Monday, May 20, 2013

Topamax toxicity

By m17 Thursday, July 14, 2011

I was hospitalized for four days due to a drug toxicity to my Topamax I was taking for the last two years to control my migraines.

I became dizzy and confused, was admitted for a neurological evaluation and the next day started vomiting, developed a severe headache and they took me off the topamax (25 mg./night) and it seemed to subside after a few days of terrible side effects. 

Almost the end of my first week back to work
7/14/11 2:21pm

How did they determine it was the Topa that caused your symptoms?

7/23/11 9:01pm

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Topamax works well for some people, but certainly is not the only medication used for Migraine prevention. Our profile on Topamax can be see HERE. Another article to take a look at when you get a chance is,

Migraine and Headache Preventive Medications - Too Many Options To Give Up!

 

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8/11/11 1:43pm

I was on this drug to until about six months ago.  It made me feel stupid.  I couldnt get it together.  Hope you dont have to go back on it.  Everyone thought that I was going to pass out when I would go to work in first thing in the morning even though I took it the night before.  Good luck.

Anonymous
Christina
9/ 3/11 6:34pm

I too was admitted after disturbing side effects caused by this medicine. I was diagnosed with Migraines and was experiencing an intractable migraine in which I was hospitalized. The nuerologist thought that I should increase my Topamax dosage of 50mg a day to 100mg a day. After this was done, I left the hospital and felt "fuzzy" "distracted" and had sensation in my head. I returned to the Emergency Room as my condition worseded and was discharged with now a hefty 200mg/day dosage of Topamax to handle my symptoms. Not two days later on this dosage, I was taken by Ambulance and remained in the hospital as my health deteriorated. I experienced a stroke-like symptom of visual disturbance, complete motor function loss (Ataxia) and extremely painful nuerological attacks that would occur up to 20 times a day. All the while, we asked for a toxicity screening and nothing was done. Against doctor recommendation, I stopped my Topamax medicine within the hospital and went from not being able to use my legs to complete reversal within 48 hours. The Hospitalist confirmed this can happen within 5% of the population, which unfortunately I was part of. I have irreversable damage to my eyesight which includes balance and peripheral blindness all due to a cerebellum toxocity of this medicine. Your body knows when there is something wrong and if you experience symptoms that don't seem normal, as described in the medicine pamphlets... bring it up to your physician immediately.

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By m17— Last Modified: 09/03/11, First Published: 07/14/11