Topamax Side Effects

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i've been on Topamax for two months now 50mg a day.. first month was great(no seizures YAY) and no side effects.. this second month though i've been having really bad side pains, constipation this whole month, back pain, and abdominal pain constantly.. i saw an internest they said i wasnt having an "infection" so that wasnt the problem so they wouldnt do anything for me so i went to another hospital and they said maybe my colone was irritated from eating lots of hot food lately so they gave me a laxative and stuff (sorry for the details) and it helped for a few days but i was still having the pains and after i stopped the meds the constipatin came back.. and its just worse.. i've also lost 10 pounds this last two months.. could these all be side effects?? i'm also on Keppra 1500mg a day but i've been on that since january and havent had any side effects from it.

Comments

Re: Topamax Side Effects

Submitted by tina girl on Tue, 2008-09-02 - 00:11

Tina Garofalo

Wow, this is really interesting! I've been on Topamax 200mg for about 2 years to control my seizures and am happy to say that I haven't had any since I've started the medication but I must add that I have lost 25 lbs which on my body has brought me down to 108lbs. I also just went through a colonoscopy,endoscopy and found out that I've had severe acid reflux for awhile now, but my doctor thought it could have been colitis because that and colon cancer runs stongly in my family. After reflux meds didn't work well with the topamax my doctor switched me to Align, a natural probiotic to treat the Bacterial Infection she believes lives in my colon!!!!!! Now Topamax does cause weight loss, diahhrea, etc but I find it interesting that you mentioned bacteria in the colon as well, as now I am being treated for that but need additional drugs to treat the swelling in my esophagas. Topamax works great to prevent seizures however, I personally understand that the side effects of this drug have taken its toll on my body, I am weak and thin, cannot run like I used to in the summer time and have blurry vision about 60 % of my day. I am willing to put up with this to avoid other drugs like Lamictil etc which cause me to feel like a vegetable but the colon problems have me in my gastroenterologists office every two weeks and are not fun. Please keep in touch with me and let me know how you are doing and how they are treating you. Best and Good Health, tina

Tina Garofalo

Wow, this is really interesting! I've been on Topamax 200mg for about 2 years to control my seizures and am happy to say that I haven't had any since I've started the medication but I must add that I have lost 25 lbs which on my body has brought me down to 108lbs. I also just went through a colonoscopy,endoscopy and found out that I've had severe acid reflux for awhile now, but my doctor thought it could have been colitis because that and colon cancer runs stongly in my family. After reflux meds didn't work well with the topamax my doctor switched me to Align, a natural probiotic to treat the Bacterial Infection she believes lives in my colon!!!!!! Now Topamax does cause weight loss, diahhrea, etc but I find it interesting that you mentioned bacteria in the colon as well, as now I am being treated for that but need additional drugs to treat the swelling in my esophagas. Topamax works great to prevent seizures however, I personally understand that the side effects of this drug have taken its toll on my body, I am weak and thin, cannot run like I used to in the summer time and have blurry vision about 60 % of my day. I am willing to put up with this to avoid other drugs like Lamictil etc which cause me to feel like a vegetable but the colon problems have me in my gastroenterologists office every two weeks and are not fun. Please keep in touch with me and let me know how you are doing and how they are treating you. Best and Good Health, tina

Re: Topamax Side Effects

Submitted by kasywasy on Sun, 2009-05-10 - 23:52

Tina..I have been on Topamax for over 4 years now, I think..I got off of Depakote as it put about 50 lbs on me and I ended up having a Duodenal Switch..the BEST weight form of weight loss surgery. I dont think I have lost any weight on Topamax..darn it.

Anyway...it did a great job of keeping me seizure free....I only had ONE. I was driving and hit a car at a red light I saw a man at my window motion to put my window down, but since it was night time..I didnt...I kept driving to the next red light and hit another car. Then I drove home. A few minutes later the Policeman drove in my driveway. I remember him asking me questions like..did I live there..was this my home..my car..did I live alone...I remember wringing my hands continually...he was very nice and also asked me if I had any drugs or had been drinking or was a diabetic...I responded no to all questens..which was the truth.

