![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LibbyH on March 7, 2005, at 3:46:07
I started Topamax about two months ago and have had ONE decent night's sleep since. I finally complained to my doc that I can't live this way and he has me tapering off, but my sleep patterns don't seem to be returning to normal. I have been tapering from 100 mg for three weeks and am now at 50 mg. I thought by now I would feel some difference, but I don't. I sleep an average of three hours a night and I'm TIRED! I'm really worried about the effects this will have on my long-term health. I'm 45 years old and under a lot of stress right now, so I need my rest.
My doc says the stress is causing the insomnia, but I was sleeping just fine under the same stress level BEFORE I went on the Topamax. Since the Topamax, though, even 2 mg of Klonopin won't help.
I've tried everything I can think of and nothing helps. NOTHING! I have huge dark circles under my eyes. I look and feel awful.
Will this EVER end????
Can ANYTHING help?L.
Posted by Nero on March 7, 2005, at 8:47:08
In reply to Topamax and Insomnia, posted by LibbyH on March 7, 2005, at 3:46:07
That's very interesting that Topamax is causing insomnia. I was considering asking my doc to prescribe it for me (to help with sleep) but now will reconsider. Not sleeping could definitely be caused by the medication as meds work differently for each person. Insomnia can sometimes be a sign of anxiety or mania induced by meds. I took Seroquel at bedtime which was very helpful for sleep but gained some weight. I was hoping to try Topamax instead to sleep better and loss weight. Keep us posted on how you’re doing. I can totally relate to severe insomnia both situational and medication induced.
Posted by jodigirl on March 7, 2005, at 10:24:07
In reply to Topamax and Insomnia, posted by LibbyH on March 7, 2005, at 3:46:07
What a shame about the Topamax preventing you from sleeping. Topamax was a literal God-send for me. It was an additive to Effexor XR (and now is an additive to Cymbalta) -- for treatment resistant major unipolar depression. The combination led me to remission. ;-) Topamax actually *helps* me so that I can sleep and when I try to taper off of it . . . I cannot sleep well. Go figure!!!
Posted by Maxime on March 7, 2005, at 14:36:07
In reply to Re: Topamax and Insomnia, posted by jodigirl on March 7, 2005, at 10:24:07
Topamax caused insomnia for me as well. It caused other problems as well. While you are coming off it can your doctor give you a sleep med? Something like Ambien just to try for a few a nights to get into a sleep pattern of some sort. As long as you are taking the med it is going to cause insomnia.
You doctor can't expect you to live this. He has to give you something.
You better start demanding something.
I feel for you.
Maxime
Posted by Phillipa on March 7, 2005, at 17:28:09
In reply to Re: Topamax and Insomnia, posted by Maxime on March 7, 2005, at 14:36:07
I'm really sleeping better since I went on the valium. It truly helps. Fondly, Phillilpa
Posted by Cairo on March 7, 2005, at 20:42:44
In reply to Topamax and Insomnia, posted by LibbyH on March 7, 2005, at 3:46:07
I just had an appointment with my doctor today regarding my Fibromyalgia and she wants to start me on Topamax. She said in some of her patients it causes sedation, but in others anxiety. If sedation, take at night, if anxiety try it in the morning. She also said to stick with it for awhile and the anxiety may improve. She's starting me on only 25mg and we'll titrate up slowly, just like with Neurontin. She prescribed Desyrel for sleep. Neurontin caused sedation in me, so maybe the Topamax will also.
Cairo
> I started Topamax about two months ago and have had ONE decent night's sleep since. I finally complained to my doc that I can't live this way and he has me tapering off, but my sleep patterns don't seem to be returning to normal. I have been tapering from 100 mg for three weeks and am now at 50 mg. I thought by now I would feel some difference, but I don't. I sleep an average of three hours a night and I'm TIRED! I'm really worried about the effects this will have on my long-term health. I'm 45 years old and under a lot of stress right now, so I need my rest.
>
> My doc says the stress is causing the insomnia, but I was sleeping just fine under the same stress level BEFORE I went on the Topamax. Since the Topamax, though, even 2 mg of Klonopin won't help.
>
> I've tried everything I can think of and nothing helps. NOTHING! I have huge dark circles under my eyes. I look and feel awful.
>
> Will this EVER end????
> Can ANYTHING help?
>
> L.
>
>
Posted by LibbyH on March 7, 2005, at 22:36:17
In reply to Re: Topamax and Insomnia » LibbyH, posted by Cairo on March 7, 2005, at 20:42:44
This is my second time on Topamax. The first time I had no ill side effects at a dose of 150 mg/day. I quite because my migraines got better and the drug was expensive. This time, I could never get past 75 mg/day without eye and muscle tremors, extreme hair breakage, and finally the insomnia.
The first thing we tried was moving the dose from evening to morning. That helped me sleep a few hours each night, but never a full night. This isn't "classic" anxiety - at least it doesn't have the usual symptoms. I have been prescribed Klonopin "as needed" for anxiety for five years, and have never needed more than one milligram for my worst panic attacks. When the insomnia started getting worrisome, I tried taking Klonopin to help me sleep and two milligrams didn't help at all. It did make me more tired, but I still couldn't sleep. The thing is that I can be so tired and sleepy that I am literally falling over and still not be able to fall asleep on this drug. It's like my body gets tired and sleepy but my mind doesn't. EVER.
I called my pdoc for an emergency visit today and he was concerned enough that he felt I could accelerate my tapering off so I can get off this drug faster. He also suggested increasing my Ritalin (for ADD) in the hope of creating a bigger "crash" at the end of each day and finally prescribed Sonata "as needed" until I am off the Topamax.
He agress this is not classic anxiety, but it does seem to be an anxiety-like effect. Although there is some chance it would lessen in time, the other complications I was having, combined with the fact that it wasn't having the intended therapeutic effect, gave him plenty of reason to take me off it.
I still don't get why I had no trouble at all the first time and it has been nothing but PAIN this time, but there isn't a doubt in m mind the Topamax is what is causing this. Everything else had been stable for at least three years prior to the Topoamax and I was sleeping fine. The only trouble was I had migraines once a week or so. I'd rather have a headache once a week and vbe able to sleep than not ne able to sleep and be headache-free. Besides, I have other options for the migraines.
Thanks for the responses. They prompted me to call my doc and get this taken care of... I felt like I was going slowly crazy with sleep deprivation....
L.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.