Seizure symptoms and conditions

Oh my gosh. I am on this website because I googled "behavior issues with Singulair" Both of my children are on Singulair. One from as young as 5 months old. Both Pulmonologist, allergist and Internal med Ped. insisted that it was a safe drug. They aren't living with it. My 7 year old has taken it consistently for 5 years and recently upped is having behavior, aggression, insomnia and constant reports back from the teacher on his behavior. We had him psychologically evaluated and they found nothing uncommon to his age. All his issues are described in almost everyone of these side effect threads. I am just afraid to take him off and feel the blame if something serious happens. I am calling tomorrow for possible alternatives.

It really is surprising that this drug is used. I had an episode when I was 18. My parents were out of town and I got a really bad migraine. I called them and they told me I should go to the emergency room. I went by myself and I don't remember what they gave me, but it must have been Reglan. With in minutes of the IV I got really nervous and agitated. I wanted to crawl out of my skin. I buzzed the nurse button like 3 times and after 10 minutes and no one came I panicked. I pulled the IV out and left the hospital. Crazy I know but I couldn't think clearly. I went home and after a few hours I was okay.

Well this brings me to 9 years later and to my most recent experience. I am pregnant and I got a really nasty migraine. I was puking, couldn't see out of my right eye. Since there wasn't anything I could take I called my OB. He told me I should go to the ER and so I went with my husband. They said they wanted to give me Reglan and Benadryl, since I didn't know that was what they gave my when I was 18 I said okay. With in minutes I was having the same reaction I did 9 years ago. I went nuts. I started freaking out. I told my husband I wanted to leave. I needed the IV out of me. My skin was itchy and burning. I was nervous, shaking, and having a hard time breathing. When I husband got the nurse she was really condescending. She was like, “Do you have a history panic attacks?” I said, "no." Then she got the Dr., who ordered more Benadryl. After about 15 more minutes I calmed down. This was an extremely unpleasant experience; I will never take this medicine again.

I had the mirena inserted in mid-July with no immediate problems. The first month I thought that it was the best form of birth control out there. I did have a heavy period, but not too big of a deal. The second month my breasts were huge and sore for two weeks! Acne flared up on my forehead and chin, but I thought that could have been due to a medication that I was taking at the time. Then came month number three. My lower back had began getting more sore, seemingly each day. Then I began to notice aches through my hips and down through my thighs. I also noticed aches in my arms and elbows every once in a while. The lower back pain has been bad enough that if I stand in one place for any period of time, it really starts to hurt. I had a hard time making it through two songs at church last week. Taking a look back over the past three months, I have had more headaches than usual as well.

I do take anti-seizure medications, so I am careful to check for side-effects with these, but I had already been on those medications prior to the Mirena. I had not changed any exercise or eating habits, or had any physical injuries in the past three months. The Mirena was the only change.

I kind of felt like I was going crazy, too, until I read these postings. I do not know for sure if these aches and pains are due to the Mirena, but I just had it removed today, so I should be able to tell soon. I will try to give an update within a few weeks. Good luck to all!

I was recently prescribed Avelox for Lyme disease. I took on dose, 2- 400 mg tablets. Within an hour, i could not walk, could barely talk, i was severely dizzy, my body went limp, numbness from my head to my toes, muscle twitches and lost my eye sight for several minutes . My husband had to call 911 and have the squad pick me up and take me to the hospital. Before they got there the only thing we could think of doing was for me to take a Benadryl.....which is probably what saved me. It look over 3 hours for this to wear off and along with every thing else i had a terrible seizure.
Please be aware of this medication. If so many people have had terrible side effects from the med, why is it still on the market????
This is just CRAZY!!!!

I have been taking Ultram 50mg 3 times daily for almost 8 years. I had severe back pain that extended down my left leg. I went to a Neurologist and he performed back surgery. I did quite well for about 3 months and then was experiencing the same problems. He then prescribed Ultram ER and it has worked great. The only side affects I have recognized have been sleeplessness, hot flashes, nausea that goes away in about 1 hour after taking it, and super energy. The benefits far outway the side affects. My 34 year old brother was prescribed the 50 mg. tablets and he had to be transported to the emergency room because of a seizure. Needless to say he was advised not to ever take another pill.

I had a seizure! This drug caused it. Scary stuff.....I was given this medicine for a spider bite in the emergency room.

