So I saw my neurologist today and she would like me to add Effexor to the Topamax that I am taking… I am taking name brand Topa and it looks like I should do o the same with Effexor…if I decide to take it… After doing some reading on this site, not so sure I want to do that :roll: Any success stories out there with a Topa/Effexor combo… Please?? Any comments good or bad would be helpful!! Thanks, Dee
You could check with MAVPrincess (I do keep recommending you, don’t I, Mary? 
) - I believe she’s just recently added Topamax to her Effexor. Seems like she’s been doing pretty well on the Fex and just needed the Topamax to finish things out…
— Begin quote from “erika”
You could check with MAVPrincess (I do keep recommending you, don’t I, Mary? ) - I believe she’s just recently added Topamax to her Effexor. Seems like she’s been doing pretty well on the Fex and just needed the Topamax to finish things out…
— End quote
I don’t mind at all Erika. Anytime I can help, it makes my day. This is actually the first time I’ve seen you mention my name as I don’t get a chance to read all the posts lately with so much going on, but I do try.
Yes, Dee I am on the generic of effexor and it has gotten me almost completely better. I would say that 90% of my symptoms are either gone or 90% better. The only problem I still have is driving. And although the driving is better, my dr just recently prescribed Topamax to get rid of the last bit of the troubles I have with driving. I am on my second week of topamax and not feeling all the great due to the side effects but just pusing through the se’s to see if it’s going to help me.
The topamax has much harder to take for me than the Fex. I had hardley any symptoms with the fex. The first few days I took it, my heart rate would get kind of high, but I would just lay down for awhile and it would go away. I always have to take it in the morning because it did give me a hard time sleeping. So I just take it with my breakfast in the morning. For me it was so easy compared to what I’m going through with the topamax. Ugh.
Anyway, the Fex has been my wonder drug. I went from feeling hopeless, debilitated, bed ridden and desperate to finally living my life again and enjoying all that it has to offer. It was a very slow progression and I would feel good, than think I was not feeling so good, than good, than not good and so forth. My dr, slowly got me up to 150mg and about a month after that I was a brand new person. I just want to cry when I write this because it did change my life with minimal se’s. Please don’t ever be afraid. I learned that early on. Side effects always go away. We always have to give each drug it’s fair time. I am suffering a bit right now with the topamax se’s, but I know I need to push through it because if I don’t, I’ll never know if it was going to be the right drug. If you can tolerate topamax, you can tolerate Fex.
Be brave and good luck. Please let me know how it goes and feel free to ask me any questions. I have some questions for you actually in regards to Topamax but need to go pick up my son from school. HOw were the se’s for you in the beginning?
Mary
Hi Mary… Thanks so much for your reply!! When I first started Topa in November my neuro prescribed generic which I was allergic to. I was soooo upset as I really wanted to try it… I’ve had a longggg history…many, many years… Anyhow, we waited a few months and I began with the brand Topa at 12.5 and have titrated up extremely slowly with practically no side effects… When I say slow, I mean weeks at a dose, sometimes a month… Lol. I do feel it when I titrate up. I have a few days of dizzy, swimmy vision and nausea, but that goes away… I am only ay 62.5 so you can see how slow it has been for me. I do think it has helped, but I am still getting migraine pain… And dizziness too but not as often… Driving is still iffy… But I was very very ill prior to this, almost bedridden … As a matter of fact I spent lots of time in bed because I was feeling so unwell…so in that way Topa has gotten me on my feet…
So I would say I am getting there, slowly but surely and am hoping that Effexor helps…but I don’t like what I read about getting off it…and side effects…
Don’t be afraid of Topa, but if you can, go for name brand versus generic. I am doing that for Effexor too…
I wish you continued success!! PM me if you have any other questions!! Feel better!, Dee in Virginia
Just wanted to chip in and say that I’m on the generic topiramate and don’t have any issues with it. If you can deal with it, it is super cheap (about $21/mo even if insurance won’t chip in). So if money is an issue that might be a reason to go generic. I think brand name Topamax is pretty pricey if your insurance isn’t helping out.
Obviously if the generic gives you problems that is a good reason to go with the brand name.