Topamax / results

Medication 💊 Anticonvulsants
21

I’m on day 4 of Topamax 25 mg. Two hours after this morning’s dose, I was at work bathing my patient when I suddenly felt very flushed, dizzy and somewhat out of breath. I also felt a very urgent need to not be upright and so I sat. The BP cuff was right beside me in the night stand. 117/74 is good and consistent with my normal range…but my pulse was 108. Not so good. I’ve had episodes of this back when I worked at the hospital almost 2 years ago. Pulse jumped as high as 128. Two incidences. Wore a monitor - everything was fine. Came in for EKG, showed some bradycardia. Nothing further was done as episodes never recurred. Chalked up to hormones.

Called pharmacy. Topamax peaks at 2 hours. Tachycardia is not listed as one of the side effects but everything else is. Oh…and as I went to fill my patient’s sippy with ice water, I suddenly forgot, as the blasted thing neared full, how to stop the water!!! Yes, yes. PULL! Just pull the sippy away. Had my life counted on my remembering that, though - I would not be posting this!

Pharmacist postulated that tachy can be a migraine aura, as can the dizziness, confusion, the flush, the faintness…you know…almost everything the ‘cure’ could cause. Btw…pharmacist didn’t even laugh when I asked if he could recommend something to deal with the side effects. Either he has no sense of humor…or he knew I was only marginally joking.

The good news? As my system gets used to the meds, the side effects may go away. The ‘go crazy’ side effect scares me the most. I feel that at some point, I’ll have to warn my family “You guys, THE CALL IS COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE!”

22

I had a rapid heart beat also for the first three weeks while tirating up to 50 mg. It only went away when I started consuming more food, which was difficult b/c the meds made me extremely nauseous. I noticed my heart rate was highest first thing in the morning, for the first couple hours (120 beats a minute). That went away after about 3 weeks. Now I only notice it when I wake up in the middle of the night.
Sarah

23

Glad to hear that what I’m experiencing is not uncommon for the likes of those of us who rely on Topamax to make us better. I refuse to give up before 10 weeks have passed. I’m strong in my resolve now since the side effects don’t have me looking for the cleaver or fighting the outside cats for their fine, rat catches.

The worst side effect, thus far, is explaining to hubby that ‘yes, honey, the meds that are designed to make me feel better are responsible for making me feel like poop.’ He doesn’t ‘get it’. I don’t blame him. We often laugh together at drug commercials with the side-effects list that beats the horrors of the disease it should cure, hands down. Viagra comes to mind.

Anyhow - despite the many evidences of such in the media, I must still explain to hubby that things will still get worse before they get better…and that how long depends…but on what, no one seems to know.

And so together, we hold our breaths. I continue, with reluctance, to refrain from sharing the temporary scaries with him, favoring a visit with you guys because it’s easier…for me to vent…and for you to understand.

Thanks.