I had spider bites that got infected. I was given Sulfamethoxazole (double strength) two tablets, two times a day. I was getting symptoms like dizziness, disorientation, and leg weakness so I lowered my dosage as a precaution then...boom, I was sent into a seizure. I am very scared of the nerve damage that has been done.

Hi
My husband has been prescribed 2 different blood pressure meds Lisionpril and metoprolol back in June. Come mid July he started to have trouble sleeping and slight tingling in hands and feet. Then it progressed to the arms and legs and then the face and chest. We have seen cardiologist, neurologist, sleep apnea doctors, Had EKG, MRI, Heart sonograms, Nerve test done due to the symptoms. Everything came back normal. He is miserable. The burning and pain is unbearable to wear he wants to cut his feet off and the only thing we keep hearing is well LETS DO ANOTHER TEST or TRY THIS MED. So now he is taking a a sleep med for insomnia and some seizure med for the nerve pain, thinking he may have neuropathy. This is going on 2 months now of trial and error and after reading 20 minutes of experiences, I THINK ITS THE MED!!!!!!!
What do we do then? He had high blood pressure so what meds are good with no side affects of burning or insomnia? Any suggestions or help would be of great appreciation. Thank you!!!

I was scribed aricept for a mild nuerocognitive disorder. The second day I was on it I has seizure like symptoms. I stopped for a day and the symptoms got better. I took it again for one night and the seizures came back. I went to the emergency room and they said that I was having a severe Migraine.

My nuerologist scribed clonopin which seemed to clear up the post symproms after about a week.

I have had extrapyramydal symptoms before on medications like cymbalta and Elavil. I have been scribed clonopin for that as well and that has cleared up the EPS as well over time.

I have a friend who mom had pre-parkinson symptoms and I was told she had very similar reactions to aricept.

My daughter just had surgery, and was getting Reglan with Benadryl through her IV. She requested no Benadryl with the last dose, because she didn't want to be sleepy when her sister came to visit. Suddenly, her jaw clenched and her eyes rolled to one side (she said she couldn't control her face) and she became panicky, and fearful that the doctors wouldn't let her go home. She thought she was having a stroke or a seizure. An injection of Benadryl helped her to calm down, but she experienced tingling at the base of her neck and "felt funny" for a few days after...Now we know why they give the two drugs together!

My 7 year old son was put on singulair 7 months ago and the behavior changes that have since occurred are incredible. While he has always been temperamental it was never to this degree. The most minor situation can cause an outburst that will continue for 30 minutes or more. Some days the rage and tears are endless. My older son was on singulair for years because of his asthma with no problems. I am so grateful to have found this site and information. I took my son off the singulair 3 days ago and I am hopeful that things will start to improve.

I am a 60year old female who was admitted to Mayo clinic after experiencing a hypertensive encephalopathy seizure. I was placed on lisinopril to try to bring my blood pressure under control. I have been on as many as five different medications per day with none controlling my extreme high blood pressure. After taking lisinopril for two days I developed a severe headache with floaters. My face became very swollen, especially my eyes, with unbearable itching and soreness. I also have had chest pains and it feels like my throat and insides are raw. My stomach hurts and it is hard to eat. I have only taken two lisinopril tablets and will not be taking any more. I see my doctor tomorrow and expect to be given a different medication. So far I have had no luck with any blood pressure medicine and I have tried about ten different kinds. If any one has had any luck with a prescription drug or an alternative remedy, I would love to hear from you.Thanks, Evelyn

I had an agonizing migraine this Saturday, with all the usual delightful symptoms: pain, violent vomiting,... Went to the ER. After many hours I was hooked up to an IV with Tegretol (an anti-seizure med that's effective with migraine) and Reglan (for the nausea). Within a couple of minutes after the IV drip started I realized something was wrong. My migraine pain was actually increasing. I felt a desperate sense of being connected to this IV that was feeding me drugs whose effects were suddenly unexpected. Then things spiraled from there. I went into a panic. This sense of panic was unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life (and I've had my share of hospital horrors). I thought my heart was going to explode. Luckily my friend was next to me. I told him to get a nurse. I told the nurse frantically that I didn't know what was happening to me, I was freaking out, but I begged him to do something. He said I was probably having an "anxiety attack", which can happen with Reglan ("anxiety" sounds like a euphemism for what I was living through, but whatever...). He moved quickly, and hooked up some Benadryl to the IV. I also asked him to get me out of the dark, airless room I was in, as I felt like I was going to choke from the claustrophobia. Between the Benadryl (which apparently counters the panic effects of a Reglan reaction) and standing out in a spacious, well-lit hallway, I felt a couple of degrees removed from hell. Anyhow, there's my Reglan tale. R.M., Newton, MA

