Topamax Side Effect

Hi folks~
I am into my 3rd month on Topamax and I am happy to say that it is definitely helping the migraines! Although I have a pretty bad one right now, in general, I am able to do more than I have in years and am down to maybe 1-2 managable mild migraines per week and always a bad one during my menstrual cycle - from having daily headaches for the past several years.

This is amazing. Most of the side effects seem to be pretty minimal and tolerable; some cognitive, some tingling (no real weight loss yet (bummer), but I am only on 50mg....)

However, I am having upper GI/digestive pain and an exacerbation of previous GERD problems. I have a tendency to have GERD and upper GI discomfort, though previous endoscopies were always normal. But in the past few weeks (since I upped my dose?), it has gotten much worse and I wonder if anyone else has had that side effect with Topamax.

I'd hate to stop the Topamax because of this and I really don't want to start taking more drugs to offset the side effects of drugs (i.e. Prilosec etc..) I am trying some natural things like Aloe Juice, fresh cabbage juice, licorice root and other things that I know help, but I am curious if this has affected anyone else in this way.

I'd love to hear anyone else's experiences....
Thanks,
Jane

I have not had any GERD problems with Topamax (I've been on it for 1.5 years). I don't remember that being one of the side effects.

It could be something other than Topamax causing it. Just a thought.

Angela

I dont know what GERD refers to. I am on 100mg of topomax a day though.

AB it is an anacronym for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Not used that much in the UK. We just tend to say Reflux.

P

Oh, thanks, Pen. Just Bubbs is fine if you don't mind. When you use AB I don't know who you mean, no one calls me that. Thanks.

I don't get that as a side effect, Jangel, that I've noticed. I'll keep an eye out for it though!

Sorry Bubbs. BTW could I ask where that nick comes from....I am intrigued.

I had horrible stomach pain on topomax. I couldn't eat anything but rice and miso soup the whole time I was on it. Terrible.

Although, if I had the results you did, I might have stuck with it!

Mary Anne

I am trying low dose topamax (15mg) and have noticed some stomach troubles. I take it at night but it's made me uncomfortable enough that I can't sleep on my stomach.

I've tried it before with a similar effect and Depakote did the same thing as well. Darn it! Went to the store today and forgot to pick up Tums (Ca carbonate). Before taking OTC on it - check with the doctor or pharmacist. I don't know if all anti-convulsants have issues with the tummy meds or just depakote but omeprazole was the only thing I could take with that.

Becky

As a side note the tingles are from potassium deficiency since Topamax depletes it very quickly. A cheap easy way to get a very high dose of potassium is the low sodium V-8 juice. It has about 800mg per 8oz which is more then the average potato gives you. Adults need 3500mg of it a day and most of us are already deficient so it doesn't take long for Topamax to drop it very low.

If it gets too low you will start to get an irregular heart beat or even cardiac arrest.

My experience with Topamax was nothing short of a complete nightmare. It was by far the worst mig med I was given. But I was taking 100 and when I hit 150 all hell broke loose.

So be very aware of it if you get the dose increased.

I have no experince of Topomax, sorry, but I am on another anti-convulsant (Neurontin) and this does not give me any stomach upsets.

Senna

Senna,

I'm also on Neurontin - for pain. I have seen it more prescribed as a pain med than an anti-convulsant and those I know on this one have very few side effects. It may be in the same class but it seems to act different than topamax or depakote.

Becky

Brent, that's fascinating. I had no idea that's where the tingles came from. I did get that side effect for about 2 months, then they went away. I still get them when its cold.
I can't stand V-8 juice, though, it literally makes me gag. And bananas are a migraine trigger. Any other suggestions for getting the potassium back up? I'll eat bananas if that's the only other way (can't see eating a potato a day, too much starch, too fattening), they don't always trigger a migraine, I've just cut them out of my diet completely as a precaution.

Pen, my 3-year-old nephew gave me the nickname, its a long story that's not interesting to anyone but family, and not even to them. But I'm Auntie Bubbs to him.

Hi Bubbs

Dried fruits and nuts are good sources of potassium. I've been craving dried figs, apricots and raisins the past few weeks. I think most fruits and veggies are pretty good though, tomatoes, melons, cucumber. And bran flakes. I upped my potassium intake a while ago as I kept getting leg cramps (a pregnancy thing) and they've been under control since.

Amy

.Pen, my 3-year-old nephew gave me the nickname, its a long story that's not interesting to anyone but family, and not even to them. But I'm Auntie Bubbs to him.

Thanks for that Bubbs. It's unusual so I was curious. I have a 3 year old grandkid, they are such fun and really increase your vocabulary...

I looked at a pharmacy site - indigestion and stomach pain are listed as the less common ( 5 to 13% people get them) side effects. I know with me, indigestion can set off GERD. So maybe that's it.

It would be a shame to stop taking it given your good results. You should discuss it with your doctor but it seems to me you have two options other than stopping it:
1) Take one of the mild acid reduction drugs like Prilosec - I know you siad you wanted to avoid more drugs, but the stuff really works and is pretty safe - in the USA they are over the counter and pretty cheap in generic form; or
2) reduce the dosage somewhat to see if you can still get good migraine control without the GERD
- maybe you can cut the dose in half

I also noticed a marked reduction in migraines with this drug. It gave me tingling, but I was use to that from my neurological symptoms. However, it made me somewhat stupid and I couldn't tolerate that. Too bad, as i was looking forward to the weight lost effect.('')

Thanks, Amy, that's good to know. I love bananas but cut them out of my diet about 3, maybe 4 years ago and did notice a significant reduction in not just my migraines but my daily headaches as well, so it's probably a good idea to keep them out. I'll try dried fruits though. I love dry roasted peanuts and have been eating a lot of those, good source of protein, but they are high in calories So I'm experimenting with moderating that. Maybe a serving a day will be better - I tend to eat a quarter of the jar in one go Too many nuts do trigger bad headaches for me too. Not always migraines, but bad headaches that sometimes turn into them.

Will try dried fruits - I love apricots, cranberries, pinapples, etc. Good source of energy too. Trader Joe's has them for fairly inexpensive prices Thanks!

I didn't have any stomach problems on Topamax - kind of hard when you don't eat.

The only side effect I had when on Topamax was that everything tasted off so my appetite was off as well. Topamax was beginning to help but my new neuro changed my meds. I had tingling (like novacaine wearing off tingling) but thought that was just one of the neuro effects of my migraine and didn't attribute it to the Topamax. No reflux or upset stomach.

When I first started taking Topomax I felt like I was losing my mind. My cognitive abilities were challanged at best. Thank God that only lasted about a month. As far as the tingling, I started to take a potassium supplement and that worked miracles. The Topomax took a while but it has minimized my migraines. I have not had to go to the ER in 4 months now and I was going at least once a month. Good luck.

Cup of coffee.