Topamax and stress

I have been taking topamax for five months now. My friends and family have been so worried about me that they have accused me of doing hard drugs. I thought that some of the side effects I was experiencing were from stress in my life. I am a 26 year old girl who has battled migraines since puberty. Now I have about half my hair left, acne like you have never seen before, ( I have never ever had acne in my life!), depression, high levels of anxiety, and my vocabulary has shortened to that of a 6th graders. I have always been a thin girl, usually around 125 and I am 5'8. At this point, you can count every bone in my body, see every vein. it's pretty discussing. I am going to wean of 25 milligrams a week, and deal with my migraines in a different way, so that I can become the person I once was.

I was given a free sample of Topamax to help with neuropathy, but while I still feel the neuropathy pain, I have so many side effects. It's been several weeks, and family members are concerned with the changes in my behavior and ability to function. My wife is afraid to let me drive, and worries about my performance at work - the stress is hard on me.

I've had severe moments of panic, agitation, rage and thoughts of suicide.

Since I can't tell that it's really treating the pain, I want off of this medication.

I had what I thought was a sinus infection for three months, I was treated with various antibiotics and Prednisone. Finally a CT Scan was done and I had clear sinuses. I was having pain/tingling under my eyes, extreme tension in my cheeks, jaw, neck and shoulders. It turned out that I was having "involuntary muscle contractions" related to the medication. I had to take muscle relaxers for several days after getting off Topamax. It has been 3 months since I've been off and I am still having some tingling/discomfort under my eyes. I am seeing a neurologist soon to see if this is permanent nerve damage.

I have been on Topamax for several years now for crippling migraines. I now take 125 mg at bedtime. I once tried to take myself off of it but, the headaches came back worse than ever So... I went back on. some say that it works because migraines are like a type of seizure. I sure don't know but I'll do anything not to have them like I used to. Recently at night my arms and legs get numb; sometimes one side sometimes both sometimes all I feel is my trunk. It is really scary, but more scary for me is the headaches with the intense nausea that accompanies them. You just can't function. Lately I also feel very tired too! Every one tells me it is just stress from work and "perimenopause" (just what I need more hormonal fluctuation to cause headaches) I really wonder if all this increased fatigue could also be the Topamax ... I mean I could easily sleep 11 hours per night if you let me! Has this happened to anyone? Did perimenopause complicate your treatment?

I am a 35 year old female.I have been taking Topamax 100mg for over a year now, I went from weighing 155 down to 125 and my migraines have decreased a lot.I still get some but I will take a Maxalt as back-up and it takes it right away. I do believe I have become a bit crabbier though as people have told me that I'm not as fun as I used to be-more moody, but I'm not sure that may just be me-stress and all.Even if it was a side effect I don't think I would trade it back for the migraines EVER!! My memory is shot too- Ugh!

I have been on Topamax since October of 2007. I currently take 150 mg (split in AM and PM) for migraines. The drug is working wonderfully for the migraines but I am finding that I cannot do my job anymore due to the side effects and am not considering filing for disability. I am so fatigued all the time I literally cannot keep up with my work load. I have the tingling in my feet and hands, the funny taste of soda, the forgetfulness, and the "cannot find the word" thing. But the biggest problem is just that I cannot get everything done that I used to be able to get done due to plain old fatigue. I am so tired all the time. I find myself crying all the time due to constant stress of not being able to do what I used to. It took me a while to admit to myself that I couldn't to it anymore ( that nasty ego was in the way) but I finally had to admit that I couldn't keep up like I did before I was on the Topamax. I don't want to give up the Topamax and go back to the daily migraines and if I find a different job I lose all my retirement. I'm a teacher so I don't get any social security so my only alternative is to go for disability due to my having to take Topamax. I may have to hire an attorney to help me but after fighting migraines and trying to work my entire life, I surrender.

I am going to begin taking 25 mg of Topamax at bedtime tonight. After reading all of these posts I am a scared. I was prescribed Topamax for bipolar disorder. I am currently taking Lamictal as well. I always gain weight on psychotropic drugs and need to lose about 15 lbs (all of which I have gained over the course of being on Lamictal). Any who-my psychiatrist said that this medication may help counteract the weight gain I have experienced. Although I do not consider my self an overeater now. I do hope that it helps me to not like the taste of sodas though. I am addicted to Mt. Dew and caffeine, which I wouldn't mind stopping. Anyway, I am supposed to increase my dosage by 25mg per week until I reach 75mg per day. I am also supposed to go back and see my doctor before I increase the dosage beyond 75mg. I just hope I do not have the horrible side effects I have read here. Some of them I know I can deal with especially if they are temporary but the anxiety/depression/shortness of breath/lack of energy/morbid thoughts are the main ones that concern me. My psychiatrist said that with this medication I should drink plenty of water. He said that it could cause headaches and other side effects if I'm not sure to drink plenty of fluids with this medication. So, I am planning on hydrating myself really well today before taking it this evening. I'll post back and let you know how the side effects are going. Is anyone else on a combination of Lamictal and Topamax or on it for bipolar disorder? I'd like to hear more of your experiences.

I too was given topamax for my seizures and migraines. First side effect was the pins and needles in my hands and feet. Then the real horror started. I lost weight because I couldn't remember to eat. Then I couldn't remember anything-I would walk into a room and not remember how to leave. After about year of mental erasure, my family begged me to get off it. My doctor kept saying it was stress-his standard response.It's been two years now and there has been some improvement but no where near what I was before I started.I take no meds now, I still have seizures but they are easier to recover from than the meds!!

Hi,
Doc put me on Topamax for PTSD due to MVA. I am at 200 mg and having tingling in fingers and acrid taste in my mouth. Thinking I might stop taking it and just suffer the anxiety and stress. As others, I have lost some weight with the drug, in weighing the pros and cons guess I will check with my doc and see if he can reduce the dose. I was having trouble sleeping and getting flashbacks of the accident and the Topamax has helped but I really don't like the side effects. Best of Luck to all.

topamax- started 2months ago...the sinus trip is unbearable! i always sound like i have the flu! haven't lost a pound and i am craving sweets like crazy. i hate the tingles everywhere! the thirst is unquenchable. i feel like i am suicidal. i hate my husband when i use to love him. i am also on effexor er 300 mgs topamax 200mgs ....i have now decided to go off ALL of these drugs. iwas first put on them when my mom died because of anxiety.......then when my daughter went to jail. more stress....more drugs....zoloft...attempted suicide....effexor er...for the pass 4 yrs...i am no longer suicidal..i am at peace with my moms death. my daughter has grown up and has stated a family of her own with her husband .... do i really think i need to be on these drugs any more???? nope! comin down the hard way starting tomorrow...need encouragment people! drudogs