I just got done reading a lot of this page, I was in tears. I'm a 23 year old female; I started taking Advair 250/50 (two times a day) about 3 1/2 years ago for COPD. Before my problems started I was working overtime every week, just financed a car a year previous, moved out of my parents and felt like I was on top of the world. Minus my general anxiety and clinical depression, I was only on 2 medications plus an albuterol inhahler.
I kept getting sick, was having trouble breathing, so I was put on Advair; at first It's like I read in almost all these forums...It's a miracle drug! I was able to breathe, but I noticed I was starting to feel pretty lazy, in 2 months I gained 30lbs. I kept taking it along with a lot of other medications for more problems that seemed to keep coming along. In late summer of 2005 I had a seizure while I was at work in a restaurant kitchen. I was opening and had passed out between 4 fryers and a flat-top grill; an ambulance picked me up. I kept getting dizzy spells and vertigo, I started having seizures a few times a week; I was released from my job on a long-term medical leave because of the hazard it was for me to work there. Things kept getting worse, It got to the point of averaging 17 pills a day because of medical problems. Before I got sick I weighed 131lbs, I currently weigh 170lbs. I was having seizures everyday, then every other day, and it slowly decreased over time. I went through so many tests, I'm still going through them. I started having really bad bowel problems which I'm still dealing with; It's sort of like IBS. I also deal with chronic daily stomach/abdominal pain; in a laproscopy, the doctor said that my small intestine looked like "a bag of snakes". Another daily pain that I'm still dealing with mouth/teeth/jaw pain. Although I rinsed my mouth out after each use, I believe Advair royally screwed my mouth up for life. My gums bled everyday, I had to use a kids toothbrush, my gums were peeling off; It was told to me that It's like a mouth yeast infection. The gums over my canines started receding and didn't stop until I quit taking advair. The nerves on my canines are exposed and partially rotted, other teeth have chips and are rotten around them. The gums above my canines are still raised and will still flare up from time to time. I haven't been able to work since August 2005. I've been denied disability twice. I have panic attacks when I'm around people. I'm scared to drive because I've had a seizure behind the wheel. I'm in so much pain everyday that I normally don't move unless It's to use the bathroom. I used to cook 80 hours a week, hang out with friends, and work out. Now, I can't work, can't be around people, and take enough medications to start a pharmacy. It's odd how it all seemed to start when I began Advair. One other thing, I'm constantly coughing up these weird mucas spheres. My advice if you're thinking about taking advair...well, I'll just say if I would have known that this is what it'd do to me, I would have chose bronchitis 4 times a year.

I am 32 years old, and still have acne. I have been taking it for almost 14 years now. I know that Lamictal causes skin rashes. I asked my neurologist if Lamictal causes acne. He said no. I will never be able to get rid of acne, as long as I keep taking it. I have been seizure-free for over 2.5 years now. Dad won't let me get off of it, and be on primidone only. It's more important to keep driving seizure-free, than to have clear skin.

Complicated migraine, seizure, TIA, Killed IGa, Hypo Thyroid, Depression, Nerve pain and burning, confusion, memory loss, etc...continues 18 years post Lupron

Trileptal causes me to feel ill for a couple days after becoming sunburned. It almost feels as if they don't work as well for the next couple days. I get extremely upset stomach aches, nausea, and constantly feel the aura I get before having a seizure (but don't have any). I also become sunburned easier. It's been a huge adjustment being that I work outside.

Feb 2005 I was given Wellbutrin to ease with the stop smoking. I don't go to doctors and I don't take any medication-NONE. But I had to do something I couldn't stop smoking. May 10th I had a seizure, have never had one prior or have not had one since. Family took me to emergency room, then I had brain tests, sleep tests, MRI, CAT scans, over $10,000. later in medical bills, well they couldn't find anything wrong.
Not one Dr. would say it was because of the 3wk supply of the crap I took.
I refuse another Dr. and over my dead body will I put a prescription in my body.

