I forgot to add a very important side effect in my last posting. ...

I forgot to add a very important side effect in my last posting. When I first started Topamax I discovered that it can affect your body's ability to regulate heat. It only happens in extreme heat. I was on a relatively low dose at the time (100 mg) and I traveled to Costa Rica where it was very hot every day. I became very hot and could not cool off which I had never had trouble with before. It was a strange experience and I would find myself becoming overheated very quickly without knowing it was happening. When I returned home I talked to the doctor and he told me to be really careful because Topamax can block your body from sweating which in turn can cause you to overheat and then essentially be at risk for heat stroke. Again it only happens in extreme heat and I was fine when I was near water and could swim, etc. but when I was hiking, sitting on hot buses and my body kept heating up it was really scary. At one point, I got so hot and my face turned so red that I poured bottle of water over my head to cool down. Just be aware of the possibility so that you can prepare for it...