Anyone taking Topamax or Elavil??

[sunny78]

I have recently been diagnosed with migraines without headaches and my doctor wants me to start taking Topamax. I am a little worried about taking Topamax because I have heard that it has horrible side effects.

I heard Elavil also works to prevent migraines.
  
I was just wondering what other peoples experience was with either one of these drugs. Any input would be greatly appreciated!!

[strangecookie2]

Thanks for your comments, I really appreciate them.  I am still not feeling better.  According to my doctor her reasoning for changing the meds was because the pattern of my migraines has changed.  In the past my migraines would begin on the right side and go all around in a circle until they finally went away.  However these new migraines that I had been getting were not following the same pattern they were just staying on the back of my head.  She sent me to get an MRI (I have an appointment to review the results next week) and prescribed the Topamax.  Since she's the doctor I didn't even question her strategy I just went with it.  At my appointment I will ask my doctor why she didn't up my dose of Elavil since it had been working so good for more than two years.  Because I don't like this depressing mood. Again thanks for the information.

[LifesAHeadache]

This really bothers me.  By the way hope you are feeling better today.  Still burns the heck out of me.  10mg of Elavil is a baby dose - seriously.  If that amount worked for so long and after a time stopped working, why didn't the doctor first try upping your dose of Elevil a little.  Pediatric patients can take 50mg - Adults can take 100 mg a night or more - obviously depending on the person.  I am not a doctor but this is such common sense AND every accredited journal I have read says that if you have had success with an anitdeppresant regimen then at least stay with that line of meds first.  Why switch to anti-seizure meds?????  Is this because a drug rep stopped by this week???  Now, I truly apologize if you asked to be switched or wanted to try topamax.  Even so did the neurologist take the time to explain your options?  And yes, you are most likely experiencing mood change for one of two reasons, its either the your neurotransmitter reuptake kicking in now or you have a touch of depression and that dose of Elavil was keeping it in check.  I am not against Topamax, it helps a lot of people but I think patients have the right to be educated by the doctor who is prescribing them meds.  I don't know your whole story so I apologize and will step off my soapbox quietly if you give different information.  But if you want me to tell you or maybe doc G would want to step in and tell you some of your options.  Short answer - yep the mood changes are most likely from the weaning off - the depression may go away, stay the same or possibly increase.  Take Care.

[strangecookie2]

I have been suffering from headaches since I was 10 years old.  I was finally formally diagnosed and treated for migraines a two and half years ago.  My neurologist prescribed 10Mg of Elavil daily and I loved it!!  It completely changed my life.  From having at least 5 to 6 migraines a month, I only experienced at least 3 or 4 migraines during the two and a half years that I was taking Elavil.  During that time I did not experience any side effects or any weight gain.  
Unfortunately, last month my migraines relapsed and came back with a vengeance and my neurologist had to change my medication.  She started me on Topamax it was getting rid of my migraines but at the 75mg but I could not handle the side effects I was experiencing the tingling in my fingers, numbness on my toes, and face, loss of appetite which brought  some weight loss (which I am happy about).  So my neurologist decided to lower my dosage to 50mg a day and that seems to be working with the migraines and the side effects.  Right now I am

I am however, experiencing some mood changes or symptoms of depression is this normal has anybody else experienced this?  Could this be associated to the weaning off the Elavil?

[frankie1304]

Just remember everyone reacts differently to every medication. I have been on Topamax for about 7 months now and I will tell you I feel like it has saved my life. I was getting these horrible migraines that Imitrex was helping at first, but eventually could not help. Once I started taking Topamax I have only had one migraine and that was triggered because I was in a room where someone was wearing a very strong lavendar scent. I have experienced some tingling in my fingers and some weight loss (which I am happy about), but other than that there have been no ill side effects. My husband and I were concerned when I initially went on it because of the potential for the bad side effects so he "was on the look out", but thankfully they never came. Just keep your options open, do your research, and be sure your friends and family no what is going on so they can see warning signs if there are any ill side effects that you may not see.

Best of luck to you!!

[anom12]

I tried taking Topomax 2 different times in my life and both were awful!  I do not recommend this drug to ANYONE.  It has far worse side effects than benefits.  During both courses of taking Topomax, I had horrible mood swings and was a raging *****.  I'm normally pretty easy going, but I would snap like a twig at the littlest things.  I never felt like myself, I always felt a little drugged and sluggish.  I suffered through about 3 months of it both times and had to stop.
Also- if you are a girl, be careful about taking this with birthcontrol.  Read all the info that comes with the medication.
My migraines are awful, and when i had them, they were just as awful.  It didn't do much for my migraines, I didn't notice fewer of them or less intense migraines..nothing.  But I did notice all the side effects of the drug.
Of course, everyone is different, I would suggest trying it and tell the people close to you that you are taking it, if they tell you that your personality has changed, stop it.  My family and boss tried to suck it up and deal with my miserable attitude with the hope it would help my migraines....it was nice of them, but they eventually couldn't take it any more!!!

[andypants4]

my daughter and neice both used topamax and both felt loop.  They had a hard time concentrating in school (both are straight A students)  felt spacey so they both stopped using it.