I can go on Topamax or endep for trea... - National Migraine...

National Migraine Centre

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I can go on Topamax or endep for treatment of my migraines which occur weekly, which will work more quickly at reducing the migraines?

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westie49
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woodlog profile image
woodlog

No experience of endep but took Topamax for several years. It helped control my headaches well but had very serious long-term side effects. It generated a series of agonising kidney stones (no more since stopping the drug three years ago). It also caused significant memory impairment and made concentrating on complex tasks (I edit books) very difficult. Topamax also caused very peculiar mood swings; I've met several patients whose families felt they'd lost the person they knew. So it's a calculation. Topamax is one of the most effective drugs at reducing migraines but it does this at a terrible cost. You'd be much safer trying Botox.

jpkm profile image
jpkm

Hi I wood just like to come in with my own opinion on this, I was very wary of taking this drug, and stayed away for a few years from it. I was a migraine sufferer for every day that wiped me out completely, in bed, no quality of life. I could not take day light, my bedroom was blacked out, sick nearly 3-4 times a week. Eventually I went on it, and have been on it now for quite some length of time. It has given me back my life, I still suffer with migraine, but can now function, am out and about each day. My migraines are now on a scale of 1-10, aprox a 2-3, no sickness. Best decision I ever made, I just wished I had gone on it earlier. Like anything in life, way up the pros-cons, hope the 2 sides have helped