I began getting debilitating headaches 3 years ago. They were ev...

I began getting debilitating headaches 3 years ago. They were everyday and not the classic headache (no visual, nausea etc). It felt like a jackhammer to the back of my head every single day. My neurologist told me they were migraines. I was skeptical as every other migraine med had not worked. I began on Topamax at 25 mg twice daily. I started at this dose for a month. The body really needs to adjust SLOWLY to this med. My side effects were pins and needles in the hands and feet, strange taste in foods, flat tasting sodas, drastic cut in appetite. My doctor assured me these would go away. Headaches did not start to improve until the second month when I went up to 50mg twice daily. By the third month I was up to 100mg twice daily and I feel like I have my life back. I still will have occasional migraine breakthroughs, but nothing like the misery I had before. Within 5 months or so, food began to taste normal again and the pins and needles stopped. I dropped 30 pounds total on Topamax. It has been a life saver for me!! My advice for anyone thinking about this drug is to ease your way up slowly until your body adjusts. One week on a dose is not enough time.