Drug Ratings for TOPAMAXAverage Rating: 3.1 (1515 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by Date Rating Was Added Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR TOPAMAX | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 3 | severe osteoporosis | F | 58 | 1X D | 5/2/2013 | 5 | Migraines/weight loss | I'm Taking along with 37.5 phentermine. I've lost 15 lbs so far and have had only a few MILD Headaches before my period since December. Topamax has been a life saver as far as my migraines go! Mild Tingling in feet sometimes, and diet coke still taste gross. The only Downside is the Blurred vision I get when we have tried to increase the dosage. | F | 45 | 4 months 125 1X D | 4/22/2013 History | 5 | Migraines (1-3 a month) | I have only had the tingling in my hands and feet periodically but nothing horrible and my diet DP tasting bad. I have also had an awful sore throat for the last 2 weeks but not sure if its related. I have lost about 10 lbs but I'm not complaining there!!!!! I haven't had a migraine since starting Topamax! For me, it's been a life saver! | F | 32 | 2 months 100mg | 4/18/2013 | 4 | bi polar | Carbonated drinks especially beer taste bad. Other than that I'm much easier to get along with at work and home. | M | 34 | 10 months 75 | 4/7/2013 | 1 | headaches | numbness and tingling in my hands and feet, my brain went into a fog, I didn't remember what had happened-short term memory was horrible. became very confused. | My doctor didn't believe me when tried to explain what was happening even when she witnessed it in her own office. I stopped it gradually since I had started gradually. I hope these side effects go away soon and I can get my life back. | F | 40 | 6 months 75mg 2X D | 3/12/2013 | 1 | Migraines | Lost 15 pounds and became dumb along the way. Short term memory loss is awful. Cant remember words, lose thought mid sentence and cant remember what I ate 3 hours prior. Should be called Dope-a-max! Strange taste especially when drinking a soda. Feeling completely full 3 bites into a sandwich. I literally had no desire to eat. | The Good: No Migraines for 9 months with weight loss! That part was wonderful but being dumb in exchange was not worth it! I couldn't function at work anymore. Take at night because it does make you drowsy. | F | 49 | 9 months 50mg 1X D | 3/4/2013 | 4 | Chronic Daily Headache | Small loss of appetite. Bad taste in mouth. | Definitely have made a difference to my daily headaches and am glad I am on the drug. Topamax has made a good difference to my life. I can go ahead and plan things now, knowing I will not be debilitated every single day with a chronic headache. I still get headaches but not every day. | F | 60 | 1 years 100 2X D | 2/23/2013 | 2 | Migraines | Word search problems, forgetfulness, large kidney stones, needing more over time to get the same effect (started 10 years ago at 100mg) | F | 37 | 10 years 250 | 2/22/2013 | 1 | Chronic Migraine | Tingling, short-term memory loss, mood swings, anxiety, depression, rage, suicidal thoughts, I have a history of major depression and my neurologist did not inform me this medication was linked to anxiety, depression, irritability and suicidal thoughts. I thought to look after my boss mentioned how different I have been the last four months. This medication is effecting my family life, work and friendships. If you have a history of depression please proceed with caution before taking this medication. | The medication did successfully treat my migraine symptoms. I was excited to find something that could prevent the horrible pain but I am now suffering emotionally rather than physically and it is not an equal trade-off. | F | 36 | 4 months 50 MG 2X D | 2/22/2013 | 5 | migraines | none | F | 39 | 6 months 100mg. 2X D | 2/3/2013 | 2 | Migraine/SUNCT | I'm unlucky enough to suffer 'classic' headache migraines and SUNCT or Cluster Headaches together. The SUNCT has been in abeyance for 18 months since being treated with Lamotrigine but this drug left me with daily headache migraines for which my doc prescribed topiramate. Within 2 days of starting upload period of 25mg at night, the SUNCT was back with full blown symptoms - tearing eye, swollen eyelid, streaming nose, stabbing pains in sinus, all on right side of the face this time. I thought it was just incredibly bad luck till I read of one other person experiencing the same thing on this website. Thank goodness I did. I'm stopping the topiramate right now, before the SUNCT gets any worse. | F | 56 | 10 days 50mg 1X D | 1/8/2013 | 2 | migraine/potential epilepsy | Suicidal ideation, rage, almost broke my hand, numbness, brain fog beyond frustrating, weight loss, abusive behaviors otherwise not present. --- The reason some people get this rage is a sulfa allergy. If you have a sulfa allergy, dont take this medicine! especially if you have prior mental health