On reading a post that Pregablin can put weight on, I've gained nearly a stone in under 4 weeks, I looked for something else. I was on amotriptolyne but changed due to excess sweating.
Topamax .... This seems to be used for migraines but you can loose a lot of weight on it.
So has anyone found this?
I don't have migraine, but bad headaches left from a previous brain blood clot and celultuis.
Weight loss is listed as a side effect of topomax: topamax.com/how-topamax-may...
I've no knowledge of Topomax, apart from Mikesghost's link, but I can tell you that when I was taking 75mg of amitriptyline many years ago I went from 8 to 10 stone in two months. When people started telling me I looked 'really well' followed by 'you're not pregnant are you?' I decided it was time for a change and afterwards the weight came off quite rapidly.
An extra point though; I took them for depression not headaches but, during that period, they certainly didn't help with the migraines, which still haven't been dealt with.
I know amitriptyline is used to treat neuralgic pain and It was an option recently when I had shingles, but I declined the offer !
Hope you find a suitable treatment & one which is effective for the headaches. Cat x
I had been on amitriptline for 10 years yes weight went on, but that was me! As much as I'd like to blame the drug!
It gave me excess sweating which is why I unwanted off. I have lost 6 stone in the past 20 months, but when I changed to Pregablin I've put on a stone in 4 weeks!
So on looking into it, it did seem to be a common side effect and people mentioned the Topomax as a good pain killer with the added benefit of losing weight!
Speaking to doc tomorrow pm, so I'll report back.
Thank you got taking the time to reply. x
Yes, please let us know what happens. I for one would be very interested. Good luck. x
I take this and desperately want to share my experience with you but am struggling to type my answ er via a tablet , so far I have written it 5 times and lost it. Now I am exhausted and so will have to rest and try again later.
Criky .... You just take care now. No rush. xxx
I CAN'T USE TABLETS AT ALL. THE LETTERS ARE ALWAYS TOO SMALL. EVEN TYPING ONE FINGER I MISS LETTERS OUT OR DUPLICATE THEM & CONSTANTLY DELETE STUFF BY MISTAKE. I USED TO USE A KINDLE BUT THE TOUCH SCREEN BROKE, PROBABLY BECAUSE I TOUCHED IT SO MUCH CORRECTING MYSELF. I'M BACK TO PC, MUCH BETTER
AMYTRIPTALLINE IS AN EVIL DRUG, MY NEURO SAID IT CREATES A CRAVING FOR CARBOHYDRATES. IT CERTAINLY DID FOR ME I USED TO SCOFF 6 BAGS OF CRISPS ON THE BOUNCE. WE THEN MOVED TO TOPAMAX WHICH DID NOTHING FOR MY HEAD SO I WASN'T ON IT FOR LONG. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT DID APART FROM NOT WORKING. THE BEST DIET I KNOW IS STRESS WHICH MAKES ME SO ILL I DON'T EAT. NOT TO BE RECOMMENDED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
SORRY I ALWAYS WRITE IN CAPS, CAN'T READ LOWER CASE!
Stress made me eat! It's a blooming nightmare this drug carry on! I'll let you all know what Vicky (my doc) advises tomorrow and let you know. But I am not going to take something that puts weight!
Thank you for replying. x
Hello again, after a rare good night's sleep I will try again. I started taking Topiramate or Topamax last April as a way of reducing the number and severity of headaches I experience foloowing a TBI (7 years ago now). They have certainly helped the headaches and so I now take far fewer painkillers. My GP and hospital rehab team were very concerned at the amount of pain relief I admitted to taking. As for weight loss I wouldn't personally use the tablet solely for weight control, I lost weight last year by change of diet and reducing sugar and processed foods. This was in an attempt to lift my mood naturally and avoid taking anti depressants. I wasn't so strict over Christmas and have gained some weight again, therfore I think my personal weight loss was more to do with what I was eating rather than down to the tablets. I really want you to know about the side effects, I appreciate we all react differently to medicine but just be aware of the possible difficulties. My TBI has left me with daily episodes of dizziness, nausea, headaches, cognitive problems etc. The side effects of this drug are similar to that of a TBI and I found my usual symptoms worse by a thousand. The first few months were hell but I had so fewer headaches I couldn't ignore that improvement. I ccouldn't cope with any sensory stimulation and for months couldn't read or watch tv. I found the fast pace of tv news unbearable and newspapers were also impossible to read. I felt completely bombarded within my own head, it was very scary. My poor cognitive processing was worse than ever and I struggled to cope with conversation or trying to process very basic thoughts. I felt very restless and agitated and in my mind I wanted and needed to move and keep on doing things, sadly though the physical fatigue wouldn't allow me to. I was physically worn out but mentally tripping, again I found it scary. I kept telling my friends and family that I was 'tired but wired' and that is the best way to sum it up. At that stage I couldn't drink enough water to quench my thirst either, dry mouth is listed as a side effect too. My mood has dropped since I started taking this and I don't know if due to live events or the medication, however, my headaches have reduced and I am thankful for that as I often didn't want to go on because of the intense pain I was in most days. For me this medication has helped overall, but, it has been a bumpy road. I still get other side effects such as ear pain, and recently I was concerned my hair was shedding more than normal but I'm okay. I hope this helps you when deciding what to do. I don't work but it would have been impossible anyway during first 3 to 4 months of Topiramate due to the intensity of the cognitive disruption.
