The Epilepsy Therapy Development Project‘s website has the most comprehensive information on anticonvulsants that I’ve seen. It is thorough and broken down in a clever way, so that you can see the basics or intermediate or advanced information.
Here are links to the site’s descriptions of epilepsy drugs that are frequently used migraine and headache preventives:
Many thanks to Pam for pointing out the site!
I have tried all of those, and Depakote worked the best for me. Unfortunately, I had to stop taking it due to hand tremors.
A neurologist at UCSF got me started on an Alzheimer med called Namenda. So far it seems to have cut my migraines from 3 or 4 a week to 3 or 4 a month. Some more information can be found here: http://headaches.about.com/od/medsarticlesandinfo/a/namenda_prev.htm
Thanks, Kerrie. I’ve been looking for a source of information about how epilepsy drugs work, because I wonder if it’s the same biochemical pathway that’s treated by the ketogenic diet.
What a thorough website!
I wish I’d seen it BEFORE I tried Topamax, Lamictal, and Lyrica — all of which caused major depressions without helping the headache.
Kerrie, this is the BEST medication website that I have ever read. I would love to see something as comprehensive written for all headache meds.
I really like how you can choose the level of information that you’d like. I’ve been on Neurontin as a preventative for 2 years and thought I’d read everything about it. I learned some things even from the easiest level of info.
Thanks for passing this on.
Wow! Excellent information. I,too was on both Lyrica and Stupamax with very little results – among many other AEDs. Now taking the Zonegran for close to 2 years, and though it has been the best med so far, it beginning to lose it’s effect.
I have been prescribed both Lyrica and Topamax for my Chiari type headaches.
The Topamax, most commonly nicknamed Stupamax, literally made me stupid. I hated it and felt like I couldn’t keep my job while taking it so I made the doctor change it.
Lyrica just didn’t do anything. It was like swollowing sugar… What’s the point?
I’m now taking Zonegran and it seems to be working better than the other two.