Topamax and hives

I have been on Topamax for a little over a year. I've had most of the side effects; tingling, numbness in the fingers, dry mouth, forgetfulness, and weight loss - love the weight loss. All the side effects have sort of slowed down as I've been on the medication longer. The weight loss has slowed and I've even began to get my appetite back- I'm afraid I'm going to start gaining weight now! I've lost about 40 pounds and I needed to lose it, so that was wonderful. I've had a very hard time losing weight all my life so this was wonderful.

I was addicted to Coca Cola and this med also helped me kick that habit because I lost my taste for the carbonation.

Does anyone know if the weight loss usually evens out after about a year or a year and a half? I need to lose about 30 more pounds and was hoping that I would continue losing weight!

Anyway, I was on the Topamax for headaches and it has completely helped that! It has truly been a God-send for me. Other than monthly hormone headaches, I don't get migraines hardly at all!

I am wondering about having my doc up my dosage for the weight loss aspect????

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 have had trouble breathing with Topamax. I have been on the med twice. The first time, my doctor suspected that the mix of Allegra D and the Topamax caused an allergic reaction, the feeling of someone sitting on my chest and a breathing difficulty. So, she told me to stop both of them cold turkey. I did. The side effects went away, I felt better after 3 days. My migraines came back so I went to see a neurologist who wanted to try the Topamax again. I agreed to try it. I feel that familiar breathing problem, but not as bad. This time around, I think it is triggering asthma attacks which I have never had before. Someone was cutting the grass next door and when I breathed it in, I couldn't breathe. I had to shut the windows quickly and I coughed until I caught my breath. There was a natural gas smell in my apartment bldg. last week, I was in the hall for 4 mins. and had to leave quickly because it took my breath away. It took me 20 mins. to stop coughing. When I smell nail polish or the remover, etc. now, I can't breathe. I left the house yesterday and was panting while driving. I can't walk on my new treadmill without breathing hard. That never used to happen. Other side effects include pain behind my eye when I go out in the sun, my lips burn every time I go out in the sun, so do my ears, tingling in my thumbs and feet that can be painful, allergic to my cats now (breaking out in hives), and just not quick with the mind like I used to be. I know I shouldn't be driving. I've only been taking it for 6 weeks.