Topamax and tiredness

I was doing just fine taking 50 mg of Topamax but I was still having minor headaches. My doctor said to go to a neurologist because there may be a tumor to worry about. He doubled my morning dosage and added an evening dosage so now I am taking 200 mg. a day. I started the insanity on Friday. By Monday i went grocery shopping and couldn't remember what I was shopping for. Thank God i brought my husband with me...when I could remember that he was with me. And then when I remembered to ask him what we came for I needed to remember where it was. Upon returning home I offered to help my 7 year old grand daughter with her spelling homework. Do you how embarrassing it is to not remember how to spell first grade spelling words? Tuesday was Mardi Gras and we went to the movies so I was saved any further mind questions. Then along comes Wednesday and I returned to work. Well, I tried to get to work. I got lost. Here I was at Walgreen's trying to figure out what I was doing out at 6:00 in the morning. What day was it? The looks on other's faces when you ask them these question is not something funny. So, I get back in my car and aim in the direction I hope is work. Luckily, I remember where I habitually stop for breakfast. My memory comes back again and I make it to work. I am on time and all is well. Now, the day begins.

I haven't had a period since December. Here it is February. And no, I am NOT pregnant. I can't concentrate. I ate 2 chicken nuggets for lunch and am full (now that is a healthy lunch, huh?). I was addicted to Dr. Pepper and now can't even stand the smell of it. I can't walk and chew gum at the same time. I found a note that I wrote sometime yesterday that really scares me because I don't remember writing it. It says, " Headache @ 1:55 no known trigger jut sudden movement to pick up papers from bin over desk. Nausea as well. Need to go to sleep forever." Good feeling to have? Depression is kicking in.

I just called my doctor and he says decrease the medication down to 100 mg. Ummmm...How about I decrease it down to 0 mg and I take a Imitrex or 2 and a hot bath with a nap when I get home and live to see my grandchildren grow old! I think living with a migraine or 50 is far better than what I have been feeling this past week.

If anyone can tell me that it gets better in less than 2 weeks I will stay with it but 1 more week of this and I will be a patient in a mental hospital. I can't even play Nintendo with my grandson...NOW THAT IS DEPRESSING!

Hi all,
Unfortunately, I didn't read all of these comments before I started taking Topamax.
I have migraines for 25 years, and decided to try Topamax.
Week 1-25mg, Diet coke tasted strange. Tingling. Tiredness. Forgetfulness. Can't think clearly. Hard to spell. Or do any task.
Week 2-50mg...a zombie-all of the above and more. Couldn't remember how to get back to my house..and I was just 5 streets away.
I stopped taking Topamax 2 days ago.
I feel much better.
Plz beware.
Having migraines for so many years (i am 38 now) I learned how to control them and Imitrex does work for me.
If I need to choose between having migraines 3-4 times a week and the side affects of Topamax-I choose migraines.

I took 75mg of Topamaz for 3 1/2 months for my chronic migraines. The side affects for me were nearly as bad as the headaches: I lost 17 pounds, tingling in my toes and fingers, tiredness, food intolerances, and still had the headaches. I went off the Topamax 2 months ago and thought I was going to be OK. But last week, I developed appendicitis and had my appendix taken out by emergency surgery. I am curious if any other patient has had appendicitis but just didnt relate it to the Topamax.

I have been on Topamax for approximately six weeks - 100 miligrams for migraine. I have to say that so far my side effects have been minimal and my results have been quite good. I am experiencing some parasthesia in my hands and feet - but it is transitory and mildly annoying at worst. I have found that a lot of foods don't taste very good - and I really only like highly flavorful things like fruits and vegetables. I don't enjoy anything fatty, starchy or sugary. I'd like to be able to complain about that - but let's get real - that's probably a good thing. I've lost about 20 pounds since I started on the Topamax, 20 pounds that I can easily afford to lose. I also find that I am quite thirsty. I was experiencing some tiredness, but by switching to dosing only at bedtime, I have minimized that side-effect. My appetite has diminshed a great deal. I am not noticing cognitive side effects. I have had two migraines since I started on the Topamax (I was having approxmitately 15-20 days a month of severe migraines before), but I was able to take 1/2 dose of Relpax, and the migraine was gone within a half an hour. Typically I woiuld have to take a whole dose, repeat the dose in 2 hours and still have a headache, and repeat for 3-5 days, so I am seeing a big difference in the incidence of my headaches. All-in-all I am feeling quite hopeful that the Topamax, for me, will be an excellent overall solution for something that has been quite debilitating.