My doctor just introduced me to topamax since I am new to the area and suffer from severe migraines. Usually 3-4 a week. I am unable to take any of the other drugs that are out there bc I am allergic to narcotics (sp?) and have horrible reactions so we are trying this. I am having some horrible side effects and was just wondering how long they usually last? The tingling in the feet and hands (whish is not too bad) but the pressure in the ear is killin me! it sounds like I am in a tunnel. This comes and goes and seems top be worse when I am off the gound level, or in a closed in room such as a store or department store.... Just was looking for feedback from others that have been on it...thanks in advance

My doc said to try potassium suppliments for the tingling but for the first time in 28 years I don't have a headache 24-7 so I don't care it I vibrate like a tuning fork! I also suffer from run on sentences. How many mgs are you taking? Do carbonated beverages taste lousy to you? Do you notice a loss of appitite. Please respond, I'm not just suffering from nosiosity.

My husband takes Topamax. He has the same side affects. He is taking 100mg but has taken up to 200. He also is off all narcotics. Nine days ago he started taking Magnesium and hasn't had a headache since. He has had headaches 25 years. Been in and out of the hospital for all kinds of tests and they have never found a reason for the headaches. I am NOT a vitamin or natural herb person, but a friend called and told us about it and it is really working. It's cheap. I know 4 Frova pills was $80. and the Topamax is close to $300. for two months so a $3.97 bottle of Mag. is great.

Thanks for the reply. I am on 50 mgs in am in 50 mgs in pm so far this is the 3rd week I think. The extra noise thing seems to be not as bad this week But I am noticing that I am forgetting a lot of things! simple little things well I should not say sinple. I fprgot that I was cooking pancakes and went and started cleaning bathroom (thank goodness the stove was on low) I am noticing the tingling more and now I am having charlie horses which I believe is potasium related if I remember from my dads diabetes correctely. But like you said I am not waking up with intense headaches don't get me wrong I think IF this what I decide to go with my dosage will need to go up bc I am getting small headaches granted they are not nearly what I have been suffering for the last 20 some years... Yes sodas taste NASTY!!!! all I want to drink is water really and I drink lots of it. My sense of smell is really sensitive. I have two cats and I can not stand the smell of their litter box so I have 3 Oust fans on the top of their box that I change the fan every 3 weeks (friends say that I am crazy bc they can not smell a thing) but I can smell it I am still trying to get used to things.....

My husband takes Topamax. He has the same side affects. He is taking 100mg but has taken up to 200. He also is off all narcotics. Nine days ago he started taking Magnesium and hasn't had a headache since. He has had headaches 25 years. Been in and out of the hospital for all kinds of tests and they have never found a reason for the headaches. I am NOT a vitamin or natural herb person, but a friend called and told us about it and it is really working. It's cheap. I know 4 Frova pills was $80. and the Topamax is close to $300. for two months so a $3.97 bottle of Mag. is great.


So does he take topamax at all?

yes, he's still on it but we never could tell it did any good. The first time he took it a couple of years ago and was taking 200mg a day and then he quit as he thought it was to expensive and wasn't doing any good. A month or so ago he was totally down for six weeks with migraines and then rebound headaches so they started him on Topamax again. He is on 100mg so far. Don't know what he plans to do. We aren't changing anything right now just added the magnesium.

I bought a potassium suppliment for the tingling in my hands and that has gone away, before the topamax,Iwas suffering from nightly leg cramps so my doc prescribed a nightly quinine tab. I do not believe in pain. I am not a wuss, I just believe that there must be better ways too spend my time than to be in pain all of the time. I gave my headaches 28 years, not my choice, I tried, until I found topomax. One rather odd side affect tho' I'll be chatting with my husband wanting to say one word and a completly different one will pop out. One not appropriate(sp) for here, but funny just the same. Day five, no headache meds!!

I just know that it is nice to not wake up with a headache every single day!!! :) at this point I can say the sise effects are not causing too much grief. I do notice that the side effects are worse when I do not get enought sleep so with that being said I am off to bed! please keep me posted on how you are doing

i used to be on topamax for my migraines, and i had horrible side effects, it messed up my stomach, and i almost killed myself a couple of times driving cause of my bad memory, i started at 25 mg, and worked my way up to 300 mg, i had to keep going up on my dosage because after a couple of weeks, it wouldn't work anymore, and i was still ending up in the ER, so now i'm on lamictal, and i haven't been on it long enough to notice something, but the point is, the topamax, just stopped working for my migraines