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<blockquote data-quote="susiestar" data-source="post: 372243" data-attributes="member: 1233"><p>It can take a while to adjust to topamax. It can be very very helpful but not everyone can take it. It helps nerve pain, can help weight loss, controls migraines, and is an antiseizure medication.</p><p> </p><p>Not everyone NEEDS to go to 200 mgs. If you are getting benefit at a lower dose, stay there. If it is common for you to need less medications to handle the problems, then it is likely that you will not need the higher dose of topamax. </p><p> </p><p>The fatique and dulling went away for me after about 3 weeks. I was on it for years and really liked it, though it did nothing for my nerve pain. It really helped my depression and migraines though. Jessie took 25 mgs for several weeks and was sick as a dog on it. It tore up her stomach and we had to stop it. </p><p> </p><p>I found that increasing my vitamin B levels helped the dulling a LOT. I never went up to the dose the doctor wanted because at 100 mgs I didn't have much dulling but when I went up it was ridiculous. I couldn't remember my kids' names or even my own or my parents. It was nuts.</p><p> </p><p>EW: Is this one of the first medications Jana has tried for migraine control? LOTS of docs want to jump to this with-o trying other medications first. For many many people it makes far more sense to try beta blockers or calcium channel blockers or both before moving on. These medications are commonly used for controlling blood pressure and can make you sleepy. Most of them have been around for a LONG time and the side effects are very well known, even in the long term. Long term usage of topomax is unknown as to if it has any long term consequences, just as it is for any newer medication. The beta blockers and calcium channel blockers are also dirt cheap. The migraine specialists I have seen have recommended first doing up to 3 trials(1 medication at a time, not all 3 at once) of different beta blockers to see if one will help. Then trying the calcium channel blockers, then combining them. After that they recommend moving to other medications. Last I knew, propranolol was still the gold standard for migraine control. It is a beta blocker. </p><p> </p><p>I have seen at least 5 friends with migraines be put on topomax or another newer very aggressively marketed medication with-o any trials of other medications. Docs think of the newer medications because they get so much stuff from the pharm reps. The older medications are not in the front of their mind. If you ask the doctor to rx the least expensive medication to try first you can often get the doctor to let you try a beta blocker. </p><p> </p><p>I am sorry Jana is fighting migraines. I feel her pain. </p><p> </p><p>Flutterby, I hope the benefit from the topomax is helpful. You have to weigh the benefit against the side effects. I would give 100 mgs or even 75 mgs a few weeks to see what it does and if your body can adjust to it. After about a month on the same dosage I was back to almost normal.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="susiestar, post: 372243, member: 1233"] It can take a while to adjust to topamax. It can be very very helpful but not everyone can take it. It helps nerve pain, can help weight loss, controls migraines, and is an antiseizure medication. Not everyone NEEDS to go to 200 mgs. If you are getting benefit at a lower dose, stay there. If it is common for you to need less medications to handle the problems, then it is likely that you will not need the higher dose of topamax. The fatique and dulling went away for me after about 3 weeks. I was on it for years and really liked it, though it did nothing for my nerve pain. It really helped my depression and migraines though. Jessie took 25 mgs for several weeks and was sick as a dog on it. It tore up her stomach and we had to stop it. I found that increasing my vitamin B levels helped the dulling a LOT. I never went up to the dose the doctor wanted because at 100 mgs I didn't have much dulling but when I went up it was ridiculous. I couldn't remember my kids' names or even my own or my parents. It was nuts. EW: Is this one of the first medications Jana has tried for migraine control? LOTS of docs want to jump to this with-o trying other medications first. For many many people it makes far more sense to try beta blockers or calcium channel blockers or both before moving on. These medications are commonly used for controlling blood pressure and can make you sleepy. Most of them have been around for a LONG time and the side effects are very well known, even in the long term. Long term usage of topomax is unknown as to if it has any long term consequences, just as it is for any newer medication. The beta blockers and calcium channel blockers are also dirt cheap. The migraine specialists I have seen have recommended first doing up to 3 trials(1 medication at a time, not all 3 at once) of different beta blockers to see if one will help. Then trying the calcium channel blockers, then combining them. After that they recommend moving to other medications. Last I knew, propranolol was still the gold standard for migraine control. It is a beta blocker. I have seen at least 5 friends with migraines be put on topomax or another newer very aggressively marketed medication with-o any trials of other medications. Docs think of the newer medications because they get so much stuff from the pharm reps. The older medications are not in the front of their mind. If you ask the doctor to rx the least expensive medication to try first you can often get the doctor to let you try a beta blocker. I am sorry Jana is fighting migraines. I feel her pain. Flutterby, I hope the benefit from the topomax is helpful. You have to weigh the benefit against the side effects. I would give 100 mgs or even 75 mgs a few weeks to see what it does and if your body can adjust to it. After about a month on the same dosage I was back to almost normal. [/QUOTE]
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