TOPAMAX. I thought it would be good, but I'm ready to flush it down the toilet. - Pain Management Message Board

Melissa765 · 05-18-2006, 10:53 AM

UGH!!!!!! I HATE THIS MEDICATION! <<< As you can perhaps see by the capital letters and multiple exclamation marks, I'm irritated... and it's for no other reason than the Topamax. I thought it would be a great pain treatment and even help me lose the 10 pounds I gained from awful-Neurontin, but apparently that's not going to happen. Does it change moods or something? I know that it can be used to TREAT mental conditions, so I'm sure it can cause them, or at least cause some change in mental status. Last night I actually got so angry that I couldn't sleep. Not one wink. I'm going on 39 hours without any sleep right now. Do you have any idea how angry you have to be to not be able to sleep? After threatening to rip my mother's leg off and beat my step father to death with it (they both laughed, but I was in no laughing mood), I quickly realized that this was not a normal reaction. I've never been that angry in my life. I'm even mad RIGHT NOW. At what, you ask? I have NO IDEA.

I can't concentrate either. For example, if I'm doing school work, I forget what I'm doing, or what I'm reading... and that never happens. I'm a straight-A student in advanced placement classes! I'm completely losing it, and it's all from like 1 stupid week of this crap.

I'm on 25 mg/night. I have a call into the doctor that put me on it, but she's extremely sluggish at calling back, so can I just stop it? Or do you have to ween off it like Neurontin?

Thanks.

P.S. Excuse the spelling errors, I don't have the patience to go back and check.

lulu222 · 05-19-2006, 12:21 AM

Melissa-I tried this about one year ago for migraines and thought it was the worst possible drug ever until I tried prednisone. The only good thing was the weight loss but it wasn't good weight loss. I had to force myself to eat and had no energy to exercise.

I didn't have sleep or anger problems with it. I slept well and the biggest issues were it made me stupid and did nothing for the headaches. A neurologist and a neurosurgeon both told me I needed to keep taking it and up the dosage. My job is not the kind where you can afford to be dim witted and forgetful so I ignored their advice and went off it by going to the lowest dosage for about one week, then stopping.

I don't recalll, is 25mg the lowest dogage? I may have cut the pill in half during that week. I didn't miss it or have any ill effects from stopping it. Sorry I'm not more helpful. Joining in on the hate part though.

BlueSteam · 05-19-2006, 07:45 AM

Hi there--you didn't mention how long you have taken the topamax. I've been on it for a little over a month. I'm at 100mg's. It has helped my headaches, and I think possibly some other pain too. I've heard it can take up to four months for your body to adjust to the med. While I haven't ever heard of anger problems coming from the med, I seem to get confused very easily especially after the first 4-5 hours after I take it in the am. By 2pm I seem to be myself again. 25mgs is the lowest dose and it could be that it's not helping you because you are on such a low dose. It isn't a fun medication, but honestly I would rather be confused right now than have the bad headaches and pain I was having before. I will be honest and tell you I have days that I want to quit taking it too. I just want to be myself again (just without the pain) I have a neck injury with nerve damage. If you do continue to take the topamax and go up with your mg's--don't just stop taking it--it could cause problems, like seizures, you have to slowly go off of it. Always talk to your dr. first. There is a thread further down the page called "Calling all topamax users" Or something like that. You"ll find a lot of interesting info about topamax there. That's where I found out all my info. I still check every morning to see if anyone has written and if I have a new problem or story I write too. Topamax causes you to do a lot of strange things, some of them pretty funny, some not so funny. hang in there and keep in touch. Angela

BlueSteam · 05-19-2006, 07:55 AM

Also--sleeping came easier for me once I hit 75 mg's and weight loss at 100 mg's. I have lost ten pounds in the last two weeks. I just don't think much is going to happen for you at 25 mg's. My dr. had me go up 25 mgs every five days. If I had my way I would have done it every 7 days. Keep in mind, it was not easy!!! I would keep calling your dr and not give up until she calls you back. How rude. Another thing that topamax has done to me is that I can't spell anymore--most people say that they can't do math in their head anymore--I could never do that to begin with!!! If you stay on it, keep in touch, we are a great support group!

Blasterboy · 05-19-2006, 03:45 PM

such a low dose and such bad side effects, I trust you've seen your doctor by now and he's got you of this drug. What did he say though?

Of course there's no "one size fits all," this drug helps me alot and I'm taking 400mg a day for my cronic nerve pain!