I am 26 y/o female and a headache/migraine sufferer for over 10 years. I was put on topamax years ago and had severe, debilitating nausea. Moving a finger or eyeball would worsen nausea. I would pretty much (figuratively speaking) be paralyzed by how bad the nausea, loss of appetite was. Over 6 months to a year, i lost 25-30lbs, and i was 125 to begin with, 5'3". My doctor begged me to continue taking it, as she was sure the side effects would subside leading to relief
And they did. I had significant releif and decrease in migraines/headaches for 3yrs or so. I was in between jobs beginning of 2017, without insurance and was not able to obtain my topamax refill. But I had been on it so long, i figured getting back on it would be no issue. WRONG! When i restarted low dose with intention of tapering back up, the nausea was WORSE. I tried to stick it out for a few days but it was unbearable. Zofran 8mg wouldnt touch it.
So question is.. has anyone else experienced debilitating nausea as side effect, anything that helped it? I just got referred to a new neurologist and she wants to begin botox and prescribed Reglan to try for the nausea i get with migraines. I am seeing Trokendi XR, an extended release topamax, and wondering if anyone who experienced the severe nausea on topamax, has tried the XR form, and had less nausea? Topamax was the only thing that made a difference... and i even tried taking 7.5mg 1x day for a week, then 2x a day for a week, so on and so forth. The dose that had me stable was low, at 50mg twice a day. I just received an rx for reglan.. so im wondering if I could try to get back on topamax if reglan decreased nausea whereas zofran made NO difference. or if maybe a 4-7 day trial of Trokendi XR is worth a shot. Botox is my last shot... and benefit of improvement outweighs risk.. but if i dont have to, i dont want to. Please help with any pointers, experience, stories.. I am a nurse myself and stuck. This is beginning to negatively affect my ability to function efficiently in my job. Sorry for long post, just found this support group! Fingers crossed!!! Thank you,
-Carley
Debilitating Nausea with Topamax.. is it just as bad with XR form, trokendi?
Question posted by CarleyCoop on 2 Nov 2017
Last updated on 30 May 2018 by llbenoit
Answers
Hi Carley,
I know this was last year, but I just came across your post and saw how you g you are and wondered if you were able to get things figured out with the Topamax and nausea? I am kind of in the same boat. I am 40, suffer with migraines, and was put on Topamax 25 2 x per day and have horrible nausea at random times that is dibilitating. At first I didn’t think that was it, but after 3 weeks on it, it’s the only change I’ve made. Not sure what to do and if I want to stay on it. I’m supposed to increase to 4 pills a day.
Hope you found some relief!!
I was on Topamax for a while. It made my head feel very confused and fuzzy and I lost weight on it. I think Topamax is good for some things but not migraines. I am 67 years old and I have had migraines for 50 years or more. Not once did a neurologist ever say well let’s find out what kind of migraine you have. My primary care doctor figured it out last year and I have cervicogenic migraines which are not helped with Botox. I did try them for one year four times a year then another year but only three times because I just didn’t want to do it they were no help. Be your own advocate and look up how many different kinds of migraines there are, there are a lot! I have found neurologist only want to stick you or write a prescription.
Related topics
botox, reglan, topamax, zofran, migraine, headache, migraine prevention, nausea/vomiting, fibromyalgia, migraine prophylaxis, female, trokendi xr
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