Migraine Headaches Support Group

HI there. I am sorry to hear you are suffering so many migraines. I have to let you know that birth control pills are one of the main causes of migraines for woman. What kind are you taking? This could be big consideration and could be your problem. Yes...you might have been on it a long time with no problems at all but then when your own body changed it's hormones as you aged...it became a problem. just something to think about.

Yes. Keep taking the Topomax. It is one of the more mild migraine preventative medications. Also, some people when they get to the theraputic dosage will tend to have a fuzzy head and memory problems and yes dizziness. HOwever.....I have been on it for 5 yrs now with no problem. So, as you can see, some people can tolerate it.

The side effects that you describe are worst for the first several weeks and then will taper off as the weeks pass by. It is hard but stick it out. The longer you are on it the less dizzy you will feel and the crabbiness may go away too. not sure.

Each time you go up in dose you will notice side effects and they might be others too. (as I mentioned) keep track if you can. The ones you mention are very minor and I wouldn't stop the med just because of these unless they are very bothersome to you. The crankiness would bother me if it was PMS-like. :)

Please feel free to write me if you wanna chat bout this more.

My best - Opy

Alot of people get really good success with Topamax.. I didn't... I had really bad side effects from it... It even started delaying my speech.. I would know what I wanted to say.. I just couldn;t get it to come out, it was scary, the neuro took me off of it. I might even jot down how you feel everyday, just a mental note for when you go back to the DR. Hope you feel better soon. God Bless You! Lori

I started it on the 7th of Jan and had such terrible mood swings that hubby noticed and also back pain and tingling fingers and peeing issues big time. Right now I'm working to get off it. So the side effects vary and it doesn't sound like yours are to bad, but that is from my side. You have to decide what you will put up with and talk with your Dr. Don't let your side effects get out of hand. I thought I would just see and perhaps it would get better with time and then it was time to up the dose from 25 to 50 twice a day and it got worse, so it is up to you. I hope this makes sense. Way the pros and cons.

Well, my migraines were so bad my neuro had me try Topomax. What a nightmare. I lost my short term memory, was slurring my words and dizzy so I looked and sounded drunk. The mood-swings weren't pretty either. After 3 months I stopped taking it.

Now, my gp said to try Amitryptilene. What a relief. No side effects, and migraines were gone. I'm on a very minimal dosage, and it's been great.

I was on Zoloft, myself, but my shrink changed me over to Celexa for my anxiety disorder. It doesn't cause the same weight gain issues that Zoloft did, and I find it is better at regulating my anxiety (again, am on a lower dosee).

I don't take birth control as they are contraindicated if you suffer from migraines.

However, everyone is different...good luck!

I was on Topamax for about three months... I didn't like the side effects at all. The tingling and numbness in my extremities, the "stupids" as I called them where I felt like I couldn't talk right or think of the proper words to say, the funny tasting foods (soda especially) - and then I noticed the mood swings and even started to feel really depressed to the point that it was getting scary.

I was taking birth control too at the time. I decided, for unrelated issues, to stop the birth control in November (I've been on it for 6 years, so it's been a long time and I've battled my migraines and them escalating during that time). I never really thought about the birth control being a contributing factor for the migraines because I was on a very low dose. I continued the Topamax... and attributed my *NOT* having migraines during this time to being on the Topamax. This is a bad time of year for me as mine are often triggered by fronts (especially cold fronts) moving in and quick drops in barometric pressure. However, I just couldn't take the side effects any more and started weaning myself off of the Topamax about 2 weeks ago. We've had rain and snow since then, which would typically have triggered a massive migraine for me and I've been just fine!

Looking back, I think my problem may have been more with the birth control and I never put the two things together - nor was it ever really impressed upon me by my doctor. I understand your reluctance at stopping birth control, but honestly, had I known it would make *this* much difference, I would have stopped it years ago. So, I have to agree with the others that have said the birth control may be a major culprit.

I'm sorry you have to deal with migraines and good luck in your quest for relief. It's a little different for everyone, so sometimes it's just a matter of finding what works for YOU. :-)

I too had bad side effects to topamax. Also about the birth control have you switched brands lately? I dont remember the name of it but one birth control I was put on caused me to have migraines everyday. I was then switched to a different brand and no migraines. (of course now I cant take any of it because I've had blood clots from them) I too am a grad students so I know what you mean about not being able to afford the side effects!!

I to am on topamax. And in the beginnig I had the dizzyness. But it did wear off after about three weeks. The only other side effect I did have was I lost weight while on it. So you might have to have your doctor monitor you weight. They had to lower my doseage of the topamax just so I wouldn't lose to much weight. But I am still taking it and I have been on it now for about 3 years.I agree with the other ladies you might want to check into changing your birth control.I wish you all the luck in the world on the topamax!!

I have been on varying doses of Topomax for several years now. It definitely helps with getting rid of the migraines, and if you are experiencing them daily, as I was, you know that it's just so incapacitating that you really have no other choice.

I am not on birth control (they thought it might have contributed to my headaches), but I think that topomax may make it less effective, so read up on that, but I may be wrong. Better to be safe than sorry. I experienced a good deal of weight loss at first, but it evened back out when I got accustomed to the pills. I was also tired all the time, but have gotten used to that as well. I also am more spacey now, and have to make a conscious effort to focus and stay in the "now". It's worse with higher dosages, and something that sort of evens out once you've been on the meds for a little while. I experience the tingling in my toes, and it wakes me up at night and doesn't feel good. My doctor called the manufacturer, and they said taking the pills with orange juice helps. I'm a professional dancer, and have not really had problems with balance or dizziness. Be careful when drinking. VERY careful. My tolerance for alcohol never went back to normal.

Basically, the side effects are not fun (except maybe the weight loss). But, as my doctor pointed out, one has to accept what one has been dealt, and just learn to groove with it, right? Look at the alternative...staying in bed all day. And really, once you get used to the Topomax, it's not so bad. I also find it handy sometimes that I can blame being forgetful on my meds ;)

I never got past the first few weeks of taking Topamax. I was on the lowest does. 25 mg, I think. I felt very depressed, had restless sleep, nightmares. Also felt foggy-headed. My doctor wanted me to start increasing the dose, but it didn't seem worth it to me. And I got no relief. Apparently, it works well for some people, and the side-effects are supposed to lessen, but I wasn't willing to see it through.

There are too many mediations available for you to put up with side effects that could interfere with your education. I would not have put my graduate studies in danger when there are so many options available.