Posted by Mitch on June 18, 2001, at 10:03:00
In reply to Topamax and Pins Needles, posted by AKC on June 18, 2001, at 9:31:06
> My doctor just started me on topamax last week (at her suggestion but at my request). I have been taking 25 mg for a week now. I am suppose to go up to 50 mg tonight, and am to take that until I see her on the 28th. I really want this drug to work - I am currently on a bunch of things - serzone, effexor xr, lithium (and trazodone for sleep, when needed). Right now we are at spot that these other meds are pretty much working, but my weight gain has been tremendous. And, I am actually not at a high enough dose of lithium currently for it to be effective. To get it at a truly theraputic level, it supresses my thyroid. To counteract that, my doctor wants to add a thyroid supplement to the mix. She knows, and to an extent agrees, my reluctance to throw more drugs into the pot to get me stable.
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> So I seem to be having a problem with the topamax. I have been experiencing some pins and needles sensation in my feet. It comes and goes - never for more than 5 minutes at a time. However, it seems to be worse today than a few days ago. What I have read on the topamax is that most side effects go away after a few days (until the next increase in dosage). It concerns me that this seems to be getting worse, not better.
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> I so want this to work (and to get off the lithium) that I think I am going to go ahead and increase the dosage tonight as planned and see what happens. But I thought I would post and get some feedback.
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> Any thoughts?
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> Thanks.I got the same reaction except I was also scratching and itching some and the pins/needles were not just on my feet. Due in part to the itching the Topamax got discontinued. But..if you aren't itching it could just be paresthesia (pins/needles) and you might be able to continue to take Topamax despite it. But the other meds you mentioned can cause that too-Serzone and Effexor and Trazodone for example. It would suck to stop the Top if it was possibly just interacting with one of the other meds (or just one of the other meds). Did the dose of any of the other meds get upped too, by chance??
Go ahead and increase it to 50mg as you had planned and see if it gets worse. Hey, if you can tolerate the TOP with exception to some pins/needles-that ain't bad! Given the combo you mentioned (and I have taken all of those)it would be wonderful to be able to ditch one or two of them!
Mitch
poster:Mitch
thread:66959
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010618/msgs/66961.html