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Hi all...I've been taking 25mg. of Topamax at night for 5 days no...

Posted at 3:13 PM on Oct 27, 2008 by luna13darke, #36039
Hi all...I've been taking 25mg. of Topamax at night for 5 days now. Unlike most of you I have not experienced the tingling in the extremities or the weird taste in the mouth or even much tiredness at all other than what has happened as a result of my weird side effect. I was prescribed Topamax by my neurologist for my migraines. I've had them since I was 12 years old. I'm 49 years old. The got worse during peri-menopause which is kinda normal given the hormonal fluctuations, but was told by my neurologist that they would very likely subside significantly when I became menopausal. Well folks, I've been menopausal for 5 years and for the past 2 years my migraines have been the most horrific of my life. I have approx. 15 to 18 migraine days a month, some of the headaches lasting 3 bloody days. So it comes to this...Topamax. In the past I have suffered some pretty rare side effects from some very benign medications so I guess I shouldn't really be surprised that this is happening to me now. The first night I took it I slept like a baby. The second night I was slightly 'hyper' but managed to get to sleep. But for the past 3 nights it's been hell. When I lie down in bed, my body feels as though there are electric currents shooting through it and coming out my right leg. I have to move my right leg or go completely bonkers. Fortunately my daughter is away at university and so I can sleep in her room. So I lie there...on my left side...with my right leg hanging over the side of the bed swinging and swinging and swinging as hard as I can just so that I don't scream. It's awful. Last night was the worst. I saw dawn this morning. I just got off the phone with my pharmacist and he told me that I had described a classic case of RLS - Restless Leg Syndrome. And guess what? Topamax is used to trest RLS!! For bleep's sake! So nice people I am suffering a completely opposite side effect to the one that seems to be the most common one...tiredness. Has anyone else heard of this? Experienced this? It seems to all focus down to my right hip and leg. I have to move it vigourously or go nuts. I am so tired today but that's because I got like 3 hours sleep. I fell asleep from sheer exhaustion after my husband left for work at 7:30am. A side note...I also take 75mg of Effexor for panic disorder and my neurologist told me that this is a very good mix of meds for migraine prevention. My top dosage for the Topamax will be 75mg taken at night. I'd really appreciate any feedback on my side effect. Thanks in advance. D.
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Reply about 1 year ago on Oct 31, 2008 by dawn689, #14033

WOW! I am going off Topamax due to it not working for me.. My pharmasist said that in 2% of people, Topamax can cause major anxiety.. For me, I cant take 100mg of it cause my anxiety sky rockets, and it increases my freq/and pain.. 75mg makes it toware I don't have several migraines a week but my anxiety is still bad.. My neurologist is now putting me on Zonogram(sp).. I have also taken Effexor.. Effexor caused migraines for me.. I do not believe the two in combination is a good combination for treating either migraines nor anxiety.
As Far a the RLS.. I think that is BS.. I know that there are side affects to Topamax (as with any medication) HOWEVER...RLS? Not to my knowledge. I know that having tingling in the hands/fingers, feet/toes and the occosional odd taste in the mouth. Weight loss is reported... I just think that personally, I would not put up with that sort of "side affect"..
I wish you the best of luck..
Oh ya, I have had migraines since I was 5yrs old.. They are horrible!

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Reply about 1 year ago on Nov 08, 2008 by jamiburton, #14294

D- I would run, run, run away from this drug as fast as you can! If you are having difficulties this early on, it seems to me that the worst is yet to come. I'm sorry to hear about your migraines. my mother experienced them puberty until 44, when she got a hysderectomy. =(

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Reply 11 months ago on Nov 18, 2008 by claudsanders, #14604

I have been on topamax for about 2 months. I cannot take it at night because it makes me hyper. Strange but true. My mom also has to take it in the day time or she is up all night. Maybe you should try that. I told my neurologist that and he was okay with it. I also discussed it with another neurologist friend of mine who said she had never heard that but it was fine to take it in the day if that worked best. Hopefully that will help you. I was fortunate to have someone tell me that on the 3rd day of taking the drug.

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