I got all those problems but the higher the dosage the more attacks i had.Another neurologist think that i just have pseudoseizures-paranoia attacks.Anyways the doctor screwed me up,he gave me 5 years ago something different and my seizures started daily than switched me to lamictal.I must say that sometimes i have or HAD electricity in my left hand all the time and once a women touched me and got stunned lol.anyways lamictal is bad,i didn't have any side effects like loosing hair but i did have A LOT of head hecks.I must share something with you,when i read epilepsy.com it seems that my seizures called myclonics in the end they are not but they similar in effects.Myclonics its seizures that happens only in the morning.Heres the catch for me,i figured out that if i won't close my eyes the first hour after i got up and went to the sun outside than i didn't have seizures.Its not a real solution so i decided to raise the lamictal from 175 which was ok for me to 200-250 like the good doctor said,just made me worse.Now i started dropping it by 25 mill each week and i must say i feel better only a little tired after 5 years that my body got used to it.Anyway if any of you have myclonics than don't close your eyes.BTW i have AURA-feeling before the seizure but luckily for me after a second if i open my eyes nothing will happen although i don't always take notice of it.In midway it would happen if i seat in front of computer and will lose attention if someone will call me or whatever but its a mill-sec seizure,barely noticible if at all and i never get "disconnected" from reality!!!
the ONLY thing which is bad for me is that except that im sick now my blood pressure is huge-140/82 and pulse 106 which is being like that for couple of days but i will get trough that.Since i lowered my dosage my midway seizures stopped,now im on 100.

P.S=Check yourself with the neurologist with a different one preheps.IF you can describe the whole seizure it means you don't dispatch from earth which mean it might be psydo seizures which are psychotic and not epileptic,the most important thing is that if someone takes lamictal or any anti apileptic drug even tho he doesn't have real seizures the medicine can do this.I got screwed and now i try to get over it,the doctor trowed me on woods with tablets after having a first seizure WHICH IS WRONG because you sepused to get tablets only after 3 attacks and after describing seizures and doing eeg tests to make sure that you DO have the problem.

Anyways remember what i said about the closing eyes in the morning part,if you close your eyes and feel weird keep them open at least those that have them after they wake up,that was a solution for me and it can help you to...MY doctor said everyone like me but i think he is laying,the other neurologist said my doctor was wrong probably about the seizures,i think i have both but i do know that believing and saying that you don't have anything WILL help you and lower your seizures,after speaking with the doctor i actually started to believe i don't have anything and walla i have almost NADA,today i had zero!!!! :D

OF course don't lower dosage without first consulting with someone expert,but since i know i can control basically every seizure i have and i know what to do to avoid it i let my self start dropping dozes!!!

GOOD LUCK my friends believe in yourself and if you want some personal info leave your msn i will add you and try to answer you the best i could,i was researching my self trying to figure out the core of the problem for 5 years but after 6 months knocking my head in the pipe when i washed my face i learned what i should avoid to minimize the chance!!!Try that

I would like to let people who are new to the Lamictal "experience" that it was VERY uncomfortable for me during the first few months also. In fact even at the very low introductory doses, I did not think that I could ever function in society.

The extreme confusion, the memory problems, the spaceyness, the feeling of detachment from everything that surrounded me... at the time I felt that I would never be able to function as a worker, a friend, or as a social being.

As time went on though, things did clear up for me. It took a few months, but I'm guessing that my brain function/chemistry finally somehow regulated itself, and my side effects did clear up. I am at a dosage of 600mg per day now, and yes, I do sometimes feel detached, but I certainly can function. My memory has also improved. It sometimes takes me a second or two to find the "right word" during my conversations, but a simple, light hearted mention of the problem resolves the issue for the person that I am speaking to.

If you are just getting on Lamictal, try to be patient. I have found that in time, it has helped me much more than the side effects hurt me. It did take a few months to get used to, and I did have to explain to others at work that I may be acting strangely for a couple weeks because of it... but the overall effect is quite nice now.

Lamictal now helps control my seizure problems almost completely, and has the added benefit of making me feel much more confident, and balanced.

I have had so many shots of
Corticosteroids/NSAIDS/Steroids:

Triamcinolone Acetonide, Kenalog, Depo-Mardol, Lidocaine, Marvaine, Toradol, Epinephrine, Bextra, Xylocaine, Isovue.......on and on and now I do not walk hardly anymore.

