First I want to say, after reading several posts, that it seems a...

Read all Topamax side effects

Posted at 5: 6 PM on Mar 01, 2009 by brbarb, #39476

First I want to say, after reading several posts, that it seems a lot of you are taking Topamax without food, which may be causing your "spaciness." My doctor suggested always taking it with food, even though it says with or without food, and I only experienced spaciness the few times I took it at bedtime without food. Once I started taking it with breakfast and dinner, that never happened again. I am a 48 year old woman, prescribed Topamax in September of 08 for migraine associated vertigo without headaches, with facial numbness. The first thing I noticed was I immediately had headaches, which to me indicated it was dehydrating me as that is the only time I get a "normal" headache. So I knew I had to drink a lot of water. Soon after starting Topamax I developed a dry cough that lasted the entire time I was on the med. I did not relate it to the drug at the time, however. It never even occurred to me. After about two months on the drug I started having trouble breathing with extreme dryness in my airways. I was prescribed an albuterol inhaler which did not help. I was then prescribed a corticosteroid inhaler which also did not help. I thought the trouble breathing was from taking Nadolol which I was prescribed for occasional heart fluttering - the neurologist said this was a normal side effect of Topamax. I stopped taking the Nadolol but the trouble breathing continued. I also had more migraines with vertigo and facial numbness than before I started taking the drug. I hoped it would eventually stop and the drug would kick in to help the vertigo, so I stayed on the drug. I had very minor tingling in my feet, but it was tolerable. I became very stressed out, had trouble sleeping, depression, my face started breaking out in November (and still is), I lost interest in everything that I normally enjoy - reading, photography, following politics in the news (sort of an obsession of mine). In December I was so depressed that for the first time in my 11 year career I started canceling appointments and eventually took three weeks off from work to "re-group." In January the neurologist decided that we would increase the dose from 100 mg to 150 mg for one more month, and if it did not get rid of my migraines with vertigo, we would discontinue the drug. The first day on the increased dose I had a killer headache, and I drank 150 ounces of water before it went away. That night I did not have to go to the bathroom during the night, unheard of for me. That's a lot of water to drink and not have to pee. Within two days of increasing the dose, my cough became much worse, and within three days, the breathing became more difficult. Within five days, I was having trouble speaking because my airways felt so dry. I called the doctor the next morning and he said it was not the drug, but if I wanted to, stop taking it. So I went off it cold turkey, per his instructions. I had rebound migraines every day for a week or two and my heart was pounding, sometimes for three or four hours at a time. Eventually the cough and trouble breathing went away, however, I had to continue drinking lots of water or I would notice that I didn't have to urinate, sometimes not at all. Again, unheard of for me. I saw a cardiologist at the neurologist's urging and they said the heart pounding was just anxiety. I disagree, as did another doctor of mine. We both believe it was withdrawal. I have now found out (by getting copies of my medical records) that the neurologist is now attributing all of my side effects from the Topamax to "somatization." In other words, psychosomatic - not a side effect, but just a way of getting medical attention. I am seeing a few people on this board who have also experienced a dry cough and trouble breathing. Can I have the same side effects as other people and have them still be psychosomatic, even though I had no idea those side effects could occur? I don't think so. I have a theory that Topamax interferes with hormones which causes a lot of the side effects like lack of concentration, memory loss, anxiety, depression, insomnia, acne, and hair loss - all symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause. Ask any woman in her 40's or 50's if she has these symptoms and most of them will say yes. My face has not been this broken out since high school! My hair is falling out at a rapid rate. I won't even bother mentioning these to the neurologist. He'll just say it's not the drug. I'm very frustrated and not sure what to do at this point. The neurologist has me taking a supplement called Migrelief now, but I think it takes three months to kick in, so I have no relief at this point. Has anyone else experienced the trouble breathing with dry cough? I don't believe for a moment that it was psychosomatic.

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Reply 7 months ago on Mar 19, 2009 by diannaw, #18232

Interesting theory about Topamax and hormones . I started taking Topamax in August 2008 for migraines , titrating from 25mg to 50mg . Have only 2 or 3 real migraines since , and I was getting 5 -10 a month. Tingly hands and feet right away as well as blurry vision . in November 2008 , Dr upped me to 100 mg daily because I began have a DAILY headache that feels like a sinus headache but will not go away for love or money . ( I do not drink alot of water at all ...but am trying after reading your notes ...) this is not a migraine but rather a steady 4 or 5 that is with me morning noon and night . Doc gave me some Hydrocodone and sent me on my way . Fast forward to March 2009 ... I have been to my dr probably every week for 3 months complaining of : blurry vision , THAT HEADACHE , being cold , being forgetful , constipation , unable to sleep . Finally went to the OB/Gyn for a checkup and he found an Ovarian tumor that turned out to be extremely weird when they did surgery on me ...12 cm , benign ( thank you Lord ) and made with thyroid tissue of all things ! Yes , thyroid tissue . So now , I am minus one ovary , and on-line researching my headaches . your posting has me wondering if the Topamax has anything to do with any of this . Yes , I am 43 and could be pre-menopausal but I never had these symptoms before . THe forgetfulness is the worst , I am used to being articulate and to be searching and searching for a word is maddening . I think it's time to take back as much of my health as I can with sunshine and exercise and meditation , each pill seems to create a new problem . ( for me )