Topomax and Tramadol
 

Hey guys, so here's the deal..i've posted multiple threads on my problems and issues. But i think i have found somewhat of a minor solution... I think I have hope..

I started Topomax 25mg/day before bedtime (cause it makes u drowsy - Neuro recommended to take this med since i can take it at night and not during daytime when i work 40-50hrs/week). However, I have been getting unusual ATN/TN attacks that are first creepy-crawly type... dull, pressure-type ache in my jaw cheekbone teeth (upper and lower area), all around the same time -- anywhere between 9pm - 12pm ... for about a week now. this is weird. has this happened to anyone? are my attacks adjusting to my medications?

My attacks, i feel are worse though, the doctor did say it could take a few weeks for the medications to take effect (topomax) since it is an anticonvulsant as well and it is not for pain he said. over the weekend i had a massive attack that lasted about 40 minutes. so this morning i left message iwth my neuro and he prescribed me tramadol for the pain since at night is when i get the bad attacks. i took it around 9pm coz i know that they will come soon. and sure enough, the attack came, but it was much milder than it had usually been... IS THIS POSSIBLE GUYS???? or is this just coincidence that this wasn't a bad attack. oooohhh please god let this be it...

hope to hear from someone.... thanks!

Sounds to me like the medication is helping. I don't have any experience with it, and I guess it could be a coincidence, but I'd bet it's the medication.

I take the extended release Ultram and I find it extremely helpful for the atypical pain that I have. A couple of times I was told to stop taking it for medical reasons, and my atypical pain shot off the charts. If you are able to, I'd suggest that you talk to your doctor about getting the extended release since I found a big difference in the pain relief I got from it as opposed to the short acting one. Take care and I hope this continues to work for you.

looks like i was wrong...
 

Looks like I was wrong... Past couple night i've had bad attacks and tonight was at the most the worst one! felt it all the way to my temple and this time i even felt small electricity like shocks(which i've never felt before), this is something i was mistaken about with tramadol. maybe my dosage needs to go higher, ,but what i wanna know is that, since taking topomax (anticonvulsant everyday) could it be possible that that's affecting or making it worse???? i've been getting attacks every night and thsi is not normal. i used to get them 2-3 times a week at most...
:mad:

Jen

Your symptom are so like mine its unbelieveable...Mine wakes me in the night usually around 230 -3am. The only relief i get is that i know they last between 10 mins and 4 mins.
They completely wipe me out and i feel really weak and tired after them.

The symptoms vary - sometimes it red hot poke along the inner gum area of the top and bottom molar areas. Sometimes its seems to be lower mouth area, sometimes its in the temple..but always in the ear. I had an attack last night and my teeth , jaw and face is aching today.

I too tried the topamox...i only took it for a week or two - it sent me a bit doolally!! I went to work with odd shoes on and didnt realise until i got home and took them off.

Im now on amytryptiline and whilst im getting minimal side effect i should say ive had less strong attack...but..i fugure thats coz noone has been rooting about in my mouth. I know that the dentist triggers and attack, not at the dentist but later in the day.
I went to the GP he looking in there...later another attack. Mine seem to be linked to my jaw i think????

PS - whenever i have dentistry they can never get my lower jaw numb with local anaesthesia, i always have to have a nerve block..is anyone else the same??

This pain sure does make your life miserable doesnt it

NSAID's such as Tramadol, Aleve, Indocin will increase the blood levels of anticonvulsants such as Tegretol and Topomax. That is why you are feeling more pain relief. It is like you are taking more of the drug.

My neuro checked my blood levels twice, first time I was taking more Indocin and it was higher than the second time when I was taking much less of the Indocin. When I feel more pain coming on, I take a dose of the Indocin and it really helps with the achy, dull, breakthrough pain.

The combo is not working as well right now and I might need an increase in the Tegretol dose. Will see what my doc says.

lifesaver

Hi!! Glad to know someone out there is just like me!! :) But not a good thing! hehehe... Although, I've never been woken up my an attack. Mine lasts anywhere between 5 to around 20 minutes. longest was prolly around 25 mins. Mine feel like bad tooth ache all my teeth and jaw area but all of my left teeth - upper and lower. damn. sometimes sinus and temple.... weird i feel little spasms here and there too..

About the Topamax... I think the reason why i'm ok with it is coz, i take it at night, my neuro advised me to take it before bedtime..so that i dont feel the side effects... since that was my biggest prob with Tegretol. So far, i think 50 mg of Topamax.. "might" be helping "a little" bit... still testin it.


Do you ever feel like your symptoms are tightness and dull boring aches like "atypical trigeminal neuralgia" but are they actually "constant"? or do they come and go? ----- reason i ask is because, mine come and go. I have "attacks". The Symptoms of ATN are (constant -meaning all day pain of dull ache)...but mine's not like that... so i just wanna know.. if I really am or I am not TN/ATN.... :")

My early attacks were much like you describe. Now, I have the constant pain from the atypical TN and the intermittant pain from the classic TN.

By the way, you are on a really low dose of Topamax and it does take time to build up in your system.