I am married, no sex whatsoever! I stayed away from my husband for 3 years almost, living at my apartment. I just moved out by Eviction March 2, 2008. I did not pay rent for one year. I applied for disability since 1995. Won ALJ decision September 2006. I appealed the case being opened back to 1995. I wanted it go go back futher. Just appealed it again in 2008.

Okay, I am a simpleton out here needing a HERO to Take A Stand and Advocate for me.

I do not live with my husband. I live at his mother's home so that he comes and takes cares of us at the same time. She is 90 now. Can you imagine this? I have been reduced to a cripple.

I am a prisoner laid to rest by the BIG DRUG COMPANIES MISLEADING ME, IN NOT KNOWING ABOUT THE DISEASES THAT WOULD ATTACK ME IN THE ONLY LIFE THAT I HAVE.

I wonder if my hip bones have collasped. I have terrible bone pain.

I waddle like a duck, side to side with extreme pain until I freeze up and fall, but mostly, I live with a cane at my side when going out and about.

I now need a wheelchair.

From 1980's, 1990's and now all the way to 2008. I have all medicals.

It was not until 2003-2004 that my life took a turn for the worse.

Hips pain, arms pain, shoulders pain, pain in the Thorasic area to the tail bone area, right groin pain/pubic area pain/gentials, stomach sores/cut out, pain on the scalp, calves feel hard in side/stiff at all times, hamstrings are short,open sores have been on my face, arms and neck lasting for 4-6 mths, low back pain....all of me has been injected with the above crap.

I was doing quite well in life until 2004 when this Orthopedic doctor had shot my left shoulder 3 times.

After this June 2004 event above, and by September 2004 I had walking problems, blamed only on Fibromyalgia, DX 1989.

They took one blood test for Polyrheumatica.

I was fed 20 something meds in 2004.

By 2005 I was devestated in life, health and even wanting to be alive. For one full year I lived on the pot, using Lidocaine up the butt 3-4 times a day for the pain.

Now, looking back at this part, no wonder I had extreme skin blisters, hives, rashes, extreme sweating....this Lidocaine for rectum pain was harming me and no one took me off of it. I finally had my pharmacy tell me this was so wrong to be using 134.00 a month for over one year for pain. I stopped!!!! he seemed to say that I was being harmed.

Suddenly, at my clinic, all of my primary doctors began to do trigger point injections weekly, monthly and for 4 years for my Fibromyalgia comlaint. DX in 1989.

Many NSAIDS for one year, 2003-2004.

In 2003 I had a new denture and a few teeth extracted so that I smiled great when got married April 2003.

By August 2003 I was off the State HMO, had housing city of salem voucher for 5 years at my apartment and was planning to move out and be at my husband's home, but...by September 2003 I was already in some medical exams, new meds and was being normal to a point.

By late 2003 to mid-2004 I was feeling strange about my health. I felt as if I was being sucked dry of any fluids, weird to say, but it felt as if...hard to explain.

I was dizzy, vertigo, some balance problems and like itching, sweating and extreme fatigue. I felt like i was melting. My muscles felt like jello. I had no ability to stay upward on my spine.

I did complain to my dentist and doctors that I was feeling numb on my face and gums by may 2003.

After 2 years, leaving room for a possible lawsuit on the dentist/OS, I filed, had one deposition and my lawyer walked.

I had laughing gas for teeth extractions/numbing shots.

I thought that GAS/SHOTS was to be blamed, maybe the tools they used, or the water and I worked this case to the bitter end, sad to say, that a Lawyer Walked On Me.

By 2004 I did not know what hit me with my health issues..dentists/new meds/new marriage/new doctors involved.

I was in a drug stupor, taking almost 30 drugs from this clinic in 2004.

Prescribed and the samples of Vioxx, Mobic, Celebrex and Bextra.

I had so many Toradol shots to my spine and hips at this clinic and thought they had crippled me.

This doctor humiliated me.

Told me that I was a nut.

I now needed long term counseling with all of the body ailments they all told me. My primary doctor told me many times that NONE OF THE SPECIALIST NEEDED OR WANTED TO SEE ME FOR ANYTHING.

Nothing was hardly affecting me when I got married April 2003. I was a knock out!

The Gastro doctor had me on his 3 drugs also, including that daily Lidocaine up my butt. He did the endoscopy and colonscopy, bloodwork and he said I had Atrophic Mucosa.

