Topamax and gradually

I've been on Topamax for over a year for hormonal migraines, and it's working great for the headaches. I started out at 25mg twice a day and now I'm up to 100mg twice a day. I've lost 40lb (mostly due to the drug -- but my appetite is starting to come back) and have just recently started experiencing the anxiety and tingling in the extremities. I've always felt I've had trouble concentrating and "finding the word", but I attributed it to lack of sleep because I have two small children. My most recent side effect, however, is most worrisome, which is the reason for my visit to this website. I am experiencing severe abdominal pain, almost constant, and it seems to be increasing. I had abdominal pain and diarrhea when I first started Topamax last year, but it stopped after the first month or so. I'm just wondering if maybe long term use can cause ulcers or other stomach problems. Anyone have any experience with this? I know from experience that Topamax dosages have to gradually weaned up and down, so I'm considering decreasing my dosage to see if my stomach problems will stop. I'm just in so much pain, yet my migraines have almost stopped now with 200mg a day, that I'm reluctant to change my dose.

I have been taking Topamax since 2002 for migraines. I started out slow with 25mg at night for a week then 50, 75 then 100mg after one month. The following week I was suppose to start 25mg in the morning. I received headaches from that. I only stick with 100mg at night and have not suffered from a migraine since. Unless I am hung over. I did get the tingling in my hands and now I hate soda. Which to me is a good thing for all the sugar it has in it. However, when my script runs out and it takes me two or more days for a refill, I get extremely sick. Must be a withdrawel thing. So do not miss more than one day.

I have been on Topamax since June 2007 when RSD was diagnosed after 3 tests that were performed Bone Scan, EMG & VNC after knee surgery. 2 of the 3 tests came back positive) My doseage has been gradually increased to 100mg. Most of the side effects described above I've had, the only one I am experiencing, that I did not see posted here, I have broken out in hives. My skin started off very itchy and then all of a sudden I broke out in hives, and the hives have only appeared on the side of where the RSD was located. I have found that this medication has worked, but the side effects are quite difficult to deal with at times. I find that when the medication is increased it takes 7-10 days for your system to adjust.

I don't know about anyone else, but it took me quite a while to type this email also, it take a while to focus, and to get your thoughts together.

This is to IMISSMYWIFE, I don't know if this is my husband or not, but it sure sounds like it could be, I'm sorry for all the pain I've caused you and Nicole.

I started with 25 mgs of topamax about 5 months ago for migraine prevention. I very gradually increased the dosage to 50 mgs and started having the usual side effects of tingling in hands, metal soda taste, concentration problems; but not bad enought to make me stop as my migraines were stopping as well! Then I upped the dosage to 75 mgs, and the side effects were sudsiding. My nurologist had me up the dosage to 100mg, and that very night I awoke from sleep having my first partial conscious siezure. At the time I didn't know what the heck was happening to me and thought I may be having a stroke. I am only 44 years old and I ran across the street at 2:30 in the morning to my neighbors house who is a nurse. Long story short, it took uppin the dosgae two more times and having this happen each time I upped the dose, to finally realize that it was the topamax that was causing the seizures. Now my nurologist is gradually decreasing my dosage to wean me off the topamax, and hopefully the siezures will stop! Has anyone had any experiences like this? Or am I the only one who get s siezures from an anti sewizure medication?

Havew been on Topamax 6 months for FHM. Before taking it I was going unconscious(& hospitalized) every 3 weeks. It was suggested I gradually build up the topamax until taking 400mg per day. At first I got on well. I began to lose words but put up with this as my mood was better & I had no attacks but gradually this changed I became depressed, I could not think properly, prayers I had said `all my life I could not remember,I became frustrtated as I coyuld not remember simple words & names. My cognitive skills became almost non existent & then after 3 months I had an attack & then 3 weeks later another VERY bad one, When I regained consciousness I am told I was acting like a mad person trying to push away non existent people & suffering from Alice in Wonderland syndrone. This did not improve & in fact I srted suffering from every known side effect of the drug. I decided to ask if i could come off it. I was convinced it was the Topiramate causing the side effects. My Dr suggested reducing to 200mg per day. I have done this & am much better in mood & mind is much clearer. I still find difficulty with words but as I have not had any attacks i have decided to stay at 200mg for a bit though I hope in due course to reduce to 100mg per day. Has anyone tried it for FHM & whqt results? Thank you

I'm only on 25mg of Topamax per day right now. Over an 8 week period I will gradually go to 200mg per day. Anyway, since about the 3rd day on 25mg's, I've had diarrhea & bad stomach cramps everytime I eat. I can't keep anything in my stomach other than liquids. Has anyone else experienced this? If so, how long did it last? Should I expect it to get worse with increased doses?

I have been having temporal lobe partial complex seizures since I was 5. Was put on Topamax as solo therapy for use also for migraines in 1999. Controlled both well. Gradually I developed severe depression. It was so subtle I was not aware it was my medicine. I did tell my neuro. and he added different antidepressents to the regime to no avail. My life continued to deteriorate. I also had the tingling fingers, toes, twitches on my face, confusion, could not remember anything. I finally became suicidal and a regular MD decided told me to switch neuro and get off the meds in 2005. 1 month after coming off the med I was my old self again. My memory everything came back. I felt like i had lost all those years.

I've been on Topamax for about 6 months now (gradually starting out at twice a day (25 mg - 50 mg - 75 mg then finally ending at 100 mg twice a day). Lost 30 pounds and holding. At times very tired - GREAT not having anymore migraines - but depressed more often and edgy. Snapping at anyone at a drop of a hat! I sometimes take 100 mg a day instead of 200. If my stress level is very high and I do get a migraine regardless - I take my 5 mg of Zomig - it helps and I'm back on track again.