Hi has anyone been prescribed Topiramate for preventing migraines?

[Springview15]

Hi has anyone been prescribed Topiramate for preventing migraines?

Ive heard these tablets work wonders in preventing migraines but the side effect of taking them is dramatic weight loss, is this true?

[elliott]

Hi I've been on Topiramate for my form of migraine and it was brill but yes sometimes you can get side effects. You must be monitored by your specialist who puts you on them closely, start really slowly and you may find you won't have to go to high and you will get a result . Everyone is different and some get more sire effects then others your doc will go through it all with you .you must be undeR a specialist . Hope it helps

[kimsuzw]

Yes I was prescribed Topiramate for migraine in October 2010 by my Neurologist for a condition called transformed mirgraine. I have never notice any considerable weight loss, I am as standard size 10/12 and haven't changed in that time. The only side effect I had first of all was falling asleep all the time, as I was prescribed one tablet in the morning and one in the evening. However, now I just take one in the morning and this has reduced the tiredness. So far it has reduced my headaches considerably. Good luck with as I honestly say I would recommend it.

[CSherman in reply to kimsuzw]

I've been on this medication for a few months. I tapered on slowly and now take 50mg am and pm. I usually got at least a few migraines a month..with aura. I've had them my whole life. Some worse than others, some so bad I could've gone to the hospital. Since I've been on the meds I have not had one migraine with aura. Just a few headaches could maybe be considered very mild migraines. A huge improvement. I've also lost 25lbs. I've only ever been on the generic, Topiramate, and for me it works really well. Our insurance doesn't cover the name brand...I wonder how expensive the name brand is as opposed to the generic... When I ordered some Topiramate from lookuptothebest.net/go/Topi... recently they gave me a 10% off discount code (which was 'SALE10' if anyone's interested). As far as I know this code can be used as many times as you want.

[popit]

Hi, I have been Taking Topiramate for the last two weeks for my "chronic" migraines. My Neurologist started me on 25mgs once a day for one week, then 25mgs in the morning and one at night, so far with no effect. As from today I've gone up to 2 tablets in the morning and one at night for the next two weeks. I have to go up a dose fortnightly until I'm at a dose that suits me. He also told me that weightloss was a side effect and if I lost more than 10% then I'd have to stop the pills. No weightloss so far but I'm on a low dose. I really hope these pills help in preventing my migraines as they are daily and getting me down now.

Much love

xXx

[Hidden]

I started taking Topiramate in May 2010. I was told the main side effects could be weight loss and also tingling in fingers and toes. I certainly got the tingling, most noticeable at the times I increased the dose, and sometimes it was in my face too, but because I knew what was causing it I didn't worry. I have always been overweight so I was delighted to gradually lose weight over time, but not dramatically. It was a gradual 1 or 2 pounds a week until I had lost nearly a stone. That stopped for a while and then started again, so that after a year I had lost 2 stone. However, since then I have put it all back on again, but that could be a product of my age (the weight started going back on from when I was 50) or the other medication I am taking.

The Topiramate is certainly helping the migraines a bit, in that I get fewer really bad ones, but I wouldn't say that it had a dramatic effect. I stayed on a dose of 100mg in the morning and 100mg in the evening for a long time, but am now increasing again and am on 150mg morning and evening. I rarely get any tingling now. I guess my body has got used to the Topiramate by now so that I no longer get the side effects.

And yes, obviously I see the Neurologist regularly to discuss how things are going, and my GP who is prescribing the medication for me.

Apparently the other option is Epilim which, like Topiramate, is an epilepsy drug, and they both work in the same way, but I've read that Epilim can cause weight gain, so I'm less keen to try that one!

[oldtrout48]

Hi I was tried on topiramate about 4 years ago. Only managed 2 days as it has such marked neurological effects - of which the aforementioned tingling is a very slight part - that i felt i was completely out of it . It wasn't safe to continue as I was unable to drive, speak or think. It says in the literature about these side effects So i can't comment on it's efficacy. I went on to use sodium valporate -Epilim - which was ok as long as it was increased or decreased VERY slowly -ie monthly between dose changes. However after 18/12 on it which did reduce my migraines, I saw the NMC who said they would not keep someone on such drugs for that length of time without trying a period off and to evaluate if improvements could be sustained by other ways -eg lifestyle changes etc. I don't take any prophylactic drugs now -mainly because i have had other health problems and i am prevented from trying the good old basic Amytriptyline.

I'm not sure anything 'works wonders' unless it is used in combination with a holistic approach to prevention.

[Hidden]

I was prescribed Topamax about four years ago. It was awful. It had no effect on my migraines and I experience painful tingling in the thumbs and big toes (!), weight loss (28 lbs in 3 months), food and drinks tasted unpleasant and I frequently felt nauseous (I ate less, hence the weight loss) and, most embarrassing of all, I got so depressed that I would start crying at the slightest provocation. I was taken off the drug at the end of three months.

[Springview15 in reply to Hidden]

Hi & thanks for all your feedback, well i have eventually got prescribed some preventative meds and i have been given Propranolol 1 40mg tab in the morning & 1 40mg tab in the evening and i have also been given Sumatriptan for if i do get a migraine, fingers crossed these will work & i will get some relief

[Hidden in reply to Springview15]

I'm sure you've heard the news today about the problem of over-medicating. Just take care that you don't do what I did: I relied more and more on sumatriptan until I was taking them virtually every day and sometimes more than once a day. I'm off everything now......

[Tilly12345 in reply to Springview15]

I had 340mg a day propanolol and found it didn't make a difference I suffer from hemiplegic migraines I was then given 100mg tramadol along with x2 500mg paracetamol and nothing helped I have just been prescribed topiramate In hoping these make a difference all the side effects listed are what I experience on a daily basis with my migraines so I'm a little disheartened by this but fingers crossed!!!

[Tilly12345]

Sumitriptans make me worse I can't take them!

[christine1959]

my husband has been taking Topiramate prescribed by our GP but has never been seen by a specialist or Neurologist.

[KimbaCat]

I was given Topmax to help with my migraines and weight loss. Horrible!!! Tingling in both hand, feet , and left side of face! And I was not told that I would lose my sex drive! {Make sure you ask about that} Doctor forgot to tell me that! Dizziness to a point that I could not get out of bed. Had to have help with Everything! In a very dense fog! But, I did lose 15lbs in 5 weeks, but it came back as soon as I was taken off. And it did nothing for my migraines

Total waste of 5 weeks..

[My_Graine in reply to KimbaCat]

Kimbacat,

I put off starting my course for a while due to the 'bad press' but have now been on it for just under a month.

What dose were you on?

[Valelady]

I have been on zolmitriptan 2.5 for about 3 years now I am getting rebound headaches.my gp said to stop the tablets and more or less go cold turkey.This is my 5th day without the trip zolmitriptan, bad yesterday so I took soluble disprin and I was able to cope but not easy,no headache today ,I wonder how long before my brain or what I have left of a brain decides it doesn't want it anymore,this is pure hell you have my sympathy for all who suffer migrains .oh by the way the zolmitripan works in 5 min but I want off themGood luck to all and a happy new year

[sa7ar]

Hi all

I have been on topiramate nearly 2 years now it work OK not to bad ....

With maxl melt 10 mg when attack only ...

Hope you all well enough 😊