I too have used the MaxAlt one that you take when you are having the migraine - it is fast acting in and out of your system, no long term effects - I didn't even know they made a version you could take every day. it didn't work very well for me - actually I should say it didn't really work any better for me than any of the others in it's class Imitrix, Axert...

I had never heard of the word find problem or any other topamax side-effects staying with people after discontinuting topamax in all of my research - which was pretty extensive - although I am not a medical researcher and don't have a medical background - but I did read all the results of all the major tests they did on this drug. (I think if the weight-loss side-effect stayed after discontinuing this drug then there would be a huge black market for it, people would tolerate the side-effects for a short period in order to get long term weight loss - just an opinion). Anyway, I was glad to read in the last post that a doctors visit was going to occur to have the word loss checked out since it is occuring after the topamax was stopped and I hope that everything checks out ok. I would be interested in hearing from Bluestream where (in general) you had heard about long-term side-effects from topamax, I am curious especially cause I want to take it for a long time.

Also, I noticed something else about my topamax side-effects - the onesw that make me stupid now that I have had more time to evaluate and have been steady on 50 mgs for 3 weeks (down from 100, where I was dumber than a box of rocks). Anyway during the time I descreased my dose of topamax, I switched from a regular GP for my back pain from a GP to a PM and the new PM switched me from Vicodin to Percocet - pretty much the same overall dosage when you account for conversions. The PM also put me on Klonapin cause I have severe insomnia - the klonapin gave me nightmares and sleep terrors so I stopped that after a few nights. The percocet gave me slight headaches and aggravated my insomnia. On my next appt with the PM I got switched back to vicoden thankfully. Anyway, now that I have been back on the vicodin for a week or so I now realize that the word loss problem and the concentration problem and the basic dopamax side-effects are much less than they were on the percocet even though I am on a higher dose of vicodin than when I was on the percocet (even when you take conversions into consderation - this is why I switched from GP to PM, old dose from GP wasn't working anymore). So for me, percocet I think made my stupidness worse - it is interesting how the same drug can affect different people in different ways and how multiple drugs can increase side-effects of another drug you are taking.

I too have been in public and had the word loss or the wrong word come out - and have been a little embarrassed - but I just laugh at myself - I might even say something like my old brain just isn't firing right today and apologize that I can't get that word right today and move on. Usually I can get the person to smile - I move on quickly and don't make a big deal about it, I don't allow myself to give it enough time to really get embarrassed. I'm not posting this to try and say that I am somehow better than anyone who might have found themselves in an embarassing situation because of the dopamax side-effects - How I handle this type of thing just suits my personality style - before I took topamax I did stupid things everyday - so I am used to laughing at myself and finding myself in embarrassing situations. (I'm the one in the supermarket with a case of soda on the bottom of my cart that is leaking all over the place and I don't know it. I am the one who is standing at an automatic door cursing that it is broken and won't open and it's because I am trying to go in and I am standing in front of the door coming out and I don't realize it until I get hit by the door when someone comes out - this was before I was ever on any meds - you got the idea.) So I offer 'my way' as ideas that might help others cope with handling these situation as you get used to the medicine. And for those who are still tirating up - just a reminder that the side-effects might and likely will improve.

BlueStream, it would be good to hear how you are doing - I saw you were getting ready to go to 75mg but were wondering if you needed to go to 75 since your headaches seemed to be under control - just curious (BTW - 100 mg is the standard starting therapuetuic dose for migraines and from there typically the go up if it isn't working.)

BlasterBoy - I don't know how you manage on such a high dose... Then again everyone is different.

Thanks for the updates everybody. About the pins and needles, when I was having them they were a little bit on the painful side to the point of being uncomfortable and the spells would last about 15 minutes or so. Now I don't think I am even getting them. I suspect the higher does BlasterBoy is on could be accounting for this - no matter it sounds like BlasterBoy is getting great benefit from topamax since he has been able to reduce the need for other meds. I read somewhere that drinking lots of fluids can help with the pins and needles side effect and I also read that the drug manufacturer recommends drinking lots of fluids becuase of the kidney stone problems associated with long-term use. I used to drink diet sodas around the clock (switched to non-caffienated at night). Because of the taste I can still drink them but I have added drinking Propel - a gateraid product. It is expensive if you but if from 7-11 but I can get it at Walmart for a good price and the Berry is excellent - I am finding I prefer it over soda - but I still need my soda for the caffiene in the morning. One of the topamax sites I have been on has a lot of people raving about this propel to help with increasing fluid intake - I was skeptical at first cause I just don't believe in buying bottled water - cripes water should be free ya know? BUt this stuff tastes so much better than water and it has like 10 calories for 16 ounces - so I thought I would share.

I also wanted to share about BlasterBoys comments about realizing that he is actually having some trouble with the word lose but kind of didn;t know it. I too am a fairly confident person and generally move very quickly over these incidents, with a joke, a smile (or nothing at all) which leaves no time to be embarrassed, however I was aware of this very common side effect before I started the meds so I was kind of looking for it. I told all my co-workers and my boss about it before I started taking it, so if I did something dumb or weird they would know why.

BlueStream - so glad to hear that it sounds like this is working for you too.

I did have a migraine yesterday :mad:, my Axert didn't zap it and it was the first one I had since going on topamax. It was that time of the month (sorry guys) but is typcially a migraine trigger for me. It was a really bad one, so I went to the ER for toradol (a non-narcotic which often works for me and allows me to stay cool with my PM contract). Typically this type of migraine at this time of month will take me out for a couple of days. ANyway, while I was in the waiting room (about 2 hours) - it went away! :bouncing: This is soemething else that topamax is suppose to do - it is a prevanative but is also suppose to lessen the frequency and duration of the ones you do get and I can definetly testify that this is true - in the past this would never have gone completely away - I was fine afterwards, not the usually post migraine sick.

Also thanks for the updates about the long term effects that might stay with you afterwards - what you said makes sense and maybe this person had problems to begin with. By the way topaxmax is also used for a variety of mental illnesses usually in combination with other meds. When I first started taking it I couldn't figure out why it could possibly help with so many different ailments and I finally found an answer that I can understand. Basically, topamax slows down neurotransmitors (GABA to be specific and most directly impacts the temporal lobe and is why we get the cognitive side effects). Anyway the idea is that the nerves are slowed down, less likely to react to stimulus, so for epilepsy they help prevent the chain reaction that starts a seizure - migraines, same kind of thing - anxiety - slows them down - and same for pain - the idea is if they are less active and not responding to every little stimuli that you will have less of whatever ails you.

Have a good weekend!