Side effects of topiramate????

[Luciarising]

Side effects of topiramate????

Hi Jeanieflan,
I noticed that funny girl didn't respond to your post nor mine-- maybe she doesn't get email notification. Anyway, I wanted to share with you the topa tiration schedule that was so sweetly sent to me by SunshineDaisies, that comes directly out of the book. She has started and stopped topa, and started it again, and says "Definitely follow this to begin with. Don't try and go faster thinking it will work quicker - it isn't worth it." My shipment just arrived today, and I'll be following it to the letter. The best online price I found was at 4rx. I got the 25 mg pills so that I can taper up. There's a warning not to cut up or crush larger dosage pills. Good luck to you!! AND THANK YOU FOR THIS SUNSHINE DAISIES!!!!!
Week Morning Dose Afternoon Dose
1 0 mg 1 x 25 mg

2 0 mg 2 x 25 mg

3 1 x 25 mg 2 x 25 mg

4 2 x 25 mg 2 x 25 mg

5 2 x 25 mg 1 x 100 mg

6 1 x 100 mg 1 x 100 mg

7 1 x 100 mg 1 x 100 mg
2 x 25 mg

8 1 x 100 mg 1 x 100 mg
2 x 25 mg 2 x 25 mg

9 - 12 all the same as week 8, giving you a total of 300 mg a day

[Luciarising]

Side effects of topiramate????

(I'M REPOSTING THIS BECAUSE THE FORMATTING ON MY FIRST RESPONSE MADE THE DOSING SCHEDULE ILLEGIBLE)

Hi Jeanieflan,
I noticed that funny girl didn't respond to your post nor mine-- maybe she doesn't get email notification. Anyway, I wanted to share with you the topa tiration schedule that was so sweetly sent to me by SunshineDaisies, that comes directly out of the book. She has started and stopped topa, and started it again, and says "Definitely follow this to begin with. Don't try and go faster thinking it will work quicker - it isn't worth it." My shipment just arrived today, and I'll be following it to the letter. The best online price I found was at 4rx. I got the 25 mg pills so that I can taper up. There's a warning not to cut up or crush larger dosage pills. Good luck to you!! AND THANK YOU FOR THIS SUNSHINE DAISIES!!!!!
WEEK1: Morning Dose 0 mg WEEK 1 Afternoon Dose 1 x 25 mg

WEEK 2:Morning Dose0 mg WEEK 2 Afternoon Dose2 x 25 mg

WEEK 3:Morning Dose1 x 25 mg WEEK 3 Afternoon Dose 2 x 25 mg

WEEK 4: Morning Dose2 x 25 mg WEEK 4 Afternoon Dose2 x 25 mg

WEEK 5: Morning Dose2 x 25 mg WEEK 5 Afternoon Dose 1 x 100 mg

WEEK 6: Morning Dose1 x 100 mg WEEK 6 Afternoon Dose 1 x 100 mg

WEEK 7: Morning Dose 1x 100mg & 2x25mg (total 150 mg) WEEK 7 Afternoon Dose: Same as morn.

WEEK 8: Morning Dose 1x100 mg & 2x25mg (total 150 mg) Week8 Afternoon Dose: Same as morn
WEEKS 9-12 all the same as week 8, giving you a total of 300 mg a day

[sunshinedaisies]

Side effects of topiramate????

You are more than welcome - thank you for posting it here!! It will be easier for others to find here too.

Hugs, Sun xx

[Luciarising]

Side effects of topiramate????

UPDATE ON TOPA SIDE EFFECTS: Today is (was, technically) 9/21 and I'm officially at the two week mark, and tapering up from 50 mg a day to 75 total. So, as I write this, I just realized that I accidentally started on 50 mg a day the first week, instead of 25, which might explain the side effects I was about to report-- About four days into taking topa, I noticed my hands getting numb and tingling. It felt like my hands had fallen asleep and were getting the sensation back. Kind of numb, kind of prickly. Not painful. It would usually start about an hour after I took a dose. It did get annoying, sometimes REALLY annoying, and sometimes I would forget and think my watch was too tight, or my sleeve. But, not a big deal, considering. I am happy to report that I noticed last night, that I have pretty much not had the tingling sensation in about 4 days, even though I'm still consistently taking the topa, and at a higher dose than when the side effects were at the worse, the first week. I haven't had ANY forgetfulness, sleepiness or other negative side effects.
Positive-- I noticed TWICE now that it took me about an hour or more to finish a 22 oz can of Fosters beer, which usually I down in about 20 minutes. Also, I haven't had my usual sugar cravings. I did down a bottle of wine one night, but it was more out of anger than out of any craving for alcohol.

[sunshinedaisies]

Side effects of topiramate????

