Imatrex symptoms and conditions

I was taking Topamax for about 4 years for chronic/daily migraines. It helped tremendously after I had taken almost everything else with no success. Then I had an episode where I ended up with 5 kidney stones. They passed but my neurologist wanted me off the Topamax in case that was the cause of them. I went off and my headaches came back with a vengeance. I had them daily until I begged my primary care doctor to put me back on Topamax. I honestly would rather have stones than daily headaches. I am a mother to four and have a husband and a job. I can't live with daily migraines. After being back on it for about two weeks the headaches have disappeared. I take 200 mg twice a day. I do have memory loss and loss of words big time. It is VERY frustrating. I feel stupid. But I can live with that. I have tingling cheeks , lips and hands. I'm sensitive to sun and have to wear my sunglasses a lot more now. I now talk in my sleep- a little nervous about that :) I lost weight last time around but haven't yet this time. I am very happy, not sure if that is the RX or just me reacting to not having headaches. I guess you have to weight the side effects with the benefits. The choice is ultimately up to you. Good luck everyone!

I have been on 100 mg of topamax twice a day now for over three years. Most of the early side effects have worn off like soda tasting bad and the memory loss. I never had any hair loss. Also the weight loss has stopped and I did gain it back which really stinks. Anyway, the reason I was looking, was that in the last several weeks, I have been suffering horrible body aches and joint pain. My hands and knees hurt very badly. I am 39 years old and hate to think that arthritis has set in so quickly. And I know that I can't have the flu with no other symptoms and so often. Does anyone else have these symptoms? Also I wonder why these could have started after so many years of taking it.I have tried to wean myself off in the past and the migrains came back full force.

I took topmax prescribed by my Veteran's Administration physician for Migraines. Stepped from 25 mg to 100 mg over 3 weeks. I also take effexor. I already have aphasia and the side effects increased those symptoms and it seems from reading here every other one but eye problems. At the strong suggestion of my "back" surgeon, I have quarterly caudal blocks, I stopped immediately. Anyone who must use the VA for medical care knows getting in touch with ones primary physician is problematic at best and nearly impossible often. The worst is I suspect I was let go at work due to the side effects. I am an accountant currently studying for the CPA exam and could not work well and accurately with the side effects. The only reason I tried this med was to prevent waking up in the middle of the night throwing up with a migraine and losing time at work due to migraines.

From now on I will simply use the injectors of imatrex that may be a major pain, literally and leave me losing a day when I must use it from knocking me out. It seems that I always get every bloody side effect from every med I take. Botton line is, I will never take this medication again.