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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by andie1970 on July 12, 2004, at 16:46:02
I just started topamax Friday and am taking 25 mg a night (for migraines). So far I had relatively little side effects I am so excited to say, and was expecting a lot after reading about it. The only thing I noticed is I don't want to drink much anymore (alcohol that is, but I want a LOT of water!) and don't crave food at all which is great, because i ate out of depression and gained weight from anti-depressants and depression. So to not want to eat as much or drink alcohol? WOW! But the doctor didn't talk about changing the dose and a lot of people here talked about going up - does anyone see a great difference in side effects, bad or good, as dosage increases? I just read about Zonegran here which I never heard about either, and am wondering how well that works. Hmmmm. Thanks everyone, i love this site.
Posted by dazed on July 13, 2004, at 12:47:06
In reply to topamax dosage?, posted by andie1970 on July 12, 2004, at 16:46:02
I started with Topomax. Craved water (which I used to hate). Gradually went up to 200 mg (for migraines also). Got too stupid, but not too many other bad side effects except the tingles, but that was okay, not bad. I lost my appetite around 50-75 mg I think.
I switched to Zonegran due to the stupids. I'm far less stupid on Zonegran, although it did not help with migraines as much. Seems like 200 mg of topomax = 300 mg of Zonegran as far preventing migraines (for me anyway). They are about the same in that regard as far as I can tell on that dosage ratio for me. No other side effects on Zonegran other than slight brain fog, but just ever so slight. Nothing as bad as like Topomax.
Weight Loss on Zonegran is same as Topomax. Although some co-workers seemed to notice more weight loss after Zonegran (or at least more started commenting on it). Total 20 lbs.
Migraines gone from 3-4/week to about 1-2 week so far. I'll take that for as long as it works. Drink tons of water. tons tons tons.
Posted by andie1970 on July 13, 2004, at 13:16:34
In reply to Re: topamax dosage?, posted by dazed on July 13, 2004, at 12:47:06
Wow, I am starting to wish I was taking zonegram instead of topamax! I just talked to the nurse who told me to start on 50 mg today, and see how that goes, then slowly move from there. I guess if I get way too dumb, I will ask if they will switch. I must say, the weight loss was a huge issue for me, because I gained so much weight and haven't been able to lose it from the anti-depressants, but I guess felt a little embarrassed to say that yes, that was a big hope for me although I know it is not meant for weight loss! It is for migraines, I know. But it is an added benefit that it is the first thing that has given me hope in so long, and more than any other medication, lifted my depression in a way, because i feel that maybe I will someday be able to lift some of this weight with the help of this medication. The anti-depressants never worked for my mood, and unfortunately I gained weight, causing more depression. So with any luck, maybe this will help my migraines and my weight. If I begin to get the really fogginess, I will definitely look for Zonegran. thanks - I am drinking TONS of water! Take care, good luck to you! I'll let you know how things go with the migraines!
Posted by andie1970 on July 14, 2004, at 10:26:44
In reply to Re: topamax dosage?, posted by andie1970 on July 13, 2004, at 13:16:34
Hi! One more question dazed, how long was it before you noticed you started losing weight? I just started 50 mg yesterday (boy, the tingling is strong!) and am supposed to go up each week depending on how I do, and am curious if I will see any weight loss benefit in the meantime, or will it be months. Also, did you take it all at night? They told me to take one in the morning and one at night, I guess thinking more than 25 mg at one time would be too much?
Posted by dazed on July 14, 2004, at 13:08:17
In reply to one more question for dazed, posted by andie1970 on July 14, 2004, at 10:26:44
I took mine all at night, so the effects would be more during sleep. I started diminished appetite almost immediately at 50 mg, so I started losing weight very soon.
I would eat like a bird compared to my usual pigging out. So, I'm 40 lbs overweight, so any decreased appetite is noticable to ME, but took about 3-5 wks before others noticed that the fluffy me was not so fluffy.
Also, I had heard that one starts eating more health foods, and that was true with me. Just didn't care for junk foods as much. Very strange indeed.
Posted by dazed on July 14, 2004, at 13:13:45
In reply to Re: topamax dosage?, posted by andie1970 on July 13, 2004, at 13:16:34
Some people do fine with the Topomax. I think I was fine until I reached over 100 mg, then would get the stupids. At 300 mg of Zonegran I'm just now feeling a tiny bit out of sorts maybe, but nothing compared to how I was on Topomax.
I understand about the anti-depressants and weight gain, hope with the Topomax and losing. I could have written your entire message verbatim. Same song, second verse.
Topomax and Zonegran felt like flu the first 2-3 weeks, but I think it is so worth it for me. I hope it continues to work.
Good luck!
Posted by andie1970 on July 15, 2004, at 17:01:45
In reply to Re: topamax dosage?, posted by dazed on July 14, 2004, at 13:13:45
I couldn't believe this when I read this, because that is how I have been feeling since maybe yesterday, but didn't know if it was a coincidence or not. Just fluish, also my stomach hurts. It's been hurting since the day I started on 50mg, but could be a bug or food I ate. But maybe I am just getting used to it? But if it took you a couple weeks to get used to it, that makes me SO hopeful that I will get over it, and feel better eventually. Also, after reading what you wrote, I am going to try both tonight and not one in the morning and see if I feel better through the day. Thank you again SO MUCH!!!!!!! Can't tell you how much reading your post just made me feel so much better!
Posted by dazed on July 16, 2004, at 9:51:41
In reply to the flu!, posted by andie1970 on July 15, 2004, at 17:01:45
Wonderful!! If I think of anything else, I will let you know. I remember having more sinus stuffiness and very sandpaper-ish eyes at first also. Water helps so much.
Posted by dazed on July 16, 2004, at 9:54:04
In reply to the flu!, posted by andie1970 on July 15, 2004, at 17:01:45
Also, I felt so exhausted, like my body had moved heavy furniture around for 3 days. That gets better too.
Posted by andie1970 on July 16, 2004, at 14:30:28
In reply to Re: the flu!, posted by dazed on July 16, 2004, at 9:51:41
Oh my God! I couldn't believe the sinus comment. I thought I had a cold or a sinus infection, and my skin is so dry! damn! I can't drink enough, but lately my stomach's too full for too much more water, and I was exercising before, but finding myself too lethargic at the moment, and like you wrote about moving heavy furniture - I felt SOOOOOO heavy and felt like either i exercised too much last night, or was getting sick, so it was too hard to walk up the stairs. SO glad to hear you felt similarly and it went away, because I was feeling a little diheartened last night!!!! :) Looking forward to it maybe going away!!!! Just curious, how long have you been on it, and do you feel fine today? Do you still eat healthy, and do you think it's worth it? So far it sounds like it, so I'm crossing my fingers!
Posted by dazed on July 20, 2004, at 10:30:21
In reply to Re: the flu!, posted by andie1970 on July 16, 2004, at 14:30:28
Yes, I feel fine now, but remember I have made the switch to Zonegran. I was fine on Topomax also on or around 6 weeks I think, and would have remained fine except for the brain fog.
I started it all in early February, so this is about 6 months now. Migraines have decreased now to about 1 a week as of last week (yea!!!!). Hope this lasts. Lost about 26 pounds (yea!!!!). And, I still crave healthy foods. Sweets don't appeal to me as much, and carbonated drinks still tastes flat or metallic. Dairy products tastes weird, overeall my tastes have gotten weird, which is normal according to other posts i've read.
Hang in there. For me, it's worth every bad moment I had.
This is the end of the thread.
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