issues of any sort. This medicine made me a real evil person every uppage and no telling how coming off it will go. I have ptsd and 100% disability for it, a sulfa allergy, and get put on a med that causes those with sulfa allergies to rage. The brilliance is uncanny. I have come to terms that this med might help some people but if you have a known sulfa allergy you will at best turn into a zombie and at worst ive read people have lost friends trying to come off this pill. Im going to a hospital to be admitted and will raise hell to be sure that i get taken care of. I cant titrate off at home. My poor fiance and cats have been through more than enough! padded room for me. :/ This med is hell. Buyer beware. I almost broke my hand on the wall too. O.o | F | 31 | 3 months 100 | 1/1/2013 | 3 | migraine | hallucinations, weight loss, strange thoughts | When I was given this prescription I wasn't told to titrate up to the 100 mg per day so i started taking 100 mg right away. I started having hallucinations where i was being followed around by a small elephant and I saw and talked with my dead mother. I also lost 70 pounds in 3 months. When I told my Dr. that I was standing at my kitchen sink doing dishes and I looked up and saw myself standing there in front of me,looking back at me his advise to me was that I should call mental health and he wrote down a number for me to call. My doctor never connected the Topamax with the symptoms I was having. I tapered off the drug and continued losing weight eating 4000 calories daily for 5 more months until the weight loss stopped. This drug can either be a miracle drug or a death drug and it all depends on the chemistry of the human that ingests it. The medical community should be better informed about its crap shoot varying effects it has on those that use it and to NOT START AT A LARGE DOSE RIGHT AWAY. | M | 50 | 3 months 100 1X D | 12/30/2012 | 1 | headaches | Hair started to fall out. It felt like a broom. My face broke out in pimples from dry skin. My entire body, and orafices were dry as a bone. I lost 20 pounds in one month. Insomnia, lost sense of tactile stimulation, lost all libido. Lost short term,memory, word loss | I went nuts on this medication. It runined my life and many relationships. I did and said whatever I wanted with no sense of discretion, and good judgement. It was as if it turned off part of my brain that stops the pain, but right next to it is the part that gives me a filter & discretion. I hit my kids! Ran faster than my dog! It makes me cringe to think of this medicine. | F | 51 | 2 years 1X D | 12/9/2012 | 4 | Adjunct for depression | Appetite reduction | The GOOD: - Didnt necessarily increase mood in a euphoric sense, but made me much more mellow. I would never get upset or aggressive at anything. - Increased lbido - Decreased headaches (I don't have migraines but I do have daily headaches and this got rid of them and enables much more sleep). The BAD: To be honest, only the appetite loss really bothered me. On 50mg, it was a bit too much for me and I found I was actually finding it harder to sleep. However, once I got down to 25 that was the sweet spot. But, since im a guy , the appetite loss wasn't wanted as I was starting to lose weight and thus finally weaned off. | M | 15 days 25 1X D | 11/20/2012 | 3 | Migraines | I have been on Topamax for about 10 weeks now. Doctor just doubled dose from 100mg to 200mg 2 weeks ago. Side effects intensified then. Confusion, Lack of concentration,can't find words, constant ringing in ears, can't think clearly, nervous, irritable, no appetite whatsoever (entire time though), aversion to any carbonated beverages, struggling in school, tingling in hands, feet, face, pressure in ears, temples, headaches, feel like constant noise in head. Overall weird feeling. This past weekend, my eyes started bothering me. It's hard to explain, just general discomfort. I'm seeing my eye doctor tomorrow to make sure my eyes have not been damaged because this medicine can cause glaucoma and blindness. I am starting to taper off medication tonight. I have lost 23 pounds since starting in September but it's muscle loss not fat so that not beneficial. | Doctors sugar coat this side effects. My doctor only told me about the word find problem. He wasn't concerned at all when I told him my eyes were bothering me. I have only had 1 migraine since on the medication and my daily headaches have diminished quite a bit. I want the benefit of some pain free days but I don't want all these side effects. | F | 45 | 2 months 100 2X D | 11/8/2012 | 4 | IIH | I was prescribed Topamax because My stomach couldn't handle Diamox for IIH. For those of you reading this & unaware what this is (I wouldn't be aware if I didn't have it) that is a neuro condition in which my body overproduces spinal (csf) fluid and puts extra pressure on my brain causing a