Topamax vs other meds

I am curious whether any of you have found any meds that you have taken in place of topamax that does not rob you of your ability to think straight the way topamax does? And of course I m sleepy just about all the time.  Unfortunately topamax has really helped out on the other hand I have had to cut back on many of the activities I used to do at work (like trainings, public speaking etc.) because I am so fearful that I will not be able to find the word or phrase I need and during one presentation I actually felt like I needed a nap!  Don't you think it would have been shocking if I had taken off my shoes and asked the audience to excuse me while I just grabbed a few winks!

Help!

Ramona zzzzzzzzz

 

My current neuro, who is probably the best in his field, told me if Topamax didn't have any effect in the first 3 months, I should have been weaned off it.  He had me wean off it, and my appetite came back.

 

Have you been tested for sleep apnea?  Many people find great relief of their headaches once their sleep apnea is being helped.

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We urge all doctors to take time to listen to your patients...don't "isolate" symptoms but look at the whole spectrum.  If a patient tells you s/h feels as if s/he's falling apart and "nothing seems to be working properly", chances are s/he's right!

 

I was on topamax just 1 month when I started having reactions.  That was may last year & still am mending the damage.  I was told by 2 neurologists it was the best treatment on the market for daily chronic migraines & syncope.  However, apart from the 'loss of appetite' warning I wasn't informed of the more serious side efects of which I experienced.Its most definatlely named wrong & sholud be called Dopamax cuz i was never so stupid, couldnt remeber the names of the simplest things.  My bowel completly shut down & was shifted to A&E, this was AFTER i had been weaned off it.  I also had very very badthoughts that luckily my partner & mother picked up(I thought I was fine) & was then told I was one of the unforyunate people that react badlt to Topamax.  To add to that I was only takin a low enough dose of 100mg & luckily  put my foot down at the neurologists clinic & demanded i be taken off it cuz who knows where Id be now.

 

I am now trying out Amytrip' which is also not treating the pain & cause very painful palpitations & dizziness.