The fall of 2011 I was prescribed Topamax. It's primarily used for seizures, but now it's used for chronic migraines. Instead of taking it on the onset of a migraine, you take it daily. Many said it was a wonder medication, but I had a different experience.
At the beginning, you take the "start slow and go" method by gradually increasing dosage therefore increasing the side effects. I didn't even get to the full dosage before I started the "dopamax" symptoms. The first thing I noticed that I was so tired and lightheaded lately. Then all of a sudden, I couldn't say words that I wanted to. Imagine being a banker and not being able to say the word cashier's check. How embarrassing! About one week in, I noticed soda and alcohol tasted like it was completely metal. So disgusting! Guess who lost ten pounds pretty quickly? Weight loss was also a side effect and I definitely wasn't complaining. The only good thing from this medication was that I looked absolutely smokin! Then about two weeks in, I had a scary vertigo symptom. I couldn't walk without falling over and I about cried right at my office.
After the vertigo, my doctor recommended I keep the dosage at half what is normally prescribed, which is 50 mg a day. I still was having crazy dopey symptoms. I was a skinny idiot! The straw that broke the camel's back though was when I had some very uncomfortable digestive issues. (Don't worry I won't go into detail). Finally, my doctor let me slowly stop this medication. I had to literally beg because they truly believed this drug would help. The funny part was I still had the painful migraines plus the other crazy side effects.
So they kept me on the Propanolol (at a higher dosage) and advised no more over the counter pain relievers. I was so scared to try anything else that I begged my doctor to keep me on the simple medication to regulate my blood pressure. Then something wonderful happened: I got accepted into an MBA program and a promotion in Kansas City!
Showing posts with label Topamax. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Topamax. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Sunday, March 31, 2013
In the beginning...
Welcome to my migraine diet blog!
Two years ago, I started having painful migraines and it interfered with my entire life. When I wasn't having migraines, I was having a headache. Can you imagine constant pain? I went to my primary care provider and she referred me to a neurologist. Since I was in a small town, the closest neurologist in my network was 90 minutes away.
My first appointment consisted of a head to toe assessment, they asked me a million questions, and prescribed Propanolol and Imitrex due to my high blood pressure. I didn't notice any change in a couple months (when I had my follow up appointment) so they increased the dosage of Propanolol but kept Imitrex the same. A couple more months went by and still no change. So they tried Relpax, a medication that others have praised. I took one on the onset of a migraine and immediately had a reaction. I felt like I was boiling in water and just wanted to punch the wall. I've never been in that much pain in my life. Good thing I got a sample of that med because it was $40 a bottle. A week later, I went to the ER with even more pain. They gave me a shot of Zofran for nausea and Topamax for the migraine. Thus beginning my journey with Topamax.
Two years ago, I started having painful migraines and it interfered with my entire life. When I wasn't having migraines, I was having a headache. Can you imagine constant pain? I went to my primary care provider and she referred me to a neurologist. Since I was in a small town, the closest neurologist in my network was 90 minutes away.
My first appointment consisted of a head to toe assessment, they asked me a million questions, and prescribed Propanolol and Imitrex due to my high blood pressure. I didn't notice any change in a couple months (when I had my follow up appointment) so they increased the dosage of Propanolol but kept Imitrex the same. A couple more months went by and still no change. So they tried Relpax, a medication that others have praised. I took one on the onset of a migraine and immediately had a reaction. I felt like I was boiling in water and just wanted to punch the wall. I've never been in that much pain in my life. Good thing I got a sample of that med because it was $40 a bottle. A week later, I went to the ER with even more pain. They gave me a shot of Zofran for nausea and Topamax for the migraine. Thus beginning my journey with Topamax.
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