Posted by LibbyH on March 7, 2005, at 22:36:17
In reply to Re: Topamax and Insomnia » LibbyH, posted by Cairo on March 7, 2005, at 20:42:44
This is my second time on Topamax. The first time I had no ill side effects at a dose of 150 mg/day. I quite because my migraines got better and the drug was expensive. This time, I could never get past 75 mg/day without eye and muscle tremors, extreme hair breakage, and finally the insomnia.
The first thing we tried was moving the dose from evening to morning. That helped me sleep a few hours each night, but never a full night. This isn't "classic" anxiety - at least it doesn't have the usual symptoms. I have been prescribed Klonopin "as needed" for anxiety for five years, and have never needed more than one milligram for my worst panic attacks. When the insomnia started getting worrisome, I tried taking Klonopin to help me sleep and two milligrams didn't help at all. It did make me more tired, but I still couldn't sleep. The thing is that I can be so tired and sleepy that I am literally falling over and still not be able to fall asleep on this drug. It's like my body gets tired and sleepy but my mind doesn't. EVER.
I called my pdoc for an emergency visit today and he was concerned enough that he felt I could accelerate my tapering off so I can get off this drug faster. He also suggested increasing my Ritalin (for ADD) in the hope of creating a bigger "crash" at the end of each day and finally prescribed Sonata "as needed" until I am off the Topamax.
He agress this is not classic anxiety, but it does seem to be an anxiety-like effect. Although there is some chance it would lessen in time, the other complications I was having, combined with the fact that it wasn't having the intended therapeutic effect, gave him plenty of reason to take me off it.
I still don't get why I had no trouble at all the first time and it has been nothing but PAIN this time, but there isn't a doubt in m mind the Topamax is what is causing this. Everything else had been stable for at least three years prior to the Topoamax and I was sleeping fine. The only trouble was I had migraines once a week or so. I'd rather have a headache once a week and vbe able to sleep than not ne able to sleep and be headache-free. Besides, I have other options for the migraines.
Thanks for the responses. They prompted me to call my doc and get this taken care of... I felt like I was going slowly crazy with sleep deprivation....
L.
poster:LibbyH
thread:467660
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050304/msgs/468051.html