Topamax and migrane

i have bee on topamax for 2 years started out low amounts now i am up to 100mg at night and 50mg in the morning and i will take 50mg when needed for a headache if i get one thru the day . that is all i love it. no more in the bedroom all day missing life sick. no more head splitting open just shoot myself painful headache. i feel great and i function raising three boys two teens and one pre teen. im not saying that they don't give me a migraine but i can control them thanks to topamax. i hope it never loses its effectiveness because i will lose my piece of mind. oh before i go ,weight gain ! i am an semi-active person. i did not gain the weight at first but as i got older i did . but i work it out and keep going. i would rather 10 lbs more on my tush than a migraine busting my head open. so work out a bit ,go for a walk ,choose a good eating regimine, and lose your headaches.

ok i have been taking topomax for about roughly 7 years. at one time it got so bad with the memory loss they put me on the alzhimers med. that they proscribe for about everyone with alzhimers. i have had clumps of hair fall out so they put in a prescription for hair loss. i once weighed 100 lbs size 0 im 5 ft tall and i am usually about a 7-8 . the topomax i was taking it for my toruretts syndrome and every so often it causes a clich ill have face freezing that will last for and hour to 3 days or make it worse. ill get hives i get aggressive angerd very easily at the drop of a pin and wont eat at all because i forget i forget everything i once stared at a wall for 3 hours i couldn't move my body or eyes my mind went blank like someone shut off the electricity . plus bad acne ( um when i first took it it was like i was getting high with my entire body tingling like when ur foot has fallen asleep even my eyes felt like that) i have sufford some vision problems everyday and forget what and where i was going it has made me have some psychological problems increase
i have now recently stopped taking it i still get rashes i am always cold hair is still falling out still hear a ring in my ears i see things that aren't there like little firecrackers going off in my vision or blackouts like when u get a migraine i am always itching tingly all the time aggravated all the time
but now i eat i have gained like close to 20 lbs but i am more focussed in some things it helps when i am in class to stay focussed but not really because im not used to being so alert but i think i like not feeling foggy anymore

I have been on Topamax for 2 1/2 years at 250mg for migraines and have decided to get off because of side effects. I have had all mentioned: mood swings, dehydration, not sweating,tingling, dizziness, loss for words, short term memory loss,numbness, fatigue, GI problems, anorexic weight loss,rage... And this all began from the starting 25mg dose!
The migraines decreased from 24 a month to 12, at best down to 6 or 7, but I seemed to hit a plateau then back to 15.
I saw three different doctors and all wanted to simply increase the Topamax or add another med (Depakote, beta blocker, etc.)
Finally, I found that a problem with my neck may be causing the headaches and treating that has reduced them enough for me to try and get off the Topamax. I still rely on the Relpax to get me through the bad days, but I'm hoping I can get free of the Topamax for good!
I just encourage anyone thinking of starting Topamax to investigate all possible migraine causes before starting!! Topamax doesn't cure the migraine, it only blocks the pain! And the side effects are not worth it if you can find another way to alleviate the problem!

I've been taking Topamax now for about 6 weeks, and my headaches are still just as bad as ever, except now I have headaches with the thrill of numb fingers, confusion, weight loss, memory loss, an absolute horrid taste in my mouth, and now the latest.... my hands feel dirty all the time. Has anyone experienced this?? I just feel like my hands are dirty. I wash them, and a half hour later, it almost feels like there's a film on them, and I have to wash them again. Almost ocd-ish. So 6 weeks in.... Anyone have any advise on how much longer I should give this topamax before I give up on it & try something else? My doc said it should have worked by now if it was gonna - but I have read on here, that it sometimes can take months...? I just don't know if I can take these side effects, AND the headaches for much longer without going NUTS! {grin}
Any advise?

I started taking 25 mg of Topamax in March 2006, slight reduction in migranes. July 1 neurologist increased meds to decrease migranes weekly to max of 100 mg, 2 weeks later and until this day, my problems have been horrendous. It has taken me 6 weeks to realize that they are due to the topamax. Extreme pain in lower left side, bladder infection like symptoms without an infection; walking around in a stupor; feel flu like, unable to think clearly; naseau; can not get out of bed; missed a week of work because I felt so unwell. I am slowly going off the topamax, although the urologist states "there is no correlation between your pain and the meds"; and it took two calls to the neurologist before anyone would listen to my plight. How long will it take to get this poison out of my system. I would rather have migranes every day than feel like I have been changed into an entirely different person emotionally and so unwell physically that nothing else matters. I was working two high pressure jobs, ready to complete another degree, and functioning a completely normal pleasant life with my family and friends. Topamax has taken care of diminishing all of this for me. My credibility in a position where I must think clearly and responsibility in my family where I am depended upon for much are sorely effected by this horrid medication. I believe it is very interesting that the side effects for migrane patients vs. those who take it for epilepsy and seizure are as different as night and day -- but it's the same medication. Kind of like me pre and post Topamax medication!!!!!

I would like to find out if anyone has had similar problems as my wife. My wife has been taking Topamax for 4 to 5 years for migrane relief. During this time she has had a series of problems that list out as side effects (IE: weight loss, difficulty with memory, depression, psychomotor slowing, mood problems, confusion, decreased libido). But the biggest and most problematic is paranoia. We have been married for 29 years and are in our mid 50's. About at the same time she started taking Topamax she went into metaphase. Initially I thought her paranoia was a symptom of metaphase, but she is through that and her paranoia has accelerated. She accuses me constantly of being unfaithful, having another job, investing in things she is not aware of and literally hundreds of accusations. All of wcich are untrue and I have proven that to her time and time again to no avail. Her doctors say no she is on too low of a dose to have these problems, but I dissagree. She went off the medicine in December and January, but started to get frquent migranes in late January so she went back on the medicine. When she was off the medicine her demeanor was like the wife I have had for 25 yaers. When she went back on it she had a significant demeanor and the accusations started up again. She can't get the negative thoughts out of her mind, which is causing her incredible turmoil, and me too as I am the fucus of her paranoia. My next door neighbor was on this very med and developed awful thoughts about her husband and got off the med. It took her about a year to get her mind right. My wife doesn't believe she has this problem. But believe me she does. DO you have or know of others who have had these problems that are on Topax? Please let me know. Thank you! Engineer-guy

I am on now 400mg of Topamax a day. I take it for epilepsy. I have some halluciations but I ignore them. I lost over 30 lbs. The weight loss was needed because of a seond medication I am still currently on that made me gain weight. The Topamax gives my legs and neck the worst pain and mucsle achs... I get blurred vision. I will be trying to talk and my speech will start to slur or I forget words that I will need help remembering that are right on the tip of my tongue. My short term memory, that is not so good, I forget things most of the time. The medicine is for migrane relief but since I have been on it I have had the worst headaches ever! Along with the rest of you I do have gas problems also......The only reason I do not get off this stuff is that I have tried over 10 different medicines that didn't control my seizures, this does. I have had all the tests, Just went in for an MRI, what else can we do?