Topamax? Or Tramadol?

[Givenstrength]

They discontinued my midrin! It's not like it helped 100% but still it was enough to lessen or take away the throbbing!
So my dr called in Tramadol for me to pick up tomorrow but I'd like some insight! I heard BAD things about this med and how it is so easy to get addicted to and also that it can make it hard for you to go to sleep or stay asleep, has anyone had this problem? I already jave problems with sleeping so dont need that to get worse! Has anyone taken Tramadol? Does it help with headaches, pressure and throbbing? What about neck and back pain? What's your worse side effect?

What about topamax? I heard some good some bad and was wondering how many of you are on topamax for headaches? I don't have seizures so would this med even be an option? Does it help with your head/neck pain?

Thanks for any and all advise!

[*Stormy*]

Hi

What do you mean by "made me stupid"? I assume that you mean that you couldn't think straight while on it? I am thinking of trialing Topomax soon...but I got that "stupid" feeling when I was on GABA and I couldn't stand it.

I appreciate any insight you can give me :)

*Stormy*

[thestolenolive]

Tramadol is my friend.  Topamax made me stupid.

[ssparklers26]

I found tramadol did nothing for my pain. I still have some and still take one now and then hoping it will help and it never does. Best of luck.

[Givenstrength]

Yea I hear ya Carolyn... Same for me!

Actually Tramadol is addicting... It's on my rx label papers and plus I searched Tramadol in the forum before filling it and wow at the number of people on medhelps addiction forum talking about how they are addicted to Tramadol! Kind of scary!
But everyone is different so...

[*Stormy*]

Well I guess like sleepypea says...we are all different. Believe or not, I suffer great side effects from tylenol 3's just from the codeine and I do know people that have developed an addiction to it (but I'm not sure if it is the same thing as Ultram). Unfortunately, I am a very susceptible person to drugs...which does make me a little scared to try Topomax. However, most of the people I have spoken to have told me that Topomax has had little side effects for them. Which just really pushes the point that we all have to be aware of what is going on with our bodies as we trial meds... I admit that is hard b/c when you look at all of the side effects...a lot of them I already have!!

[lu7997]

Tramadol addicting?  Really.  It is such a weak narcotic.  Ultram is givin in place of Tylenol for moderate pain.  It isn't ever used for severe.   I just can't imagain it being addicting.  There is very little side effects to it as well.  


Topamax on the other hand has major sideeffets. Many of which mimic chiari symptoms. It may be hard to tell what causes them the meds it the condition.  

[sleepypea]

I took tramadol for years and it did help me to a point. As far as being addictive. Everyone is different but for me after I quit taking it I had a few withdrawl symptoms for about a week. Kinda like flu symptoms (chills, brain zaps...) But nothing that I couldn't get through on my own. It will cause what I call a "tramadol headache" which is its own type of headache probably a rebound headache, but a headache non the less!!
Like I said It did help my pain but not my headache. I now take Panlor SS and it really seems to help take the edge off but nothing really works!!

[Givenstrength]

Thanks guys! I was rx hydrocodones a while back to but don't think I can take them and Tramadol. I went ahead and got the Tramadol and tried it today and it's a definite NO for me! It just made my headache worse and instead of just back of head pain it was all over... Made my tongue feel fat, slurred words and just made me feel worse period!
So guess I'll be making an appt to see about switching me to topamax! Hope he does! Thanks all for the comments

[pamk5]

I have taken Tramadol and it didnt help me alot.  Everyone is differentand it may work for you.  I didnt have any relief with Midrin either.  I have never had Topamax but a friend of mine who has Fibromyalgia swears by it.  The thing that has helped me the most I think are beta blockers to lessen the frequency and intensity of the headaches.  I was actually given this for POTS but it does seem to be helping me have fewer headaches as an added bonus.  For the headaches I do get most of the time hydrocodone will at least knock them down.  

I hope this helps.

Pam

[youngwife]

I have a daughter that has used Topamax with success.  It really helped her to not wake up with tons and tons of pressure in her head.  The one draw back for her was that she couldn't take it with a muscle relaxer or else her heart rate would do weird things.

HTH!

Rebecca

[*Stormy*]

I haven't tried Tramadol so I don't have too much insight there but I have heard some things about Topomax and I am probably going to be trialing it myself soon.

I know this lady who had the surgery about 15 years ago and since then she has been dealing with chronic pain. She has been through all the drugs (lyrica, Gaba, Ami) and she told me that it is the only one that worked for her. However, she is using it more for musculoskeletal pain...but I have heard from others that it does work for headaches and pressure too. She told me the only side effect she has from it is that she is a bit tired and gets a dry mouth. The drowsiness doesn't affect her daily life though.

A lot of seizure meds are used for other issues, usually they are just given in a smaller amount. Gaba is a seizure medication...but like I said they use it in high doses to treat seizures.

Again, she told me that it helps with her neck, arm and leg pain...so I figure it's worth a try. I will let you know when I get on it if it helps at all.

Carolyn