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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LUKA62 on April 13, 2003, at 17:04:24
HELP!.My pdoc just started me on topamax 25mg, on 4/8, and I'm supposed to titrate up 25mg after each week. Even on 25mg I'm already having such bothersome tingling, not just in my hands but in my face also. Weird thing is it's most prevalent some 12hrs after the dose. And I have no energy at all.
He put me on the Topamax because I had to go off the Lamictal I was on due to severe abdominal and chest pain. AFter 20years of trials of all kinds of meds, Lamictal was the First one that gave me back a LIFE. I did fine on it for a year and a half, then the pain started. I can't say I have a lot of faith in any thing at this point, and even my trusty Nardil just isn't enough to keep me going. I'm at the end of my rope. I feel like I've just wasted the past 7 years I've spent trying to keep myself alive; working hard in therapy, only to find that I have to give up the one stabilizing med. It's not like I have many options. I gained 70 pounds on Depakote, which I lost all of after stopping; Lithium made me violently ill, each trail time, etc... My teen takes topamax but doesn't seem to complain of side effects....hmmm. is it just me??
Posted by Ritch on April 14, 2003, at 13:05:16
In reply to TOPOMAX Newbie HELP!!!, posted by LUKA62 on April 13, 2003, at 17:04:24
> HELP!.My pdoc just started me on topamax 25mg, on 4/8, and I'm supposed to titrate up 25mg after each week. Even on 25mg I'm already having such bothersome tingling, not just in my hands but in my face also. Weird thing is it's most prevalent some 12hrs after the dose. And I have no energy at all.
> He put me on the Topamax because I had to go off the Lamictal I was on due to severe abdominal and chest pain. AFter 20years of trials of all kinds of meds, Lamictal was the First one that gave me back a LIFE. I did fine on it for a year and a half, then the pain started. I can't say I have a lot of faith in any thing at this point, and even my trusty Nardil just isn't enough to keep me going. I'm at the end of my rope. I feel like I've just wasted the past 7 years I've spent trying to keep myself alive; working hard in therapy, only to find that I have to give up the one stabilizing med. It's not like I have many options. I gained 70 pounds on Depakote, which I lost all of after stopping; Lithium made me violently ill, each trail time, etc... My teen takes topamax but doesn't seem to complain of side effects....hmmm. is it just me??
I got a lot of tingling (paresthesia) from Topamax as well when I was trying it. I started at 15mg hs and increased over a couple of weeks to 25mg bid. I really liked what it did for my sleep. The paresthesia didn't bother me as much as word-finding difficulties and problems concentrating. It might be worth giving it a few weeks to see if you adjust to it, unfortunately, you may not see much "adjustment" until you reach whatever target dose your pdoc has in mind and then stick with that for awhile. If this doesn't pan out well, you could give Tegretol or Trileptal a try.
Posted by LUKA62 on April 14, 2003, at 15:02:00
In reply to Re: TOPOMAX Newbie HELP!!! » LUKA62, posted by Ritch on April 14, 2003, at 13:05:16
>
>
>
> I got a lot of tingling (paresthesia) from Topamax as well when I was trying it. I started at 15mg hs and increased over a couple of weeks to 25mg bid. I really liked what it did for my sleep. The paresthesia didn't bother me as much as word-finding difficulties and problems concentrating. It might be worth giving it a few weeks to see if you adjust to it, unfortunately, you may not see much "adjustment" until you reach whatever target dose your pdoc has in mind and then stick with that for awhile. If this doesn't pan out well, you could give Tegretol or Trileptal a try.
>
>
>
Ritch, I started having a little trouble concentrating, and with word-finding also, and a little trouble with my coordination, but still it's the severe tingling that's most bothersome, that and that taste distortion.
Did the tingling ever decrease or go away, or did you just get used to it? How about the cognitive difficulties? I'm supposed to increase to 50mg tonight, but I'm waiting til my pdoc calls. I do hope it will work out! Thanks..
Posted by Ritch on April 15, 2003, at 10:18:15
In reply to Re: TOPOMAX Newbie HELP!!! » Ritch, posted by LUKA62 on April 14, 2003, at 15:02:00
> >
> >
> >
> > I got a lot of tingling (paresthesia) from Topamax as well when I was trying it. I started at 15mg hs and increased over a couple of weeks to 25mg bid. I really liked what it did for my sleep. The paresthesia didn't bother me as much as word-finding difficulties and problems concentrating. It might be worth giving it a few weeks to see if you adjust to it, unfortunately, you may not see much "adjustment" until you reach whatever target dose your pdoc has in mind and then stick with that for awhile. If this doesn't pan out well, you could give Tegretol or Trileptal a try.
> >
> >
> >
> Ritch, I started having a little trouble concentrating, and with word-finding also, and a little trouble with my coordination, but still it's the severe tingling that's most bothersome, that and that taste distortion.
> Did the tingling ever decrease or go away, or did you just get used to it? How about the cognitive difficulties? I'm supposed to increase to 50mg tonight, but I'm waiting til my pdoc calls. I do hope it will work out! Thanks..
>
>
>The "tingling" was at first thought to be itchiness instead. It was never really that bothersome to me. The appetite reduction was OK, too. There have been other meds I've taken that caused some taste/smell distortions, so that wasn't really a bother for me either. The biggest problem was the foggy-headedness. I know most docs (and the mfg.) have you take the stuff twice daily, but it has a relatively long half-life and it makes me wonder whether once at bedtime might be sufficient. Perhaps this way you might not be bothered with as much paresthesia, etc., the following day-you might ask if it continues to be a hassle.
Posted by dddiane on April 23, 2003, at 6:48:17
In reply to Re: TOPOMAX Newbie HELP!!! » Ritch, posted by LUKA62 on April 14, 2003, at 15:02:00
Luke,
I've been on Topamax now for five months and the tingling is almost completely gone, if that is of any help. I read (don't have anything to back this up!) that taking B-12 suppliments will help the tingling, so you might want to try this.
I also take all my Topamax as one pm dose, and that way avoid some of the daytime sedation. You may want to talk to your pdoc about this. The sedation/dumbness does get better. I came out of the fog after two months. That might sound like a long time, but it was worth it to me. :)
Good luck,
Diane
Posted by LUKA62 on April 23, 2003, at 18:44:26
In reply to Re: TOPOMAX Newbie HELP!!! » LUKA62, posted by dddiane on April 23, 2003, at 6:48:17
> Luke,
>
> I've been on Topamax now for five months and the tingling is almost completely gone, if that is of any help. I read (don't have anything to back this up!) that taking B-12 suppliments will help the tingling, so you might want to try this.
>
> I also take all my Topamax as one pm dose, and that way avoid some of the daytime sedation. You may want to talk to your pdoc about this. The sedation/dumbness does get better. I came out of the fog after two months. That might sound like a long time, but it was worth it to me. :)
>
> Good luck,
>
> Diane
Thanks for the info Diane! That's encouraging. I was just about to give up on the trial mostly for the fatigue factor. I do have a multi-vitamin here with the B vitamins, I could give that a try too. Guess I should stick with it a while longer. I'm glad it worked out for you.
Posted by dddiane on April 25, 2003, at 6:33:28
In reply to Re: Thanks Diane » dddiane, posted by LUKA62 on April 23, 2003, at 18:44:26
Luke,
You are welcome to join us at this board which is devoted to Topamax support:
http://pub123.ezboard.com/ftopamaxtalkfrm2
Or just browse through old postings. That may be helpful.
Diane
This is the end of the thread.
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