topamax and nerve pain

I am female so am not sure if our pain is the same, mine is from nerve damage done from a hernia repair. They gave me a topamax it works as a pain management pill and it stops the nerves from snappsing (being so sensitive). They could also try a nerve block in the back which would elevate all meds and just block the source of the pain. So yes the topamax has its drawbacks as it works all over your body, and nerve block can pinpoint were they block.

I take Topamax. It has saved me. I had daily headaches and I don't anymore. It was hard in the beginning. There are side effects for me anyway. You feel kind of dopey then for me week 3 or 4 I felt fine. You start off slowly and ramp up to two pills a day. I take them one in the morning one in late afternoon. FM does involve nerves but it's not nerve pain. It's more of a connective tissue issue.

From this visit i immediately went to a neurologist and he sent me to get a MRI the MRI came back normal and came to the conclusion that for the time being i would take the topamax in hopes that the swelling would go down, since that i have gone to see the dr twice and really no change has occured.Is topamax ( a seizure medication) a proper medication to treat a swollen optic nerve? Is there anything else i can do?

I take it for nerve pain and complex migraines. Certain side effects have stayed: anything carbonated taste awful, tingling in hands and feet, small twitch in left eye for last week or so.

I am ok with topamax, but it has side effects - all of them do. I tried all of them - and for me, topamax had the least, but every one is different and you have to do what you can. Work up to a dose - and take the least amount that helps you the most. I used to take a smaller amount, but had to increase it. It may be best to see a neurologist. There are also surgeries - but that may not be best for you since yours was caused by an injury so it may be difficult to isolate the nerve.

Recently, my migraine symptoms changed, so the hospital did a CAT scan. They didn't find anything unusual, so I am assuming that means none of my doctors thinks there are any white lesions on the brain to indicate MS. I am finding myself having more balance issues, though, and really bad pain in the hip area. It's usually in one hip more than the other, and not necessarily always the same hip. Lately it's the left hip.

All of a sudden, I have experienced joint pain and stiffness. I found out that topamax can lead to these side effects. however, I have gradually gone off the topamax and have quit taking it for approximately 4 - 5 days. Today I am still stiff (shoulders, knee, wrist and ankles) and my ankles are swollen. Do you think this is still a side effect of Topamax in my system?

It sounds like a pinched nerve in your neck. This could cause the pain and numbness. Have you had any testing done like an MRI? I'm not sure if it would show a pinched nerve but I do think it would show bulging discs. If you have tests ran and they show nothing you might want to try seeing a Chiropractor. Only do this if there are no bulging discs and your Dr gives you the okay to do so.

Topamax is used for a lot of things it isn't necessarily labeled for. It's also used for treatment of nerve-related pain. Docs love to give it to patients with spine pain because it's not a narcotic. I know topamax has helped people with pain, but I wasn't one of them. I got every side effect on the fine-print enclosure, including a wooden tongue and numb, nearly paralyzed extremeties. Hadn't even titrated up to a "therapeutic" dose yet.

I have been researching Topamax and all I can find is info. about seizures and migraines. Why would he give me this, and is it addictive? Anyone have any knowledge?

I am on Duragesic pain patch, Ultram, Lortab 10 mg, and Lyrica 200mg. I noticed weight gain and swelling in my legs and feet with Lyrica and wanted to know if Topamax could replace Lyrica.

I take it for nerve pain and complex migraines. I did experience weight loss but not loss so far, but I do take daily vitamin and extra supplements plus making sure I drink Ensure and a V-8 everyday to keep myself health. I didn’t need to lose any weight. I also cut all alcohol out with the exception of the occasional glass of wine with we are out to dinner with friends…. (Mostly so I don’t look like a party pooper) and anything carbonated taste awful.

It started about 2000 and seems to be getting worse. I have terrible ear pain, 1-10 a 9, burning, tingling, and weak and very tight muscles in my neck, running all the way down my upper back. I have been on Rx Topamax and a Flexeril a muscle relaxer for years. Do you think it could possible be a pinched nerve in my neck ?

We have seen a pediatric neurologist, admitted to the hospital and she is still in bed with nausea, vomiting and frontal head pain. We have had a negative MRI/MRA, spinal tap and blood work was ok with just WBC and platelets elevated. We started with 5 mg of maxalt, naproxen, compazine, zofran, toradol and phenergan injections. No ease of pain or symptoms! Spinal tap last Wednesday and that night, again severe headache, nausea, and vomiting.

I have reduced quite all my medication and I feel like slowly back to being the person i used to be I am currently taking only 50mg of Topamax and I can say that the pain disappeared almost completely and the goal is to be free of this medicine at year end. Also I have feelings of anger, because I think I've been taking Topamax for over 10 years without any sense. I think I have found what was the source of all my chronic pain and Topamax was not helping me at all.

I am on neurontin and fironol (sp?), neurontin for nerve pain and the fironol for migranes. My question is this.....would the topomax possibly replace the 2 meds I mentioned? The fironol does not touch my migranes a lot of the time and I have read on here that the neurontin can be used as needed. I am asking this forum as many times the folks that actually have FM or whatever know better than most docs what works.

2 mm herniation Chiari 1 Malformation in december 2012. Finally got into a Nerosurgon 2 weeks ago he put me on topamax (not sure i like that med) and ordered another mri on my neck and a nerve test on my arms? Not sure what that is about? He said something about checking for other things before sending me in for surgery and said that most people with this size of tumor end up having surgery. So I play a waiting game and See I guess. Really kinda nervous.

Fortunately, God was on her side because she was smart enough to stop the Topamax and go to the emergency room before she developed an attack of acute narrow angle glaucoma (symptoms severe eye pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, almost complete vision loss.) Her ocular pressure was actually only slightly elevated and with cessation of the Topamax, her pressure returned to normal in a day, while it took over a week for her vison to return to normal.

There is hope so hold on and take that topamax. Helps head aches, some nerve pain and great side affects....

I was building the topamax up and lowering the lamictal down. Now I am just on the topamax. The side affects seem quite scary to me, severe dizziness and very off balance, I am always tired and have tingling in the hands and feet. I seem loss for words and confused. Will these side affects deteriorate over the a certain amount of time? It is difficult when I have to go to work and live everyday life. Please help.

I woke up a few days ago with a lot of pain in my stomach and spine. It is not time for my menstrual cycle nor have I overexerted myself with physical labor. I have sharp stabbing pains from time to time in my stomach and my spine aches. I urinate frequently and they are clear for the most part and without pain or odor. I have Hoshimoto's Thyroiditis and take Levothyroxin, Topomax for migraines and birth control for irregular menses.

Hey Paula and welcome to the MS Forum. In response to your post I would like to say that the Cymbalta may take a bit of time to start showing you any relief. Many of us here suffer from this "Nerve Pain" and it is not pleasant but you may have to try a few different meds before you find the one that will work for that pain. I have tried topamax, neurontin, lyrica, tegretol and finally they tried elavil (amitriptyline) for the pain in my legs and it seems to have helped.

Lyrica is still one of the newer ones but works really well. I take Topamax and Lyrica. I take Topamax for headaches and Lyrica for neuropathic pain. My pain is well controlled but they do have their side effects.

I took Topamax for awhile trying to stop a "non-stop" headache. The side effects were bad enough for me that it was discontinued. The lack of balance and eye pain I had were what my neurologist decided were reasons to discontinue. The headache pain was as bad on Topamax as it was off Topamax, so it just wasn't the drug for me....

I suffer chronic pain from nerve damage from an implant removal 11 months ago. Am doing acupuncture and taking gabapentin but the improvement is questionable. Have gone on the Mayo Connect to see if someone else has had a similar circumstance and a successful treatment plan and I have also asked help on how to proceed for an interdisciplinary assessment and treatment plan for my chronic pain. Good luck to you. I am truly sorry about your pain.

Topamax and nerve pain

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