# Topamax? **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [November 30, 2012, 12:40pm UTC](https://forum.chiarisupport.org/t/topamax/2546 "2012-11-30T12:40:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nicole](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.chiarisupport.org/nicole/32/383_2.png) [@nicole](https://forum.chiarisupport.org/u/nicole)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 12:40pm UTC](https://forum.chiarisupport.org/t/topamax/2546/1 "2012-11-30T12:40:01Z")
I was recently prescribed Topamax. I had read back through some older threads but didn't find much about exhaustion/excessive tiredness. The Chiari (almost 1 yr post op) exhausts me to begin with but since starting the Topamx all I want to do is SLEEP!!! I had a few other side affects, but none that have been bothersome enough to stop it. The first week was bad with the nausea, but that subsided..thank god! I just can't seem to function I am so tired all the time. It has helped with my headaches some, but I am in a Chiari "down hill swing" at the moment, so hopefully when I'm on the up side things will be a whole lot better. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![stl5](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.chiarisupport.org/stl5/32/1403_2.png) [@stl5](https://forum.chiarisupport.org/u/stl5)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 1:40pm UTC](https://forum.chiarisupport.org/t/topamax/2546/2 "2012-11-30T13:40:48Z")
I have never been on topomax but a coworker was put on it for migraines. It was probably 3 weeks or so before she got over feeling extremely tired. She was told that she needed to give her body time to adjust to the medication. ---
**Author:** ![lori](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.chiarisupport.org/lori/32/65_2.png) [@lori](https://forum.chiarisupport.org/u/lori)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://forum.chiarisupport.org/t/topamax/2546/3 "2012-11-30T18:29:25Z")
Hi... Sorry this took me so long to reply. I took Topomax and it was not helpful for me..everyone is different, however....My main complaint with that drug was the drowsiness too..along with wordfinding...tingling increasing in hand..once i stopped it ..so did the side effects....Topomax has a nickname...Dope-o-max....It made me feel stupid..I had to really , really think about even the minor things i had to do. How long have you been taking it? Is it helping with the h/a's??? Keep us posted. ---
**Author:** ![doodledee216](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.chiarisupport.org/doodledee216/32/382_2.png) [@doodledee216](https://forum.chiarisupport.org/u/doodledee216)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://forum.chiarisupport.org/t/topamax/2546/4 "2012-11-30T21:11:11Z")
You probably read some of my other posts when I talked about topomax with someone else - I was on it for a little over a year (just got off of it after my last and hopefully final surgery!) For the first about 8-12 weeks I was miserable, I felt like a zombie, very tired, sick, but I didn't have any more migraines! After my body adjusted to the meds I felt much better and my only symptom up until I quit the med was word-forgetfulness. I found myself constantly losing words in my memory! I still find myself doing it but not near as often. I also didn't experience any weightloss on it, like most people, but I also haven't gained any weight since quitting it. It is a very strong med and I would suggest that if you have issues on it try to take half a dose in the morning and half at night, that's what i was on (50mg morning, 50mg before bed). ---
**Author:** ![nicole](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.chiarisupport.org/nicole/32/383_2.png) [@nicole](https://forum.chiarisupport.org/u/nicole)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://forum.chiarisupport.org/t/topamax/2546/5 "2012-11-30T21:34:25Z")
I actutally think I figured out my fatigue. I have been on the Topamax for about 7 weeks. I had some tiredness in the beginning but it seemed to have recently gotten worse. It does help some with the headaches....not a lot though. But any help is better than NO help I guess. I also have POTS and it was like a light bulb went off today. I woke up this morning craving salt. Lol, then this afternoon it clicked for me, why I had been feeling faint, was short of breath, fatigued weak etc. It all made sense. I went and got some gatorade. Hopefully that helps! My BP had actually normalized for quite a while but my Chiari sx have been on an uproar lately. I was prescribed muscle relaxers to be taken at bedtime on a regular basis. I have been on them for a few months. Well, I had decided to just stop taking them (you don't have to wean off of them) and EVERYTHING hit me like a mac truck! My NL had told me that he thought a lot of my issues post op were muscle related, but I thought he was full of crap. I guess he was right afterall. I went back on them but I am still struggling to get things under control again. It is so strange! Anyone else deal with muscle relaxers long term? ---
**Author:** ![doodledee216](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.chiarisupport.org/doodledee216/32/382_2.png) [@doodledee216](https://forum.chiarisupport.org/u/doodledee216)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://forum.chiarisupport.org/t/topamax/2546/6 "2012-11-30T21:47:26Z")
I was prescribed flexiril after my car accident back last January and took them pretty regularly, one or even 2 sometimes at night when I got home from work, and then continued using them after my surgeries, I never had any issues going off of them, but it is hard for me to fall asleep at night since I haven't been on any pain relievers or muscle relaxers.