Topamax

[VaBusa]

I'm presently on day 8 of fighting off migraines

...been doing some online research on the latest drugs, etc...

I keep coming back to a drug called Topamax; it's a preventative, not a drug you take at the on-set of a migraine so you still have to have that other drug on hand should you get a migraine anyway.  So far, none of the other migraine meds have helped me and I usually toss back 5 - 6 pills to get rid of a bad migraine; my liver hates me...

Anyone with migraines have any experience with Topamax?  Side effects?  Opinions? I see my doc this Friday and would like to know what my options are/side effects, etc before I see him...

Thanks...

M -

 

[BigGeorge]

I've tried everything too... some actually intensify my migraines. And my liver knows all too well what you're saying. I do everything I can to get rid of them.

I'm gonna look into the Topamax. Thanks for the tip and I hope you feel better.

 

[forceofnature]

Are your migranes food alergy related? I know my son had them and layed off certain food types and now he rarely gets them. He would get them so bad he would vomit.

 

[BigDiesel]

my sister had severe migraines in highschool n they got worse after graduation-had to undergo surgery for a mass of arteries in her brain that actually fused together...process required going in thru vein in leg up to brain, then injecting a liquid called Onyx that hardens in the bloodstream to block artery. Had to do 3 separate surg. to slow down flow enuf...they also suggested chemo but my sis is saying he11 no her headaches are gone good enuf she's sick of hospitals. Her blood pressure was fugged up one of the signs that made them do CAT scan n found the mass in her brain...has your doc done a thorough phys. on you in a while? if B.P. is outa wack n circulation is fine everywhere else, might want him to take a look upstairs....hope the echo doesnt make it worse while he's walking around in there

 

[VaBusa]

I've tried everything too... some actually intensify my migraines. And my liver knows all too well what you're saying. I do everything I can to get rid of them.

I'm gonna look into the Topamax. Thanks for the tip and I hope you feel better.

It sucks, doesn't it? I have yet to meet someone that says "yeah, this migraine med really works!" Seems they all work once or twice, then it's just another pill you pop...

I'll share what I find out from the doc on Friday about Topamax...

 

[VaBusa]

Are your migranes food alergy related?  I know my son had them and layed off certain food types and now he rarely gets them.  He would get them so bad he would vomit.

I've tracked 'em for years and there's no real rhyme or reason to them...the only true trigger I know of is sudden loud noises, like someone popping a balloon...that always leads to a bad headache in an instant, and sometimes migraines.

I get them pretty badly, but not to the point of being sick to my stomach unless I've just popped too many pills...I pretty much can't function when they're bad though; no driving, can't keep my eyes open (light sensitive), no sound...

Glad your son found the trigger though...

 

[WWJD]

Va, do you ever have ANY caffeine? Soda, coffee, ANY chocolate - even chocolate chip cookies? Until you completely eliminate that, you can not rule it out as a possible major or main cause

 

[VaBusa]

my sister had severe migraines in highschool n they got worse after graduation-had to undergo surgery for a mass of arteries in her brain that actually fused together...process required going in thru vein in leg up to brain, then injecting a liquid called Onyx that hardens in the bloodstream to block artery. Had to do 3 separate surg. to slow down flow enuf...they also suggested chemo but my sis is saying he11 no her headaches are gone good enuf she's sick of hospitals.  Her blood pressure was fugged up one of the signs that made them do CAT scan n found the mass in her brain...has your doc done a thorough phys. on you in a while? if B.P. is outa wack n circulation is fine everywhere else, might want him to take a look upstairs....hope the echo doesnt make it worse while he's walking around in there

Just dayum!!! Okay, now I'm scared!

I have several doctors in my life; all of them know about my history of migraines...I do see a doc yearly for them and as luck would have it, I'll see him this Friday...

I have yet to go to a neurologist; I think I put it off because so many I know, my sister included, find that there's nothing wrong and they dole out the same pills I get without all the brain work...if my doc recommends I go see a specialist, I guess I'll add doc #20 to my current list of docs

B.P. is perfect...just have something wrong with my head LOL No shock there, is there?