whole host of problems...the biggest is debilitating migraines. So, my neuro put me on Topamax and worked me up to my dose. I will admit, I did have a bit of trouble with some numbness & tingling while first adjusting to the medication, but this has since diminished. Secondly, I still have trouble with overheating a bit with exercise. However, those seem like such small things to overcome to me when I consider how much relief I've gotten & all that I've been able to get back since starting the med. | F | 24 | 6 months 200 | 11/7/2012 | 1 | Chronic headaches with migraines | Intense crushing pain inside my head. Unlike any headache or migraine experienced. This pain started after took the pill and wore off before next dose. | Did nothing for chronic headaches. Constant pain in upper head unlike anything ever experienced so painful. Was told to stop. | F | 50 | 4 days 25 1X D | 11/4/2012 | 1 | mood stabilizer | broken bones wouldn't heal; fingernails became paper soft; chronic anxiety; metallic taste in mouth; diet soft drinks tasted horrible; fluctuated between hyper-vigilance, dissociation, and mental fog -- very hard to feel grounded; worse effects were when gradually backing off dose (under medical supervision) -- almost unbearable anxiety and agitation; impaired judgment. Friend also backing off same dose experienced anxiety, paranoia, then committed suicide. | I would not recommend Topamax to anyone before ruling out predisposition to anxiety or mood disorder of any kind. The drug is insidious. It can alter the sense of self, and of reality. I honestly have no idea who I was during the years I took this medication. Now that I'm free of this or any other drug, I realize most of the anxiety I experienced was probably caused by the drug itself. I feel better than ever. I strongly recommend trying meditation, environmental adjustments, avoiding stressors, etc. -- anything natural before resorting to a mood-altering medication. Although I started feeling like myself within months of stopping this drug, it's taken 4 years for my fingernails to become strong once again, and I'm still dealing with orthopedic frailties. | F | 60 | 5 years 800 mg 2X D | 10/29/2012 | 4 | Weight loss | It's really not that bad for me right now. I have an aversion to carbonated beverages, some tingling and cramps not bad though. The worst is bad breath and dry mouth/ sore throat which I can deal with. I've lost 40 pounds in 3 months!!! | F | 33 | 3 months 50mg | 10/27/2012 | 2 | migraines | fatigue, tingling in hands/feet, muscle cramps (went away with potassium supplement), word loss, confusion, nausea, anxiety, depressed appetite, weight loss, back and neck pain | Made my migraine nausea better, but made my headaches worse. Increased from 5 days a week to every day, and more painful. Started having a constant aura. Been off this drug for 2 weeks, feeling somewhat better, but still having headaches every day. | F | 21 | 2 months 100 mg 1X D | 10/21/2012 | 1 | Migraine Prevention | Terrible metal taste in mouth. That was the only drawback and it was awful. Even water tasted terrible. It never went away. I tried it off and on for 2 years both the real drug and generic. No luck | If not for the metal mouth I would have stayed on it. It helped prevent many migraines. I had way less migraines but could never ever get past the horrible metal taste in my mouth. It never went away. I started on a low dose then worked up to 200. I took it at bedtime. | F | 38 | 2 years 200 1X D | 10/20/2012 | 2 | Depression, bulimia | Initially: tingling/numbness in hands and feet, metallic taste in mouth, sleepiness More gradually: memory issues (couldn't recall simple words like "desk"), flu-like symptoms | I stopped taking this med because I felt run-down and feverish while on it. Also, it lives up to its reputation of "Dopamax." It made me feel really stupid! I wouldn't recommend it. | F | 22 | 1 months 50 mg 2X D | 10/19/2012 | 3 | What time of day are you all taking your one dose??????morning it night??????? | F | 39 | 7 days | 10/10/2012 | 1 | Migraines | Completely exhausted all the time, trouble concentrating and finding the right words, weight loss, tingling in hands, food did mot tast the same especially carbonated drinks. Worst drug ever! Its called Dopemax for a reason! I felt like I took a stupid pill! Had to wean myself off of it! Could not get off it fast enough! Did not feel like myself for the entire 4 months. Was still getting migraines just not as many. Sometimes the side effects are worse than the actual problem. | F | 30 | 4 months 80 mg | 9/27/2012 | 1 | Bi-Polar | First yr: quit smoking, quit drinking, lost 60 lbs 2nd yr: bad soar throat 10 months, feet & hand spasms, fibromyalgia symptoms, then horrible itching began 3rd yr: painful lesions, dillusional parasitosis, scarring Physicians: 2 ENTs, 2 primary care, 2 dermatologists, general surgeon (3 biopsies), Infectious Disease, Rheaumatologist, 2 Psychiatrists Resolved: Topamax is a sulfonomide drug. Have had KNOWN sulfa allergy for 15 years. NO physician recognized the correlation. I resolved this puzzle on my own through net research. 