Topamax...Epelepsy med for insulin resistance?

Pattyannruss · 07-10-2002, 02:56 AM

I went in again today for test results.

My DR has shown me where I made improvements with my Glucose and Insulin tests, problem is not good enough with what I'm doing.
She told me about a this med and that they are using it for IR.
I asked what side effects and she said it can cause droziness.
I said thats it? YEP!

OK now I go online to look it up.
Dang it!! It can cause glocoma and possible go into blindness!
I know this would be a serious side effect but come on.
Now I'm scared to take it. The GlucXR also makes me tired.
So will I be able to wake up if I need to?

And of course it is another med that can cause liver probs.
Just think all this cause I won't eat my veggies!!!

Now I did find an article in the forum for PCOS News info or something like that.(Top forum here at SC)
They talked about the benifits of seizure meds helping PCOS.

My DR seems to think it could help my trigliserites(sp?)
My Gluc was 120
Insulin after the 2 hr pancake deal was 103
it is supossed to be 50-54

I thought I would toss this out there.
I will prob try the new med tonight to see what happens.

Patty

DebiLMT · 07-10-2002, 03:41 PM

Patty,
My provider talked about topamax with me also...because I am still craving carbohydrates like crazy.

I am going in Friday for a 4 hour glucose tolerance test and insulin tests, then we are supposed to talk about it in a couple of weeks.

Sounds a little extreme to me. I think I will check into it also, before I agree. Maybe if I up my exercise and veggies some more it will help. Dunno..

Let me know what you decide.

Debi

evita · 07-10-2002, 05:33 PM

Wow, I didn't even know that they perscribed Topamax for IR. I take it (100mg) for migraine prevention. I will tell you that it has killed my sweet cravings A LOT! Not that I don't have them at all...but I don't want them as much as I used to. I will tell you that it makes soda taste like CRAP. I haven't had a Dr. Pepper since I started the med (March), and I was a Dr. Pepper aholic!

As far as your concern for Glaucoma...yes, it is a side effect. I will give you the blurb about it on the paper my neurologist gave me when she started me on the Topamax:

"As of October 8, 2001, 23 of 825,000 patients on Topamax developed sudden glaucoma. That is only a .00002% risk so the risk is less than minimal. If you develop any decreased vision and/or eye pain, then stop Topamax right away and see your eye doctor."

Also, I don't know of any liver problems from it, but it is known for kidney problems. Here is the blurb about kidneys:

"Kidney stones developed in 1.5% of the patients studied. Drink 8 glasses of fluids a day. If you have a history of kidney stones, you need to avoid use of this drug unless you had a specific reason for their formation in the past."

Since I'm typing and there isn't much more here...And since you are both thinking about taking the med...I will tell you what else this little sheet said:

"Topamax:
The most often associated adverse events were:
1. Difficulty with concentration, speedh or language problems, in particular word finding difficulties and
2 somnolence and fatigue.
Additional complaints were dizziness or imbalance, confusion, memory problems, and irritability or depression. Some patients felt tingling numbness in the soles of their feet or hands.

The efficacy of oral contraceptive medication may be compromised by Topamax. Use a barrier method."

If y'all decide to take it, all I can say is make sure they put you on a LOW dose and work you up VERY slowly...this really helps keep side effects to a min. I don't really notice any side effects now...except the soda thing, and I still don't have the appetite like I used to have. If you have any questions about it...I would be happy to answer them.

DebiLMT · 07-11-2002, 01:08 PM

Have you had the somnolence and lack of concentration? That worries me more than glaucoma. I have this terrible imagination of being so drugged that I cannot function properly.

How have you reacted to it? I would love to hear more.

Thank you
Debi

Pattyannruss · 07-11-2002, 01:19 PM

I'm dingy enough as it is!

How will I know?

Last night I took all my meds like normal
and I have been wired up since 3am.
I was lucky enough to dose a bit off and on.
It could be the stress of my shift today.

I'll see how I do tonight.

Patty

Hey Debi!
Are you hiring?

evita · 07-11-2002, 02:36 PM

okay, well...everyone seems to react different...but for me...my neurologist strictly gives this as a BED TIME med. I take it around 9:30 and I'm ready to go to bed at 10:30 after the news. Not saying that I'd fall asleep standing up if I didn't...but I'm ready for bed. At first I was VERY tired, but now...my body has adjusted to the med, and I don't notice feeling any difference in that department.

As far as cognition problems...I've always been a pretty crapy speller...and I have noticed that it is magnified since being on the Topamax (or maybe I am using it as an excuse!) lol And actually...that seems to be getting better the longer I've been on it too.

I did have the tingly feet too...and that has gone away.

Pretty much the side effect I have kept is the one I am loving and that is the carb cravings are reduced...and I've been off the Dr. Pepper for 4 months, which is the longest I've gone without one in 17 years. Oh, and I used to HAVE to have ice cream or some kind of desert every night at 9 with a program I watch on TV or if I was reading...and I don't do that anymore. I pretty much eat deserts on special occasions only.

