I just started taking topomax (pretty much my first dose last night - 50mg) and I woke up with the worst migraine. Does it happen at first before the body gets used to the medicine? I also get tension headaches and I'm not sure if I can take regular over-the-counter medicine while taking topomax.

You might have headaches to start out with. Topamax may take your body awhile to get used to i would stay on it awhile befor you tried anything else.The only thing for headaches you cant take is asprin.everything for headaches is ok and ur on a pretty low dose. I hope you get to feeling better

Are you taking Topamax for migraines or for something else?

I've been on it for migraines for 2 1/2 months now, and it took close to a month for me to get through some of the initial side effects and for the Topamax to help in reducing my daily headaches.

aka was ur question to me?

- Flower

I have found that I have been having tension headaches also! Im on 75mgs right now: 50mg at night, and 25mg in the mmorning (My reason for Topa is misfiring nerve problems not migranes, however and Im not sure that makes a difference but I thought Id add it.)
My other side effects that Ive discovered it that coffee tastes horrible, and corbinated drinks like coke and rootbeer taste like tonic water, anyone else? And do the side effects get better as the dosages get higher has anyone found?

I take Motrin for the tension headaches and it takes the edge off, my PM dr. said that it was alright to do so, but perhaps it would be wise to check with yours first. Havent heard about the asprin thing, but thats not surprising as I cant take asprin because it upsets my stomach and thats in my chart so Im sure they assumed that I wouldnt take it anyway if I had a headache... good point to add though, LivenFlower http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Ill have to remember that in case someone else asks and then I can share your findings with them http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif.

OK, my fourth day on Topomax and I'm dying. Every single day I wake up with a migraine. So I have to take a Imitrex. I am getting really tired of this. I am seriously thinking of stopping with the T. tonight. Can't take this cycle anymore. It was supposed to help the migraines, not trigger them. Anybody had the same problem at the beginning? I used to get migraines 2-3 times a week, but this is much worse.

ChicagoGirl,
I can only tell you in my experience that I had a horrible dull ache that wouldnt go away. And then a tension headache.. like my muscles were always scrunched up in my face and my forhead and it was hurting in the front of my head. After the first week it was soooo much better though. It did take a while, and I was considering stopping it, but after that first week it did get better for me. You said that your on day 4, when do you up your dose? Do you up it any more? Also, do you take your meds in the morning or at night? Kim

I was on 25mg for 1 week and had to stop. I had terrible side effects.Severe agitation and I started to wake up at night with pacick attacks. My eyes also hurt and everything also tasted bad to me. It was the moodiness and agitation that I could not handle and that is what made me stop taking it.

Some people have good sucess with topamax but I was not one of them.

Good luck.

So I stopped taking the Topomax. I was taking it at night, and the doctor said that I would sleep really well, which wasn't the case either. I couldn't fall asleep, and then I kept waking up during the night. And then, of course, the migraine came in the morning. So yesterday was my first day without Topomax and I felt fine, except the tension headache. It just doesn't go away. I feel so much pressure in the front and it goes down the center to my face. Trying to stay away from all the pills right now, even though I still have to take Imitrex almost every other day. Thanks so much for all your messages!

I took topamax for maybe 4 mo. It did help some with my chronic tension headaches But--- my mind couldnt think straight. I would be talking and in the middle of the sentence Totally forget what I was saying. I just couldnt stand it anymore so I went off it gradually. My headaches got worse but at least I could say more than a few and not forget. Good luck

I was given a prescription to start on Topamax but never did because I found out that it lowers the effectiveness of birth control. My doctor didn't even consider this when wanted me to take it. So hopefully none of you (women of course) are using birth control while on it. In my opinion, I'd rather try something else first.
I am learning that doctors don't know everything, and you need to also do your own research on medications and conditions. Remember, even though your doctor may have it written down what other medications you are currently taking , always ask what interactions there may be!

i took it for several months. i actually had more migraines while i took topamax then when i didn't. it made me sick and very fuzzy-headed. i'd try it for a month or two and if it doesn't help, then i'd tell your doctor you want to stop taking it.

Thank heavens I have found this posting!!! Everywhere I have looked on the internet, I have found lots of good things about topomax and all it's benefits and on and on and I was beginning to think I was some sort of freak. I have spent the past three weeks in a world of constant headaches. I had been taking up to 800 mg of Motrin at a time to control them or migrane medication, but always it would just push the headache into the background where it would flare up once the medication would lose it's effectiveness. I called my p-doc earlier this week and talked to him about the headaches and he lowered my doseage of my topamax, but my headaches have progressively gotten worse instead of better. I couldn't take anymore and I am stopping this medication with or without his consent. I can't continue to live in constant pain like this. I am glad that I was able to find this post and discover that others have had similiar problems with the medication as well.

my neurologist puts me on a new "preventative med" every month or two. i always give each medication one to two months, if by that time it doesn't help and i'm sicker, which i usually am, then i figure i gave it a good trial run. normally the preventatives make me sicker than i already am and i have more migraines when i'm on them. it's been six years for me, so i'm on the heavier drugs for prevention now... the anti-psychotics and the anti-consulvants and weird stuff that makes me feel awful. right now it's seroquel - it's for schizophrenics, which i'm not. makes me feel crappy and tired all the time. good luck.