Migraine Headaches Support Group

nsm,
Topamax is well known for causing kidney stones and lower back pain, especially localized to one side, is a pretty classic sign of a kidney stone. You may very well have one that is blocking a ureter, thus causing urine to back up in your kidney and that could be causing your decreased urine output. Other options are a silent UTI (without the classic burning on urination) or kidney infection, both of which also need quick treatment.

What should you do? See a doctor ASAP. A quick x-ray called a KUB (kidney, ureter, bladder) should show a stone and your doctor or a urologist should be able to treat you and the stone effectively and quickly, or be able to figure out what another cause for your pain and decreased urine output is.

Please do not delay. A notably decreased flow of urine is a serious issue and can potentially lead to significant kidney damage if not treated quickly.

Gentle hugs,
Ruth

I was taking Topamax and Keppra which is almost the same thing. My Dr. put me on it for migraines and leg pain. I didn't have the experience that you are talking about that I remember. Thats just the problem. I wanted to warn you and everyone about what happened to me on these two meds. I was fine until one day my Dr. upped the miligrams. From that moment on I barely new who I was. I didn't know what day it was or what I was doing half the time. When I went to take a nap and woke up from it I didn't know how long I was there for. I didn't know if I just layed down for a nap or if I went to bed and was waking up in the morning. It was awful. I lost my mind and fully expected to be carried out in a straight jacket to the nearest mental hospital. I couldn't figure out what was wrong because my mind was just too far gone. One day I got on my knees crying and prayed and thought as hard as I could about what the link was. I then remembered it started after my miligrams increased so I stopped taking them immediatley. The next day I was fine. I was in that state for two weeks with two children in the home. I told my Dr. about it and he laughed and said" Thats why they call Topamax, Dopamax." I was furious that he knew this was something that could happen and didnt warn me and thought it was funny. I just wanted to let people know to be careful. Of course this won't happen to most people and all meds affect each of us differently. What is safe for one might not be for another. So I don't want to turn people away from something that is helping but give them a heads up. I didn't know either if it was a combination of the two or if it was just the Keppra or just the Topmax that did that to me because I quit both immediatley. But they are very similar anyway according to my Dr. at the time. I never did understand then why I was taking both? I think hes crazy.

It took me 3 weeks to taper off of Topamax, but I did it. And, 3 weeks to get rid of the kidney stones and urinry tract infection. Be careful on this med. I am so glad I am now off this med. The pain and suffering I endured from the kideny issues was not worth it to me. I just couldn't live like that anymore. I know this med is helpful for some. But, everybody reacts differently. Good for people who can take it. I just can't.