Re: Re: sleep meds/migranes med/Topamax warning letter

[Guest guest]

Yes, you are right . I read it again and that worries me. I wonder

what to do about it. I take Fosamax and calcium w/magnesium and migraines seem

impossible to live with - can you help me understand the section regarding

osteoporosis. I was told I had it after the last bone density so now I wonder if

it's related to the Topamax. It seems every drug has good and bad effects.

Even aspirin apparently. I appreciate your feedback!

[Guest guest]

Please keep reading! The prescribing information explains more fully.

I want to do more research before saying a whole lot about Topamax. It looks

as if the effects on bone are not fully known. Certainly the risk of

osteomalacia or rickets in children is a major one. But there also seems to be

some concern about precipitating or worsening osteoporosis in adults .

Re: Re: sleep meds/migranes med/Topamax warning

letter

Judy - I read the warning letter and it referred only to Pediatric patients

and the # was in the 3 to 11% range. It referred to bicarbonate poisoning

which

has something to do w/electrolyte imbalance. The warning letter Dr. Hulihan,

Group Director, CHN Research referred to OVERDOSAGE (his caps). I still want

an explanation by a physician, but I felt a little better after reading the

actual study information. My concern would be interactions with other meds

that

affect electrolyte imbalance, for example, high blood pressure meds or

diurectics...but I'm no doctor so I think checking w/the doctor is always a

good idea.

I worry that doctors don't always review meds that are prescribed by other

docs.

[Guest guest]

For those who are unfamiliar with it, melatonin is a hormone produced naturally

in our bodies when we are sleepy. Obviously, taking it in pill form is not

natural, but I've been using it for years with no perceived side effects.

As I have mentioned in a previous posting, I have had to fiddle with dosage and

form to get the most out of it, but it has helped me a lot.

Sharon in Southern New Hampshire

Congenital scoliosis w/ spina bifida and other vertebral anomalies

1971 Harrington rod fusion, T5-L4, flatback, L5-S1 degeneration, etc.

Re: Re: sleep meds/migranes med/Topamax warning

letter

Yes, you are right . I read it again and that worries me. I wonder

what to do about it. I take Fosamax and calcium w/magnesium and migraines seem

impossible to live with - can you help me understand the section regarding

osteoporosis. I was told I had it after the last bone density so now I wonder

if

it's related to the Topamax. It seems every drug has good and bad effects.

Even aspirin apparently. I appreciate your feedback!

[Guest guest]

Well, here's a link which discusses scoliosis as being an osteoporosis risk

factor. I don't know how medically established this belief is, but I knew I'd

read something along those lines. I don't feel like hunting for the article

now, but I do remember reading something about young scoliosis patients who

actually had bone density scans (Who routinely does bone density scans on

kids?!), and there was a significant incidence of lower-than-normal bone density

in these children.

http://www.ctds.info/osteopenia.html

Re: Re: sleep meds/migranes med/Topamax

warning letter

| Not to horn in here, but scoliosis AND anti-seizure meds are both

" risk " factors for osteoporosis. I have not heard specifically about

Topamax, but I do know other anti-seizure meds are. Also, spending time

in bed, which most of us did, is also a risk factor.