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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Delilah O'Riley on March 2, 2002, at 12:26:46
I began with 25mg topamax and now am up to 100mg. I am taking it for classic, frequent migraines. I am experiencing all the common side effects: crappy tastes, stupidity, sleepiness, bitchiness, etc. I can live with everything, hoping they will all go away. However, the two that are really handicapping me are the numbness in hands and feet and the stupidity. I have to get out of bed two or three times a night and break dance through the house or stop mid-lecture and make all my students line-dance with me. That's if I can even finish my thought or sentence to explain what I want them to do. I've had to give my four kids power of attorney to finish my sentence and (really) explain to the sophomore English classes I teach that I'm taking a new headache drug called dopamax and just be happy that the state of North Carolina called off the required essay test this year because I'm essentially worthless because for next few weeks I might be having a little bit of trouble finding the right .......uh........wo......uh....word. My question, and I do have one, do these two side effects (I don't really give a ...........uh........shit about the other ones) EVER go away????????????????????????????????) Thanks!!!!!Delilah O'Riley North Carolina
Posted by TSA West on March 2, 2002, at 13:28:01
In reply to topamax/stupidity/numbness, posted by Delilah O'Riley on March 2, 2002, at 12:26:46
Maybe you can split your Topamax regimen into 3 or 4 doses to minimize side-effects. If you still cannot tolerate the Topamax further then perhaps you could switch to Depakote ER.
Posted by JohnX2 on March 2, 2002, at 19:12:22
In reply to topamax/stupidity/numbness, posted by Delilah O'Riley on March 2, 2002, at 12:26:46
Do you find that your hands and feet become
hypersensitive to warm/cold? Do you get any tingling?
This may be the onset of something called Raynauds. Check
your doctor. Just a guess. Flaxseed or Fish Oil can help to alleviate
this (it helped to completely alleviate it for me).I have had the great fortune to take Topamax at 400 mg
with no stupidity side effects. I also take 150 mg of Lamictal.
I since have added 300 mg of Serzone. I think the Lamictal (a
anti-convulsant) may be alleviating some of the stupidity side effects because I have
taken Serzone in the past and it made me really dumb (pre Lamictal); this time
I have no cognitive side effects (I take it to help headaches
and depression). The Topamax has had a substantial benefit on
tension headaches with few side effects.I hope you feel better. Are you good at dancing?
-John
> I began with 25mg topamax and now am up to 100mg. I am taking it for classic, frequent migraines. I am experiencing all the common side effects: crappy tastes, stupidity, sleepiness, bitchiness, etc. I can live with everything, hoping they will all go away. However, the two that are really handicapping me are the numbness in hands and feet and the stupidity. I have to get out of bed two or three times a night and break dance through the house or stop mid-lecture and make all my students line-dance with me. That's if I can even finish my thought or sentence to explain what I want them to do. I've had to give my four kids power of attorney to finish my sentence and (really) explain to the sophomore English classes I teach that I'm taking a new headache drug called dopamax and just be happy that the state of North Carolina called off the required essay test this year because I'm essentially worthless because for next few weeks I might be having a little bit of trouble finding the right .......uh........wo......uh....word. My question, and I do have one, do these two side effects (I don't really give a ...........uh........shit about the other ones) EVER go away????????????????????????????????) Thanks!!!!!Delilah O'Riley North Carolina
Posted by Bob on March 3, 2002, at 21:23:26
In reply to Re: topamax/stupidity/numbness » Delilah O'Riley, posted by JohnX2 on March 2, 2002, at 19:12:22
>
> Do you find that your hands and feet become
> hypersensitive to warm/cold? Do you get any tingling?
> This may be the onset of something called Raynauds. Check
> your doctor. Just a guess. Flaxseed or Fish Oil can help to alleviate
> this (it helped to completely alleviate it for me).John:
I experienced the onset of cold hands while taking Topomax. I stopped the drug long ago, but still have problems with the cold hands, especially associated with any dosage changes in meds. It is very frustrating. I've researched the Reynauld's syndrome on the web, and it seems they really don't know how to treat it.
Are you saying that you are still taking Topomax, and that flaxseed oil completely alleviated your cold hands/feet problem?
Posted by JohnX2 on March 4, 2002, at 0:16:04
In reply to Re: topamax/stupidity/numbness » JohnX2, posted by Bob on March 3, 2002, at 21:23:26
Actually this Raynauds thing flared up coincidentally
with starting Serzone. So I don't know what happened.
I'm still taking Topamax at a whopper dose 400 mg, I
tolerate it extremely well (no side effects, unless it
is causing this hand crap). I have struggled with severe
facial neuralgia (tension headaches, weird stabbing sensations
in my head) and Topamax has been a good anti-dote. Serzone
helps also.About 2.5 years ago I got bad joint pain and my doctor
told me to take Alleve. I looked a bit more into inflammatory
disorders, and when I started having severe mood problems and
saw that flax-seed or fish oil could cure both inflamatory
disorders (it listed Raynaud's as a possibility), I started
taking it. After 3 weeks all my joint pain and Raynauds
disappeared, but then I picked up these crummy weird headaches.
Had interesting dreams and ease of anxiety while taking
the Flax! Must of been goofing with serotonin.
Don't know what happened. Anyways I took 2 tablespoons
of this refrigerated brand called Spectrum Flax Oil that
you can find at a good health food store. I don't recommend
buying non-refrigerated flax oil. I stopped taking
the flax after the headaches, but the joint/raynauds never
reappeared until this week. Strange. Good to take
vitamin C/E with fish or flax-oil as it can produce
"free radicals" from something called "lipid peroxidation".Sometimes inflammations is caused by something
called "prostaglandins" (don't know if I spelled it
right. This is usually generated by the precursor
"Arachidonic Acid". Prostaglandins will cause inflammitory
problems like arthritis, and maybe raynauds. Medicines like
Alleve prevent the conversion of arachidonic acid into
prostaglandins. So does the secret sauce in Omega-3 oils.
Omega 3 oils better for the body.
Hope this helps.
John
> >
> > Do you find that your hands and feet become
> > hypersensitive to warm/cold? Do you get any tingling?
> > This may be the onset of something called Raynauds. Check
> > your doctor. Just a guess. Flaxseed or Fish Oil can help to alleviate
> > this (it helped to completely alleviate it for me).
>
> John:
>
> I experienced the onset of cold hands while taking Topomax. I stopped the drug long ago, but still have problems with the cold hands, especially associated with any dosage changes in meds. It is very frustrating. I've researched the Reynauld's syndrome on the web, and it seems they really don't know how to treat it.
>
> Are you saying that you are still taking Topomax, and that flaxseed oil completely alleviated your cold hands/feet problem?
This is the end of the thread.
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