Topamax and agony

I get migraines at least a couple times a month and headaches a few times a week. I've not yet been able to pin down some kind of trigger (caffeine, chocolate, sodium, etc), so my doctor suggested topamax. I had high hopes to live headache free and liked the idea of potential weight loss as a side effect. However, I took one pill, 25 mg., before bed, and woke up the next morning with a sore back. I figure'd I'd slept wrong, and I'd walk off the pain, but it didn't go away. After several days I forgot a dose, the next morning I felt much better, could actually walk around. A few more days of pills and one night I went to bed, in extreme pain. The next morning I was in agony, the pain so bad that I was screaming and crying just trying to take a couple steps to the bathroom. I felt like I'd never be able to straighten up or walk right again. I checked my prescription data and it said a rare side effect was severe back and bone pain. I contacted my doctor, who advised me to quit topamax for the time being, though she was in doubt my pain was due to the pills. The cause of back pain is sometimes hard to diagnose, I'll give her that, but the timing of it was strange to say the least, and I'd never had that kind of pain before. I hope other people get pain relief from their headaches and migraines, but for me, I'm too scared to try again, and am searching for other options for headache relief.

began taking 25 mg about 3 wks ago for headaches. stepped up to 50 when headaches didn't cease and, eventually, 100 b/c I still felt a slight tinge of one (though certainly not that bad). I've been at 100 now for about 1 week and will probably step back down to 50 mg b/c I am starting to get the negative symptoms such as tingling fingers and face, slight pain in the legs, dehydration and "floaty brain."

I most certainly intend on staying w/this med. b/c, 1. it got rid of my headaches, 2. I've lost 9 - 10 lbs. so far and no longer eat everything in sight, 3. I SLEEP again, THANK GOD!!! 4. I have NO mood swings

It should be noted that I take no other meds - not even over-the-counter! (Might want to see what the doctor suggests for menstral cramps. My normal dose of excederin (sp?) did not work - I was in agony. Not sure if this was a result of Topamax or not. )

Oh, and be very careful when consuming alcoholic beverages. If you begin to feel abnormally agitated, stop. Be sure to drink plenty of water so as not to get dehydrated!