Apologies I've not been able to paragraph the long text above. I can't get to grips with tablet as the keyboard covers what I'm typing. Sadly our PC has recently broken and is beyond repair. Good luck with whatever you decide.
My goodness Connie, you've been through the wars.
THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING EMAIL. YOU MENTION SOME SYMPTOMS THAT I SUFFER FROM THAT I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT BEING ASSOCIATED WITH MY ABI.
I REALLY SUFFER FROM TIRED BUT WIRED ESPECIALLY WHEN I GO TO BED. I CAN BE FALLING ASLEEP ON THE SOFA BUT AS SOON AS I GET INTO BED THE BRAIN COMES ALIVE & I CAN'T SLEEP FOR HOURS. WHEN I'M FALLING ASLEEP ON THE SETTEE I HAVE DECIDED TO TRY STAYING THERE. I'VE FOUND IT REALLY HELPS NOT WAKING MYSELF UP TO GO TO BED & I GET A FEW HOURS REAL SLEEP. I FEEL MUCH BETTER IN THE MORNING AS I DON'T SLEEP AS HEAVILY AS I DO IN BED SO I TEND NOT TO WAKE UP WITH A HEADACHE. I FIND IT REALLY DIFFICULT TO SLEEP IN BED NOW. I SAID TO MYSELF THAT I SHOULDN'T GET USED TO SLEEPING ON THE SOFA BUT WHY? IF I GET SOME DECENT SLEEP DOES IT MATTER?.
I FIND WHEN I'M DOING THINGS LIKE GARDENING OR DECORATING ETC I CAN WORK ON TILL 4PM WITHOUT A BREAK & DON'T SEEM ABLE TO STOP UNTIL I GET A HEADACHE. I FEEL RUBBISH THE NEXT DAY BUT I GET UP & DO IT ALL AGAIN.
AFTER 2 MONTHS OF COMPLETE STRESS IT'S LIKE MY BRAIN HAS SHUT DOWN & I CAN'T PROCESS ANYTHING PROPERLY. I CALL IT MY FOG, EVERYHTING FEELS MUSHY IN MY HEAD SO I SLEEP RATHER THAN TRY & DO ANYTHING IN CASE I MESS UP OR DO SOMETHING DANGEROUS. I JUST HAVE TO RIDE IT OUT.
MY MOUTH IS SO DRY THAT THE SOLUBLE PAIN KILLERS I TAKE DON'T MELT.
I KNOW WE HAVE DIFFERENT CAUSES BUT I CAN EMPATHISE WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SAID. THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING.
IM A WAY IT'S COMFORTING TO KNO0W I'M NOT ALONE BUT I DON'T WANT ANYONE
ELSE TO SUFFER FROM THIS.
I can assure you ZEBLET you are definitely not alone. The 'Tired but Wired' made me grin with relief. Plus the headaches after decorating/gardening..........the dry
mouth,,,,,,,,,headache after sleeping........and that awful 'fog'....................................... This is becoming a 'chain letter'. Thank you. x
Well, I've spoken to my Doc, and I'm coming off Pregablin, slowly, and trying the Topamax. Now that I know of the possible side effects I will be extra vigilant. Honestly what we have to put up with .. Headaches or dreadful side effects and no headaches! Amytrptoline = sweating, Pregablin = weight gain 13lbs in 3 weeks, and now topamax ! It's about time a new treatment arrived that had no disgusting side effects!
Thanks guys for being so honest. It is lovely to know you're not alone. So pleased I found this site.
Well I hope this will work for you without too many side effects. I must say that I never read the listed side effects unless I actually develop an unfamiliar symptom at which point I check to see if it might be the medication. I can't see the point in scaring myself silly at the outset if the prescribed drug is essential and I might not be adversely affected anyway.
I hope you'll keep us updated on the effects of Topamax...........really hope it works for you.
