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Q: I've been taking Topamax for 3 years - at first 600mg a day b/c my doctor was not familiar w/ the drug. I now take 200mg. I'm worried if there are permanent side effects memory loss, cognitive skills?
Hi DeAnne,
If you are having unwanted side effects from Topamax, it is time to talk to your doctor about a new Migraine preventive medication. The good news is there are many other medications that can be to treat Migraines, as in over 100!! Don't lose hope, ok? For more information, continue reading Migraine Preventive Medications - Too Many Options To Give Up!
Topamax does have a long half life so it may take a while to feel better and most of the potential side effect lessen over time.
Good luck
Nancy
DeAnne,
-:¦:-•:*'""*:•.-:¦:-•*Welcome to MyMigraineConnection!*•-:¦:-•:*'""*:•.-:¦:-
To add to what Nancy said -- Since Topamax has been helping, your doctor might want to look at other medications in the same category. I couldn't take Topamax either. The cognitive side effects were just too much for me too. For that reason, I asked to try medications in any category other than that one. In the long run, I needed to try another such medication, and my doctor suggested that we try Zonegran (zonisamide). He told me it has a lower potential side effects profile than other meds in the class.
I tried it, and it's been very helpful for me with very few side effects. Zonegran has a very long half-life, so it's tapered up very slowly. Each time I increased the dosage, I had a bit of a stomach ache for a few days, but then it stopped. That's the only side effect I've had.
Hope this helps!
Teri
I took topamax for about 6 months and really the only thing it did was help me lose 20 lbs it didn't help anything else but help me to lose my memory and I haven't taken it now for several years and it permanently messed my memory up. I hope it it not the same with you. after taking it the Drs told me it is also called stupimax and dopamax. If this is the case why would Drs prescribe this to people?
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