Then he told me he had called for an ambulance to take me to the hospital to have me checked out because he was worried about me and I remember being just fine with that. I had never ridden one and was excited to see what it was like! I am also very medical oriented and interested.

I vaguely remember walking toward it and the next thing I clearly remember is 2 days later in ICU in the hospital. I woke ro find my arms battered and skinned and bruised. One vague memory was me lying on a table..restrained..and trying to raise up on my elbows and a very nasty man yelling at me to "LIE DOWN!!!!!

In the hospital when I woke up they told me I had ruined the whole front end of my Volvo...I couldnt believe it..someone else HAD to have stolen my car and done that. I have never had an accident..not even a dinger.

Anyway..again..back to .......NOW

my father died in January 09, my mother is home with Hospice..I live with her now. I had been living with my boyfriend. My life is quite the stressful life. My daughter is 22 and is not living up to her end of the responsibility deal. We have self pay nurses 8 hours a day, I have no free time. I have no life. My Mother is 94 and has no quality of life but is in a happy place as I ask her every day if she is happy. She has no pain..she has Dementia. Some weeks she says nothing..then she will chat for a day...then nothing for a month....we do everything for her. She is so beautiful..so pink and pretty....and so healthy..but for her brain and thoughts. It is so awful to watch such a wonderful social butterfly ...fade.

I had another seizure 2 weeks ago..just as mysterious as the first..except I was home....maybe in bed..not sure..but I broke 3 fingernails off to the quick, the tub was overflowing and flooded the bath floor, matts and towels were in the tub, a mess was in the kitchen and ...I cracked 4 ribs, my occiprtal bone, tail bone, bruised both hips, and shoulders. I am still very sore all over. I am taking those hot patches, naproxen and oxycodone 10/500. going for an MRI...in a few days....not driving for 6 months

I digress...The main reason I chose top write top YOU was because of your intestinal problems. With gastric bypass or my duodenal switch..there is alot of ..GAS..because of the altering of the intestines etc. I tried ohhh so many gas relief things and probiotics over the years..even the antibiotic..flagyl..but one can get neuropathy from that and that is NOT worth it.

SO..my cure is....VSL-3. It comes in packets or capsules. I use the packets as it is more economical and the dosage is better for me. The packet is...450 BILLION live cultures. there are 30 packets in a box and each box is around $75. The way I use it is a packet lasts me 5-6 days..I sprinkle it on my tongue..take a swig of cold juice with a thin straw and then wiggle my tongue so the liquid forms the powder into a ball and then I swallow...that way it all goes down like a ball or un-coated pill into your stomach and doesnt just coat your esophagus

Try not to use the vsl people in S frisco..they want too much extra for the quick ship..shop around..I think they are called..... fubuo

www.VSL-3.com

Also..If ......ANYONE.... has any help with my seizures please FEEL FREE TO WRITE TO ME!!!

THank you to any and all who read this and I hope the vsl will help any who who try it as it surely has helped my gas problem...It is the most powerful probiotic on the market....Kasywasy

