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I've only been on topamax for about a month and a half and alread...

Posted at 2:40 AM on Dec 23, 2008 by msdickso, #37477
I've only been on topamax for about a month and a half and already I'm feeling some interesting side effects. In the first week of taking the medication I had such pressure behind my left eye I thought it was going to pop. It eventually went away and has not come back (thank the Lord). I also experienced some pretty nasty numbness, tingling, and uncomfortable pins and needles in my fingertips and toes/sole of my foot. The tingling in my hands usually lasted a few hours and the tingling in my feet only lasted for a couple of minutes. This tingling is never predictable. Eventually the tingles went away and I was tingle free for a while. But in the past few days they came back. It actually coincided with my PMS. The tingles came back and with intensity about three days before my period started. I was wondering if it was common to have a side effect return or increase in intensity around your menstrual cycle? My hormones are pretty nutty and the reason I'm on topamax is to stop severe migraine auras and slight seizures that are tied to my menstrual cycle. The feet tingles are the worst. It feels like I'm being jabbed with needles and I hate when it happens while I'm sleeping because it wakes me up and I can't fall back asleep again until they go away... they are that irritating. The hands I can deal with because I'm used to my left arm going numb when I was having the auras. My sleep patterns have been disturbed because of topamax... I'm not too peeved about that. I still manage to get enough sleep. However there are times when I'm out with friends or having conversations and I'll know the word I want to say and I'll just bust out the wrong one. Like for example saying symphony instead of sympathy. My friends have gotten used to it and know what I'm trying to say. It cracks them up when my word salad produces sexual innuendos on accident when I really mean something else. BUT it's really messing up job interviews at the moment. I'm a bright and articulate person who is getting her BA in Anthroplogy and Archaeology, minor in History and am trying to get research assistant jobs at museums and universities. It's really hard to get a job when you are sitting there sounding like an uneducated moron high on crack. I haven't had problems with memory, thank the Lord. Even though I've got the word salad going on (and it's strange... the word jumbles are only when I'm speaking... I'm super coherent when typing) I'm not forgetful. I was able to make it through finals week perfect, while juggling a full work load. I hope I don't start losing my memory. I haven't lost any weight (AW SHUCKS!!!!!). I was looking forward to that one. How soon should I expect to lose weight by, if I do in fact lose weight? I'm a difficult duck when it comes to weight loss. I've been at a stable weight since I was 13. I'm an athlete so my body is my temple sort of thing. But in the past two years I've put on a little bit of unwanted weight in certain areas when I stopped hitting the weight machines :( My question is, if I haven't lost it yet... will I lose any? I'm also classified as type II bipolar, obsessive compulsive, and anxiety disordered. I've noticed my mood has stabilized. I'm not as all over the place as I used to be. My highs could get pretty high and when they would get up there my obsessive compulsive would almost go on a little joy ride. And when I was low, I was super low and my anxiety would take the depression out for a spin. But now I feel a calmness and a zen that I never felt previously. It's not an apathy I can certainly tell you that. I feel like I am in control of my life. I thank topamax for that. Reading all of these posts I just worry that the honeymoon period of my medication maybe over. I worry about other side effects cropping up. I think that I can deal with my tingling extremities and that I can manage my word salads. I don't want the pressure in my eye to come back. I also don't want to start exhibiting the other side effects. What is the possibility that I will start exhibiting more side effects or are you generally stuck with what initially presents in the first month or so? My doctor also does NOT intend on increase my dosage. He thinks 50mg once a day will do me just fine. Oh and one last question, anyone else experiencing the side effect increase coinciding with PMS? Sorry for the super long post! All replies are welcome!
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Reply 11 months ago on Dec 25, 2008 by suze12, #15500

Hi, I hope you are doing well. I've been on topamax for... goodness... around 8-9 mths. for chronic migraines. I really seen results so I am now up to 200mg a day (still hopeful). When i first started taking it, I too felt the tingling in my hands and feet and even in my face (around my mouth/nose area). This intensified BIG time when i worked out. After being on it for about 5mths or so the tingling went away except during working out and when i'm outside and it's really cold.

Aas far as the word choice issue/memory... i really didn't have an issue until 100-150mg. and is b-a-d. I'm a junior psych major 3.998 and i take school seriously and i love it! But recently i have sat in the classroom after hours of studying and have not been able to recall a thing--- i know, i can see it in my mind, i can not retrieve it. It is horrible! Like you i know the word i want to say and i'll say the wrong one--- this happens constantly--- as in all day long---ALL DAY!!! in every day speech, and in writing... it now does not phase me to replace the work right for write (this is atypical for me).
I have not noticed any increased side effects coinciding w/PMS however this past week i seriously have had a wave of migraines even after taking my Treximet(for when i get a migraine--usually works!)

i really have no appetite.
But, i have not expereinced weight loss, i regulate my eating so i do not trigger a migraine- even if that means eating when i don't want to-- which for the past 2mths has been every day.

i'm not sure w/the lower doses, but i the risks get greater w/the doses.-- i'm currently waiting on blood work/liver panel b/c for the past 4 wks. i've been having nose bleeds (which surprise-- is a side effect...)

I've learned over the past month.... become friends with the pharmacist They have a wealth of knowledge and can give advice and help you more than sometimes your doctor can

please forgiving any typos...

hope i've helped (in some way)
-Suzanne

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