I am having a bad day with having conversations with people. I am having a hard time pulling words and sentences from my brain. How many of you have been on topamax and had this same feeling. I have been on topamax for 8 years. My doses have ranged from 400 mg. twice a day to what I am on now 200 mg. twice a day. Sometimes I really hate what this drug does to me but it works for migraines so well that I don’t want to come off of it. They have tried other preventatives and they don’t work. I just really hate these days because my big fear is, is there permanent damage to my brain.
Hi Lena -
I have been on Topamax for almost a year. I take it for migraine prevention. My dosage is 50mg twice a day. If it doesn't hold off a migraine, I take Maxault MLT 10mg. The Maxault does the trick in about 15-30 minutes.
I did not have any memory issues while taking Topamax and I'm still taking the meds now. However, I was taking a medication for my TN that caused a HUGE problem with my memory and my neurologist prescribed Namenda for me. It's a medication that is given to Altzheimers patients to help them with clarity of thinking. When I was on it, I most definitely noticed an improvement in my memory and so did my husband.
Eventually, I was able to go off the main medication that caused my memory issues in the first place and then was taken off the Namenda, and I have been able to maintain my good, normal memory.
I understand your frustration with medications, pain, and memory issues. Have you mentioned your fears to your neuro or to your primary care doctor? You might feel better if you do.
I hope this helps you a little bit. I know that finding your migraine triggers is what's going to help you the most, so keep looking for that gem of information.
I wish you well,
Barbara
Hi Lena.
We had quite a discussion a few months back - maybe Dec or Jan about this exact subject. Most people were of the opinion that it is from the Tegretol not the Topomax. As for me I am both so who knows what causes it.
I know exactly what you are referring to. The foss of very easy words is quite embarrassing. I think you should look up this discussion from a few months ago. There were over 30 posts if I remember correctly!
topamax has a profound effect on a person's ability to find words or "word search." 800mg of topamax is really pushing the proverbial envelope. permanent damage to the brain is not likely, but there can be a negative effect on your kidneys and vision. talk to your doctor about a kidney check up every now and again. have regular eye exams to rule out glaucoma. these are rare side effects but real; ones every doctor should counsel their patients about.
i am not a doctor. speak to your physician about what i have said here.
vesper
Lena
Thought about this for a bit. When you said 400-200mg x 2/day I was thinking Tegretol. Wow! That is a high dose. I also had been getting bad migraines even on Tomopax (100mg/day). My doctor gave me Metopropol (sp?) 12.5mg x 2/day and it has been a miracle. Barbara is on Maxault. I suggest looking into other treatments for migraine because there are others out there without these side effects.
Elaine
Elaine I have never heard of Metopropol. I will have to remember that when they take me off of topamax.