[hamster-bamster]

There have been problems with the mail order pharmacy resulting in a many week delay in shipping meds. But finally it is here.

Do I need it? For migraines, amitriptyline has already reduced their frequency and severity but not down to zero, so I guess I might try.

For weight loss, biking has already resulted in weight loss and appetite supression, but I guess I can have a bit more of that.

So I will try.

P-doc says that the most common side effect is drowsiness and some people can only tolerate the evening dose while the med is most effective with morning and evening doses. Well, there is caffeine against drowsiness - I do not drink that much caffeine so I can increase my intake safely. The next most common side effect is word finding difficulty. Caffeine does not work against THAT, so THAT would be a cause for discontinuation, I gather. If it is severe; a couple of words here and there would be OK, I imagine.

[Victoria'smom]

Careful, to much caffeine slows metabolism. I'm glad it came.

[kindachaotic]

Considering your current med com be is working well.
Will this be a low dose trial?
Hope it works well for you.

[hamster-bamster]

MM, thank you, I had no idea about caffeine and metabolism.

Kindachaotic, yes, it is a low dose trial. It is a migraine prevention dose, not a "MS" dose. And I slept my normal hours, and do not feel sedated after the morning dose either. So far so good.

[hamster-bamster]

My cat Tommy tried to run away and I immediately caught him and screamed at him at the top of my lungs. So no, not sedated, not drowsy at all.

Had sushi - normal appetite, not too much, not too little.

Basically, I do not see any action from this medicine so far.

I track my migraines in an online diary so I will be able to tell if Topamax is helping over the long course. This is not something I can determine after taking two pills only.

[Moose72]

I've always wanted to try that as I get migraines, too. Let me know how it goes.

I'm on these and I find them good for my migraines, At first when I started them I got tingling in my hands and feet as a side affect but that does wear off after 2-3 weeks.

Good luck with them.

[hamster-bamster]

I will post in a month, Moose, to let you know how it has been working for the migraines.

[hamster-bamster]

I am having a migraine today. Not too bad and I caught it early which makes Imitrex effective.

So at least in the short run no, it is not working.

[Moodmuse]

Worked for migraines and weight loss

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[hamster-bamster]

Moodmuse, this is encouraging to hear. What was your dosage? I currently take 25 mg in the morning and 25 mg in the evening.

So far, cannot tell if it works, but can tell that it causes no drowsiness at all - I biked in traffic just fine this morning, with excellent reaction speed.

[liviacat]

I started Topimax a couple of weeks ago to try and curb my mania (not happening - as evidenced in my other post...) anyway - the effects that I have gotten are curbed appetite (5lb down), diet soda tastes like crap, zero headaches, odd taste, increased thirst and poor concentration. That said, the mania can explain a couple of those as well - but the taste thing is definitely the Topimax. Keep us posted, hope it helps you!

[Cocosurviving]

Interesting info ---I'll keep it in mind. I wish u luck and hope it works.

[Debi54]

I am 43, and have been on 200 mg of Topamax at night for over 8 years. I have not gained any weight, and it has helped a LOT with migraines (I used to get them all the time). Since I am also a heart patient, I can't use Imitrex or any of the new migraine medicines. It has worked as a mood stabilizer for all this time, the most effective one we've found, with the least side effects. Although after long term use, it does tend to affect your memory and your balance. But overall, I find those minor annoyances compared to what I'm like off it.I haven't found anything that works completely, but it's as close as I've come.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Debi54

I am 43, and have been on 200 mg of Topamax at night for over 8 years. I have not gained any weight, and it has helped a LOT with migraines (I used to get them all the time). Since I am also a heart patient, I can't use Imitrex or any of the new migraine medicines. It has worked as a mood stabilizer for all this time, the most effective one we've found, with the least side effects. Although after long term use, it does tend to affect your memory and your balance. But overall, I find those minor annoyances compared to what I'm like off it.I haven't found anything that works completely, but it's as close as I've come.

Great to hear that, Debi. While I can take Imitrex, it does not always work, which is why I am ISO a preventative medication. Welcome to PC!

[Moose72]

I'd love to try tooomax for the migraines and weight loss but I hear the trade off plus you get as stupid as all stupid.

[hamster-bamster]

So far I am not stupid - not yet! - but I have just started.

[PiperLeigh]

That's a really low dose. I'm not sure what, if any, effects (good or bad), you'll see at that point at all, but maybe something helpful. Good luck!

Is the plan to go up to 50 in the am and 50 in the pm? I believe that is the starting point for the therapeutic dose for migraines.

[hamster-bamster]

No, he did not talk about titrating up and I would not see him until mid-Jan.

[liviacat]

I'm on 100mg and I haven't noticed any stupid moments at all - and I'm still working full time.

[hamster-bamster]

Can I be dizzy from it?

[hamster-bamster]

OK, the first side effect - I cannot find a word. It is not deny, not reject, not neglect, not resist... "object to" is a synonym.

What is the word? It has been 10 minutes and the word does not come to me. It is very unusual for me.

Refuse!

Took me 10 minutes.

[liviacat]

Just saw my pdoc and he's increased my dose to 200mg, we'll see how it goes. Soda still tastes horrible and appetite is definitely under control. Still haven't experienced the word phenomena - hope I don't, sounds frustrating Hamster!

[hamster-bamster]

Appetite under control here too, and no more word finding difficulty incidents so far!

[hamster-bamster]

So it is lunchtime but lunch is not on my mind.

This drug is definitely a powerful thing. Too powerful for me.