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Topamax hallucinations

Wed, 06/01/2005 - 23:49
Topic: Medication Issues
My son was just changed from Depakote to Topamax and we are still stirating up to his max dosage; we are in week 4. I researched the med when prescribed and didn't like what I saw, but since side effects MIGHT not happen with him and he was so upset with the depakote (hair loss, he's 15), I thought we'd try.I didn't let him read the list of side effects so he would not be influenced.He is seeing lines connecting everything together; he describes it as a special effects, like in a movie or photo when the film is rushed together.Is this something normal for this med or to be reported to the DR?Will it go away?(can you tell I'm new here ? :-) thanks for your help......)

Comments

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Topamax (new to this help)

Submitted by maive on Fri, 2005-06-24 - 20:38
Today has been really hard . We have yet to get a referral. I want to go to the epilepsy clinic in tampa. I sleep almost all day long and I can 't seem to get any energy. I just feel like I have been swallowed by something. I had a seizure yesterday. The docotors don't seem conecerned. I feel like I am a buden. I have always been very active and positive. Very outsdoorsy. But now, everything seems so hard. My body feels heavy. I have seizures in my sleep at night. They have uped the topomax. I have always used my activity as a means of control and now I feel as though I have none. I feel useless. Especially to my seven year old daughter. She wants me to play and read and I just can't. It is breking my heart. I guess I just needed to vent. Thanks for listing. Maive

RE: Topamax (new to this help)

Submitted by BobHN on Fri, 2005-07-01 - 00:03
Maive,Can't let military doctors get to you. Didn't get help myself until I finally got to Johns Hopkins. The military didn't even have a seizure on a strip. Keep at it. Get to a Neurologist at an Epilepsy Center. Don't settle for less.As for the energy. It takes a lot. It will, but find a way. If it means going out, spending time in the outdoors and then dropping a poncho liner on the ground and taking a nap under a tree at least your outdoors. Do something, don't sit. Be alive.As for the meds, the treatment options, etc., trust the doctors. This is a good place to vent and talk, I can tell you what I know, but I'm an Airborne Infantryman, what do I know about Topomax, other than it makes it difficult for me to find words and I've lost 70 pounds in about a years time. What topomax would do to someone else is for that person to discuss with their doctor. Seizures are odd things, different places in the brain, working differently, hard to see how the meds interact with some of this... I'd say good luck, but don't trust in luck, be proactive.rhn

RE: RE: RE: RE: Topamax (new to this help)

Submitted by Cyndi on Thu, 2005-06-23 - 11:55

Hang in there - it sounds as if you are very frightened and feeling alone.  Actually, it seems that this is a very common problem that most of us were just unaware of.  My daughter was diagnosed 2 weeks ago with epilepsy at 16 - she has the grand mal seizures and is a varsity athlete/ musician.  I have a lot of your same concerns and seem to forget them when I am talking to the doctor. 

What I do now is write down my questions and give them to the doctor, call with the specific questions or e-mail her.  It works well and I feel as if I can deal with real issues instead of all my fears.  I also have been amazed to find out how many people I know have a family member with epilepsy who is doing fine.  I guess we really don't know other people's issues.

With your dance, my "guess" is that when you find the right medication and have time to adjust to it, you will be able to do everything again.  I have been in touch with a young girl who is a professional hockey player (hoping for the 2006 Olympic Team) and other athletes who basically gave my daughter that advice. 

Keep posting and let us know how you are as you progress.

Hang in there - it sounds as if you are very frightened and feeling alone.  Actually, it seems that this is a very common problem that most of us were just unaware of.  My daughter was diagnosed 2 weeks ago with epilepsy at 16 - she has the grand mal seizures and is a varsity athlete/ musician.  I have a lot of your same concerns and seem to forget them when I am talking to the doctor. 

What I do now is write down my questions and give them to the doctor, call with the specific questions or e-mail her.  It works well and I feel as if I can deal with real issues instead of all my fears.  I also have been amazed to find out how many people I know have a family member with epilepsy who is doing fine.  I guess we really don't know other people's issues.

With your dance, my "guess" is that when you find the right medication and have time to adjust to it, you will be able to do everything again.  I have been in touch with a young girl who is a professional hockey player (hoping for the 2006 Olympic Team) and other athletes who basically gave my daughter that advice. 

Keep posting and let us know how you are as you progress.

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