How Long Until The Side Effects Of Topamax Will Wear Off? (Page 2)

I am 18 years old, I have been getting daily headaches for about two years. I went to my Neurologist about three months ago and he prescribed me Topamax. I have been taking it for these three months (approximately), starting out at 25mg a day, and now I am up to 100mg a day.

Well, this past week has been really hectic for me. I have been watching five kids and a few family issues have come up, so in short; on Tuesday night I forgot to take my night time dosage (75mg) of my meds. Wednesday morning I was feeling weird. At first I didn't understand why I felt so weird, but I felt awful. Midway through the day my boyfriend had asked me if I took my meds, so in a panic I remembered that I hadn't taken not only the night before but that mornings either. Knowing that it pretty much works by blocking nerve receptors I didn't want to take too much, so I only too 50mg in the middle of the day (approximately around 2pm). I started feeling a bit better after about an hour or so, but then everything started to get bad again (at the end of this I will explain/list all of the symptoms/side effects I've been experiencing.) So, I had to go lay down while he was watching the kids for me. Thank God my boyfriend is so caring and understanding. Anyways, Thursday comes around and even more family matters come up that send me into another panic. (I worry and stress entirely too much, probably the cause for my headaches in the first place, since my MRI's have come back normal.) And I again forget to take my morning and night dosages of Topamax.

From Tuesday until Friday night I had only had a total of 75mg of Topamax. But Friday night I took my normal dosage of 75mg before bed, && for the first time since Tuesday, I actually slept. Since Tuesday I hadn't slept. I would doze off and then wake up like 15 minutes later in a panic, or I would be talking to my boyfriend next to me and wake up, not knowing if it was a dream or if I was really talking to him. Also, if I was to doze off and someone were to talk to me, I would open my eyes and respond (being 100% coherent with what I said) and then my brain would "wake up" and I would have to ask the person if I had actually just said what I thought I said because I wasn't sure if I was awake or not. This same thing happens even when I was awake. I would say something, and right after I say it I would have to ask if I really just said what I said out loud because I wasn't 100% sure if I has actually said something or if I was just thinking it.

Saturday morning I took my morning dosage of 25mg, and told my mum what happened over the past few days and what I have been feeling. She told me that because I had skipped so many dosages and then had taken a full dosage of my Topamax that it had been like over kill on my body/brain. Because when she forgets one of her heart meds and then takes one she gets the side effects all over again even when her body had gotten used to the meds before. So last night she only had me take 25mg of Topamax, trying to get my body used to the drug again. She also said to watch my side effects && if they persist or get worse than we will call the Neurologist.

Things that I have been experiencing the past days are;
My head feels weird. It varies between tingling, pressure, && headaches.
Pins && needles in my arms/legs, sometimes they feel heavy (mostly when I'm laying down.)
Not remembering what I said right after I said it.
Sudden bursts of tiredness where I feel like I need to lay down right away.
Racing heart. (this one has gone away. I finally got my heart beat to go from the 100's down to it's normal 60-70 range.)
Nausea.
Doing things and losing track of time. (Not knowing how long I was doing it for. Seconds vs minutes)
Just feeling like I am on auto-pilot.
All in all, I guess one could say that I feel high.

I know that most of the things that I listed are side effects, but I just need/want to know, has anybody ever missed a dosage or two of Topamax and then taken a full dosage? And if so, have you felt like this? How long until you felt like yourself again?

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I was taking 25mg/day of topamax and I moved to another area of the city and my doctor would not refill my topamax because I had moved more than 30 miles from his office. I said I would come to his office for an office visit and he said, no you live too far away for me to see you anymore. Find a doctor closer to you. Well when I moved I lost my insurance and cannot afford to see a doctor down here until. I get insurance. Therefore, I've not been able to take topamax for 2 weeks. I've had a constant headache in my forehead and for 2 weeks now. Having some confusion and dizziness as well.

