Hi! This is my first time to your site. I am luckier than a lot of you because I have had only 2 seizures in my life, both 6 years ago, but I am terrified to go off medication for obvious safety reasons. My neurologist has had me on Lamictal, and it has kept me from having any more seizures; the only drawback is that I have some memory loss (occasionally can't remember fairly important things), and I also sometimes have slurred speech and cannot get the right words out in a conversation. I recently read that Topomax is being used as a preventative for migraines, which would be great because I get horrible ones about every 2 months. Then I learned about the weight loss side effect. I am 30 pounds overweight and am really tempted! My neurologist says that Topomax is about the only other anti-seizure medication that he would recommend for me, and it's up to me to decide which one. He did say that it is more likely to cause me to be less mentally sharp and out of it. If I am already having memory loss with Lamictal, how much worse off do you think I would be with Topomax? Has anyone out there been on both of these?

i have been on both meds but not at the same time if read through some of the past post you will find some things about topamax i am currently taking the topamax right now and if youthink you are already having memory problems and slurred pech then my guess is you dont want to take topamax lol this as far as i am consirned is a BAD drug as far and losing weight i havent lost any i have been on it for a while now and havent lost weight now i know every person is different but topamax has some awful side effects that just dont go away good luck in what ever you decide

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mother of 3
ages 4,3,and 1
my pride and joy

live life to its fullest you never know when it may be to late to do all the things you would have done tomorrow

I have just started on Lamictal, it has been two weeks. I was on zonegran, but it stopped controlling my seizures this spring. So far, I am much happier...zonegran was supposed to have the weight loss thing, I didn't see it. It did however make me feel as though were always walking in a haze once we started to increase the dose to control the seizures, which it didn't anyway. As for memory loss, mine has gotten worse, but not because of meds. Mine is caused by the damage to the hippocampus. My PDA has been my lifesaver.

Good luck!

[This message has been edited by homer975 (edited 06-19-2003).]

Hi. I've never been on this site before, but I was trying to find the manufacturer of Topomax and came upon your query. I take 100mg of Topomax daily for migraines. I also take Inderal daily, and occassional shots of Imitrex for breakthrough migraines. I had constant headaches and the Topomax works wonders. I also lost weight with it, and it didn't seem to bother my memory any more than any of the other meds I'm on for various reasons. I'm on 13 different medications, so it would be hard to tell. If you are only getting migraines once every 2 months, you may want to use Imitrex, but if you want the other benefits, I feel that Topomax is a great drug! I've never used the other one you mention, but it has really worked wonders for me. Good luck to you.

Hi Everyone

I am New to this board/website, i came across it when looking around on websites about epilepsy etc...Iv also got epilepsy, probably ever since i was about 2-3 when i had a couple of funny turns,but generelly the epilepsy wasent really diagnosed until i was about 7 years of age...I started out on Tegretel, but that didnt do me any help so i was put onto epilim which i was better off on for quite a number of years, but having fits/seizures on the odd ocasion or so but not as often as i was when on tegretel.Have been on epilim ever since then up until the last month or two, when i started out on lamictol because it came to a point where epilim was making me put on alot of weight where i would weigh about 77/78 pounds. So recently, for about 5/6 months now i have been going to the gym, and that has made a differennce in my weight.I am down to about 68.90 (as of yesterday friday,27th june 2003) Big difference huh...But also lately i am having abit of a downer with my epilepsy. I seem to be fits about every 6 days at the moment either "during the night/early morning" when im still asleep or "upon waking" in the morning...So unfortunately its not all that good at the moment...I was also wondering, is there anyone out there that is "in the same boat as me" so to speak, that would perhaps like to keep in touch?? maybe we can share ideas/information and whatever else...I have heard that it can help people to talk to others with the same condition as them.It can help them to have an understanding and know wot its like and wot not etc......


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Ferny
Ferny Chick
KF

I have never been on any of those medications but if it were me I would stay with what works. I am just here to say,


WELCOME ALL NEW PEOPLE!!!


This is a great place for 'experiences', venting, sharing, and learning. There are some FABULACE people on this board! I hope to be seeing more of you all in the future. This place is turning out to be one BIG happy family!

God Bless,

KittyMom

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Mother of 3 beautiful kids and wife to a Great husband! I love helping others...it helps me grow!

