Topamax.

[Shani]

Hi everyone,
is anyone here taking a drug called Topamax?
It's used for migraines.
I'd like to have some feedback about it.
As I know it has  side-effects such as: Loss of appetite, weight loss and a lot of others.
My Neurologist is wanting me to try it and we are goin to build up the dose slowly.
First week: 25 mg and build up every week by adding another 25 until we are at 100mg daily.
Thank you.<3

[inga]

It can cause low Calcium.

[Katybarstool]

Shani

It's also an antiepileptic drug, and many people find it very helpful. I'm sure some people who have used it will drop by with their experience.

Kathyx

[BonusMom]

I've been taking it since the end of April for "complicated migraines".

Some refer to it as Dopomax because you can have problems with word finding (no worse than usual for me); others have reported extreme depression.

For myself, I am now on 200 mg and have gone from 17 migraines monthly to 3-4, which I control with Relpax.

I strongly believe that my migraines may be hormone related.  However, I  suppose it could be due to SLE or SjS, too.  I am 45.

My quality of life is much better with Topomax.

[voiceteacher]

I was on it for headaches and it made my reflux unbearable - - as soon as I got off, the reflux went back to normal (still not good but controllable with Nexium). 

Voiceteacher

[lynnmarie219]

I was on it for severe headaches a while back and then went off of it. I am back on it now again to also help control some of the severe muscle pain in my legs...it does seem to be helping with that as well!

I do like the take a low dose because of the "dopiness" effect it can have on me...and I take a small dose during the day (25 mg) and a little larger dose (75 mg) at night which seems to help right now with that problem.

Your doc is right to work up the dose very slowly...that's how mine did it too!

[ynevar]

I was on it for a while, I have very bad migraines at times.  I gave it a few nick names, stupa-max, dope-amax.  Made my cognitive abilities worse... I didn't have a headache but felt incredibly dumb.

-Y

[Cricket]

I was on it and had to go off due to the side effects, it effected my back and I was unable to walk alone.  As soon as I went off my back got better each day.
Good Luck Cricket

[Shani]

Thanks for your kind responses everyone.I usually react good to drugs, so hopefully with this one too.
I currently am also having stomach issues, so I need to wait untill that's better then I can start taking it.
And yes I am also glad they will build up the dose slowly so I can figure which one works best for me.
Without too many side-effects(or any at all)
Neurologist told me several times to call if I notice something that concerns me or feel a little weird.