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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jeriro on June 29, 2001, at 20:53:48
just started taking 25mg of topamax for headaches. N wants to increase to 200mg. Has anyone taken this drug and not experienced the difficulty with memory or motor skills. Most of the responses I've read on this site relative to this drug are not encouraging.
I have tried taking amitrypline and inderal together. N has stopped the inderal and would like to reduce the amitypline. I did put on about 10 lbs while on these drugs but at my age I expected it. Also I would like to know what changes might occur if any to my menstrual cycle. Prior to taking the topamax my ob/gyn thought I had about 6 more months and then I'd be through menopause. Is it likely that the topamax will make the periods heavy and more frequent.
Posted by AKC on June 29, 2001, at 21:50:21
In reply to topamax side effects, posted by jeriro on June 29, 2001, at 20:53:48
I started on topamax at 25 mg on June 11, up to 50 mg on June 18, then to 75 mg on June 28. So far I have been fine cognitively - none of the dulling, but I have gone up very slowly which seems to be critical regarding that (at least in everything I've read so far). I have had some pins and needles sensation in my feet from time to time, nothing serious, nothing lasting. I have had some abnormal menstrual bleeding. Nothing heavy, just outside of my normal time, and longer lasting (though the past few days I have just had some spotting and none today - so again I am hopeful it is passing). I have noticed tonight, the second day of my increase to 75 mg, that my beloved Diet Dr. Pepper tastes funny - that better not last - my last vice in this world!
Good "side effects" - my anxiety is way down. I have constant anxiety. I am still having some break through anxiety, but not very much and not lasting. I am noticing a lot this week (since last Sunday) that I am having long periods of no anxiety whatsoever. I'll just all of a sudden go "hey, this is pretty neat." I had two really good days Sunday and Monday - really even - not high, not low. Is it the topamax? I'm not sure. I have no idea how it will stabilize me in the long run. I started this as I came out of the end of a bad depression. I am really needing to stay out of another bad spell. By my count I have had 4 bad ones in the past year (not all depressions, but all bad). I really am needing a break - hopefully topamax is the stabilizer for me.
I'm still eating poorly - bad food choices and all. But I have noticed I'm not eating as much - not as much of an appetite. I'm still hungry - my stomach growls at the appropriate mealtimes.
So that is my experience early on. I have read not only on this board, but a couple of others, several hundred posts. There are a lot of different experiences with this med as with all these psych meds. But the one common theme I seem to see with this one is the slower you take it, the less the "bad" side effects seem to be. And it also seems that many of them pass if you can tolerate them for a bit.
Hope this helps.
Posted by SalArmy4me on June 30, 2001, at 2:38:30
In reply to topamax side effects, posted by jeriro on June 29, 2001, at 20:53:48
There is some evidence that suggests that Topiramate has an effect on the reproductive system, more specifically on the efficacy of orally-contraception pills (OCPs): "However, many anticonvulsant medications can induce an increase in hepatic microsomal enzymes, which can produce increased pill metabolism: "The result has been a decrease in the pill’s contraceptive efficacy resulting in an estimated 3.1 pregnancies per 100 women years of use. These medications include carbamazepine, topiramate, and tiagabine. A number of anticonvulsants do not cause such interference, including valproic acid and lamotrigine."
Greydanus, Donald E. MD et al. Contraception in the Adolescent: An Update. Pediatrics. 107(3):562-573, March 2001.
I don't know what this means clinically.
Posted by maung on June 30, 2001, at 7:48:02
In reply to topamax side effects, posted by jeriro on June 29, 2001, at 20:53:48
> just started taking 25mg of topamax for headaches. N wants to increase to 200mg. Has anyone taken this drug and not experienced the difficulty with memory or motor skills. Most of the responses I've read on this site relative to this drug are not encouraging.
>
> I have tried taking amitrypline and inderal together. N has stopped the inderal and would like to reduce the amitypline. I did put on about 10 lbs while on these drugs but at my age I expected it. Also I would like to know what changes might occur if any to my menstrual cycle. Prior to taking the topamax my ob/gyn thought I had about 6 more months and then I'd be through menopause. Is it likely that the topamax will make the periods heavy and more frequent.I have been on topomax since 1999, starting at 25 mg and I am now at 225 mg. I also take 300 mg of Neurotin (gabapentin). My diagnosis is BP II depressive, rapid cycling and I am a 47 year old female who still has regular periods unaffected in any way by topomax. Prior to going on topomax, I tried depakote which was helpful yet I could not tolerate side effects, spec. weight gain and problems with periods.
I cannot say enough good things about topomax. The key is to go up slowly.....I've never experienced cognitive dulling...only symptoms of irritability and depression when I go up to a dose that is too high, (they resolve very quickly when the dose is lowered)Also, has your pdoc suggested Neurotin for headaches? (Maung is really Sue)
Posted by maung on June 30, 2001, at 8:00:51
In reply to topamax side effects, posted by jeriro on June 29, 2001, at 20:53:48
> just started taking 25mg of topamax for headaches. N wants to increase to 200mg. Has anyone taken this drug and not experienced the difficulty with memory or motor skills. Most of the responses I've read on this site relative to this drug are not encouraging.
>
> I have tried taking amitrypline and inderal together. N has stopped the inderal and would like to reduce the amitypline. I did put on about 10 lbs while on these drugs but at my age I expected it. Also I would like to know what changes might occur if any to my menstrual cycle. Prior to taking the topamax my ob/gyn thought I had about 6 more months and then I'd be through menopause. Is it likely that the topamax will make the periods heavy and more frequent.In addition to my earlier post, I am also not taking any oral contraceptives...I think it is important to realize that a lot of drugs in combination with one another may cause some of the irregularities that some of the other posters were talking about and of course, each person's reaction to drugs are different..but Topomax was and has been great for me and I hope it works well for you, too.
Posted by nderitu on October 18, 2004, at 9:27:51
In reply to topamax side effects, posted by jeriro on June 29, 2001, at 20:53:48
I have bn on amitriplyne for the last couple of years, will not sleep without taking this medication,if i dont take the drugs then i will have funny headaches,lack of appetite,fever and a feeling of wanting to vomit,last year i was diagnosed with some stomach complications,of late i have been feeling like my body is really cold,throat infetion,could these be some of the symptoms of taking this medication,what can i do to stop taking the drugs,have tried once in a while buti end up going back to them,i take 25g one per night,please help
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