ChiefDramatist
Member
My 11 year old has suffered from migraine since she was 5. She was diagnosed right away by a pediatric neurologist. Both me and my mom had child-onset migraine. They have been steady since she was that age... About 1 every two months. In the past few months, though, they have increased in both frequency and strength. I took her to her neurologist, who decided to prescribe topiramate (topimax). It's primary uses are as an anti-convulsive and migraine inhibitor. It is also used for bipolar (one of my daughter's diagnoses).
I ran this by her psychiatrist, and psychiatric saw that it would very possibly be helpful, but will likely cause "cognitive dulling."
Her bipolar swings have been really ramping up -- increasingly violent and physical (throwing small furniture like chairs and stools, hitting me, tearing my clothing, etc... (There was a prior thread about this topic). Both docs say the topimax might help, but I really hate the idea of "cognitive dulling." On one hand, the migraines are horrid! She throws up for hours, her headaches throb, and she is in misery about once every ten days. Conversely, she is basically non-functioning without her psychiatric medications, which are already "dulling" her intellect (she was seriously bright before her diagnosis at 7). Now she just struggles in school. Not failing, but definitely struggles... And her confidence is poor.
Any advice?
Any experience with Topimax? (Other medications are Abilify, Zoloft, and Quetiapine)
PS, I'm working on my iPad using the Conduct Disorders forum app, and don't see my "signature" info. Daughter is 11, bipolar, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), anxiety; medications are abilfy, Zoloft, and Quetiapine. Have another daughter who is 9, and depressed, but not medicated. Husband is deployed.
I ran this by her psychiatrist, and psychiatric saw that it would very possibly be helpful, but will likely cause "cognitive dulling."
Her bipolar swings have been really ramping up -- increasingly violent and physical (throwing small furniture like chairs and stools, hitting me, tearing my clothing, etc... (There was a prior thread about this topic). Both docs say the topimax might help, but I really hate the idea of "cognitive dulling." On one hand, the migraines are horrid! She throws up for hours, her headaches throb, and she is in misery about once every ten days. Conversely, she is basically non-functioning without her psychiatric medications, which are already "dulling" her intellect (she was seriously bright before her diagnosis at 7). Now she just struggles in school. Not failing, but definitely struggles... And her confidence is poor.
Any advice?
Any experience with Topimax? (Other medications are Abilify, Zoloft, and Quetiapine)
PS, I'm working on my iPad using the Conduct Disorders forum app, and don't see my "signature" info. Daughter is 11, bipolar, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), anxiety; medications are abilfy, Zoloft, and Quetiapine. Have another daughter who is 9, and depressed, but not medicated. Husband is deployed.
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