Cat x
I just started taking Topamax it's been a week today. I take one pill every night. After the the first week I move up to two pills to where I move up to an extra pill every night after a week. When I'm taking 5 pills at 75mg and I do that for a week then I go to 100mg pills. And that's where I stay I hope it works. My head feels like it's in a vice and being squeezed and my balance is off. All of this has gotten worse since my gamma knife in September 2013. Keep me posted on how your doing prayers and good wishes Niyani
How's your pressure...? I had this and found it only got better after lumber puncture! They'd do the LP and I was great for 7 maybe 10 days, then wham bang back they came with a vengeance. So after 4, in a very short period of time, they decided I required an lumber shunt. That really sorted it.
Poor you, I feel for you. Xxx
Hello everyone. I wanted to ask how Ladybal coping with medication? I forgot to mention that I also have problems with ice cold feet and fingers. Last summer I was wearing summer clothes along with sheep skin mittens. I must look bizarre but can't worry about that. I didn't read the list of possible side effects before starting the tablets, I never do as I don't want to convince myself that I'm feeling anything simply because I've read about it. I kept my own list and compared the two after six weeks. Considering that many of the effects mimic those of brain injury, it surprised me that I was ever prescribed this medicine, however, long term it has improved my headaches.
Thank you to everyone else for commenting on my replies, much appreciated to hear other people's experiences.
Best wishes to you all.
I start tonight! I've had to come off the Pregablin slowly as it can cause brain swelling if you do it too quickly. Lovely! So I will do updates. Going away for a week on Tuesday, so hope I'm ok.
Thought I'd do it at night as then if the sleepies attack I'm in bed!
Good luck m'dear & keep us updated. x
Two nights and so far so good. No side effects, no being a zombie, and most importantly no headaches! As it's valentines day I shall be having a glass or two tonight, so let's see how I cope with that.
This all sounds very promising LadyBal. You must be feeling pretty optimistic by now, and I hope this is the first taste of how things will be for you long into the future. Best wishes xx
Well, off the Pregablin now and on 1x 25mg Topimate just about to go to 2 tonight, 3 next week. Been a bit grumpy and not able to cope with any minor stress.. and headache and light headiness today. Have def noticed a difference in appetite... Less! Which is good. I'm away for a week, so if taking 2 has an effect it's fine, coz it's just me! I hope I just need more and it's only the change over in meds that's giving the heads...
3 things poss 4 ive learned in my life meds like amitripline make you worse im addicted 2 2 types pills 1 pain killers a smartie would be as good pregabalin will put weight n you my specilist nurse will not give me neuro medsas the side effects would be 2 bad on me at 6 half stone headaches pills will not get rid i seen a heache specilist who explained it all the only 1 thing that May help is oxegen from a tank in houseit help with tbi /stroke and cluster but no gareneetes my elderly aunt has parkinsons shes had pregabalin she was seeing dead people piles dirty clothes on floorid like to no more on this drug topmax myself for her and me as it neuro on us both v
Well, what a time I've had with Topimate! Dreadful drug! I was up to 25mg in morning and 75mg at night. I was so nauseous, I was getting to dread the clock getting to 4pm... As that was when it really kicked in. By 8pm I had a bowl and towel next to me. Nothing ever happened (I'm not a sicky person), but oh boy was I trying! Just glad my husband was away skiing and I didn't have to cook etc. I couldn't eat after mid-day and that was just scrambled egg, I wasn't sleeping, maybe 3 hours in total a night. I was fainting, cold sweats, oh just awful. I mussed some of Miranda Harts show I was at as I was on the floor! So I'm off it now, but even still getting the nausea and that's 6 days.
I was looking for an alternative to Amytrptoline, which was a great drug for me. I have been on it for 10 years, but the sweating was getting so bad, with my son getting married I gad to change. But... I'm back on it again. The sweating is horrible even after 3 days!
So I'm searching for another drug. I'm going to try to go 'cold turkey' and see how long I can put up with the pain.
I'm off to live in Spain for the next 3 months in 2 weeks, so my trial time has really run out. Seen that Ketamine is used sometimes .... Any one know about that? Going to have yet another discussion with doc next week.
So pissed off with this. Honestly you'd think in this day and age a pain killer could be developed with no horrible side effects. I'd keep taking the Amytrptoline if it wasn't for the sweating.
I wish I could be the person I was before I fell down those stairs
Have you or the person you care for ever been on an assisted holiday after brain injury?
Has anyone lost complete confidence in their memory that you can never be 100% sure of anything or your memory gets everything mixed up?Why do I only ever write on here when I've reached rock bottom?
Lonley