 

[Revlis]

Sounds like just another excuse used to get good drugs outta the doc.

Hell I gotta try that...









Kidden Darlin, Sorry Bout' your noggin.

 

[BigDiesel]

hey Michelle, have your sinus' checked too-i got bad headaches as a kid for like 2 weeks mom took me to doctor i ended up having a sinus infection had to have a surgery to remove infected membrane...nasty stuff. does stuf like windows going up in a car while driving trigger too? air pressure used to set off my sister's headaches too; couldn't go more than a few feet down in water and hated flying so much family had to drive to florida after first plane ride knocked out my hearing for 2 hours and gave sis a bangin headache all day.

 

[VaBusa]

Va, do you ever have ANY caffeine?  Soda, coffee, ANY chocolate - even chocolate chip cookies?  Until you completely eliminate that, you can not rule it out as a possible major or main cause

I've talked about my migraines before because I recall you asking me that WWJD...I drink one 12 oz can of Pepsi every day; it's my morning "caffeine" when most are drinking coffee...

I did stop all caffeine drinks for 4 months and still got the migraines, but I'll admit, they weren't as often...that was years ago; seems my migraine are getting more and more progressive

I can't believe that one can of soda a day would cause this many problems, but no, I wouldn't rule it out either...strange thing is that on the bad days, when the pills aren't helping, I often find myself reaching for Pepsi #2 and oftentimes, it helps...

Caffeine gives headaches/migraines and also takes 'em away...I can't figure out where the balance is...

 

[VaBusa]

Sounds like just another excuse used to get good drugs outta the doc.  

Hell I gotta try that...









Kidden Darlin, Sorry Bout' your noggin.

Truth be told, Rev...I'm sick of the pills...I carry no less than 5 prescription drugs with me at all times, and then toss in some Excedrin Migraine...I'm a druggie...I want off of these drugs because they don't help! LOL

Well, unless they dole out some Lortab; I'd take that just because it's fun...

Kidding, kidding, haven't touched the stuff since my back surgery nearly a year ago...damn shame really...

 

[Aquaman]

I too used to everyday have like sinus headaches,blowing my nose every 5 minutes,and sneezing,sneezing,sneezing....
I had a sinus operation and was cured!
I used to get migranes as a kid,but they went away

 

[VaBusa]

hey Michelle, have your sinus' checked too-i got bad headaches as a kid for like 2 weeks mom took me to doctor i ended up having a sinus infection had to have a surgery to remove infected membrane...nasty stuff. does stuf like windows going up in a car while driving trigger too? air pressure used to set off my sister's headaches too; couldn't go more than a few feet down in water and hated flying so much family had to drive to florida after first plane ride knocked out my hearing for 2 hours and gave sis a bangin headache all day.

Sinus' are a-okay; hubby went through all of that last year and you're right, nasty stuff...he's never been back to 100% either...

No, nothing like air pressure bothers me...it seems to be mostly sounds (like hubby's Harley LOL...no, seriously), sudden loud sounds that trigger problems for me...I've been battling 'em since last Monday though and I have no idea what brought this on...I did just buy the Linkin Park/Jay-Z CD last weekend...hrmmm, perhaps that's my trigger? LOL Seriously, it may have contributed...damn CD...

 

[VaBusa]

I too used to everyday have like sinus headaches,blowing my nose every 5 minutes,and sneezing,sneezing,sneezing....
I had a sinus operation and was cured!
I used to get migranes as a kid,but they went away

That's what Mike's had going on for two years now...sinus surgery helped, but no cure for all the "allergies" he's suddenly coping with...he went from a guy that never had allergies to a guy that's running through every allergy med they make to get some relief...

I had 'em as a kid and they've gotten progressively worse the older I get...

 

[Ride_or_Fish]

Any past injuries to the inner ear or ear drums? I occasionaly get migranes or just bad headaches after being around loud noises, but I know I have ear drum damage from past loud noises, scuba diving, guns, loud music, ...