2 weeks off Topamax: itching, pain, lesions; all healing. Physical and mental anguish subsiding. | F | 42 | 3 years 200 MG | 9/22/2012 | 3 | Migraines | Tingling in fingers with numbness | Initially relieved migraines completely, then they returned and I switched to Verapamil which worked for 3 months-full relief, now migraines headaches back again. Think it's hormonal, read that Aldactone will decrease androgens which cause cystic acne, headaches, hair loss. | F | 4 months 50 1X D | 9/12/2012 | 1 | Depression/Mood | HALLUCINATIONS | Stay away from this medication! For some reason my doctor started me at 50mg, which is a high dose to start on. On the 3rd day, I started feeling very strange and my mouth was becoming very dry and irritated. I then started hallucinating. The next two days were insane. The hallucinations became very vivid but I knew they weren't real. I would get stuck in a 'trip' for hours. I was hyperactive, forgetting what I was saying and what I was thinking. I tried telling my mom what I was seeing and feeling, and she came and stayed with me. I went to the ER and told them what had been happening. They drug tested me, saw I wasn't on drugs and handed me a pamphlet on schizophrenia as they discharged me. After some research, we found others who had experienced these same 'serious' side effects from Topamax. I stopped taking it and after the medicine was out of my system, I started feeling better. The whole experience was terrifying. The worst part was that people thought I was crazy and didn't even consider it was from the Topamax. I had specified that the only change in the past week was starting the medicine, and yet they refused to consider it as an option. Please reconsider starting Topamax and pursue an alternative if possible. I wouldn't want anyone to experience what I did. After the ER doctor telling me that Topamax is called "The Stupid Drug", I wonder if the benefits of this medicine outweigh the possible negative effects, and who is willing to risk this? | F | 30 | 5 days 25MG 2X D | 9/7/2012 | 1 | Concussion | Dizziness, tiredness, confusion, hands and feet tingling (all these might be just concussion symptoms). The medicine did not get rid if my headaches at all and I eventually stopped taking it. | F | 15 | 1 months 30 MG | 9/6/2012 | 1 | Weight loss | My hands and feet constantly burn and tingle. I have diahrhea all the time. My muscles ache. Im suicidal now. Wasnt worth losing weight. Stay away from this drug!!! I also now have to be reminded to eat. I no longer have the ability to know when Im hungry. Days go by without me eating. I also cannot retrieve the proper words in conversation. | F | 1 years 200 mg | 8/27/2012 | 5 | Migraines | I have had no side affect that I am aware of. | I have been migrane free for 10 years now and I used to get them several times a month. Topamax had changed my life. | F | 49 | 10 years 100mg 2X D | 8/23/2012 | 4 | Tremors abd migraines | I've been on topamax since I was 17. I had some side effects a higher dosages but found that 75 works well for me. I even lost about 1( pounds back when I started but I gained it back after a while | F | 4 years 75 mg | 8/22/2012 | 1 | Migraines | There is a reason they call Topamax Dopeamax! I could not think or talk properly. I could not remeber my address and I have lived there for over 10 years! The needles and pins in my legs never went away and it was painful. | Did not help with my migraines. | F | 51 | 2 months 25mg-100mg 1X D | 8/14/2012 | 5 | Migraines | Tingling in arms, hands,fingers,legs,&toes. Memory loss. Weight loss. Taste change. It has helped with my migraines. Had to give it a couple weeks for it to work. Give it a try don't give up it works. I had a migraine every day. Was in hospital for a week, then they prescribed me topamax. I was ready to give up on medicine, then decided to give it another week or two glad I did! :-) | F | 39 | 2 months 100mg | 7/28/2012 | 5 | migraines | loss of appetite, irritability, mild tremors, occasional eye twitching | I started with 50mg per day for migraines and recently was moved up to 100mg per day since the migraines got a bit worse. The side effects are so mild, I'll take them any day over the head splitting migraines that were causing me to pop imitrex like candy. | M | 34 | 2 years 100mg 1X D | 7/25/2012 | 1 | Migraines | Numbness and tingling in FACE as well as hands and feet, audio hallucinations as in hearing voices and they told me to jump off my balcony..so i guess that would be suicidal ideation? Was not warned about half the side effects and the entire time i had a "hangover headache". I lost maybe 2 lbs