the inside of the mouth" I wondered if it could be related.
I did a Google search and am coming up with no experts yet, but lots and lots of posts connecting anticonvulsant meds, particularly Lamictal, Topamax, Neurontin, and Depakote, with dental problems. Dilantin is well known for causing gum disease and breaking down tooth enamel, loosening of teeth, and even breaking down of jawbone tissue.
I don't think the experts have connected the dots yet, but is anyone else having this problem?
-- By absisback | Reply | (11) replies | Private Message me
January 27th
2008
9:32 PM
I'm a 26 year old female and I've been on Topamax since March 2007. It has completely gotten rid of the debilitating headaches I experienced 3-6 times a week. It also got rid of my anxiety. I got my life back, my antidepressant kicked in at the same time. I experienced all the usual side-effects, tingling hands and feet, forgetting words, memory problems, loss of appetite, but was COMPLETELY pain-free. I still am. However, I never remember anything now, forget whether or not I did something, paid my bills, etc, lose things constantly, and I have lost about 20 lbs. Not good. I look anorexic. I have bones sticking out. Eating is hard. I forget to eat and drink all day and food is just unappealing. I feel fuzzy and stupid and slow. Not sharp like I used to be. It has killed my confidence and self-esteem. But I was wondering if any women out there got yeast infections while they were on Topamax. I've had one monthly since I started it, and my doc said it's a rare side effect. Oh yeah, I've had mild hair loss and mild to moderate acne now. This drug, it is such a 50-50. Living with chronic pain, those headaches were awful. But doubting yourself is awful too. Anyone have similar experiences?
-- By medgirl | Reply | (6) replies | Private Message me
December 1th
2007
4:06 PM
I took Doxy for 1 month to treat Lyme disease. It was awful. I can't imagine taking this long-term. I had many of the side-effects already mentioned but two I haven't seen are dandruff and metallic taste in my mouth which totally ruined drinking water. Both of these effects eventually went away after abx stopped. The fuzzy-thinking was dangerous. One evening, about an hour after taking it, when this symptom was the worst, I was climbing off my boat and somehow tripped myself and fell onto the dock. I still don't understand what I did to make myself fall. Just very spacey. I sprained some ribs. So be careful right after taking this drug. Now I'm trying a long-term use of the Peruvian herb Samento, as I believe the Lyme bacteria is gone but can't prove it. So this is my safeguard approach. Best wishes to all.
-- By dockyachter | Reply | Private Message me
September 4th
2007
9:41 AM
Sept. 4, 2007 I am now 55 yrs old and have been on ADVAIR for 2 1/2 years. I recently stopped taking it because my insurance co-pay was maxed out for the year. It was going to cost me $235 for a disk and I didn't want to pay it. So it's been two weeks now. OMG, the differences I am noticing. My weight is dropping and I'm not doing anything different. I have gained about 20 pounds. Then when I started reading some of the side effects of ADVAIR on line I realized I had almost all of them. Fuzzy thinking, bloating (especiallly right after eating), disturbing dreams, hoarseness and the constant need to clear my throat, digestive problems and heartburn all the time, foot cramps, feel tired and rundown, heart palpitations out of the blue like just sitting at the computer or watching TV, weight gain.
So already no more bloating, dropped 5 pounds, sleeping without the bad dreams, more energy. I'm feeling better on a daily basis. I have an Albuterol inhaler that I have used, but just drinking enough water helps. I plan on seeing a Naturopathic doctor soon to try a natural way to deal with my asthma.
-- By bobbik | Reply | Private Message me
August 22th
2007
5:40 AM
Severe leg pain, constant rattling, wheezy chest, severe anxiety attacks, fuzzy thinking, hypomanic symptoms, bloating, fatigue, increased blurry vision, after 6 months at incrased 250 doseage, wild dreams disturbing sleep. Stopped taking Advair a month ago. Within two days, fuzzy thinking cleared up rapidly and back to normal within 7 days. Within 10 days, energy level returned. Sleeping very well. Wheezy chest mostly gone. Bloating gone. Anxiety attacks...one very mild one four weeks after I stopped the Advair, but was able to control it by regulating my breathing and distracting myself...went away quickly...but when I was on Advair, ended up in ER with panic attack. When I began the Advair, I was living in an apartment with a flooding problem that created mold and mildew, and I am allergic to mold and mildew. I was having difficulty sleeping at night from the coughing, and was given Advair, and the doseage was upped after one year. Initially it helped me, but with the increased doseage came all the symptoms above. I moved, stopped the Advair, and now I am fine (just still have the allergies, of course.)
-- By debwinslow | Reply | Private Message me
May 2th
2007
6:59 PM
Symptoms which were not in existence prior to staring on warfarin although my doctors say they don't think it's warfarin I'm sure it is. I usually need to take around 9.5 to 10mg but my INR is never stable.
Side effects are extreme fatigue, fuzzy thinking, forgetfulness, hot rosy cheeks.
May 24th
2006
6:49 AM
I have been on topral xl for several years now and my doctor has been telling me the symtom are not from topral...vivid dreams, tiredness, pain, depression, weight gain 30 lbs, and now my musles lock up thought i had a form of ms but doc's test ruled that out, fuzzy thinking, cough...any one else have a problem with not being able to use musles
-- By ndelia | Reply | Private Message me
Lamictal (2) Topamax (2) Toprol-XL (2) Lipitor (1) Advair Diskus (1) Doxycycline Hyclate (1) Advair HFA (1) Warfarin Sodium (1)
August 18th
2008
7:27 PM
I took lamictal alone for about 7 years it seemed to stabilize my BP, but always complained of fuzzy thinking; the doctors never took my concerns too seriously...8 years ago I said enough is enough to my new meds guy and went off of it. Having tried a few combinations since then and recently feeling depressed the doctor suggested lamictal. I was against it at first but it was his number one suggestion, so I tried it. This time in combination with other my meds.
-- By gldfshs1 | Reply | Private Message meTalk about fuzzy on 200 mgs I am down right daft. I was on my way out of it, but I think it may be helping my moods. I can't ask for any insight as this one is really up to me. thank you EHE