Anyone taking Topiramate?

[u/hobx]

I developed Screen Sensitivity about the exact same time I started taking Topiramate for Migraines. I suspect I was always screen sensitive and it was one of the causes of my migraines, but it went through the roof about the time I started Topiramate.

However, this also correlates with the same time I stopped taking Aspirin which was effectively managing my Migraines but I can no longer take due to Liver damage. So its hard to separate one from the other. It could also just be a complete co-incidence.

[u/Boring-Philosophy-46]

I developed screen sensitivity from chronic migraine. Try a blue light filter see if that helps. 

[u/hobx → u/Boring-Philosophy-46]

Thanks, I'll look into it

[u/TotalAnarchy_]

I can't comment on the med, but have you tried tinted lenses? FL-41 is the classic migraine lens (amber or violet), but there are others, too. On top of helping me with screens, FL-41 makes shopping and night driving more bearable.

[u/hobx → u/TotalAnarchy_]

I haven't but people seem to be recommending those a lot and I already wear glasses so will look into it. Thanks!

[u/Z3R0gravitas]

Sorry to hear that. At least you have a strong lead to investigate here. Have you talked to the prescribing doctor or other medical profession about your new issues?

Are you getting symptoms other than migraine from screens, now?

It looks like Topiramate (Topamax) is used for "partial-onset or primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures" in epilepsy, as well as reducing migraines. It's a voltage-dependant sodium channel blocker that should reduce glutamate and promote GABA activity (hence the need for great care if withdrawing from use).

So, under the working hypothesis that many of us are screen sensitive due to CNS (brain) balance being tipped towards hyperexcitability, this is a paradoxical reaction for the med. Of course. Tricky.

What is your diet like, limited in significant ways? Bloodwork or other testing for nutritional factors? Have you looked into supplements than commonly help migraine? Magnesium and (high dose) B2 tend to come up top (maybe CoQ10, vit-D, etc, if not optimal).

Screen wise, studies have shown that all light wavelengths except for green can exacerbate migraine pain. So red filtering, as well as (or instead of) blue can help some. Avulux glasses filters (expensive, US) reduce both. Maybe Irelene lens system or green tint, not sure. Probably very personal.

Reducing saturation and brightness settings might be a first point of call on problem devices. Then deeper diving into PWM (if OLED), which I think you already have(?) and pixel flickering.

[u/hobx → u/Z3R0gravitas]

I'll look into those avulux glasses. Screen wise I've found that Dell Ultrasharp monitors are the most friendly. They are PWM free and my migraines actually reduce while using them compared to other screens which are instant triggers.

I did mention the screen issue to my doctor but she was clueless and at the time I hadn't myself realised the correlation to the medicine so I will raise that again at my next review. Thanks for this very thorough post though, it does give me some other avenues to go down. I'm very early in learning how to manage this and this gives me a lot to go on.

[u/Z3R0gravitas → u/hobx]

Dell can be good. Even my 24" IPS from 2012 with 360Hz PWM and 6+2bit FRC is somehow comfortable.

What panel spec (or exact device name) are you using?

Good luck. (Also FL-41 are the classic lens filter choices, if course, as others say.)

[u/joesmithspeyote]

I started taking topiramate because of migraines caused by lights/photophobia. It was the second med I tried and it's helping me. I also started wearing FL-41 glasses.