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  A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
  
Location: NC | Has anyone else been on this drug for migraine prevention or any other reason? What were your side effects? |
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 Mature beyond Years
Posts: 10780
 
Location: North of the 49th Parallel | Hated it. Had side effects that including so much itchiness. Stopped it and everything was fine. |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | my cousin was on it.her side effects were horrible.rapid heart rate,headaches got way worse,and she felt like she was gonna die.she stopped it within a week and it took forever it seemed for her to settle down. |
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Regular
Posts: 60
| its called dopamax also
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 Expert
Posts: 5290
| My doctor put me on it for weight loss. I had an allergic reaction a week later and I broke out in hives. But they were not natural hives. Google urticaria. I was one giant blob and I it took 6 weeks to go away. |
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Expert
Posts: 1255
| I took it and it helped |
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Miss Southern Sunshine
Posts: 7427
Location: South Central Florida | My daughter has been taking it over a year and its been great. No head aches. At first she had some stomach/digestive problems but only about a few weeks, then even that settled. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 742
| FAB - 2015-06-06 7:54 PM its called dopamax also
Thats for sure. You become as dumb as a box of hair and your reaction time is terrible. Not what you want when running barrels...but youll be skinny! |
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Veteran
Posts: 101
| Horrible. Made me feel nuts. Not worth it look into other reasons you are having migraines before using this. I switched birth control methods and never had another migraine. Food allergies can be a trigger, lack of excerise, chiropractic issues, sleep issues... Do more research and look into lifestyle factors before trying this drug. There is a ton of information on people having memory loss issues long after taking the drug. You will feel like an idiot on it, can't remember, find, or do things you used to. For the few people that like it for weight loss are not on a high enough dose to use it for migraine prevention and those people aren't experiencing the full side effects. Run far run fast!! |
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 The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | I took it for ~ three years to prevent absolutely horrible headaches that made me violently ill -- as in hugging the commode ill. I did lose weight on it -- and I did feel a bit "slow", but those were the only side effects I endured -- and they were absolutely nothing compared to the headaches that made me so ill..... After about three years my neurologist weaned me off of it and I have not had another headache -- and my mind is much clearer of course. I was very nervous about stopping it since I feared the headaches would return...and I DO NOT want to ever have them again. But -- I have been totally fine. I would take it again if I needed to do so, but at this time my doctor believes I will be fine....
I weighed out the side-effects against the pain, misery and hugging a commode life that I was enduring -- and decided it was worth it to try to have a life outside of being on the floor beside a toilet in pain. Fortunately, my side effects were minimal. It was wonderful to go weeks, months and years with no headaches. Everyone is different regarding how their body metabolizes various drugs..... |
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A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | Delta Cowgirl - 2015-06-07 11:33 AM
I took it for ~ three years to prevent absolutely horrible headaches that made me violently ill -- as in hugging the commode ill. I did lose weight on it -- and I did feel a bit "slow", but those were the only side effects I endured -- and they were absolutely nothing compared to the headaches that made me so ill..... After about three years my neurologist weaned me off of it and I have not had another headache -- and my mind is much clearer of course. I was very nervous about stopping it since I feared the headaches would return...and I DO NOT want to ever have them again. But -- I have been totally fine. I would take it again if I needed to do so, but at this time my doctor believes I will be fine....
I weighed out the side-effects against the pain, misery and hugging a commode life that I was enduring -- and decided it was worth it to try to have a life outside of being on the floor beside a toilet in pain. Fortunately, my side effects were minimal. It was wonderful to go weeks, months and years with no headaches. Everyone is different regarding how their body metabolizes various drugs.....
That's how my migraines are. I can't function. I sleep for a few minutes. Wake up. Throw up violently. Lay back down shaking. Settle down. Get back up to throw up again. Repeat for about 24 hours. Then it takes another 24 for me to recover.
The Imitrex does help if I take it fast enough. But I would love to be able to prevent the things from happening. So far I do feel very tired. Exhausted even. Zoned out. I get the tingling sometimes. But it's not that bad. I really hope the weight loss thing happens but I won't hold my breath. I'm not on a high dose 50mg. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368
Location: run2win land | Turned me into a stone cold b*tch. Hubby said get off that stuff NOW! I did not realize I was being this way. |
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The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | hlynn - 2015-06-07 11:33 AM
Delta Cowgirl - 2015-06-07 11:33 AM
I took it for ~ three years to prevent absolutely horrible headaches that made me violently ill -- as in hugging the commode ill. I did lose weight on it -- and I did feel a bit "slow", but those were the only side effects I endured -- and they were absolutely nothing compared to the headaches that made me so ill..... After about three years my neurologist weaned me off of it and I have not had another headache -- and my mind is much clearer of course. I was very nervous about stopping it since I feared the headaches would return...and I DO NOT want to ever have them again. But -- I have been totally fine. I would take it again if I needed to do so, but at this time my doctor believes I will be fine....