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I have been on topomax for 9 years starting 50mg titrated up to 200mg tab before bed. I had hernia surgery this may 9 2017, my surgeon wanted topamax stopped immediately! Which I have done..he did not think I should have been taking this med.

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I have been on topomax for 9 years starting 50mg titrated up to 200mg tab before bed. I had hernia surgery this may 9 2017, my surgeon wanted topamax stopped immediately! Which I have done..he did not think I should have been taking this med. I have had headaches bp up and down pulse up and down .. overall body pain..

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I too was on Topamax as a mood stabilizer/depression. My max dose was 300 mg which due to the mental fog I dropped 100 mg without issue. I also took Aderall because of the awful side effects of Topamax had with my cognitive impairment. I have been on Topamax for 5 years and the Aderall off and on for 4 years. I stopped the Aderall cold turkey without any trouble due to the anxiety Topamax had been causing. At the end of May (just over 2 months ago) I began to taper off 200mg of Topamax 25mg every two weeks. When I got to the 5th day at 150mg I felt like I was losing my mind, my head hurt so bad and I couldn't function very well. My doctor was out so I talked to the pharmacist who told me to go back up to 175mg. I have been holding there hoping to level out for 4 weeks, I'm only getting worse. I have anxiety upon waking, tension headaches daily, flu like symptoms, blurry vision, tinnitus, burning/dry mouth, bad hair loss, tingling in my face and limbs. I don't have help or support so due to the anxiety and cognitive trouble it takes everything I have to get dressed, go to the store (which is across the street), or simply leave my home. My doctor and I decided to taper in smaller amounts of 6.25mg with tonight being my drop. I have felt so awful crying all the time just wanting my life back, wanting to be done with this. Now it's time to make a drop and I am scared, scared of feeling worse when I know I have to do this to get to the other side.

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It causes sjogren disease...horrible! Did your symptoms subside?

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I don't understand why moving 5 miles or 45 miles makes a difference to your doctor! I'm about 35 miles from my doctor.
I started on 25mg of Topamax about a month ago for severe headaches. Being on it for the short time, I still had the headaches daily, I also started having issues remembering things, and slight anxiety. I just got back into see my doctor and she took me off it immediately. The only withdraw I notice is my vision is a little blurry when I read. I now have an appointment with a neurologist. About 15 years ago, I got steroid injections in the back of my head. I thought they would hurt bad, but it was like scratching your head when it itches. Those injections lasted approximately 10+ years before I even thought about taking any ibuprofen. I had forgotten about it until my husband reminded me about it. I highly recommend checking it out when you get insurance. I will never take Topamax again!

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Re: Granny (# 22)

Holy heck that’s a long time. I’ve been on it for 3 years for bipolar and am dumb as a doorknob! Is that the correct saying? How did you get off it?

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Ask your doctor about Low Dose Naltrexone - LDN.
I'm on it as it is an ingredient in Contrave which I am taking for weight loss.
I have a crushed shoulder and arm I was unable to move more than 6 inches away from my side.
Since I started the Contrave I have no more pain. I can move my arm and shoulder like I had never been injured before.
It's a God send.
Good luck.

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Re: iamt0ma13 (# 3)

Hi did the ringing in ears ever stop for you? Did you stop the drug?

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Re: Gina (# 24)

Hello did you ever get off Topamax? Did it ever stop ringing in your ears?

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Re: iamt0ma13 (# 3)

I'm sorry about all of your side effects, did your ringing in ears stop?

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Re: Gina (# 24)

I'm sorry about all of your side effects, did your tinnitus, ringing in ears ever go away?

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

But I just started Topamax and every description she listed of her experience, the head pressure, sudden tiredness, fast heart beat, etc., that’s all just a part of starting the med as well. I haven’t missed a single dose but I experienced those effects on the first day in addition to extrememe light sensitivity.

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Re: Applewood (# 7)

I am also experiencing extreme light sensitivity. It’s been four days for me and it seems to be getting a little better, but the colors are very vivid and light, sunlight specifically really is way too intense. 25mg 1x daily.

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