Hi Lucia - I was thinking, you should come and join us on the other Topa thread that seems to be going well - there are quite a few that have recently started and a few oldies - and then there is me who has restarted after having a HUGE slip and drinking and starting back at 25 mg! poor you taking too much - no wonder you had such bad tingling. Great that your beer consumption is going down - you need to let the others know - we need all the positive help we can get! it is good for all of us to know how others are doing on it, so if you want to, please post on the other thread - it is the one called "new here and starting Topa" which is good as new folk join in and want info so anyone that has been on it for any time, can help others!

Great to hear that you are doing so well - keep posting won't you.

Hugs, Sun xx

[airam]

Side effects of topiramate????

Hi Lucia!

I'm also not having too many bad SE from topa.
I'm now on my 5th week 150mg. A ltttle tingling, a little sleepiness.
I'm still drinking, but A LOT less than a month ago when I started the Topa.

[2Run]

Side effects of topiramate????

Feedback on Topa SEs

Hi Lucia! I second what Sun said -- come join us on the other thread!!
I'm currently on 100mg, week 4.
SEs are a lot of tingling, mostly in my feet. Doesn't really bother me a lot though.
Weeks 1 - 2 I had big time topa dopa but that went away by week 3 (75mg).
Week 1 trouble sleeping, jittery during the day.
Week 4 (100mg) heartburn big time, especially in the wee hours of the night when I'm lying down.
Weeks 1 - 4 general sleepiness and the occasional headache. Missed words here and there and sometimes slur words. VERY thirsty, especially in the first 2 weeks. Have had it effect my appetite and desire for AL but not on a consistent basis.
I am a runner and haven't noticed it effecting my runs at all.

Glad you're doing so well!!

[Luciarising]

Side effects of topiramate????

Hey, Sunshine Daisies!! I don't know why I didn't see any of these threads posted to my emails. I"ll post on the other thread!! Lots to post. Don't have time right now! But later... . Glad I checked in.

[Luciarising]

Side effects of topiramate????

And 2 Run I just saw your post too... very helpful. Thank you!!!! Check in later.

[Luciarising]

Side effects of topiramate????

Okay, so I'm going to switch over to the new/other thread topa folks are on: "NEW HERE AND STARTING TOPA", but I just wanted to post one last update on this thread on the side effects.

SO THESE ARE SIDE EFFECTS at 100mg which is 1/3 of the eventual dosage recommended. Keep in mind I accidentally did not follow the tiration schedule, and so the side effects were probably really severe because of this. I ACCIDENTALLY DOUBLED THE DOSE FROM ONE WEEK TO THE NEXT, AND I HAD ALREADY STARTED ON TOO HIGH A DOSE. (50mg to 100mg instead of 50mg to 75mg within the first 3 weeks- yikes!)

So I went from having a few annoying side effects (tingling hands) at 50mg the first week, to the Side effects I'll list below that began effecting me very quickly after I increased the dosage to 100mg. (After correcting my mistake these side effects have almost completely disappeared- in about a week or less, still on topa but on 50mg at night only). Also there was a HUGE positive improvement in my drinking behavior at 100mg, which I'll describe below too.

THINKING AND FOCUS: I had MAJOR word recall problems. Literally could not recall specific words. Also I was having difficulty organizing and categorizing thoughts and ideas, and verbalizing them, formally or even to friends--which is something I routinely do with ease, and HAVE to do in my work. I would lose my train of thought VERY easily. There is no way I could have done any kind of public speaking or group facilitation work with my brain in this state. Luckily, I came back to normal pretty quickly after I realized my mistake and lowered the dosage to 50mg 1x a day.
PHYSICAL: MAJOR numbness and tingling in hands. A little in arms, feet, and face. No sleepiness or fatigue. A little heartburn a couple of times. Constant slight headache, which goes away with ibuprofen.

I am going to try the 75 mg dose see how that works out. 50 mg seemed to have minimal SE and positively affected my AL consumption, so if nothing else I'll stick with that. It wasn't the miracle that the 100mg was as far as the sudden (and unexpected) change in my drinking behavior, but it was a noticeable improvement.

VERY POSITIVE EFFECTS AT100 mg-- I drove to a party, with an overnight bag, fully expecting to drink heavily and spend the night so I wouldn't drive home drunk. SHOCKER: In 4 hours I consumed 1 Corona beer, LESS THAN 4 oz of wine and a few sips of a margarita (usually all this is what I consume in the first 1/2 hour or less). I had a full glass of wine sitting next to me when we started cleaning up the party, and I decided to dump it so I could help clean up and drive home. I was not even a little bit buzzed. I poured myself a glass of wine when I got home, but lost interest and never ended up drinking it. I went out with friends 2 or 3 times, to bars, and drank 1 or 2 beers. Period. Like a normal drinker. I am hoping for the same effect at 75mg, without the crazy side effects of the 100. I can't imagine how anyone can taper all the way up to 300mg.
100 mg DEFINITELY works to COMPLETELY curb ANY desire to over/binge drink for me. TOPA is HUGE discovery for me, and worth being patient with if I can manage to eventually minimize the mental side effects.