I weighed out the side-effects against the pain, misery and hugging a commode life that I was enduring -- and decided it was worth it to try to have a life outside of being on the floor beside a toilet in pain. Fortunately, my side effects were minimal. It was wonderful to go weeks, months and years with no headaches. Everyone is different regarding how their body metabolizes various drugs.....
That's how my migraines are. I can't function. I sleep for a few minutes. Wake up. Throw up violently. Lay back down shaking. Settle down. Get back up to throw up again. Repeat for about 24 hours. Then it takes another 24 for me to recover.
The Imitrex does help if I take it fast enough. But I would love to be able to prevent the things from happening. So far I do feel very tired. Exhausted even. Zoned out. I get the tingling sometimes. But it's not that bad. I really hope the weight loss thing happens but I won't hold my breath. I'm not on a high dose 50mg.
Hugs to you -- been there, done that.... I hope the Topamax helps you as it did me! When I first began taking it I had the tingling and some weird feelings but those passed after several months as I settled in on it -- drugs like this take some time -- don't give it up yet. After my headaches I was exhausted, too. Totally drained. It is difficult to explain the incidents to others -- if you have not "been there" it is hard to imagine how painful and miserable and how much you think that just dying would be so much easier... I could absolutely not function during an episode....and the violent vomiting would make me so sore -- I would drink water just to have something to come up because not having anything coming up really hurt.... Please PM me to keep me updated about how you are doing.... okay?
I am older and my neurologist felt I had finally gotten past all the ups/downs of my hormones as I am past menopause now -- so we gave it a shot with me coming off it and here I am doing GREAT! Unfortunately I lived with those headaches for over 20 years until I found a neurologist who really listened and provided treatment -- most doctors said, oh just take an OTC -- it's part of getting old, etc. None seemed to hear me when I told them about lying in the bathroom floor for hours vomiting.... I was truly at the end of my rope when I landed with a great doctor. I knew there had to be one out there somewhere that would look me in the eye and listen -- he did and prescribed the med and when I walked out of his office with that med I never had another one -- Dr. Kaufman is my hero.
I would have to just disappear when at events or meetings to deal with the headache episode.... I know folks thought what is wrong with that woman -- she is so stand-offish and disappears -- but when one hit - I just needed to be alone and vomit.. ugh.
p.s. I was also on the 50 mg -- worked for me.
Edited by Delta Cowgirl 2015-06-07 1:38 PM
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boon
Posts: 1
| took it for weight loss.. was blind 3 days later.. very rare side effect that they rarely ever tell you about.. no one warned me of the possible side effect.. I had to put drops in my eyes every 30minutes for about a month... took 3 weeks before it started to come back... would never recommend for off label use.. just too risky.... |
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Regular
Posts: 60
| I took it and had a dull headache all the time. When I stopped taking it I had the worst headache ever. Actually found out mine were related to my bite. Have a soft retainer and had a teeth ground down and rarely do I get them now. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1029
Location: TX | I've been fighting with headaches/migraines for years! Doctor would say they are not migraines, but this last time while in his office I had a bad migraine, he gave me a pill and made his nurse keep monitoring me for 40 minutes...guess what it went away and he came and apologized and said I guess you were right. He prescribed this medication, at first I took it in the morning and I felt "slow", then I switched to night and it's been great! Soda drinks taste flat, along with some other drinks.
I've only had one slight headache and absolutely nothing like what I had been experiencing before. |
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A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | Delta Cowgirl - 2015-06-07 2:37 PM
hlynn - 2015-06-07 11:33 AM
Delta Cowgirl - 2015-06-07 11:33 AM
I took it for ~ three years to prevent absolutely horrible headaches that made me violently ill -- as in hugging the commode ill. I did lose weight on it -- and I did feel a bit "slow", but those were the only side effects I endured -- and they were absolutely nothing compared to the headaches that made me so ill..... After about three years my neurologist weaned me off of it and I have not had another headache -- and my mind is much clearer of course. I was very nervous about stopping it since I feared the headaches would return...and I DO NOT want to ever have them again. But -- I have been totally fine. I would take it again if I needed to do so, but at this time my doctor believes I will be fine....
