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Topiramate/contraception

2 replies

Laurie000 · 18/09/2021 20:19

Hi Ladies,
I’m currently taking topiramate for my migraines and so far it seems to be working. I am experiencing some of the usual side effects, pins and needles, mood swings, nausea (which comes and comes gos) I’m praying for the weight loss one to kick in. Lol.
The doctor changed my method of contraception. I was previously on the pill, which I was relatively happy with. I’d been on it for years even through my single years as it stopped my periods and my periods tend to be very heavy. The downside of the pill was that I found my (as Austin Powers would say) “mojo” would decrease but it wasn’t a huge problem. Fast forward to being put onto topiramate the doctor tells me that it will interfere with the pill and I need to have the injection instead. I’ve had 1 shot so far. I started with spotting, which became constant and has turned into a period. My “mojo” has took a serious nose dive, but I don’t know if that’s the injection or the topiramate as I’ve heard that can be a side effect or it’s both… wonderful Grin
Firstly has anyone been on topiramate and experienced any of this before?
I’m tempted to not go for the next injection.
I’ve told the other half who right now we can call Richard (think of the shortened version of the name Richard) that it’s his turn to take care of contraception by wearing something and he laughed at me and then complained because, you know the usual answer “it doesn’t feel nice”. At this rate he’ll be lucky if it feels nice again (sorry too much information).
I find it very annoying that women are expected to put their bodies through so much and just take a pill, or go for an injection or have an implant or coil fitted so a man can get that extra bit of pleasure.

OP posts:
LemonySippet · 18/09/2021 23:54

Hi Laurie, I'm on topiramate too and have been for a number of years now. It works brilliantly for me, I usually get one breakthrough migraine a month during my period but that's better than the 3 or 4 every week I was having before.

With regards to general side effects, they do wane over time, the only one I have left is the slight dopiness, I forget words sometimes and feel a bit slow, but I'll take that! All the pins and needles etc stopped after a few months. And I never lost any weight, annoyingly.

I haven't experienced any negative effect on my libido, quite the opposite as I'm not feeling shit all the time! Also I hit my 40s which apparently is a time for things to ramp up, libido-wise, and I definitely experienced that Grin. So I would imagine the effects you're seeing are probably more down to your contraception. I don't use any hormonal contraception (for the reasons you mention, I've had enough of hormones controlling my life), we just use condoms. If an adult sexually active man isn't willing to use or capable of using condoms then he doesn't get to have sex. My husband will be having a vasectomy once routine appointments open up again, he was booked in but had to cancel it a couple of years ago due to illness and then covid happened.

I hope you find a solution to work for you and hope the topiramate changes your life for the better Flowers

Laurie000 · 19/09/2021 07:48

Thank you for your reply LemonySippet. It’s nice to hear positive feedback about Topiramate from someone. I do hope the pins and needles will stop, I thought they were something I was going to have to get used to.
Funnily enough, I’d jokingly mentioned the snip to him the other night. We don’t have kids (I feel like a bit of a fraud being on mums net when I’m childfree, but it’s so good) and we would like kids at some point. He wasn’t happy at my joke 😬
I guess he’ll just have to miss out until he’s sensible enough to put a coat on 😂

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