Topomax and Headaches/Chronic Daily Headaches

[PinkPatty]

Hi.  I've been on Topomax 125 mg. for almost 6 months now.  I have much less migraines than before but I still have chronic daily headaches.  Does anyone else have daily headaches?  I've asked my neurologist about increasing my dosage to see if it would help with the daily headaches but he's hesitant due to kidney stones and other side effects.  I feel better on Topomax than I did before and can handle the side effects I've had.

The first time I tried Topomax, 2 years ago, I tried 50 mg. and went off of it due to the side effects.  I had the bad taste from soda and many foods, terrible memory for words, etc.  This time I didn't get the bad taste effect, and the memory problems got better when I increased the dosage.  I think my body got used to it.  I sleep better on the higher dose than I did on the lower dose also.

I've lost almost 30 pounds which is great and think much less often about food than I did before.  Didn't start losing weight until the dosage hit 100mg.

I'd love to hear about anyone else who suffers from headaches in addition to migraines.  I was getting a few migraines a week, now don't get any, occasional visual migraines, now don't get any.  But am still getting chronic daily annoying headaches.

Thanks for the info.

Patty

[tufmama]

I have been taking 100 mg of topamax am and pm for over a year. I find that it takes the edge off of my 24 year old chronic daily headache. I also lost over 25 lbs. when I started taking it and have a very diminished appetite still. I have had absolutely no side effects from the medication.I do not take ant other pain meds as they do not work.

[Nikki1381]

Hi. I have been on Topamax since 1/4/08. This is my second try on it. The first time, my dr. put me on too high a dose and the side effects almost got me fired! I was so loopy, my boss thought I had lost my mind. For two years, I have tried Elavil, 4 blood pressure prevent's, and all of the anti-convulsants. Nothing has worked, so I agreed to try Topamax again. This time, my dr. increased more slowly. I am at 75 mg right now. I still have chronic daily pain and pressure in my right temple. My migraines seems to have just..changed. You mentioned that food and things taste different? I haven't experienced this. I do have the usual-tingling in my feet/fingers, stomach hurts all the time, tired, feel a bit spacey, and when I increased to 75 mg I started having difficulty breathing.  I have also been taking Neurontin for about 2 years, on and off. Don't really think it does anything for the migraines. Hard to tell sometimes..

[PinkPatty]

Where do you get peppermint oil?  Is it sold at the grocery or do you get it at a store like Whole Foods?  Do you just put it directly on your skin?  How much?

Thanks, I'll try it - I'll try anything at this point.

[PinkPatty]

HI.  Thanks for the info.  You said the weight loss became uncontrollable after a while, did it become a problem?  I've not gotten to the point where I've lost that much, but I just don't think about food that much and it's a welcome change.  

I know about rebound headaches but had never heard of Topomax having a rebound problem.  I don't take much else for the headaches and if I do, I don't take it often so I don't get into that at all.  I used to feel that I often would get into the rebound problem.  I did try going off of everything for a few months but I was miserable, almost bed ridden with migraines and chronic headaches.

I've also been on allergy shots which may be helping a bit.  I never had allergies before but moved to KY and when these terrible headaches became chronic I went to an allergist and I'm allergic to pollen, mold, all the trees and grasses here.  

I was wondering lately if my topomax dosage needed to be increased because my headaches have been getting worse, but I've been more stressed than usual and had just stopped my allergy shots so I'm not sure if one of those is also adding to the headaches.

[Buttercuppy]

try peppermint oil!! it really works no lie! I've tried every migraine medicine out there along with all the preventative ones and none have really worked permanently. Last night I had a pretty bad migraine and i put some peppermint oil on my forehead and neck and within 15 minutes it was gone. it's worth a try

[pinkhope]

I was on topomax for approx 6 years.  It did help for a while, but eventually the doses needed to be increased.  The side effects came slowly and after awhile were not worth the pain and complications that evolved.  The weight loss was great at first, but it became uncontrollable after awhile.  I have been off of Topomax and all migraine meds for almost a year now and have never felt better.  Sometimes it is good to talk with your Doctor and just regroup and get all the meds out of your system.  Rebound headaches are very common with so many medications we take to get rid of the headaches.  A lifestyle change and eating habits have been a big help also.  It is worth a try, nothing feels better than a clear head and a life worth living!  I know the pain of migraines and never want to go back!

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

Yes, the main reason is the long term side effects of the drug and kidney stones may be one of these.You may be tapered off gradually from the drug until the least dose that can control your headaches is achieved. You may be maintained on a lower dose than necessary .Do not increase or abruptly stop the drug without informing your physician prescriber.

[PinkPatty]

Hi.  

Yes, my physician has discussed tapering me off and wants me to try going off Topomax.  I'm hesitant because I feel much better on it than I have in quite a while.  Is there any real reason why I would have to go off of it?  On the occasions when I've forgotten to take a dose, I've had a bad headache the following day, I'd rather stay on it.  I'm also worried that I'll gain back the weight I've lost since I began taking it.

I have heard of many people who take much more of it than I do and many are on it for longer than I've been on it.  The main thing he mentioned was kidney stones.  If there are no signs of problems with this, why go off of it?

Thanks.

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

It is good to hear that the medication hs given you a degree of improvement. Migraines are quite complex and though medications are given , they may only be able to alleviate the headaches at a certain degree. Are you being closely monitored by your physician ? Has she recently increased the dose of your medication?If you have been taking the topamax for about 6 months now , has your physician discussed with you tapering your target daily dose?

Adjunct therapy such as acupuncture, yoga and other relaxation techniques are usually beneficial for migraineurs.Maintain regular meal and sleep schedules, avoiding caffeine, and daily regular exercises will be able to help.You may discuss with your physician other medical therapy that may be used together with your current medications.

[nurpain]

when i started an increase in topomax about two months ago i also believed this would be my cure but the increase however did not help me at all for a long time i was taking topomax 10 mg. and the increase to 200 mg did not help me. i hope it helps you.