I weighed out the side-effects against the pain, misery and hugging a commode life that I was enduring -- and decided it was worth it to try to have a life outside of being on the floor beside a toilet in pain. Fortunately, my side effects were minimal. It was wonderful to go weeks, months and years with no headaches. Everyone is different regarding how their body metabolizes various drugs.....
That's how my migraines are. I can't function. I sleep for a few minutes. Wake up. Throw up violently. Lay back down shaking. Settle down. Get back up to throw up again. Repeat for about 24 hours. Then it takes another 24 for me to recover.
The Imitrex does help if I take it fast enough. But I would love to be able to prevent the things from happening. So far I do feel very tired. Exhausted even. Zoned out. I get the tingling sometimes. But it's not that bad. I really hope the weight loss thing happens but I won't hold my breath. I'm not on a high dose 50mg.
Hugs to you -- been there, done that.... I hope the Topamax helps you as it did me! When I first began taking it I had the tingling and some weird feelings but those passed after several months as I settled in on it -- drugs like this take some time -- don't give it up yet. After my headaches I was exhausted, too. Totally drained. It is difficult to explain the incidents to others -- if you have not "been there" it is hard to imagine how painful and miserable and how much you think that just dying would be so much easier... I could absolutely not function during an episode....and the violent vomiting would make me so sore -- I would drink water just to have something to come up because not having anything coming up really hurt.... Please PM me to keep me updated about how you are doing.... okay?
I am older and my neurologist felt I had finally gotten past all the ups/downs of my hormones as I am past menopause now -- so we gave it a shot with me coming off it and here I am doing GREAT! Unfortunately I lived with those headaches for over 20 years until I found a neurologist who really listened and provided treatment -- most doctors said, oh just take an OTC -- it's part of getting old, etc. None seemed to hear me when I told them about lying in the bathroom floor for hours vomiting.... I was truly at the end of my rope when I landed with a great doctor. I knew there had to be one out there somewhere that would look me in the eye and listen -- he did and prescribed the med and when I walked out of his office with that med I never had another one -- Dr. Kaufman is my hero.
I would have to just disappear when at events or meetings to deal with the headache episode.... I know folks thought what is wrong with that woman -- she is so stand-offish and disappears -- but when one hit - I just needed to be alone and vomit.. ugh.
p.s. I was also on the 50 mg -- worked for me.
Oh my gosh. Finally someone understands my plight! People will say 'migraine' and I'll think 'How are you walking right now?' Even in the early stages when it's not quite to the throwing up part, I can't function. I have to take double the Immitrex and a Phenergen to knock me out and lie down for hours at a time and hope it didn't make the turn into a massive episode. Luckily the Immitrex/Phenergen/sleep combo does seem to help if I nip it early enough. But then I waste an entire day sleeping or feeling so loopy I can't do anything worth a snot anyways.
I understand being sore! My entire body ached especially my abs from dry heaving until SOMETHING would come up. I would eat crackers and drink something just so it wouldn't be that horrid yellow/orange nasty tasting snot stuff next time. I would be terrified of taking anything at that point because it tasted so terrible coming back up! I've never met someone who understands just how bad my migraines are. I have had episodes on and off since I can remember. |
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The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | hlynn - 2015-06-07 10:21 PM
Delta Cowgirl - 2015-06-07 2:37 PM
hlynn - 2015-06-07 11:33 AM
Delta Cowgirl - 2015-06-07 11:33 AM
I took it for ~ three years to prevent absolutely horrible headaches that made me violently ill -- as in hugging the commode ill. I did lose weight on it -- and I did feel a bit "slow", but those were the only side effects I endured -- and they were absolutely nothing compared to the headaches that made me so ill..... After about three years my neurologist weaned me off of it and I have not had another headache -- and my mind is much clearer of course. I was very nervous about stopping it since I feared the headaches would return...and I DO NOT want to ever have them again. But -- I have been totally fine. I would take it again if I needed to do so, but at this time my doctor believes I will be fine....
I weighed out the side-effects against the pain, misery and hugging a commode life that I was enduring -- and decided it was worth it to try to have a life outside of being on the floor beside a toilet in pain. Fortunately, my side effects were minimal. It was wonderful to go weeks, months and years with no headaches. Everyone is different regarding how their body metabolizes various drugs.....