Tina..I have been on Topamax for over 4 years now, I think..I got off of Depakote as it put about 50 lbs on me and I ended up having a Duodenal Switch..the BEST weight form of weight loss surgery. I dont think I have lost any weight on Topamax..darn it.  Anyway...it did a great job of keeping me seizure free....I only had ONE.  I was driving and hit a car at a red light I saw a man at my window motion to put my window down, but since it was night time..I didnt...I kept driving to the next red light and hit another car.  Then I drove home.  A few minutes later the Policeman drove in my driveway.  I remember him asking me questions like..did I live there..was this my home..my car..did I live alone...I remember wringing my hands continually...he was very nice and also asked me if I had any drugs or had been drinking or was a diabetic...I responded no to all questens..which was the truth.  Then he told me he had called for an ambulance to take me to the hospital to have me checked out because he was worried about me and I remember being just fine with that.  I had never ridden one and was excited to see what it was like!  I am also very medical oriented and interested. I vaguely remember walking toward it and the next thing I clearly remember is 2 days later in ICU in the hospital.  I woke ro find my arms battered and skinned and bruised. One vague memory was me lying on a table..restrained..and trying to raise up on my elbows and a very nasty man yelling at me to "LIE DOWN!!!!! In the hospital when I woke up they told me I had ruined the whole front end of my Volvo...I couldnt believe it..someone else HAD to have stolen my car and done that.  I have never had an accident..not even a dinger.  Anyway..again..back to .......NOW my father died in January 09, my mother is home with Hospice..I live with her now.  I had been living with my boyfriend.  My life is quite the stressful life.  My daughter is 22 and is not living up to her end of the responsibility deal.  We have self pay nurses 8 hours a day, I have no free time.  I have no life.  My Mother is 94 and has no quality of life but is in a happy place as I ask her every day if she is happy.  She has no pain..she has Dementia.  Some weeks she says nothing..then she will chat for a day...then nothing for a month....we do everything for her.  She is so beautiful..so pink and pretty....and so healthy..but for her brain and thoughts.  It is so awful to watch such a wonderful social butterfly ...fade.  I had another seizure 2 weeks ago..just as mysterious as the first..except I was home....maybe in bed..not sure..but I broke 3 fingernails off to the quick, the tub was overflowing and flooded the bath floor, matts and towels were in the tub, a mess was in the kitchen and ...I cracked 4 ribs, my occiprtal bone, tail bone, bruised both hips, and shoulders.  I am still very sore all over.  I am taking those hot patches, naproxen and oxycodone 10/500.  going for an MRI...in a few days....not driving for 6 months I digress...The main reason I chose top write top YOU was because of your intestinal problems. With gastric bypass or my duodenal switch..there is alot of ..GAS..because of the altering of the intestines etc.  I tried ohhh so many gas relief things and probiotics over the years..even the antibiotic..flagyl..but one can get neuropathy from that and that is NOT worth it.  SO..my cure is....VSL-3.  It comes in packets or capsules.  I use the packets as it is more economical and the dosage is better for me.  The packet is...450 BILLION live cultures.  there are 30 packets in a box and each box is around $75.  The way I use it is a packet lasts me 5-6 days..I sprinkle it on my tongue..take a swig of cold juice with a thin straw and then wiggle my tongue so the liquid forms the powder into a ball and then I swallow...that way it all goes down like a ball or un-coated pill into your stomach and doesnt just coat your esophagus Try not to use the vsl people in S frisco..they want too much extra for the quick ship..shop around..I think they are called..... fubuo <a href="http://www.vsl-3.com/">www.VSL-3.com</a>  Also..If ......ANYONE.... has any help with my seizures please FEEL FREE TO WRITE  TO ME!!! THank you to any and all who read this and I hope the vsl will help any who who try it as it surely has helped my gas problem...It is the most powerful probiotic on the market....Kasywasy

Tina..I have been on Topamax for over 4 years now, I think..I got off of Depakote as it put about 50 lbs on me and I ended up having a Duodenal Switch..the BEST weight form of weight loss surgery. I dont think I have lost any weight on Topamax..darn it.

Anyway...it did a great job of keeping me seizure free....I only had ONE. I was driving and hit a car at a red light I saw a man at my window motion to put my window down, but since it was night time..I didnt...I kept driving to the next red light and hit another car. Then I drove home. A few minutes later the Policeman drove in my driveway. I remember him asking me questions like..did I live there..was this my home..my car..did I live alone...I remember wringing my hands continually...he was very nice and also asked me if I had any drugs or had been drinking or was a diabetic...I responded no to all questens..which was the truth.

Then he told me he had called for an ambulance to take me to the hospital to have me checked out because he was worried about me and I remember being just fine with that. I had never ridden one and was excited to see what it was like! I am also very medical oriented and interested.

I vaguely remember walking toward it and the next thing I clearly remember is 2 days later in ICU in the hospital. I woke ro find my arms battered and skinned and bruised. One vague memory was me lying on a table..restrained..and trying to raise up on my elbows and a very nasty man yelling at me to "LIE DOWN!!!!!

