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Topamax and weight loss
I have digenerative disc disease and my neirologist just prescribed topamax,
he said it would help with the pain and tingling but could result in weight loss.
I am wondering if prescribing topamax for ddd is common among neurologists? I can't seem to find any other information related to topamax as a pain med, only information I have is that it's a powerful drug with lots of side effects, most not so good.
The weight loss aspect is the only plus...also could this drug alter my brain function since I know it is used for bi-polar and seizure disorder... I'd like to know more about this med both from a neurologists view and from a weight loss specialists view. before I make a decision to take this medication
Thanks in advance for any/all responses
he said it would help with the pain and tingling but could result in weight loss.
I am wondering if prescribing topamax for ddd is common among neurologists? I can't seem to find any other information related to topamax as a pain med, only information I have is that it's a powerful drug with lots of side effects, most not so good.
The weight loss aspect is the only plus...also could this drug alter my brain function since I know it is used for bi-polar and seizure disorder... I'd like to know more about this med both from a neurologists view and from a weight loss specialists view. before I make a decision to take this medication
Thanks in advance for any/all responses
To Anyone,
I just started the drug today, 50 mg but after reading all these posts, I decided I can't take the risk of the eye or memory side effects. I was prescribed it for the horrible migraines I've had since I was 17, I'm now 51, can't risk the memory issues. I hope just taking 2 pills and stopping cold won't matter, it shouldn't right?
I just started the drug today, 50 mg but after reading all these posts, I decided I can't take the risk of the eye or memory side effects. I was prescribed it for the horrible migraines I've had since I was 17, I'm now 51, can't risk the memory issues. I hope just taking 2 pills and stopping cold won't matter, it shouldn't right?
Hi everyone,
Looking for some advice,
I'm in the UK where apparently not a lot is known about topamax so my gp is pretty much tied and just going with what the neurologist says. I started with daily headaches about 7 and a half months ago.
Been on the topamax 3-4 weeks now and seem to be having all the nasty side effects with none of the benefits. Have the tingling in my hands and feet. My face tingles, especially my lips and feels really sensitive, even my hair when it blows in the wind feels sore, I've reduced the dose slightly and that does seem to have to have helped. Think we went up the meds too quickly and was just too much for my body to handle. Had THE worst stomach pain I've ever had on Monday night, thought I was going to end up in hospital, I've never had a baby but could imagine it was worse than labour, thanfully it passed within about 20 minutes and touch wood I havent had it since then. All of this I could probably deal with if it was helping with the headaches but it's not, if anything I feel they're worse. I feel like I'm wearing a helmet thats 3 sizes too small for my head and is crushing my skull, a real pressure headache. It's not always that bad, usually on a night, from 5pm onwards but the last week it's never really gone away. I'm not convinced it's cluster migraines but have told we have to give the topamax 6-8 weeks before we can try something else.
So, my question really is when you all started on the topamax was the relief immediate or did it take months to have an effect?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.
Becky
Looking for some advice,
I'm in the UK where apparently not a lot is known about topamax so my gp is pretty much tied and just going with what the neurologist says. I started with daily headaches about 7 and a half months ago.
Been on the topamax 3-4 weeks now and seem to be having all the nasty side effects with none of the benefits. Have the tingling in my hands and feet. My face tingles, especially my lips and feels really sensitive, even my hair when it blows in the wind feels sore, I've reduced the dose slightly and that does seem to have to have helped. Think we went up the meds too quickly and was just too much for my body to handle. Had THE worst stomach pain I've ever had on Monday night, thought I was going to end up in hospital, I've never had a baby but could imagine it was worse than labour, thanfully it passed within about 20 minutes and touch wood I havent had it since then. All of this I could probably deal with if it was helping with the headaches but it's not, if anything I feel they're worse. I feel like I'm wearing a helmet thats 3 sizes too small for my head and is crushing my skull, a real pressure headache. It's not always that bad, usually on a night, from 5pm onwards but the last week it's never really gone away. I'm not convinced it's cluster migraines but have told we have to give the topamax 6-8 weeks before we can try something else.
So, my question really is when you all started on the topamax was the relief immediate or did it take months to have an effect?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.
Becky
I've lost 129 lbs. If you drink cokes, I'm a Texan so cokes means EVERY soda there is. I weighed 300lbs. I was drinking a 3 liter Coca Cola a day. I was not on Adderall yet. I sold my car, started eating nutritious food and walked or rode the bus. I still do. Now I have a bike. I've been on Adderall for 5 years. In 2011 I was down from 300 to 155 until a LAME *** DOCTOR put me on Lyrica. I gained 40lbs in a month. I've still not lost that. Last January I had gotten back up to 198. I am now at (or was on the 13th of last month) 171. I just saw an article in Health magazine about Topamax and phentermine. But since I'm on the Add I landed here @ this forum from Google. I've got Topamax and will start it today after reading all of these great posts. Wish me luck! My next dr. appt is on the 13th - next week. I'll let you know what the scale says.
Now about drinking the sodas: The minute I quit drinking them I dropped 30 lbs. And for ya'll that drink diet cokes - STOP NOW - studies have shown that people who drink diet weigh more than people who drink regular ones. The brain cannot tell sugar from artificial sweeteners. STOP PUTTING THOSE AWFUL CHEMICALS IN YOUR BODIES! I have one every now and then and I feel bloated and a FART ALOT.
I'll see ya next week with the 'Results Of The Scale'. Sounds like a soap opera doesn't it?
Now about drinking the sodas: The minute I quit drinking them I dropped 30 lbs. And for ya'll that drink diet cokes - STOP NOW - studies have shown that people who drink diet weigh more than people who drink regular ones. The brain cannot tell sugar from artificial sweeteners. STOP PUTTING THOSE AWFUL CHEMICALS IN YOUR BODIES! I have one every now and then and I feel bloated and a FART ALOT.