That's how my migraines are. I can't function. I sleep for a few minutes. Wake up. Throw up violently. Lay back down shaking. Settle down. Get back up to throw up again. Repeat for about 24 hours. Then it takes another 24 for me to recover.
The Imitrex does help if I take it fast enough. But I would love to be able to prevent the things from happening. So far I do feel very tired. Exhausted even. Zoned out. I get the tingling sometimes. But it's not that bad. I really hope the weight loss thing happens but I won't hold my breath. I'm not on a high dose 50mg.
Hugs to you -- been there, done that.... I hope the Topamax helps you as it did me! When I first began taking it I had the tingling and some weird feelings but those passed after several months as I settled in on it -- drugs like this take some time -- don't give it up yet. After my headaches I was exhausted, too. Totally drained. It is difficult to explain the incidents to others -- if you have not "been there" it is hard to imagine how painful and miserable and how much you think that just dying would be so much easier... I could absolutely not function during an episode....and the violent vomiting would make me so sore -- I would drink water just to have something to come up because not having anything coming up really hurt.... Please PM me to keep me updated about how you are doing.... okay?
I am older and my neurologist felt I had finally gotten past all the ups/downs of my hormones as I am past menopause now -- so we gave it a shot with me coming off it and here I am doing GREAT! Unfortunately I lived with those headaches for over 20 years until I found a neurologist who really listened and provided treatment -- most doctors said, oh just take an OTC -- it's part of getting old, etc. None seemed to hear me when I told them about lying in the bathroom floor for hours vomiting.... I was truly at the end of my rope when I landed with a great doctor. I knew there had to be one out there somewhere that would look me in the eye and listen -- he did and prescribed the med and when I walked out of his office with that med I never had another one -- Dr. Kaufman is my hero.
I would have to just disappear when at events or meetings to deal with the headache episode.... I know folks thought what is wrong with that woman -- she is so stand-offish and disappears -- but when one hit - I just needed to be alone and vomit.. ugh.
p.s. I was also on the 50 mg -- worked for me.
Oh my gosh. Finally someone understands my plight! People will say 'migraine' and I'll think 'How are you walking right now?' Even in the early stages when it's not quite to the throwing up part, I can't function. I have to take double the Immitrex and a Phenergen to knock me out and lie down for hours at a time and hope it didn't make the turn into a massive episode. Luckily the Immitrex/Phenergen/sleep combo does seem to help if I nip it early enough. But then I waste an entire day sleeping or feeling so loopy I can't do anything worth a snot anyways.
I understand being sore! My entire body ached especially my abs from dry heaving until SOMETHING would come up. I would eat crackers and drink something just so it wouldn't be that horrid yellow/orange nasty tasting snot stuff next time. I would be terrified of taking anything at that point because it tasted so terrible coming back up! I've never met someone who understands just how bad my migraines are. I have had episodes on and off since I can remember.
Do stay in touch via a PM to let me know how you do.... I pray it works as well for you as it did for me. I, too, look in awe and disbelief when someone is walking around saying "I have a migraine." No, you don't. I tried to hide the side effects, vomiting, etc. from others since it was so horrific. My husband had seen it and my best friend who I traveled with showing horses, of course, had seen it and nursed me through various episodes....caring for me and my horse. During the years I endured the episodes I could not travel with my horses alone because if it hit me I would be unable to care for myself or my horses....
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I only recommend it as a last resort. If you have truly awful life interrupting migraines. I see people post on Facebook all the time. "Ugh I wish this migraine would go away!" Sorry, but no, there's no way in $#%& you are on Facebook if you really are suffering from a migraine.
Mine start with losing my vision, then the pain, then I throw up for hours. When it's over I still feel awful and sluggish for about 24 hours. I missed my first day of a new job because of a migraine and one time a final exam at school. They were getting worse and more frequent before I decided to ask my doctor to prescribe me Topomax. I had already tried everything else.
Everyone's side effects are a little different. But the trick with this type of medication is giving it enough time for your body to adjust and the side effects to ease. (Obviously I'm not talking about the severe ones like blindness). I had tingling in my extremities for the first several months. My memory is affected, but not to the point where I can't perform my job or anything like that.
But I don't have migraines anymore. Except for the occasional one and they are always a result of me forgetting my pills.
For me, the side effects are WELL worth it.
