Topamax and kidney stones

**Breezy1218** · 10-18-2007, 06:54 AM

I did not know this, so I apologize if it's a repeat post, but it is new to me!

I followed up with my uro today, for my continued UTI/kidney infection. First off, I found out that it is no more, so I can resume my caths...yea! However, I still have a VERY tender right side/flank. And my urine is still quite cloudy most of the time. This was why I wanted to make absolutely sure my UA was clear.

He scrolled through my med list, and asked if I was still on Topamax. He said it raises the urine pH, which causes calcium phosphate to crystallize, putting people at higher risk for kidney stones. The reason that my urine looks hazy is likely because of this crystallization. We are going to resume the caths and hope that resolves my symptoms, and if not, we'll do a CT to check for stones.

I never knew this about Topamax, and I'm on a high dose~300mg daily. (He actually joked that Topamax is good for business...haha *smirk*). So, since I know that there are plenty of women here are on it, I just wanted to pass on that info for anyone who might not know!

**BrittanysDance** · 10-19-2007, 03:09 AM

Sorry you are having so much pain and problems. I have been on Topomax for well over a year now and was forwarned about the side effects of Kidney stones by my doctor. It is also listed on the warnings and drug insert as the number one issue.

Drink LOTS of water while on it and if you cant do a ton of water, alternate with whatever it is you can / like to drink (try to avoid caffinated and carbonated drinks though). ALSO - you should avoid GRAPFRUIT while on this medication as it has a bad reaction with it from what I can recall on the insert as well.

Glad you are feeling better!

Hugs,
Brittany

**Breezy1218** · 10-23-2007, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by BrittanysDance

Sorry you are having so much pain and problems. I have been on Topomax for well over a year now and was forwarned about the side effects of Kidney stones by my doctor. It is also listed on the warnings and drug insert as the number one issue.

Drink LOTS of water while on it and if you cant do a ton of water, alternate with whatever it is you can / like to drink (try to avoid caffinated and carbonated drinks though). ALSO - you should avoid GRAPFRUIT while on this medication as it has a bad reaction with it from what I can recall on the insert as well.

Glad you are feeling better!

Hugs,
Brittany

It's good that you were forewarned...I may be in the minority that wasn't, but I had no idea until he told me.
It's ironic, I admitted a patient the other night with her 3rd bout in a year of kidney stones; when I asked her about her home meds, the first one she told me about was a high dose of ... you guessed it!

My sister thinks that *if* that's what I have...and I have wondered the last few days if it isn't gallbladder problems, with the pain I'm having I can't tell and being a surgical nurse, my mind immediately goes to the "typical" problems.....that I should get off the topamax. Well, I would think to wait and see if it recurs more than once at least! I take it both for bipolar tendencies and for nerve pain, so to replace it with two other PRICEY meds, with undesirable side effects, is NOT in my best interest at the moment. I tried Neurontin before the topamax, and I was eating when I wasn't sleeping, pretty much! Not what I want to go back to by far.

Anyhow...sorry to vent! Just sick of being in this pain.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, I suppose.....

**SandyRN** · 10-24-2007, 10:43 AM

It really does stink that a medication that helps as much as the Topamax does can cause kidney stones. I researched all over the web when I started taking it and knew about the stones but it seems worth the risk in my case because I'm on a low dose. I'm only taking 50mg right now. I went up to 100mg and my feet kept falling asleep so I went back down again. I've never been on a medication that I have to keep playing with the dose so much. It took me a long time to get over 25mg without having major DUH moments on it. Then I stopped taking it for a few weeks, restarted it again, worked my way up to 100mg, then the feet thing, then back down again. I'm not sure it's doing all that much for me really...not at this low of a dose but I can't seem to go any higher because the tingly feet thing was driving me insane.

You're right, this statement is SO true.. "Anyhow...sorry to vent! Just sick of being in this pain. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, I suppose....."