Topamax?

By Tami Tuesday, December 04, 2007

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I just became a member of the My Migraine community yesterday and as I was reading, I noticed that many people take a drug called Topamax. My doctor has mentioned this to me on several occasions, but I am resistant to daily medication. Lately, my Relpax and Imitrex are becoming less effective in treating the headache, so I am beginning to wonder if I should consider Topamax. Last night I had a headache start and I took a Relpax immediately which had absolutely zero effect. So today I am trying to make it through work with a screaming headache and naseua. My only option right now is pain control which is not a preferred way to treat a headache.

I am also considering Botox injections at the base of my skull, behind my ears and at my temples. I would love some feedback on Topamax and how it works for those who are taking it. I would also love to hear from anyone who has any information on Botox therapy.

Thanks,

Tami

Ouch!!!!

Comments (9) | Add comment

Eileen Gray

12/ 4/07 1:12pm

http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/find-drug-25418-25.html is an anti seizure drug. It has had much success as a preventive for migraine patients. If you are getting 3 to 4 or more, migraines a month, then you would be a canditate for a preventative treatment.

There are over http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/medications-161082-5.html

used now for migraine.

I currently take http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/medications/topamax-151847-5.html as a preventive as well.

Hope these links help you out a bit.

Eileen

Tami

12/ 4/07 1:57pm

Eileen,

Thank you for the information. I appreciate it. I think I will discuss this option with my doctor.

Tami

Eileen Gray

12/ 4/07 1:13pm

sorry the links didn't make the words like they should have - but I'm sure you get the point! Blush

Nancy Harris Bonk, Health Guide

12/ 4/07 5:40pm

Hello, and welcome to MyMigraineConnection.com!

We are so glad you joined our community! Being in daily pain can be exhausting. Let's see what we can do to help you.

If you get more than 3-4 Migraine attacks during the month it may be time to take preventive medications. Topamax is not necessarily the "best" preventive medication out there. but is highly advertised to doctors and patients. In fact there are over 100 different medications used to treat Migraine disease. Click HERE for more information on preventive medications.

Relpax, a triptan, which aborts a Migraine attack. Taking it at the first sign of an attack is the way to go. But if you take certain prescription and OTC medications more than 2-3 times during a one week period you run the risk of Medication Overuse Headache - When the Remedy Backfires.

Thank you for creating a SharePost. SharePosts are a form of blogging, and there are many things you can do with them. You can share an experience, suggest something that's helped you, use SharePosts as a Migraine and headache journal, and many other things.

We also have a discussion forum that you may want to check out. Especially if you have questions or are looking for information, you may find the interaction on the forum to be quite helpful. To get to the forum, just look for the orange box marked "Manage" and click on the Migraine Forums link. Because our forums are maintained by a third party, you'll need to register for the forum. You can use the same information you used to create your community log-in if you like. If you want to go directly to the forum, you can click HERE.

Along with your personal "My Home" page and the discussion forum, you'll find links to a great deal of helpful information on the main page of our site, http://www.MyMigraineConnection.com.

If you have any questions, please feel free to post them to the forum or send me a message through my profile.

Welcome again,

Nancy Bonk
MyMigraineConnection.com Expert

PS: If you receive this message from more than one of us, please excuse the overlap. Thanks!

stanzismith

12/ 4/07 7:02pm

Hi! I'm new around here too!!

I have just started Topamax about 2 and 1/2 weeks ago and, so far, it's not that bad. I had a lot of tiredness the first few days and sleepiness, but that seems to have gone away. I was also kind of down in the dumps, but that's gone away too. (I take 25 mg per day) I cannot speak to its effectiveness yet, because I had a migraine yesterday(!! Tongue !!) but as I hear it, it takes a month or two to reach full effectiveness as a preventative, so I'm not ready to give up yet!

If you and your doc think it's a good idea, I just wanted to tell you don't let the side effects scare you from trying it. They (side effects) totally went away after four to five days for me.

Hopefully you will find something that works well for you. Everyone seems to be different, so I guess we just have to keep trying. I will be keeping my fingers crossed for ya! Big Smile

Stanzi

Tami

12/ 5/07 10:53am

Thanks for the feedback. I have done some research but it's good to hear from someone who's actually taken the meds. I don't have an appointment with my doctor for another week or so, but I am hoping to get started on something. I'm tired of this. I would love a week without headaches. Sorry... I'm feeling a little down this morning as my headache didn't break last night like I was hoping.

Take care,

Tami

nutcracker1

12/ 4/07 7:09pm

I certainly understand your resistance to taking daily meds. I felt the same way. Part of my reluctance was due to the fact that if there's a side effect out there, I will find it. Usually the one headed by, "If you have any of the following rare but serious side effects. . ."

However, it got to the point where I simply had to take a preventive if I were going to live some semblance of a normal life. I now take Inderal, which has made a tremendous difference for me with few side effects. Since there are so many options for preventives, you can keep looking til you find one that works for you and that you can tolerate.

Topamax has been a "miracle drug" for many people. Others can not tolerate it at all. I am one of the ones who can not tolerate it. Some of our forum members have printed the list of preventives from this site and taken it with them to the doctor. (I did not have to do that since my neurologist is sufficiently knowledgeable not to need that list.)

I hope you will join us on the forum. I'm glad you found this site. It can take time and patience to find a preventive that works. We will be here to support you through it.

Tami

12/ 5/07 10:57am

Hi,

I have tried the Inderal-Nortryptaline combination. I couldn't wake up in the morning from the Nortryptaline and the Inderal dropped my blood pressure so low that I passed out one day.

Like you, I seem to find the "rare but serious" side effects of most any medication. And I have a heart murmur which prevents the use of certain drugs. I am ready to do something though, my non-drug regiment and rescue drug therapy isn't working.

Thank you for your feedback.

Tami

Suffering in SC

12/20/07 10:02pm

I have tried Topamax and Botox for migraines. I ended up going off of the Topamax because I lost so much weight but think I may give it another try. I last tried it about 3 years ago. The botox was painful but seemed to help a great deal. I went in for about 3-4 treatments spaced about 3 months apart and had begun to see good results. Then my insurance company decided they wouldn't pay for the Botox any longer. :( So...you may want to try either of these and see if they help you. Good Luck!

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