 

[GJoker]

This has been an ongoing situation for me too... I feel your pain.. literally~ I've been to Doc's in the past~ None of which could ever pinpoint the problem~ Basically chalked it up to a 'chemical embalance'... same of which is being said for my S.A.D.~ I've been put on Prozac.. and when that din't work was switched to Paxil.. which also didn't work~ Like mentioned above... these meds only intensified the migraine! I gave up on the Doc's after that and just do the over the counter stuff when it hits me~ I have to switch up these every now and then or I end up taking more and more to get the job done~ Excedrine Migraine, Excedrine PM even, Advil.. Aleeve.. you name it... I've ate it~ Have to eat 4-6 reg Ibuprofins(sp?) and sit in total darkness with an ice pack covering my head and basically hyperventilate myself to sleep to get away from the pain~ I find our walk-in closet provides the best darkness...

Sorry, I couldn't be of any real help for ya~ Hope you get to feeling better soon....



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[VaBusa]

Any past injuries to the inner ear or ear drums?  I occasionaly get migranes or just bad headaches after being around loud noises, but I know I have ear drum damage from past loud noises, scuba diving, guns, loud music, ...

None that I know of or can recall...my hearing's always been great, too good if you ask me...I often wonder if I'm hypersensitive to sound and maybe that's one reason behind the migraines? If the electricity flickers while I'm sleeping, it wakes me up immediately...I can tell when there's a TV on in the house even if I'm behind closed doors; it's got a certain "hiss" that bothers me...Mike thinks I'm nuts 'cause he can't hear anything LOL

So, NO ONE has tried Topamax? I'm concerned about some side effects that I've seen listed...your taste supposedly changes; I'm wondering if that will pass...stuff like that...

 

[FloydV]

No experience with Topamax. However, my wife takes a migraine drug called Amerge. They work like magic, but they are expensive. Our co-pay is $18 a pill.

There is another one called Imitrex that is like Amerge. They work by constricting vessels in your brain, and they can seriously raise blood pressure as a side effect. My wife has never had any bad experience though, and I think the bp thing is fairly rare. For her, no detectable side effects at all. These drugs are non-narcotic (they are not "pain killers").

I looked up Topamax and it is primarily considered an anti-seizure drug (anti-epileptic drug). This type of drug usually has unpleasant side effects.

 

[VaBusa]

This has been an ongoing situation for me too... I feel your pain.. literally~ I've been to Doc's in the past~ None of which could ever pinpoint the problem~ Basically chalked it up to a 'chemical embalance'... same of which is being said for my S.A.D.~ I've been put on Prozac.. and when that din't work was switched to Paxil.. which also didn't work~ Like mentioned above... these meds only intensified the migraine! I gave up on the Doc's after that and just do the over the counter stuff when it hits me~ I have to switch up these every now and then or I end up taking more and more to get the job done~ Excedrine Migraine, Excedrine PM even, Advil.. Aleeve.. you name it... I've ate it~ Have to eat 4-6 reg Ibuprofins(sp?) and sit in total darkness with an ice pack covering my head and basically hyperventilate myself to sleep to get away from the pain~ I find our walk-in closet provides the best darkness...

Sorry, I couldn't be of real help for ya~ Hope you get to feeling better soon....

I'm right there with you! I'm a walking drug store of things that really don't work, yet keep taking 'em...then I too resort to the old ice pack/dark space...hrmm, never considered my closet

Between you and LadyHawk, I can pretty much depend on having a continual supply of migraine meds and pain pills for the old back aches

I was on glucophage for years 'til a year ago; it's for a disease called PCOS, led to infertility for much of my life, hormonal imbalance, etc...you name it...anyway, as somewhat of a precautionary drug, docs put patients with PCOS on glucophage...it's for diabetics, but it seems to help aleve the symptoms of PCOS, keeps me from developing all sorts of cancers, hopefully, helps my body better process insulin...

I'm wondering if by going off of that med, I've gone backwards with my migraines...they weren't this bad years ago. I still got 'em, but not as often as I do now...yet another thing to cover with my doc on Friday I guess...he won't want to put me back on glucophage, so that means I'll have to get yet another doc to talk to about that...I'm just rambling now

Does it ever end? Why can't I just be "normal" like most others LOL I've got this, I've got that...pop this pill, don't take that one...