Migraine - What’s your experience with or knowledge of Topiramate/Topomax for treating migraines/aura? : Women-care

Migraine overview

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A migraine is a headache that can purpose intense throbbing suffering or a pulsing sensation, typically on one facet of the head. It's often accompanied with the aid of nausea, vomiting, and excessive sensitivity to mild and sound. Migraine assaults can closing for hours to days, and the discomfort can be so excessive that it interferes with your each day activities. For some people, a warning symptom viewed as an air of secrecy takes location until now than or with the headache. An air of secrecy can consist of visible disturbances, such as flashes of mild or blind spots, or different disturbances, such as tingling on one thing of the face or in an arm or leg and concern speaking.

My experience-What’s your experience with or knowledge of Topiramate/Topomax for treating migraines/aura?

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I’m looking for others’ anecdotes and experiences with Topiramate/Topomax, especially if your etiology is similar to my own, but everyone with knowledge is welcome to reply:

I’ve had lifelong congenital, classic migraines since childhood. In my late 20s, Cardizem did little to nothing for them; so, I was put on Propranolol/Inderal for about a decade, which was effective at reducing the frequency of my migraines, but needed supplementation with Amidrine/Midrin/Duradrin and Maxalt/Rizatriptan for breakthrough attacks.

For a variety of reasons, I discontinued the Propranolol for a few years, until I was diagnosed with primary hypertension. We got my blood pressure under control by returning to Propranolol and adding Hydrochlorothyazide to the mix. I also take Atorvastatin, because (although I’m an athletic vegetarian and my cholesterol numbers are all pretty good) I have a family history of strokes and heart disease.

These days, the Propranolol seems to suppress my pain phases fairly well, with relatively few breakthrough pain phases. However, I still get almost daily aura and frequently some associated migraine symptoms, such as what I call cognitive blind-spots/viscosity.

I approached my physician about trying one of the new medications, such as Qulipta or Aimovig, one of the Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) antagonists, or something else other than Botox/Botulinum-toxin. My doctor referred me to a neurologist due to her lack of knowledge and experience; but, while awaiting an appointment with the specialist, my PCP’s in-house pharmacologist stepped in at my request to look into my current medication regime. My pharmacologist and physician together discovered that my insurance requires a pre-authorization for the CGRP-class medications, and to get that I must fail two prophylactic drugs. They can count Propranolol as one, and are recommending I try Topiramate.

I’m concerned about the potential side effects; such as, cognitive impairment, mental alertness, physical coordination and heat regulation (especially as an athlete who sweats A LOT as it is), visual field defects (‘though I already wear glasses), and kidney stones (despite currently having excellent kidney function, determined by my lab results). My pharmacologist said Topiramate is one of the better medications for preventing aura, and I’m open to her recommendation, as well as staying on medication that’s effective if it proves so. However, I first want to know what others have experienced.

Thanks for reading all this. I hope it helps find people with similar etiologies. 😱/😁

submitted by /u/SLeeCunningham
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Migraine Symptoms

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Migraines, which have an effect on children and teens as nicely as adults, can development via 4 stages: prodrome, aura, attack and post-drome. Not everyone who has migraines goes through all stages.

★★★ /u/SLeeCunningham
😄 " I hope each new day brings you closer to a full and speedy recovery! "