another visit to the dr. he said chronic and severe tension and migraine headaches.
he gave me topomax to take at night and something called imitrex to take during the day.
does anybody know anything about these two drugs?
from what i've read of the imitrex it has a lot of side effects that are absolutely scary.
he said the topomax will make me sleepy so that's good.
he also referred me to a neurologist.
Posted by agmorgan (Member # 36230) on :
I was on topomax for a couple of years for migraines (a low dose) and it did help. I think it has more side effects than imitrex. You can't just stop taking it, and once I got up to over 150 mg (still low I know) it made my face twitch. Though the doctors told me they had never heard of this. It's not a drug to play around with but it absolutely can help with migraines.
Imitrex never worked for me. I take Maxalt when I get a migraine and it's the only thing that works. I'm now off topomax as my headaches have been a whole lot better off gluten.
Good luck.
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
My migraines got so bad that I was having them 5-7days per week. Topamax helps tremendously. Now I only get a few per month. I take 100mg every night to prevent the migraines.
Imitrex works well when I have a break through migraine. When I first started taking the med I would wait too long until I had a full blown migraine headache. The Imitrex works better if you take it early before your headache gets bad. So take it as soon as you recognize the earliest symptoms.
These two meds changed the quality of my life, for the better. Hopefully you will notice a great improvement too.
And I had no noticeable side effects from either med.
Posted by imagine2 (Member # 3136) on :
Imitrex is one of my "best friends". I couldn't do without it. Agree with sammy to take it as soon as you feel a headache coming on.
Haven't taken Topomax.
I also do not have any side effects from Imitrex.
Posted by desertwind (Member # 25256) on :
I take Tomomax but only 12.5 mg.s That does nothing for my migraines cuz the dose is WAY too low, but it takes away my chronic flashing lights.
I have been on it now for about 4 years.
I get nasty side effects even at 25 mg.s. My NL wants me on 100mgs - no way.
I am supplementing 100mg.s of Neurontin at night and trying to get up to 300 mgs. That helps my occipital neuralgia and associated headaches in a BIG way. My scalp no longer hurts...
I have abortive PRN meds to take for the migraines when I feel one coming on, but need to take it as soon as I feel a migraine twinge.
Between the lyme related headaches and chiari headaches sometimes only a dark room and sleep does the trick and other times nothing but time works.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
FINALLY!!! Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
yep...now i have to make the appt with the neurologist. at least they told me "don't get so and so, she's not very popular so stay away from her".
i appreciated the heads up. don't need some prima donna...
i pick up the topomax at 3:30. and YES, it can cause weight loss.
i also ordered nutrisystem. hey, worth a shot. maybe i'll get to say "ain't it purty" like terry bradshaw.. gee, i love that man
i'm getting wider but no taller and that ain't good. my boobs enter the room before i do....
oh oh, that's not politically correct is it... ah well, that's me...
i'm tired of feeling lower than a snake's butt in a wagon wheel rut anyway..
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
I think the weight loss is one of the side effects if you take a higher dose. I didn't experience it... My dose is low.
My doctor did warn that it might decrease my appetite, because I have hypoglycemia I have to eat every couple hours whether I feel hungry or not.
Good luck on your new diet Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Woohooo on the Nutrisystem!! Ain't it purty!!
hey.. you could go see Dr M .. he's a neuro...
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
ah now, be nice...
i wouldn't take my dog to him and she's been dead four years!!!!
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
OMG!!! i just picked up the topamax and a side effect says this stuff can cause permanent vision loss.
egads...
should i be concerned?
i just finished reading about people who have gone blind from just one pill.
i'm not really sure i want to take this stuff. think i may hold off until i see the neurologist and get some tests run.
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
Usually they start you out on a very low dose like 25mg. It took me a month to work up to the 100my dose. (Keep in mind, some people take > 400mg per day for seizures)
I have a hard time believing that Topamax would cause blindness from taking one low dose pill. There has to be more to the story that is not being told.
There are other medicines that are commonly used to help prevent migraines if you feel uncomfortable trying Topamax.
My doctor prefers that you try Elavil first. I tried it and Elavil did not work for me. Thankfully Topamax helped tremendously! It was the second medicine that I tried and I'm sticking with it!
You may have to try a few medications to find what works for you. It's good to have a knowledgable doctor to guide you.
Relief from migraines is so sweet Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
Randi,
The best is a neuro that specializes in migraines/headaches, not just a regular neuro. But I realize you may be a long way from one. Check around though. There is a way to check; I'd have to look it up another time.
The Imitrex is only taken when you start to get a migraine, not every day (unless you are getting them every day).
Most of the meds we take have horrible possible side-effects. It doesn't mean that we will get all or even any of them.
It may take some trying of different meds to find the right ones and the right dosages, etc. for you with your drs help. More people find Maxalt the most helpful for an abortant (when you get a migraine), but different ones work better for different people. Imitrex is generic, but Maxalt is brand name only (but worth it in my book).
Posted by ESG (Member # 4816) on :
I just started Topamax in Nov.; my daughter has been on it for a few years. We both have Chronic Lyme. Topamax is great (a bit of a "happy pill")! It does not make us sleepy but it does allow us to sleep peacefully. My Lyme had me tossing & turning at night: no more, on Topamax! It also quiets the mind a bit, if you have a racing worrying mind.
As for appetite, well, maybe a little reduction, but don't expect miracles.
Do expect tingles (face, fingers, toes) & do expect to be eating more foods with Potassium to help with those tingles.
You should be instructed to build up slowly, 25mg per week to get to 100mg which is still a tiny dose; for seizures, it is a larger dose, divided between AM & PM: if it were a "sleeping pill". it would not be taken in the AM.
The other meds are for migraines when they occur - you will not need them soon, hopefully. But it does take a while for the Topamax to kick in - my neuro warned me it could take over a month.
I use what I used when I was teen for a migraine (I am now 60) and that is Midrin: it costs so little compared to Maxalt, which is outrageously priced & Midrin doesn't have all those scary warning either & never makes me feel as weird as my one trial of Maxalt did!
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