In the hospital when I woke up they told me I had ruined the whole front end of my Volvo...I couldnt believe it..someone else HAD to have stolen my car and done that. I have never had an accident..not even a dinger.

Anyway..again..back to .......NOW

my father died in January 09, my mother is home with Hospice..I live with her now. I had been living with my boyfriend. My life is quite the stressful life. My daughter is 22 and is not living up to her end of the responsibility deal. We have self pay nurses 8 hours a day, I have no free time. I have no life. My Mother is 94 and has no quality of life but is in a happy place as I ask her every day if she is happy. She has no pain..she has Dementia. Some weeks she says nothing..then she will chat for a day...then nothing for a month....we do everything for her. She is so beautiful..so pink and pretty....and so healthy..but for her brain and thoughts. It is so awful to watch such a wonderful social butterfly ...fade.

I had another seizure 2 weeks ago..just as mysterious as the first..except I was home....maybe in bed..not sure..but I broke 3 fingernails off to the quick, the tub was overflowing and flooded the bath floor, matts and towels were in the tub, a mess was in the kitchen and ...I cracked 4 ribs, my occiprtal bone, tail bone, bruised both hips, and shoulders. I am still very sore all over. I am taking those hot patches, naproxen and oxycodone 10/500. going for an MRI...in a few days....not driving for 6 months

I digress...The main reason I chose top write top YOU was because of your intestinal problems. With gastric bypass or my duodenal switch..there is alot of ..GAS..because of the altering of the intestines etc. I tried ohhh so many gas relief things and probiotics over the years..even the antibiotic..flagyl..but one can get neuropathy from that and that is NOT worth it.

SO..my cure is....VSL-3. It comes in packets or capsules. I use the packets as it is more economical and the dosage is better for me. The packet is...450 BILLION live cultures. there are 30 packets in a box and each box is around $75. The way I use it is a packet lasts me 5-6 days..I sprinkle it on my tongue..take a swig of cold juice with a thin straw and then wiggle my tongue so the liquid forms the powder into a ball and then I swallow...that way it all goes down like a ball or un-coated pill into your stomach and doesnt just coat your esophagus

Try not to use the vsl people in S frisco..they want too much extra for the quick ship..shop around..I think they are called..... fubuo

www.VSL-3.com

Also..If ......ANYONE.... has any help with my seizures please FEEL FREE TO WRITE TO ME!!!

THank you to any and all who read this and I hope the vsl will help any who who try it as it surely has helped my gas problem...It is the most powerful probiotic on the market....Kasywasy

Re: Topamax Side Effects

Submitted by baubua24 on Sun, 2009-11-08 - 22:50

Hi, my mom has had the same exact things happen to her as well. She wrecked the whole front end of the car when she had an absence seizure whil driving home from work and didn't remember anything! She never does though when she has seizures. She blamed the wrecked car on me,she thought i stole it and wrecked it because she didn't remember what had happened. After we all thought long and hard, she finally came to the conclusion she must have had an episode and hit someone. Sure enough not much later she got a letter in the mail and had to go to court for a hit and run on a parked car and got her license revoked. No one was hurt thankfully. That first accident happened almsot 2yrs ago. But a couple months ago she took it upon herself to drive a very short distance to the bank, after being seizure free for awhilevwe all thought it would be ok... She took longer than expected and i started to worry then she walked thru the door and looked very scared and confused. She then told me all she remembered was leaving the bank then she came to in a field near the house. She saw no other cars or people around so she assumed nobody was hurt... It's a very scary thing... I'm sorry for your pain but glad you're still fighting! My mom is on Keppra and Topamax and that has seemed to help except for some adverse side effects just recently... Good luck!!!

Topamax Side Effects

Comments

Re: Topamax Side Effects

Submitted by tina girl on Tue, 2008-09-02 - 00:11

Re: Topamax Side Effects

Submitted by kasywasy on Sun, 2009-05-10 - 23:52

Re: Topamax Side Effects

Submitted by baubua24 on Sun, 2009-11-08 - 22:50

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