This is the most common problem people have with Topamax, thus the nick-name dopamax.

I've been on Topamax for a little over 4 years now. I take 200 mg am and 200 mg pm. No problems with it whatsoever except for the tingling fingers and tingling around my nose and mouth. We solved that by adding Urocit-K to my daily meds - 30 MeQs. It's basically potassium citrate. It counteracts the acidosis caused by the topamax.

No weight loss, no hair loss, no dopiness, no memory loss. AND NO MORE MIGRAINES!!! WOOHOO!!! That's the reason I started taking it. It is this only medication that has ever worked to get rid of my migraines. I have been on every drug on the market, every treatment there is for migraines and nothing has ever worked.

It is sad when the ER staff knows you on first name basis and just pulls your chart and escorts you to a room when you show up! That's how often I got migraines before Topamax. It's my miracle drug.

Oh yeah, and anything carbonated tastes absolutely horrible....yucky yucky yucky....

for the tingling fingers and tingling around my nose and mouth. (Quoted)
I've had a lot of tingling in those areas over the years,but I just assumed it was my spinal injury! I have Degenerative Disk Disease in my Lumbar spine,and Sciatica.So maybe it could be the Topamax,it hasn't been untolerabe,or painful,so it's something I can deal with,but that's good to know,thanks!

Now I've never felt drowsy from it,and I take it in the morning and the night,but I have ADHD,so most stimulants,act the opposite to me,and some depressants act the opposite to me,for example,my morphine gives me insomnia,when it would knockout most people,especially the dose I'm on! Also if I drink too much caffiene,it will put me to sleep! Weird huh?

I have to laugh because I read your posts and it sounds like me. I am happy because I can amuse people with my 'forgetfulness'. I make a joke out of getting up to go somewhere, being distracted and forgetting where I was going. But it sometimes gets frustrating because it takes me all day to get things done. Dopamax is a great nickname for it! I get the tingling too in my hands and feet but my neurologist said this would happen. It happens mostly at night when I am tired. Av8girl-Is the Urocit-K over the counter and does it help with other side effects? By the way congratulations on being migraine free! It must be such a relief to have no more pain. And Justice-the beach is my happy place too. The sound of the waves, smell of the air, the feel of the sun. Such a soothing environment. I look forward to the summer. Good luck finding your way back to the ocean. I could never be more than 15 minutes away from it.

Does anyone on this site take these treatments. Am waiting for an approval from my ins. co. so that I can start on them, but since they are so darn expensive, the ins. co. may deny me, but sure hope not.

Celia

If I knew what it was,I could probably help you! I know what the IV stands for ,but not the IG! I've had so many treatments for so many things,I forget what they are all called unless reminded!
And one of these day's I will get back to that beach,you just watch! LOL.......................

Urocit-K is an RX. The only side effect it helps with is the peri-oral tingling and the tingly fingers. I also found that if I don't drink a lot of water, the Urocit-K is worthless! I have to stay hydrated.

Oh yes, being migraine-free is a godsend! I used to have at least 1 -2 a week! Nothing helped!

IViG = Intravenous ImmunoGlobulin!

I have just been prescribed Topamax by my Neurologist yesterday for my Occipital Neuralgia, and after reading all the comments here about the different side-efects, I'm scared to even start taking it! I have tried many different meds for my headaches, and they all have had horrible side-effects, and it looks like Topamax will probably be the same! I don't know if it's the right med for O.N. considering it is listed as just for epilepsy and now migraine.
The only good thing is I hope I can lose weight on it, because I really need to. But all the other side-effects, like drowsiness, slowed thinking and memory loss, scare the hell out of me! I don't want it to kill my creativity!

~Jaime~

Don't be scared off. Side-effects do not happen to everyone, and it is usually those who have the worst side-effects that speak up the loudest.