[Wndswptlady]

Hi,

I fell and sustained a concussion on 5/24. Have PCS now. The neurologist is trying to find a good medication for me for my headaches.

I began taking Topamax about a week ago and am was so dizzy whether I was in bed or standing up I thought I was going insane. My poor husband! I would grab him in the middle of the night yelling that I was falling off the bed, when I was not even moving.

I realized it must have been the Topamax as that is the only thing that had changed and I did not sustain another head injury.

I stopped taking the Topamax 2 doses ago and already the sensation of being on a surfboard in the middle of the ocean during a hurricane have diminished greatly. But the headache has returned full force is so debilitating!

Has anyone else had this reaction from Topamax?

[Concussion]

I take Topamax for my headaches, and have reached max dosing of 200 mg twice daily with minimal side effect worries.

Everyone is different with different medications and side effects, sadly. For me, it has dampened the Chronic daily headaches quite well, with sad side effects that I don't have a warning of onset of the Acute oncoming Headaches - so they hit with ferocity - but I am a homebody now and have my acute meds at hand , and a very understanding wife, so all is fair.

Might check out this site, about various medications used for our problems.... informative - I highlighted it beginning with the Topamax page so you could look at the side effects panels, etc.

Best Wishes...................

[e1ectric]

hey im a pharmacist but my psychiatrist had me start with

1/2 tab twice a day for 7 days so that is 12.5 mg twice a day for 7 days then
25 mg twice a day then i went up to 25 mg in the am and 50 mg at bedtime.

i am very sensitive to meds even thought i am a male and 205 lbs.
side effects are always dose dependent so go slow.

i still have headaches like crazy though. especially if i am tired or stressed. they do seem less severe but i don't tell anyone yet of any success.

[Wndswptlady]

Hi Electric...

I know what you mean about not telling anyone as they will expect that now that the headache is 'gone'...you are 'fine' again. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth.

Thanks for the info on the Topamax. I just went off it after 4 days and I am feeling much better now. All that craziness is gone! I'm succeeding in keeping the headache in the 2-3 pain range with 1,000 mg of Tylenol 2 x a day or a Tramadol. Not having any side effects with these.

Wndswptlady

Originally Posted by e1ectric

hey im a pharmacist but my psychiatrist had me start with

1/2 tab twice a day for 7 days so that is 12.5 mg twice a day for 7 days then
25 mg twice a day then i went up to 25 mg in the am and 50 mg at bedtime.

i am very sensitive to meds even thought i am a male and 205 lbs.
side effects are always dose dependent so go slow.

i still have headaches like crazy though. especially if i am tired or stressed. they do seem less severe but i don't tell anyone yet of any success.

[winic1]

Topomax made me lose words when trying to speak, and made my fingers tingle like they were numb. Stopped the topomax, both effects slowly went away. Word problems were present even at 25mg dose, got absolutely insane when we tried to go up to 100mg. And I still got headaches.

[Eowyn]

I haven't had problems with Topamax but I had trouble with the first preventive I tried (Elavil). Topamax is the one that worked better for me.

Be careful with taking Tylenol consistently. It can cause rebound headaches if taken every day.

[EsthersDoll]

I took Topomax for a brief period, maybe about 1-2 months, within the first year after sustaining a concussion from which I am still recovering.

It made me much worse cognitively-speaking and I felt much better after I stopped taking it.

I also felt like it made me a little "insane".

[rob_d87]

At the beginning of my treatment, topomax made me very grumpy and emotionally unstable, i also experienced photophobia, the symptoms went away after a couple of weeks.

Originally Posted by Wndswptlady

Hi,

I fell and sustained a concussion on 5/24. Have PCS now. The neurologist is trying to find a good medication for me for my headaches.

I began taking Topamax about a week ago and am was so dizzy whether I was in bed or standing up I thought I was going insane. My poor husband! I would grab him in the middle of the night yelling that I was falling off the bed, when I was not even moving.

I realized it must have been the Topamax as that is the only thing that had changed and I did not sustain another head injury.

I stopped taking the Topamax 2 doses ago and already the sensation of being on a surfboard in the middle of the ocean during a hurricane have diminished greatly. But the headache has returned full force is so debilitating!

Has anyone else had this reaction from Topamax?