Taking Topamax for 2 years started out at 25 mgs 3 times a day fo...

I just started started taking topamax for migraines for about 2-1/2 weeks now. I have for the last year been treated for depression. Topamax is doing a good with migraines but the side effects are absolutely horrible. I am very depressed (felt like I maybe should be committed), have road rages, anxiety, and often in my own world. I can handle the changing taste buds (carbonated drinks are nasty), the tingling in the hands and feet, and dizziness. I work in a hospital and need to be 100%. I am suppose to be at work today but I started crying yesterday at the psychiarist office and did not stop until last. I did not trust myself to be at work today. I work at a Children's Hospital. I had only made it up to 75 mg once a day. I am very frustated live with migraines that are disabling or depression that is disabling.

To girl3775 and anyone else who may have just recently started Topamax -

If it's any comfort, just know that the side effects DO taper off if you stick it out! When I first started, I was titrated up to 100mg/day by increasing by 25mg/week. I had SUCH a difficult time with it. Besides the difficulty finding words to express what I was thinking, the confusion, the mind fog, the "blonde moments" and the overall feeling dumb, I was an emotional rollercoaster. One minute I could feel completely fine and the moment someone said something to me, even if they didn't mean anything by it, I would snap and become a waterfall of tears. I felt like I should have been committed too! Words can't even explain what was going on inside of my head, I felt so...MANIC. And after 3-5 days, I would get adjusted to my new dosage only to have to increase again by the 25mg until I finally reached 100mg/day. Then about a month later, my doctor decided to increase me to 150mg/day which meant going up again by 25mg/week until I hit that 150mg/day - that was even worse the second time around!

But just know that it DOES get better and once you hit your target dosage and once you get steady on it, the emotions and the rollercoaster does die down. And all of the other side effects eventually wear off too. I no longer have the mind fog so much, which was always especially bad when I was driving. Every once in awhile I struggle with words and here and there I'll forget something, but I've gotten really good at writing things down to remind myself anyway. Even the tingles eventually wear off and a word of advice: DRINK A LOT OF WATER! If you drink a lot of water, you won't tingle as much and it's good for you anyway :)

But pop will always continue to taste like ass.

I am taking Topamax for Bipolar and experience all the side effects plus some. It is hard because I have a 5 month old and i moved to a small Island in Japan and my Husband is in Military and hardly ever home. Right now I am in a fog and totally depressed.. but not suicidal or anything.. I just wanna cry about everything feel like i cant get anything accomplished. And feel Like i cant take care of my baby. But when I go to my Therapist I am feeling fine and dont talk about anything because I forget. Ack.. And to make things worse I have an 8 year old who is diagnosed with PDD nos And they just put him on Concerta so he is bouncing off the walls and wont sleep at night. LOL. Seems like i am complaining does'nt it? Oh well it felt good to get this all off my chest. Just wish I had someone to talk too.
Christine
Thelema713@yahoo.com