Topamax Reduces Number Of Monthly Migraine Days In Chronic Migr...

I'm fifteen years old and have been suffering from migraines for almost 2 years now. Several medications were given to me to treat these attacks and none proved worthy. Finally, I was given Topamax in January of the first year and I immediately saw improvement in the amount of migraines I was getting. I had one every day for at least 6 hours but with Topamax I was happy to get one every other day for maybe 3 hours. But even though it cured my headaches I significantly lost weight. Too much weight, if I may add. I was a healthy 115 pounds in January and dropped to a mere 90 pounds by the end of April. Very unhealthy. Logically, I stopped the medicine and have been struggling to gain back all my weight for more than a year now. Topamax helped my migraines but caused a greater health problem now as I am forced to eat loads and loads of food every day...and barely manage to gain one pound every month. Thanks to Topamax, my life has flipped upside-down and made me realize that I'd rather suffer through the worst migraine attack in the history of headaches...than to go through what I'm going through now. I never wanted any of this... I just wanted to be headache free. My entire family and many, many friends are deeply concerned about my health now as I am too. It's the worst thing to be too small to fit in a normal jean size and also not be able to share your younger sister's clothing anymore. My advice is find a migraine killer that lets you maintain your healthy body and allows you to live your life in happiness.

How much Topamax do you take daily? I've been taking 50mg. a day and still no success.

naomi i think you rock!

I used to take Toamax. I still have migraines but nothing like I used to have. I had that same problem though I started out (at the age 16) at 125 pounds and went down to 110 pounds and stayed at the size for several years.

And oh yes Topamax made my life so much simpler. I am glad now though that I dont have to take it. That is some expensive stuff if your insurance wont cover it.

Queen-C wrote:

I used to take Toamax. I still have migraines but nothing like I used to have. I had that same problem though I started out (at the age 16) at 125 pounds and went down to 110 pounds and stayed at the size for several years.
And oh yes Topamax made my life so much simpler. I am glad now though that I dont have to take it. That is some expensive stuff if your insurance wont cover it.

i am already 5'4", 115 lbs & cannot afford 2 loose any weight. my health is already compromised in inumerable ways. does any insurance company cover it? i get free generics on my plan, but i am on a fixed income & have found it could cost me up 2 $50 or more. i cannot afford every med a doc prescibes, especially if the side effects are the things that i already complain about. it has been prescibed 4 my migraines & as an additional seizure med. how did u get off of it? or, maybe y did u get off of it?

The same thing has happened to me. I am 5'10", and now weigh 130 lbs. My doc told me that I should weigh at minimum 145 lbs. I take 200 mgs./day. However, I am determined to find a way to live with Topamax. This is the only medication that has given me any relief from my headaches. I finally feel like I can live a somewhat normal life again. I hate it when people are constantly discussing my weight. Acquaintances assume that I must have an eating disorder even after I explain the situation to them.

50mg. is no longer working for me after taking Topamax for 3 months -so I need to increase my dose to 75mg. I'm afraid I'll get stupid(dopo-max)I know someone on 100 mg who can hardly get her words out-but shes headache free!!!I have a job -I need a clear head!!I can work taking imitrex have been for a zillion years-botox helps--running out of things to do-I'm always in pain --but some how life goes on-----

I have been on Topomax for almost two years. I take 100mg daily. It works really well for me. I still have small headaches sometimes and I usually know what triggers them and when I am going to have them. I have had them all my life so I deal with it. The topamax is a life-saver. Yes, I have lost weight, but mostly it just lets me eat whatever I want and just maintain a healthy weight. I am 26, 5'4" and I weight 120. I eat like crazy and I love it. I do notice that I can't remember as much as I used to. I work and it does get stressful in meetings sometimes, but to not have headaches I feel it is worth it. I hate being in pain. I feel like it is really perfect for some people. Don't let everyone deter you from it.

Cathy Rizzo wrote:

50mg. is no longer working for me after taking Topamax for 3 months -so I need to increase my dose to 75mg. I'm afraid I'll get stupid(dopo-max)I know someone on 100 mg who can hardly get her words out-but shes headache free!!!I have a job -I need a clear head!!I can work taking imitrex have been for a zillion years-botox helps--running out of things to do-I'm always in pain --but some how life goes on-----

Cathy and all others with migraines, please check out this forum. It can really be a huge help.

http://forums.healthcentral.com/discussion/mi...

The person that runs it is a migranure and so she speaks from first hand experience and also is very educated medically as well.

Good luck to all, Topamax has been a huge help to me too.