He was in direct conflict with my Neurologist who did his own work and he claimed that I was Gluten sensitive, a Celiac now. He gave B12 shots and Folic Acid on top of all the other crap that I was taking.

The Hospital did a spinal tap and may tests.

The pain specialist did his epidurals 2 times.

I have had every NSAID they prescribed me.

I had sleeping pills.

I had anti-depressants.

I had Vicodin to Percacets and then they tried to get me on Methadone. One week on that crap was all.

I notice that Depo-Medrol, Marcaine, Lidocaine was mostly used thru out my life.

The pain specialist above that I used in 2006, also shot me with the epidurals 2 times before 2006, and the O.H.S.U. also shot me with all the above when they DX me with Fibromyalgia 1989.

Then many Toradol and Kenalog shots.

I live with daily diarrhea since 2005-2008.

My legs are always red every day with any walking, sleeping, sitting, balance is off, waddling gait.

My feet pain is as if I walk on glass or rocks....sharp pain now for 4 months.

Arachnoiditis fits me well. I have spoken with the doctor/expert that can test me.

I have been searching since early 2004.

I have no way to know who or what to blame.

I even thought that the MRI's Contrast Agents harmed me starting from the past to now.

I left the clinic that stole my life from me and now have a new doctor at Kaiser Permanente.

I am scared of all doctors now.

I have 4-5 meds right now.

Not one doctor or specialist will DX me. I have a thought below...

I fought the medical community WORLD WIDE back in 2002-2003 with the President Dr. Richard Willner, of Retired Association of Physcians and Surgeons. My two other sisters were in this heated debate.

I was told to expect danger at any time after this online 30 page cruel attack by the doctors on my wrongful death of my mother by her doctors/nursing home/hospital.

I proved this case.

The lawyer in Portland, Or. Judy Snyder told me I did extremely well proving this death was murder...but the Medical Consultant who did the summary of this death was hushed up!!! Later on, after another summary by Medical Consultant, she told me that we would be lucky to get $10,000 for a Nusiance Claim. I tried to get one Lawyer before the statues ran, but no luck. I heard that the Elder Abuse Statues ran for 7 years and to try for that. Oh well, I tried.

Joanie K.

My mother is on Toprol-XL, and she has complained of being so fatigued, she sleeps so much, and this is someone who has always had a tremendous amount of energy. The other thing, and I would love a reply to this - she said she's experienced something at night while sleeping that feels like a seizure. She describes this as follows, "like my brain is shaking or trembling inside my head and my hands are trembling too." Has anyone else experienced this? Please let me know.

I've been on Lamictal for 3 years, and it's started to fail. I was on a generally small dose for epilepsy, 100mg twice a day. Well, I started having these twitches that caused a car incident, so I had to go to the doctor to get the dosage increased. Well, I did that, slowly, and I was twitch free. I thought that this was great, I can finally rest easy. Also, for some reason after I increased the dose I was oversleeping. No severe side effects though. But then, just yesterday, I had what we believe to be a full fledged seizure during a shower. I missed my dose by 2 hours the night before, and luckily I was having trouble falling asleep (or perhaps unlucky), and I probably got 5-6 hours that night, which lack of sleep is always a bad thing with epilepsy. So, during my shower I started twitching, bad. I turn the shower off. Then the next thing I'm on the shower floor, and I see blood on the wall, though too dazed to make anything of it. My family hears the bang and comes down and tells me to open the door, but I yell out to wait until I'm dressed. Then I felt horrible. So obviously the dose increase didn't help, and the Emergency room doctor put me on Depakote plus the lamictal until I see a neurologist next week.

I am approaching 8 mos on Topamax. I take it for Epilepsy vice Migraines so my situation is less discretionary. Caffine is a definate no-no on Topamax, it makes you feel confused and crappy immediately after you drink / ingest it. That is the first lesson I learned. Drink plenty of water, that helps your kidneys work through the medicine. I take 75 mg in the morning around 7:30 and my heavy med time is around 11:30 (lunchtime) and then 50 mg at night so I am asleep during my evening heavy med time. Topamax is a miracle and has kept me seizure free for 8 mos. Side effects are light, I just plan accordingly. I would never take Topamax if I did not have to. I just take plenty of notes to overcome my high med times / confusion and seem to be doing pretty well. The big one is CUT OUT CAFFINE. Man, caffine will make you feel really bad.