I'll see ya next week with the 'Results Of The Scale'. Sounds like a soap opera doesn't it?
Imitrex is not a preventive and you have to take it within 15 min of headache beginning, which sometimes is hard because you are not sure if it just a headache or a migraine. That being said I cannot take it anymore because it caused a migraine metamorphosis stroke, when I could take it it did wonders when I could take it on time,now I have to try and prevent them and topamax does not work for me, after ALOT of trial and error with my dr we finally found a combo that works for me the key is to narrow down what brings them on which for me is 1.stress and nerves followed by 2. different smells so my combo won't necessarily work for the next person, also with the way everybody has come down on dr.'s for certain meds it is hard to get one with an open mind. Which is because so many people abuse meds these days which makes it very hard and unfair for those of us who needs it
Imitrex is not a preventive and you have to take it within 15 min of headache beginning, which sometimes is hard because you are not sure if it just a headache or a migraine. That being said I cannot take it anymore because it caused a migraine metamorphosis stroke, when I could take it it did wonders when I could take it on time,now I have to try and prevent them and topamax does not work for me, after ALOT of trial and error with my dr we finally found a combo that works for me the key is to narrow down what brings them on which for me is 1.stress and nerves followed by 2. different smells so my combo won't necessarily work for the next person, also with the way everybody has come down on dr.'s for certain meds it is hard to get one with an open mind. Which is because so many people abuse meds these days which makes it very hard and unfair for those of us who needs it
I have been on Topamax on and off since Feb of 2011 I really have mixed feelings about it.
Pros:
Weight Loss: I started at 305 lbs, I am now at 240 and still dropping.
Headaches: Without it, I have almost constant head pain, on then, I am able to control the pain, even able to go some days without taking a narcotic.
Cons:
Memory issues: I have memory loops, sometimes I speak or even type like a broken record, so I have to read what I write before I press send because I have even typed things 2, even 4 times (like the same 4 exact words right in a row over and over again) and I do it when speaking too. So I have to be careful that my train stays on track because it derails VERY easily.
Taste: Sada tastes like someone vomited in it, right from the first pill and gets worse with each dose until by the second week, I can no longer stand it, I can't drink soda anymore. And GOD FORBID I grab the wrong cup (someone else's by mistake and grab a big swig of if, YUCK!!!)
Tingling: Hands, feet, face, especially my nose and lips.
Lightheadedness: this is the best I can do to describe it, though this is not exactly accurate. It is more like I am on a roller coaster at any one point in time and no one told me.
I go on and off of my Topamax as I can handle it, but my GP is aware of this fact, however. I LOVE my Mountain Dew, HOWEVER, I hate the headaches as equally as much as I love my Mountain Dew. If I could find a drug that I could drink my Mountain Dew on, yet be headache free on, I could compromise on the weight lose. Really I could, since that is just a happy bonus for me. When I am off of it for the 4-6 weeks that I take a Vaca from it, I still lose weight, just not as quickly. I think my body has adjusted to the new eating habits by now, since I was never really a big sweets fan to begin with.
By my big issue with the Topamax is not just with soda, it is ANYTHING carbonated. It does NOT taste flat, as some have stated, it tasted like someone vomitted in it. It is like taking a drink of soda after you have thrown up and you still have some vomit or stomach acid in your mouth. Like you are trying to wash that taste out, but that taste never goes away. Hubby even got a soda stream machine, thinking if he added carbonation using CO2 that it would work and I could drink THAT kind of soda. NOPE!!! Even that tastes off.
So, if anyone can think of a cure for this, I would be happy:(
Pros:
Weight Loss: I started at 305 lbs, I am now at 240 and still dropping.
Headaches: Without it, I have almost constant head pain, on then, I am able to control the pain, even able to go some days without taking a narcotic.
Cons:
Memory issues: I have memory loops, sometimes I speak or even type like a broken record, so I have to read what I write before I press send because I have even typed things 2, even 4 times (like the same 4 exact words right in a row over and over again) and I do it when speaking too. So I have to be careful that my train stays on track because it derails VERY easily.
Taste: Sada tastes like someone vomited in it, right from the first pill and gets worse with each dose until by the second week, I can no longer stand it, I can't drink soda anymore. And GOD FORBID I grab the wrong cup (someone else's by mistake and grab a big swig of if, YUCK!!!)
Tingling: Hands, feet, face, especially my nose and lips.
Lightheadedness: this is the best I can do to describe it, though this is not exactly accurate. It is more like I am on a roller coaster at any one point in time and no one told me.
I go on and off of my Topamax as I can handle it, but my GP is aware of this fact, however. I LOVE my Mountain Dew, HOWEVER, I hate the headaches as equally as much as I love my Mountain Dew. If I could find a drug that I could drink my Mountain Dew on, yet be headache free on, I could compromise on the weight lose. Really I could, since that is just a happy bonus for me. When I am off of it for the 4-6 weeks that I take a Vaca from it, I still lose weight, just not as quickly. I think my body has adjusted to the new eating habits by now, since I was never really a big sweets fan to begin with.
By my big issue with the Topamax is not just with soda, it is ANYTHING carbonated. It does NOT taste flat, as some have stated, it tasted like someone vomitted in it. It is like taking a drink of soda after you have thrown up and you still have some vomit or stomach acid in your mouth. Like you are trying to wash that taste out, but that taste never goes away. Hubby even got a soda stream machine, thinking if he added carbonation using CO2 that it would work and I could drink THAT kind of soda. NOPE!!! Even that tastes off.
So, if anyone can think of a cure for this, I would be happy:(
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