Hey there devgurl00,

As always, my heart goes out to any sister or brother migraineur.  Only others who have experienced the pain - and everything else that goes with it - of migraine, can relate to and understand what you are going through. 

I, too, take medications for migraine as well as bipolar disorder (mostly depressed since I was 36).  Imitrex injections and Imitrex 100 mg tablets for abortives and propranolol and Cymbalta for prophylactics.  My doctor does not say the Cymbalta is a prophylactic for migraine, but all I know is that since I started taking it for depression, my migraines have decreased dramatically in frequency and intensity.  For bipolar, I take Cymbalta, Risperdal, Lamictal, Provigil and Ambien (PRN).  I used to take Klonopin every day but, at my request, my doctor nearly has me weaned off of it.

I have never taken Seroquel, but I have heard many stories from people who took it.  I saw firsthand, how they were affected, as we were hospitalized at the same time.  I do have personal experience with Topamax and it was NOT good.  It drugged me up to the point that I slurred my words, lost my ability to concentrate or remember things, drove like I was drunk and my entire affect became flat and my voice sounded drugged and dead.  It was worse than the depression I experienced.  The doctor who finally took me off Topamax called it Dopeamax, because of its known side effects.

What I know about Seroquel is that it is very sedating.  I remember people in my groups at the hospital, sleeping through each class we had, from 9am to 3pm, pretty much non-stop.  Others did better with it, but these were the folks who were predominantly manic to begin with.

I am by no means an expert in the field of medications, and of course, everyone reacts to them differently.  Given what I know about Topamax and Seroquel, however, I would be very cautious if I were you.  You might be setting yourself up for a very drug-induced stupor as a result of this combination of meds.  Something about the synergistic effect of two meds like these working together - one and one equals three or more, because of the way they interact with each other.

That's my take on the situation.  Hopefully, you will get other feedback from people who have had positive experiences with both meds being used together.

Whatever the case, I wish you the very best in your journey to find answers to your medical questions.

Warm thoughts and best wishes,

Kay

devgurl00

10/ 8/07 10:52am

Thanks Kay. I take the seroquel mainly to help me sleep and at 100mg it does do that. I'm thinking of calling my psychiatrist just to give him a heads up and see if he wants to knock back on the seroquel. At this point, I'm more inclined to give the topamax a try. I do know that it makes you "stupid". Hubby takes it for weight loss, and while he's certainly not stupid, he does have sometimes trouble thinking of words. the pain for me is so bad that i'm ready to try anything.

 

glad to know i'm not the only one out there on a combo of psycho-active drugs. so far, the 25mg of topamax i'm on makes me very sleepy, and doc is titrating me up to around 200mg over several weeks. but i do wake up every morning (so far) pain free and refreshed.

 

I saw an ENT who diagnosed me with chronic daily headache, I suffered as you did.  My child was diagnosed with ADHD and the WHOLE family went on a gluten free-casein free (wheat and milk free) diet. And for the first time in my entire life I only get a headache when I am sick!  Oh and btw - six months after she went on a gfcf diet my kid was "declassified" (she lost her diagnosis).  I think it's something you are eating.  Try gfcf, it is hard at first but it is free to try!  I lost 11 lbs in 2 weeks when I went on it, and 10 inches off my waist!  All that inflammation, gone!!  Good Luck.  Almost 2 years later I have lost over 40lbs and feel great!