Does anyone know the chemical make up of topamax?  I have tried to find it with no success.  Adam wants to know because it is working very well for him.  He wants to know what the downside is.  I work in the Chemistry department at the Univ. of SC and would like to get one of our chemists to look at it.  Of course it may be here, right under my nose. :-/

Thanks,
Louise

See START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

You are dumb and stupid on the medicine and it can cause kidney stones as well as memory problems.  You have to drink lots of water while on the medication.  It is a good medicine for epilepsy I took it for that years ago and it worked well for me.  I took up to 600mg for ch and it didn't help me at all.  I hope Adam finds that it works well for him.

Louise Barham wrote on Nov 25^th, 2008 at 1:43pm:

Does anyone know the chemical make up of topamax?

For me it's 50% can I get any dumber than this? And 50% where am I and what (TF) was I doing? ;D
(At 80 mg)

I have found being on Topamax just wonderful.

It has helped me create the most successful marketing campaign in the history of my business.
I was able to create a "dumbed down" non-technical campaign directed at politicians.

thank you topamax.....and it works well at dumbing down the intensity of my CH as well.
Paul

Been taking it over a year - only 75 mg a day. Can't find words most of the time and colas taste like tin, but CH symptoms are much less. Had my first cycle ever this week and it was more of dull pain instead of what I used to get from single attacks. That reminds me - time for a shot cuz I feel the Shadow returning.

There are studies out there that indicate that 75 mg is optimal for treatment of CH , however, i have best results at 200 mg.

Once i am ramped up to that level, I am not "dumb" or "disoriented" and no memory issues as many report....my body adjusts quite well and I can operate normally.

I am however quite "dumb" on the way up to that level and I make sure i have no major decisions to make during the weeks it takes to ramp up and stabilize at my optimal dose.

Best drug for me in 30 years...not great, but best option so far...no other side effects for me other than diet pop tastes worse (always tastes bad anyhow in my opinion).

paul

Downside is KIDNEYSTONES... that is if you stay on fairly high dose over 100mg for any legnth of time.

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Wondering what is considered any length of time?

I've been on 100mg of Topamax for a couple of years now,for CH as well as well as PTSD. The though of Kidney stones really freaks me out. I don't want to make light of the fact but it reminds me of that episode of Sienfeld when Kramer has a Kidney stone and passes it in the arena restroom!

I certainnly don't need any more pain in my life. Iddy
,

Iddy wrote on Dec 8^th, 2008 at 9:34am:

Wondering what is considered any length of time? I've been on 100mg of Topamax for a couple of years now,for CH as well as well as PTSD. The though of Kidney stones really freaks me out. I don't want to make light of the fact but it reminds me of that episode of Sienfeld when Kramer has a Kidney stone and passes it in the arena restroom! I certainnly don't need any more pain in my life. Iddy ,

I understand your concern, since i am a kidney stone sufferer and have been fairly regularly for 15 years, HOWEVER, since i have been on Topamax for the past 4 years, I have not a single stone attack...go figure..Topamax has prevented kidney stones for me!...just drink alot of water when taking it as is recommended, since 70% of the drug passes out the urinary tract and you should be ok.

my doc switched me onto this from toparol, but it is not working either.

ohioterpes wrote on Dec 9^th, 2008 at 4:45pm:

my doc switched me onto this from toparol, but it is not working either.

You mentioned 50 mg...that is not enough...75 is effective in some but most Cluster patients need at least 150 -200 mg to be effective. For me at 200 ,it does not eliminate the headaches but it does reduce the pain significantly from Kip 9/10 to generaly below 7/8 ...for me it is a well worth the effort for such a pain reduction.....especially when my body has been resistant to all other medications and treatment options....no complaints here.