# I fought the meds, and the meds won. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 7, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560 "2014-07-07T18:53:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/1 "2014-07-07T18:53:15Z")
Recently my docs decided that the Depacote just wasn’t doing the job when it came to reducing the headaches and seizures, and they switched me to Topamax(Topiramate), which I started Thursday night. I’m supposed to do one each night before bed for two nights, then one in the morning and one at night for a week, then two in the morning and two at night from then on. So Saturday I take my first morning pill and start out with My Beloved in the car to go out to breakfast at Elmer’s about 2 miles away…and get about 8 blocks down the road when I get funhouse-mirror vision and decide that Darcy’s Café on the corner will do _just_ fine for breakfast, thankyouverymuch. Has anyone else had experience with this medication, and if so, how long did it take you to acclimate to it? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/2 "2014-07-07T20:10:26Z")
Oh, and is there anything in particular I should avoid in the way of foods or over the counter meds? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2014, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/3 "2014-07-07T21:34:35Z")
Hmmm… “Common side effects of Topamax include tiredness, dizziness, coordination problems, speech problems, changes in vision and sensory distortion.” > **[Topamax (Topiramate): Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Interactions, Warning](https://www.rxlist.com/topamax-drug.htm)** > > Topamax (Topiramate) may treat, side effects, dosage, drug interactions, warnings, patient labeling, reviews, and related medications including drug comparison and health resources. Wow, lots and lots of possible side effects. Some scary shit there. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2014, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/4 "2014-07-07T22:02:47Z")
I tried Topamax for my migraines at one point, oh, maybe five? seven? years ago. Supposedly it’s good for people with depression and migraines because serotonin screws up the blood vessels in the brain. It didn’t do anything for me, though. It certainly didn’t stop my migraines and I didn’t take it past the first month. I wasn’t on the same dosage schedule as you are. (And I don’t have seizures so I can’t really speak to that at all.) The best thing I can tell you is, if you’re still experiencing debilitating side effects, is to call your doctor. This is especially important if you’re taking other medicines and it might be interfering with them. Ask the office if he’s concerned about your side effects and if he wants to see you or if you should just power through for a few more days. Good luck. It will probably sort itself out but stay in touch with your doctor while it does so. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2014, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/5 "2014-07-07T23:04:28Z")
I tried Topomax. I found it weird because it suppressed my appetite. Have you ever tried to eat when you are not hungry in the least? Word or warning, three weeks in, I had an anaphylactic reaction. If you’re going to react, it takes about three weeks. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/6 "2014-07-08T01:22:04Z")
I took Topomax and hells yes, it suppressed my appetite (apparently it’s actually an off-label use, for weight loss). I went three days with only eating some chicken broth because I just… had no desire to eat at all. Not just ‘not hungry’ but a pure apathy toward food–and no “speed” feeling as one would get with your typical diet pills. Very weird. Since I had some weight to lose I didn’t really mind, although it did take an effort to prevent being a complete idiot and just not eating at all. However, about two weeks in I noticed one night that my eyes were bothering me, and I realized I was experiencing not just usual eye-tiredness from too much writing/PC work, but actual double-vision, to the point of vertigo when I got up and moved around. I thought ‘hmm, maybe I’m really not eating enough?’ But when I looked at the side effects/warnings of the med, one of them said that a (rare) risk was narrow angle glaucoma, and that if any vision changes occurred I should get to an ER as soon as possible. So I did and I was given an okay bill of health, but they told me to nuke the Topomax. (Actually it was the generic, Topiramate.) I ended up embarrassed that I’d wasted their time just because of a _possible_ side effect, but my doctor said I’d done the right thing in going in. So thus ended my experience with it. I’m not 100% convinced that the Topiramate did cause that vision issue, because when I went back for a full eye exam, I was diagnosed with an astigmatism that I’d probably had for a while. So, who knows if it was just a combo of the not-eating thing, regular tiredness, and suddenly/belatedly noticing the astigmatism. All I’d say is, just be aware of the possible effects and don’t be afraid to go into Urgent Care or the ER if any of them crop up when your doc’s not available. It has its uses and hopefully your doctor put you on it for a reason, weighing the risk/benefit ratio in your favor. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/7 "2014-07-08T01:52:37Z")
