Hi nursingchick,

I'm sorry to hear you are not feeling well. Let me address your question about decreased sweating first, then we can talk about a few other things, ok? Decreased sweating and an increase in kidney stone development may potential serious side effects of Topamax, you can read more about them in Topamax May Cause Serious Side Effect of Decreased Sweating and Topamax Can Increase Occurrence of Kidney Stones.

An important note - Topamax is a medication that needs to be titrated up slowly per the Migraine specialists we work with. By week 4 the dose should be at bit lower than 100 mg according to Dr. Silberstein. To read this article, see 

Dosage and Tapering Topamax for Migraine Prevention. When we tritate up slowly we may see fewer side effects and any we do see, they may lessen over the three months it takes our body to adjust to new medications.  

Zonegran is used for Migraine prevention and decreased sweating is listed as a potential serious side effect. But zonegran is a sulfa drug with anti-convulsant effects and quite different from Topamax. You may not have any problem at all with it. 

One of the things you said was "the headaches are horrible. I feel like I am on a verge of a migraine." There is a huge difference between a headache and a Migraine. You see, Migraine is a genetic neurologicial disease thought to be caused by overactive neurons in our brains and genetics. There are many types of Migraines and an accurate diagnosis is vital so we can get better treatment and understand our disease. To read about those difference take a look at this article; The Type of Migraine Does Matter.

So in answer to your question, decreased sweating is a possibility with Zonegran, but not everyone has the same reaction to each medication. You may do very well on Zonegran. Remember to give it a fair trial and correct dose.

Talk with your doctor about that. If you think he isn't listening, it may be time for a new doctor.  It's important to note that neurologists aren't necessarily Migraine and headache specialists. Take a look at the article Migraine and Headache Specialists - What's So Special? If you need help finding a Migraine specialist, check our listing of Patient Recommended Migraine and Headache Specialists.

Good luck

Nancy

nursingchick

10/29/11 9:52pm

Thank you Nancy for the info!!! I will definintely have to sit down and figure out what classification I am!! My doctor put me on Topamax after a struggled with a migraine for a month (couldn't even stop the vomiting). Which looks like I was dealing with a Status Migrainous. I deal with visual changes and well as mild headaches before what I consider a migraine attacks. It usually hits me hard on 1 side, behind the eyes and will make me sick for days. That last one phenergan could not retract the n/v. I went to ER several times and even tried Imitrex injections at home and thought I was going to die, Topamax was what I was put on to continue taking as a last resort to stop the torture and stay at that dose to prevent another attack!!! Then other migraines seem to fall into the Transformed migraine category. So this is good info that I will go through and try to find a doctor in my area that can help me! I am now on Potassium Citrate BID and Indapamide for my kidney stones after a 24 hour urine and the CT showing 2 more. I keep telling myself I can do it without the pills now that I am done with f/t school and working 2 p/t jobs... but honestly I am at my wits end and tired of fighting! It's like I am my own worst enemy!!

Nancy Harris Bonk, Health Guide

11/ 5/11 11:28pm

You have kidney stones too? Topamax can have another potential side effect - increasing the risk of kidney stones. Topamax Can Increase Occurrence of Kidney Stones.

 

Here is something to think about - we wouldn't ask someone with diabetes to "tough it out" so to speak. Diabetes is a disease that needs daily prevention, insulin. Migraine, for some, is a disease that needs daily prevention. No sense fighting something when we can take steps to help ourselves feel better. Migraine is a genetic neurological disease thought to be caused by overactive neurons and genetics....

 

Good luck

Nancy