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Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | Delta Cowgirl - 2015-06-08 6:11 AM
hlynn - 2015-06-07 10:21 PM
Delta Cowgirl - 2015-06-07 2:37 PM
hlynn - 2015-06-07 11:33 AM
Delta Cowgirl - 2015-06-07 11:33 AM
I took it for ~ three years to prevent absolutely horrible headaches that made me violently ill -- as in hugging the commode ill. I did lose weight on it -- and I did feel a bit "slow", but those were the only side effects I endured -- and they were absolutely nothing compared to the headaches that made me so ill..... After about three years my neurologist weaned me off of it and I have not had another headache -- and my mind is much clearer of course. I was very nervous about stopping it since I feared the headaches would return...and I DO NOT want to ever have them again. But -- I have been totally fine. I would take it again if I needed to do so, but at this time my doctor believes I will be fine....
I weighed out the side-effects against the pain, misery and hugging a commode life that I was enduring -- and decided it was worth it to try to have a life outside of being on the floor beside a toilet in pain. Fortunately, my side effects were minimal. It was wonderful to go weeks, months and years with no headaches. Everyone is different regarding how their body metabolizes various drugs.....
That's how my migraines are. I can't function. I sleep for a few minutes. Wake up. Throw up violently. Lay back down shaking. Settle down. Get back up to throw up again. Repeat for about 24 hours. Then it takes another 24 for me to recover.
The Imitrex does help if I take it fast enough. But I would love to be able to prevent the things from happening. So far I do feel very tired. Exhausted even. Zoned out. I get the tingling sometimes. But it's not that bad. I really hope the weight loss thing happens but I won't hold my breath. I'm not on a high dose 50mg.
Hugs to you -- been there, done that.... I hope the Topamax helps you as it did me! When I first began taking it I had the tingling and some weird feelings but those passed after several months as I settled in on it -- drugs like this take some time -- don't give it up yet. After my headaches I was exhausted, too. Totally drained. It is difficult to explain the incidents to others -- if you have not "been there" it is hard to imagine how painful and miserable and how much you think that just dying would be so much easier... I could absolutely not function during an episode....and the violent vomiting would make me so sore -- I would drink water just to have something to come up because not having anything coming up really hurt.... Please PM me to keep me updated about how you are doing.... okay?
I am older and my neurologist felt I had finally gotten past all the ups/downs of my hormones as I am past menopause now -- so we gave it a shot with me coming off it and here I am doing GREAT! Unfortunately I lived with those headaches for over 20 years until I found a neurologist who really listened and provided treatment -- most doctors said, oh just take an OTC -- it's part of getting old, etc. None seemed to hear me when I told them about lying in the bathroom floor for hours vomiting.... I was truly at the end of my rope when I landed with a great doctor. I knew there had to be one out there somewhere that would look me in the eye and listen -- he did and prescribed the med and when I walked out of his office with that med I never had another one -- Dr. Kaufman is my hero.
I would have to just disappear when at events or meetings to deal with the headache episode.... I know folks thought what is wrong with that woman -- she is so stand-offish and disappears -- but when one hit - I just needed to be alone and vomit.. ugh.
p.s. I was also on the 50 mg -- worked for me.
Oh my gosh. Finally someone understands my plight! People will say 'migraine' and I'll think 'How are you walking right now?' Even in the early stages when it's not quite to the throwing up part, I can't function. I have to take double the Immitrex and a Phenergen to knock me out and lie down for hours at a time and hope it didn't make the turn into a massive episode. Luckily the Immitrex/Phenergen/sleep combo does seem to help if I nip it early enough. But then I waste an entire day sleeping or feeling so loopy I can't do anything worth a snot anyways.
I understand being sore! My entire body ached especially my abs from dry heaving until SOMETHING would come up. I would eat crackers and drink something just so it wouldn't be that horrid yellow/orange nasty tasting snot stuff next time. I would be terrified of taking anything at that point because it tasted so terrible coming back up! I've never met someone who understands just how bad my migraines are. I have had episodes on and off since I can remember.
Do stay in touch via a PM to let me know how you do.... I pray it works as well for you as it did for me. I, too, look in awe and disbelief when someone is walking around saying "I have a migraine." No, you don't. I tried to hide the side effects, vomiting, etc. from others since it was so horrific. My husband had seen it and my best friend who I traveled with showing horses, of course, had seen it and nursed me through various episodes....caring for me and my horse. During the years I endured the episodes I could not travel with my horses alone because if it hit me I would be unable to care for myself or my horses....
Sorry, I read this after I posted. So glad it's working for yall too. |
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