I started on 15 mgs and then went up about 10 mgs per week until I got to 100 mgs. It took me 6 weeks to get to 100 mgs. Some MD's will just start a person at 100 mgs and the person will have all kinds of crapy side effects and be sooooo sick...and that just is not the way to do it!

You guys ask away...I'm here for ya...it's a intimidating drug...but if you take it right, it can really help some. It has been my magic potion.

Pattyannruss · 07-12-2002, 10:14 AM

These are the results my DR is hoping for.

She has me at 25mg at night.

It was weird, again, I woke up before the alarm. This was bad beacause I didn't get off work untill 9pm and I have to be to work at 6am today.

I am also trying to eat more foods with higher protien and little carbs. I have not been able to give up all the carbs yet.

Thanks for being there, I'm sure I will have more for you soon.

Patty

evita · 07-12-2002, 02:32 PM

Patty, Do you know what dose he plans to take you up to?

Now, I didn't say I don't eat any carbs. I just am not as interested in them (as I sit here eating crackers)

It's the sweets that I have been able to turn away, and that has never been easy for me.

Remember I'm here for ya!

Pattyannruss · 07-13-2002, 09:28 AM

She hasn't really talked how long I will even be on it.
I think we are hopeing for short term,for weight control.

I have another ? for you.

Did you have any muscle pain?
At the same time I started the med, I have developed
neck pain that now radiates down between my shoulder blades.

I thought maybe I pulled something at work, but this is just horrible pain. I had to have DH help me out of bed today.
I took two Vioxx just to be able to brush my hair. I can hardly turn my head one way or the other. I have dropped several things on the floor but there is no way I;m gonna pick them up!

I have to be at work at 6 am. I will show,write the schedule then tell them I have to go, I worked all day yesterday like this and it sucked.

I also woke in a sweat and that was sleep on top of an ice bag!
I'm not runny a fever, even if I get the flu I don't go above 100.
I run low.

Let me know what you think.
I may need to post this over at the other spot.

Thanks,
Patty

DebiLMT · 07-13-2002, 01:21 PM

Hey Patty,

You have started taking the topomax? Are you groggy at all? We are waiting for the results of my 4 hour gtt and insulin tests that I had done yesterday.

I am also keeping a diary of all food that I eat and what time, to take back with me to my next appointment.

I hope you are feeling better soon.

Hugs
Debi

Pattyannruss · 07-13-2002, 09:27 PM

HI Debi,

She told me to take it at bed time because it can cause tiredness.
I have been dosing all day, I don't know if it is from the meds or the pain. I cant take Vicoden or Hycod because of major allergy.

Right now I just downed another 4 ibprofens just to be able to sit upright. I think it could be a pinched nerve, but I can't figure out what I could have done to cause it.

I came home balling my eyes out today.
It was that bad. I didn't care what anyone said about me leaving work. Look how bad it was and I showed up out of responsibility.
Good thing too,because nightcrew left 1hr early,which left me with out my backup checker.

When boss man got there I filled him in and he personally got me out of the checkstand. That really impressed me. I guess he's not as big a butt as I thought.

I wonder if this new med could cause this. I have been looking but can't find anything yet. I will have to ask for a print out from the pharmacy I guess.

Talk to you soon,
Patty

Pattyannruss · 07-13-2002, 10:18 PM

• Ketogenic diets (high protein, very low carbohydrate diets that may induce ketosis) may increase the risk of kidney stone formation and should be avoided during treatment with topiramate

I think because of my diet is why she suggested this med.
I'm not gonna worry about low carbing right now.

evita · 07-14-2002, 01:50 AM

Hmmm...I don't know about muscle pain. I've researched this med pretty intensively...and not seen anything on that, but then...I haven't experienced it at all, so I might have just skipped it. Maybe it is making you sleep so hard at night that you are sleeping all contorted. I find that happens to me sometimes in regards to my neck.

I didn't really start getting all groggy until I got up to about 50 mgs which for me was about 3 weeks into taking the drug.

Sometimes we just do things to our muscles and don't even realize it.

I'm allergic the the vicodin and the hydrocodone too! Can't take that stuff...no way no how!

Okay, keep us updated! Hope you feel better.

Pattyannruss · 07-14-2002, 02:35 PM

Ok I started feeling a bit better. Well I was able to get off the couch on my own.I didn't take any of my meds last night to see if that made a difference.

OMG! I hurt just as bad! I'll now admit it must be a pinched nerve for sure. I still should be able to lose weight cause I can hardly hold a bowl of ceral to my face to eat!

I am calling first thing Monday!

I'm glad to hear it's not related to the new med.

Thanks again,
Patty

Pattyannruss · 07-15-2002, 01:27 PM

You are right.

I had my info mixed up. It was my research on Avandia that increased chance of liver concernes.

I have had to look up so much stuff,it's nice to have someone who has been there to guide us through it.

So far I haven't noticed any side effects while taking the Topamax.

Thanks again,
Patty