Just started Topamax, need advice on breathing issue

Let me give you a quick history. This year has been a bad year for rain. I started getting migraines whenever we had a weather system change. I went to the doctor thinking I had a sinus infection, but I also had a migraine. She put me on Axert, which worked, to stop them until I had my first migraine with an aura. I possibly took it to late, but this migraine lasted for three days in May. I went back to the doctor. She placed me on Topamax because of the frequency of them. Well, she told me I needed to up it to 25 mg at bedtime. It worked, I wasn't having problems. She said I would need to drink a lot of water with this medicine, which I do. A week later, I started 50 mg. Once I started this I started having problems with my breathing, I do not have asthma. I started having hyperventilating attacks. I have called my doctor, but she says I need to keep taking Topamax, but if it gets to bad to go to the ER. I am at my wits end, I don't know what to do. I started drinking a 32 oz. bottle of Gatorade or Powerade a day to replace the dehydration of this drug. I am now having a headache all the time. I am having problems with my memory. My stomach is always upset. But, this breathing issues is really scarying me. Is this a side effect?

Thanks,

April

Hey Lacyloo101,

 

First, let me welcome you to the Migraine Forum.  We value all new members.  However, you are clearly a "newbie", giving advise when you haven't had enough experience yourself with the medication(TOPAMAX) to give recommendations to other forum members. 

 

A second opinion on Topamax from a doctor is a waste of time.  Doctors like to push whatever is the hot medication of the hour.  They don't take it, so they rarely know how awful the side effects can be.  Often the patients are so affected by the drug, they can't adequately describe all the side effects they are experiencing.  If you go back and read my previous post in this string, it details the HORRORS I've had to deal with regarding this drug. 

 

Reading all the posts on this board regarding Topamax will give you all the information you know about this POISON.  There are probably dozens of strings on TOPAMAX.  Just keep going back into the archieves.  You may be one of the lucky few people that are not bothered by this medication.  You may even luckier to have it actually work for you.  If so, I envy you.  Many more of us TOPAMAX GUINEA PIGS have not been as lucky.

 

Let us know how you are doing, especially if you keep taking this med.

 

Leigh Ann