topamax for cervicogenic headaches?
 

Hello everyone! It's so nice to have working braintalk forums again.

I have been experiencing cervicogenic headaches since about one month after a MVA. In April I was diagnosed with bulging discs at C4/5 and C6/7 and cervical spondylosis. I've ungergone lots of treatment including an occipital nerve block (worked for a couple weeks) and two epidural steroid injections to my c-spine. The epidurals helped for a while but eventually the neck pain and headaches returned with a vengeance.

Has anyone had good experience with Topamax for chronic headaches of any kind?

Wow, this post went unanswered a long time. Wish I had stopped by headache sooner. I wish the headache folks from original braintalk were here. But at least they are there, and are a really good group of people.

But, to answer this question.

I did a round of Topamax at one time for chronic headache and I can't remember what that round of headache was from. I've had migraines since I was 20, though in the last few years they have lessened tremendously.

I also have damage at the same cervical discs (and yes, many car accidents with whiplash) and those same shots. OMG those hurt!!!

The Topamax was a miracle for me, but I didn't take it long term. I have gone through periods where daily headaches just wouldn't stop so that is one of the meds we tried that time. It was amazing.

Long term I don't know. I stopped taking it when the headache broke.

I have it on my list of 'oncall' drugs should I need that help again. A plus side for Topamax is weight loss instead of gain.

I take topamax as a maintenance drug for migraines and it is a great
drug for headaches. I still get them some, and its nothing for sinus
headaches, so its not a thing for all kinds. But sure beats a headache
all the time.

Donna

Yeah, I was all for the weight loss as opposed to weight gain. I am bipolar and most mood stabilizers cause weight gain. And since Topamax has mood stabilizing properties, I was hoping to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.

What were your dosages like? Right now I'm up to 100mg and not had any serious side effects. Only dry mouth, mild insomnia, and I can't drink carbonated drinks anymore (they just taste horrible!!). I was so terrified of the cognitive side effects that I almost didn't want to go on it. Now I'm very glad that I did! I'm not completely headache free all the time, but they are lessening in intensity and happening less frequently.

Liss, I'm glad to hear that. Topamax was a miracle drug for me at the time.

When I was in the hospital for the IV drug, they did an mri of my my head. It was discovered that I have an Arteriovenous malformation in the right front. But they weren't sure if it was related to the headaches then. This was after an accident with bad whiplash.

I saw a top neurosurgeon for the AVM, and he said it was better left alone for the time being. That the risk of surgery was just as great as leaving it alone, so I have, and try not to think about it.