HOPE THIS IS HELPFUL TO ANYONE LOOKING FOR INFO LIKE I WAS!!! I'M VERY VERY HOPEFUL ABOUT TOPA, AND I'LL KEEP POSTING HOW I'M FEELING THE SIDE EFFECTS, AND IF THEY GET BETTER/WORSE ETC! GOOD LUCK!!

[metalmel10]

Side effects of topiramate????

I am on 75mg of topamax and and and have only had three had 2 standarded drinks in 7 days. Which is a mirarcle, but I am forgetting everyday worday words and am starting to cry alot and fight with my family. I am not on an antidepressent. Is this a side affect? I thought I was getting frustrated because I couldn't remember the names of things anymore but its been over a week now and I am just start to cry when its right at the front of my brain and its like people just assusume im drunk. Help.

[Topsy-Turvy-Tracy]

Side effects of topiramate????

Topa really messed with my thought processes. The thing that really spooked me was that, as a post-menopausal woman, I suddenly had a period. Freaked me out. I talked to Roberta and she said that it might be the Topa since it can affect oral birth control, so does have some kind of hormonal effect. I might have stayed on it despite being afraid of the hormonal stuff, but I also write for a living for two small papers. The effect didn't just affect my writing time, but my ability to interview people, track conversations - it's really hard to describe how it messed up my mind but the bad effects seemed to center around language and tracking. I felt depressed too but couldn't tell what was causing what. I never quit drinking but for days, maybe a couple weeks, at a time anyway, so I went off it. I felt like a failure because it had worked for so many other people here, so it felt like I was the cause of the failure. Still, I was happy to be off it and somewhat in command of my own brain again, if that makes any sense.

[Topsy-Turvy-Tracy]

Side effects of topiramate????

Metal, you might want to look into an anti-depressant, and there are natural remedies too that Roberta recommends. Sometimes life is just difficult, and I've been known to cry watching commercials when times are tough. When you say that "people just assume I am drunk" do you mean people think that when you cry; or do you cry because they think that due to topa-dopa SE?

Anyway, please hang in there! You'll find you're way through, one way or another - this is just a bump in the road. Maybe you could knock back to 60 and see if you feel any better?

[Luciarising]

Side effects of topiramate????

Okay, so maybe I'll check both threads because this is one is really useful and interesting too!

METAMEL- I know EXACTLY what you mean with the words being right there, and you just can't remember them-- this is extremely frustrating. I had a good idea of what it must be like to be in the early stages of alzheimers and how scary and frustrating that must be.
QUESTION-- what time of day are you taking the 75 mg, and is it with or without food? ALSO, I AGREE 100% that you should consider an anti depressant if you are having these side effects. Drinking can be a coping tool to deal with depression, and when you aren't self medicating with alcohol, it's possible some of the feelings are starting to surface for you. I started an anti-depressant at the same time as topa, and it may be why I have had no depression AT ALL. I actually feel totally productive, positive, motivated etc-- better than ever. I've been going to the gym every day, and have significantly (and effortlessly) reduced my use of sugar. Considering the severity of the other side effects I experienced, this is incredible for me.

TT TRACY-- I know EXACTLY what you're talking about. as far as ability to interview and track conversations. The week around when I had the worst effects I was getting ready to be on the receiving end of interviews, and it was really scary. In my work I have to do motivational interviewing, and do a lot of information gathering, investigation and writing. I recently got laid off from my job, but I've been interviewing for new ones, and so they interview to see how strong these skills are. IMAGINE what that was like, thinking I was going to go in IN THAT STATE OF MIND. I had managed to decrease the worst of the side effects by the first interview (I didn't get the job) and had them pretty much under control for the next one, though not completely. I was in such a panic that I had a friend interview me two days before, and her feedback was that I appeared to be completely confident, competent and intelligent, even though I was totally freaking out, and I was still having trouble tracking/thinking etc. SO YOU'RE STILL ON IT... how is that going-- how are the side effects, how are you spacing the dosage and are you taking it with/without food? I've read some posts that it seems to make a difference. Also, it looks like from what 2RUN posted like with time the side effects become lessened-- is that normal? Have you heard anything about that?

[metalmel10]

Side effects of topiramate????

Thankyou so much everyone. I am new to this and didnt even know how to get back to this thread or anything. I only found it again by accident. could any body pm me with how to keep track of my post and replies and post etc. so i can store advice please?