I was on Topamax yrs ago, now on Lamictal. I lost alot of wt with Topamax and was thrilled. But it did affect my speech (i have trouble getting words out sometimes), and memory too. But then again, it could also be from the epilepsy itself. I am only on wk 3 of lamictal, so still on a low dose, and am still haveing my simple partial sz so I am not terribly impressed with it yet. But no bad side effects either.

maybe at some later stage or something up your dosage??
perhaps give that a try??

Originally posted by karenz:
I was on Topamax yrs ago, now on Lamictal. I lost alot of wt with Topamax and was thrilled. But it did affect my speech (i have trouble getting words out sometimes), and memory too. But then again, it could also be from the epilepsy itself. I am only on wk 3 of lamictal, so still on a low dose, and am still haveing my simple partial sz so I am not terribly impressed with it yet. But no bad side effects either.


maybe up your dosage at some later stage? give that a go see if it helps??

Plain and simple:

Lamictal: weight gain, Black Box Warning (potential for fatal side effects), only works on partial seizures

Topiramate: weight loss, lots and lots of cognitive impairment, coverage for only 21 hours

Zonisamide: weight loss, coverage for 63 hours, taken once a day


If you experience any side effects with your epilepsy drug make sure of the following:
1) You're not taking any other medications. Together they can do some funky things to your body and mind
2) Your doctor isn't dosing you too high initially. By dosing slower in smaller doses, it allows your body to adjust to the drug and minimize your side effects.


I hope this helps!

I'm taking Topamax - I have been since march - and I'm up to - lets just count here - 400mg a day - and yes the weight loss is cool (and now I'm a tinsy - 110lbs (5'6") BUT I'M STUPID AS A NAIL!!!!)

So thats the warning ----> Good for weight loss - but will slow you RIGHT DOWN...no kidding...I used to be bright and fast - like real quick and good on the get go - now I'm like - wha???? well not literally - my friends think I'm the cute skinny ditze of the group!

Oh - and seizure control - goodish 75-80% some days I have no absence and complexes - but other days I have them all - its like they hold off and then build up all in one day!

Love Kaitie

Hi Kaitie!

Just so you know, the way Topiramate (Topamax) works and the way Zonisamide (Zoengran) works are almost identical. The only difference is that you don't feel stupid when you take Zonisamide. I have heard people actually refer to Topamax as DOPE-amax... because it leaves you feeling dopey! You'll get the weightloss with Zonisamide as well.

Try it, you'll like it!

Where in Canada are you from?

DOPEamax-- I love it!!!!!! Never heard it.
The reason I'm on such a low dose of lamictal is cuz wwe're just starting. One of the inconveniences of this drug is that you have to build it up very gradually. So maybe when I'm 42 (i'm 37 now) it'll start to work, eh??? :< )

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Karenz, 30-something Mom. Simple partial sz since childhood. 4 grand mals. On Keppra

Originally posted by Kaitie:
I'm taking Topamax - I have been since march - and I'm up to - lets just count here - 400mg a day - and yes the weight loss is cool (and now I'm a tinsy - 110lbs (5'6") BUT I'M STUPID AS A NAIL!!!!)

So thats the warning ----> Good for weight loss - but will slow you RIGHT DOWN...no kidding...I used to be bright and fast - like real quick and good on the get go - now I'm like - wha???? well not literally - my friends think I'm the cute skinny ditze of the group!

Oh - and seizure control - goodish 75-80% some days I have no absence and complexes - but other days I have them all - its like they hold off and then build up all in one day!

Love Kaitie

I just started taking Topamax about 1month ago (100mg) & I have noticed that my speech is getting awful. There will be times when I am having a conversation & I just can't remember this simplest words. I feel so dumb. I am afraid to speak in a group.
Is the medication that bad?

It is not the meds. Everyone on here has the same problems and we are all on different meds. It is the epilepsy. I have read in numerous places that "E" has this effect on most people. Don't feel bad, you are not alone!

God Bless,
KittyMom

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Mother of 3 beautiful kids and wife to a Great husband! I love helping others...it helps me grow!

Hi,
I've been on both lamictal and topamax. The lamictal caused me to break out with the terrible rash so I went off of that and when I was put on topamax I was on if for only 1 month because the med increased my seizures from an average of 8 seizures a month to 23 seizures in one month. I couldn't stand the tomapax it did more harm than good. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue