Topamax for pain management
Common Questions and Answers about Topamax for pain management
topamax
Hi.....I have both migraines and depression. My neuro doc put me on Topamax (I take it daily) for migraine management and when I do get "breakthrough" migraines I take Maxalt. The Topamax has worked wonders!!! But it isn't without some nasty side effects. Initially it causes your feet, hands and face to tingle (that goes away)....but it plays hell with your memory (not everyone gets this, but I did). It takes away your appetite (at least it did for me).
Im also taking Zoloft 100mg for depression, 25mg phenagen 3 x a day for nausea, 4mg tizanidine 3 x a day for muscle relaxer, 50mg of cymbalta for pain, 10/325 percocet 3 x a day for pain. I know this seems like a lot of medications, I was actually on a lot more narcotic medications until my insurance changed and I had to go to a new pain management doctor and he's trying to lower my nacrotic pain medicines, so he put me on Cmybalta, tizanidine,and now trying Topamax.
Hi! I was on topamax for about 4 months before I asked to be off of it. It didnt prevent headaches for me, and worse yet it made me very "dopey." I asked my doctor about it and he said it had gotten the nickname "dopamax."
I was constantly forgetting things (appointments, keys, times to meet my friends, etc.)
However, like Rowena_santenas_MD said, the effectiveness and side effects vary from person to person.
I hope this helps!
My 2 yr. old grandson has been on topamax for his epilepsy for 4 months. Before that he was on another med that caused him to be very aggressive So we asked that his med be changed. He now barely eats anything solid everyday. He does drink pediasure 16 oz. a day. His weight has remained at 25 lbs. since starting the med. Should we try to have his med changed due to his loss of appetite since starting topamax /?
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.
The important thing to remember though, is medication management is highly individualized. What works for one person, may not work for another. Just because I am doing well with something doesn't mean everyone else will. That's the terrible thing about Fibro.
I have had both of my kidneys auto-transplanted back into me. Basically my kidneys were fine, but my ureter tubes were not so after numerous "cut & splice" surgeries, I finally found a doctor who could end that cycle. They removed the ureter tubes and attached my kidneys directly to my bladder. I had my right one auto-transplanted in 1994 and my left one in 2001. After that I thought my pain would be over.
One reason for the headaches is that topamax may actually take weeks for its effect to come and it to reach the best dose for you. if this is a cluster headache them also topamax should be relevant to prevent the attacks in you. Another entity is tension headaches, which differ from migraine in not being localized and not associated with neurological symptoms. This can be treated with over the counter analgesics, stress management and relaxation techniques.
Because im a severe migraine sufferer for 25 yrs, my neurologist had to put me on strong meds as over the yrs, ive tried topamax, imitrex, etc. So with his management for the last 10 yrs, ive been on demerol, butorphanol(Stadol), amyitriptiline and sleeping pills, the meds i take do help my migraines, but they never helped my back/neck. i go for massage therapy also. I hope its ok to give an update once i get the results.
Thank you again for your help.
they have done a spinal tap, m-r-i's, ct scans, they have done trigger point ingections, they have checked my sinuses and have put me on multiple meds. i dont know what to do. now they think i have sleep apnia and are going to do a sleep study...even if i do what will it help finding that out? its not stress and not my sinuses. do any of you know maybe what it is?
When used for an extended period, this medication may not work as well. Check with your doctor first for proper management. Take care and best regards.
Good morning, I read your post about acupuncture and migraines. I have been seeing a Pain Management doctor for a back injury for years acupuncture works well for pain management. A couple of times I have entered his office with a migraine and he place needles in my neck area, to try to releave the pain, it didn't work, since then I have been scared to let him try again. With my back and leg pain he is amazing. Both times the migraine was bad, had been active for over 12 hours.
I thought it was just because of the pregnancy but i only seem to get these certain symptoms with the pain. I had a CAT scan done back before I was put on Topamax but I am afraid the hospital I went to didn't do the CAT scan done right. They didn't use the contrast dye. Ive had a cat scan done before on my leg so was curious why they didn't. The hospital said they didn't see anything abnormal but I am starting to worry. What should I do??
I used to take Topamax for nerver pain, it was the only anti-seizure med that really worked well for the pain, and I had three attacks of kidney stones before I found out it was the Topamax causing them. I had to stop taking it, but was wondering if anyone else ever had this problem. I did a little research on it and in a small percentage of people it actually does do this, but my urologist only knew of one other person who took Topamax and had kidney stones.
The pins and needles is common for Topamax. You may eventually go to 100mg if it is helpful. Most medications can cause rebound headaches. If your migraines are only occassional, ask your Neurologist if you can try Maxalt MLT 10mg. It's fast acting but you will need to observe a strict protocol for usage to prevent rebound headaches.
Have you been able to ID your triggers?
Now you may have to go to pain management and try different classes of meds, some that can help dull the nerves a bit (gabapentin topamax, keppra) or other things that are narcotic or non narcotic. All have side effects and it takes some experimentation to figure out whic one or combo will work for you. Then there are the new tens type units that fit on the leg? I have not used them but that may help.
Pain is not fun and hard to find a solution. No one size fits all. Post back with progress!
t take it away completely but I am greatful it keeps it to a minumum. It also helps with the burning. Pain I can deal with for the most part but the feeling of fire within my body is not something I can deal with at all.
I started out on 75mg twice a day and increase to 3 times a day then it started getting out of control (the pain) and he increased it to 2 75 mg three times a day.
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