Topamax & Alcohol: Anyone Tried It? - Headaches & Migraines Message Board

akaNickels · 07-26-2003, 11:05 AM

I've been taking Topamax for 2 1/2 months to control migraines and rebound headaches. I started out on 50 mg and 10 days ago my neurologist increased my dosage to 75 mg. I was initially told that I could/would only be on this medication for 3 - 6 months. At my last appt when my dosage was increased my neurologist also told me that I would be on Topamax for 12 months.

He has told me that drinking is a big no-no with Topamax because it will increase the effects of the alcohol (isn't this the case with most medications) and that hangovers will be worse the next day.

I don't want to make myself sound like a drunk, but I do enjoy going out to bars with friends to listen to bands and I like to have a few drinks. I haven't had any alcohol since I started the medication, but I wasn't planning on 12 months of this, and now things have changed.

Has anyone tried drinking with Topomax? If so, what dosage are you on?

On a side note, I found an article about Topomax being using to treat alcoholism. The study is currently going through clinical trials at the University of Texas Health Science Center.

mlgable · 07-26-2003, 11:57 AM

Alcohol is not something to mix with these types of medications. You can still go out but have something like a virgin mary or drink soda or orange juice and have good time. If you can't stay away from alcohol and have a good time without it while you are on the medications then it leads to me to think you weren't serious about getting help for your headaches anyway. You need to choose which is more important to you, getting help for your headaches or drinking alcohol with your friends.

livenflower · 07-26-2003, 12:10 PM

topamax is also a anticonvulsant med and will add to the effects off alcohol.i got that off the paper i get with my med. i dont know if that does you any good i was just trying to answer ur question. hope it helps

akaNickels · 07-26-2003, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mlgable:
Alcohol is not something to mix with these types of medications. You can still go out but have something like a virgin mary or drink soda or orange juice and have good time. If you can't stay away from alcohol and have a good time without it while you are on the medications then it leads to me to think you weren't serious about getting help for your headaches anyway. You need to choose which is more important to you, getting help for your headaches or drinking alcohol with your friends.

I am serious about getting help.

The reason I asked is actually because my neurologist's assistant told me that her husband has been on Topomax for an extended period of time and he will have a couple of drinks when they go out and he has not any side effects from having 1 or 2 drinks occasionally.

I'm not asking if it's OK if I binge drink when I go out. I was looking to see if anyone else has 1 or 2 drinks occasionally without a problem.

Gaitsofgold · 07-26-2003, 01:26 PM

Personally, I definately would not do it. I've heard and read too many horror stories of blood pressure going too low, heart rate too low, etc. Depends on how sensitive you are, but there is too much risk, in my opinion. Why risk a coma, or worse? Also, migraine headaches and alcohol do not go together. Alcohol is a known trigger in some people. I stopped drinking (even one or two) years ago because I noticied my migraines were getting more frequent. Just wasn't worth it for me!

Randi