These questions are best addressed to your pharmacist, who knows about the side effects of a drug as well as its interaction with other drugs and food. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/8 "2014-07-08T02:50:13Z")
I’m going to slide this up to IMHO, since it’s asking for opinions. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2014, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/9 "2014-07-08T03:01:31Z")
Can you do a smaller dosage? Whatever I’m prescribed I always ask what is the minimum therapeutic dosage and work up from there. Just saying… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/10 "2014-07-14T17:19:58Z")
On Saturday morning I hit the 100 mg a day stage, doubling up from 50 mg the day before. The only effects so far is a slight loss of appetite, and _all_ carbonated drinks taste like shit. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/11 "2014-07-14T17:31:17Z")
I’ve been on Topamax for several years now (moved up to 150mg about a 6 months ago). The only side effects I notice are tingling in my extremities (especially in cold weather) and all the stuff that make people call it Dopamax. I’ll sometimes forget words. I’ll proofread posts here to see I left out words altogether, I do a lot of math at work and that’s gone downhill since I started on it. But the reduction in my migraines has really made it worthwhile. I did switch to Depokote at one point and the migraines came back with a vengeance so I went right back. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/12 "2014-07-15T16:07:56Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Can you do a smaller dosage? Whatever I’m prescribed I always ask what is the minimum therapeutic dosage and work up from there. Just saying… With Topamax, you absolutely have to do it that way. The side effects can be dangerous if you don’t. That’s why he’s on the schedule he’s on. The whole point is to get you body used to the new drug. Fortunately, this also means that the side effects usually lessen significantly in a relatively short time. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/13 "2014-07-15T16:18:03Z")
I have a family member who was briefly on Topamax for migraines, and quite taking it because it apparenty induced mental confusion. [QUOTE=Chimera] Wow, lots and lots of possible side effects. Some scary shit there. [/QUOTE] Yesterday I saw a poster promoting a drug for restless leg syndrome. It prominently listed a potential side effect of suddenly falling asleep without warning, including when people are driving. Swell. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/14 "2014-07-15T16:24:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The only effects so far is a slight loss of appetite, and _all_ carbonated drinks taste like shit. Well that sucks. ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/15 "2014-07-15T19:28:22Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > On Saturday morning I hit the 100 mg a day stage, doubling up from 50 mg the day before. The only effects so far is a slight loss of appetite, and _all_ carbonated drinks taste like shit. Yeah, I had the carbonated drinks problem as well. Pretty sure it was the carbonation itself, in that it didn’t seem to matter if it was cola/non-cola, sugar/corn syrup/sugar-free, etc. I was only on it for a month and a half or so, and it didn’t go away at all in that time, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/16 "2014-07-15T19:57:11Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > On Saturday morning I hit the 100 mg a day stage, doubling up from 50 mg the day before. The only effects so far is a slight loss of appetite, and _all_ carbonated drinks taste like shit. Could be worse. Don’t recall what I was on but I’ve had a strong pain reliever make me want to throw up after drinking anything carbonated unless I lied down. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/17 "2014-07-15T20:00:16Z")
> [@dzeiger](#): > > Yeah, I had the carbonated drinks problem as well. Pretty sure it was the carbonation itself, in that it didn’t seem to matter if it was cola/non-cola, sugar/corn syrup/sugar-free, etc. > > I was only on it for a month and a half or so, and it didn’t go away at all in that time, at least. I wonder if it is, I don’t drink soda but do eat and drink a lot of sweat stuff and never had any taste issues. The other issues, most notably paresthesia, always returns after upping my dosage but mostly goes away after a few weeks to a month. It might show up once in a while, but it’s mostly gone after those first few weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-fought-the-meds-and-the-meds-won/692560/18 "2014-07-15T20:18:18Z")
And the toe-tingly crap started this morning.