I was started on Topamax for migraine headaches. I took it for approx 3 weeks. I did not have headaches, but I did wake up at 1 o'clock in the morning after approx 3 weeks and found myself paralyzed full body and I could not speak. This lasted quite some time. I was checked out for any heart problems, seisures etc. It was concluded I had a reaction to the Topamax. I have never been so frightened in my life. I thought I was dieing. Also I might add that from the time I started using the drug I felt myself go down physically in every way. I felt awful and didn't know why. Being off the topamax for two weeks I am finally starting to feel normal again. I hate to think what it could have done to me had I continued with the drug any longer.

I just started Topamax I started out on 50 mg now I am on 100 mg. I have been on these for complex migraines that I get. I haven't seen a weight loss yet, which would be nice, but not my biggest concern, just curious everyone who lost all this weight are you using more than 100 mg a day?

Vicki wrote:

I just started Topamax I started out on 50 mg now I am on 100 mg. I have been on these for complex migraines that I get. I haven't seen a weight loss yet, which would be nice, but not my biggest concern, just curious everyone who lost all this weight are you using more than 100 mg a day?

I was not using more than 100 mg I was using 100mg and I lost a boatload of weight. In fact I could go for days on end without eating and not be bothered at all.

I have been off for 1 month because I think I found the source of my migraines and it has been fixed but if you are eating normally and not having any weight issues at all, you may not get that side effect.

I have only been on the topamax 100 mg for 6 days now, i was on it for 2 wks at 50 mg. So far only side effects I have been feeling is dry mouth.

hi im new to it, and not sure how much to start taking. my doc wont give it in the uk. i get severe h.a's and weight gain from mood stabilizers. hoping this will help both. Started today on 50mg. see what happens? Any ideas?

has anyone ever had eye issues? pain? I have been taking topamax only 25 mg for 1 month and it so far it seems to work for me. Now, because of the eye pain I had my Dr. wants to take me off and I dont want to HELP... what should I tell him

Hi,

I’m new to this forum, but I wanted to share my story. My name is Merry Cookston and I am 56 years old. I have suffered from migraine headaches since I was in high school. I was on Topamax 2xs a day plus Zomig when the headaches came on which was about 2 to 3 times per week.

I would come home on those headache days to a dark room, not being able to eat or talk and nearly vomiting from pain. At one point, 15 months ago, my husband did have to take me to the hospital because the migraine was so out of control. It took 5 shots to finally knock out the pain.

After 20 years of pain and trips to the ER, I wanted to find a better way to cope. I had a doctor friend refer me to a natural product, which has changed my life. In fact, I have had only 2 migraines in over 15 months.

Over the past couple of months I have been sharing my story with other people who suffer with migraines like me. My son has created a web page for me so I can reach more people who struggle with migraines and feel like they have NO HOPE.

THERE IS HOPE! Please feel free to check out more information about my story and the healthy alternative I have found to significantly help my migraines.

Copy and paste the link below into your browser window for more information or you can email me at UniveraLiving@yahoo.com.

http://web.mac.com/joelcookston/iWeb/Migraine...

I am a fairly new user to Topamax. I really have no side effects now. I am taking 50 mg. twice daily. Everyone who is having ill side effects, what are the amounts you are taking? I would like to increase the dosage a bit to help with the migraines more, but not at all cost. Also, I have experienced no weight loss either, is that because I am also on a lower dosage? Can anyone help?

I have had a migraine for the last 24 days and I have been in and out of the hospital seveal times and I have been diagnosed with a complex migraine and I had been given topamax. I am on 150mg I take 75mg in the morning and at bedtime. I just can't get rid of the pain above my rigt eye and at my C2 vertebrae. If anyone has any suggestions feel free to email me holly7291@aol.com.

I'm going to start Topamax. I'm been suffering with Migraines for years. I also take zomig for the start of migraine.
Has anyone had problems taking these to medications. Thanks for the input.

Joni wrote:

I'm going to start Topamax. I'm been suffering with Migraines for years. I also take zomig for the start of migraine.
Has anyone had problems taking these to medications. Thanks for the input.

I have been on Topamax since October, no problems at all! You really have to do what the begining says to do though. You will suffer if you do not step up the right way, there are very weird side effects that go away as time goes on and they are tollerable as long as you follow the instructions by taking low doses and stepping up slowly but if you don't and you go quickly, you will not be able to handle the side effects and will probably not do well with Topamax.

An added benefit or it can be bad as in my case (I am not over-weight) is that you will probably lose weight. You just lose interest in food, but you have you be sure to drink lots of water!!!!! And if I did not add enough exclamations, drink lots of water!!!! ;>) Kindey stones are another hazard I have not had but I have read about and do not want.

Good luck, I have not had nearly as many migraines since taking this medication along with Veralan PM 200mg and Riboflavin 100mg 2xs a day. You might want to talk to your neurologist about veralan to see if that would help too.

Good luck,
Brian