and I fell asleep almost immediately after taking it, but not normal sleep more like blacking out and I have 2 little kids so j weaned myself off after these horrific experiences. Since then I have missed my period entirely and nope not pregnant, took 2 HPT and one beta hcg blood test all negative but still no period! | F | 28 | 1 months 50 mg | 7/22/2012 | 1 | Essential Tremor | Anger, mood swings, headaches, pimples, memory loss, losing train of thought, can't find right words to say at times, lethargy, loss of appetite, didn't stop tremors, nutritional deficits, sleep disturbances | Began with 25mg twice a day for a week then to 50 mg twice a day. That lasted for about two weeks. I couldn't handle the tiredness and it was affecting my work so went back down to 25mg twice a day. That's when anger and mood swings became really bad. Began cursing a lot. Gotta stop. | M | 41 | 45 days 50mg 2X D | 7/13/2012 | 5 | anxiety after hysterectomy | Tingling, weight loss, hair breakage, memory challenges and sentence forming issues. | LISTEN UP TOPAMAX USERS. If this medicine is helping you but the side effects are rough, here is some help. For things such as memory loss and speech issues, you have to drink plenty of water and take vitamins...that helps a lot. Things like tingling go away after a while. If taken at night it relaxes you and helps you sleep for those with insomnia issues; and don't be afraid to ask for something to help you sleep as this can be an issues with age because the body producing less selenium. The one side effect that you are not always warned about that feels really debilitating is the hair loss and the bowel blocking constipation. For the hair loss especially for women in menopause take niacin..add it to your vitamin regiment regularly. It will help with thinning, hair loss is certain spots and breakage. For the constipation which can stop normal life activity as you currently know it, you have to take two things if it is severe for you...regular laxatives do not help..you need something stronger. Here's what I found that works for me...Reneu from FirstFitness. Go to anewu2stay.firstfitness.com. Then go to shop now-herbal cleansing and you will see where you can order Reneu. This is the only thing that helped me and I also take a generic (equate brand) stool softener as well. Topamax is no joke when it comes to constipation and most of us don't drink the daily recommended dosage of water anyway. LISTEN UP TOPAMAX USERS. If this medicine is helping you but the side e | F | 48 | 4 years 100mg 2X D | 7/12/2012 | 1 | Migraine | Insomnia, word loss, intermittent twitching eye, mental processes slowed, mood swings, suicidal thoughts, crying spells, extreme rage, restless feeling inside | F | 39 | 2 weeks 25mg | 7/4/2012 | 1 | Migraines | Memory Loss, Lack of concentration, weight loss, food tasted strange | While this did help my headaches & I enjoyed the quick weight loss, it was not worth it. I began having pretty bad memory loss & trouble forming my thoughts. | F | 24 | 1 years 1X D | 6/27/2012 | 2 | Migraines | Memory loss, not as articulate as I used to be, have a hard time forming thoughts, get depressed often | While I am still on this medicine I would not reccomend this to people if there are alternatives. I have been on it for a long time and I truly believe your body builds up an immunity towards any medicine. I still have frequent headaches and migraines, but the reason I am still on this med is because while I stil have the pain, it dulls it enough so I can continue to work and live. | F | 27 | 13 years 50 mg 2X D | 6/25/2012 | 1 | migraines | I developed high histamines, body aches and when I went off the medication it got WORSE. I've been off topamax for a month and my whole body hurts every day. | F | 45 | 1 years 12.5 1X D | 6/24/2012 | 2 | weight loss | Sore throat, mucas in throat, very dizzy, tired all the time, cough, felt like i had the flu. | My doctor prescribe me to take this medicine to jump start my weight loss. He told me to take 1 25mg tablet the first week then increase 1 tablet each week until your at 4 tablets or 100mg. I got 3 tablets and i felt like crap and called him up and told him to get me on something else. I felt like was in la la land everyday, could not function with my family, and even though i was tired i slept terrible. So hopefully he has something better for me. And in the three weeks i didnt lose any weight but didnt gain any, didn't see any difference in eating either. | M | 35 | 21 days 25mg 1X D | 6/22/2012 | 5 | Migraines, Cluster Headaches | I experienced most of the warned side effects for a period of a few days and then I got over them as my body adjusted to the meds and later to the dosage increase*. I was concerned and thought I was getting sick- but I learned to just wait it out for a few days. (This happened again when i changed the dose.) Now the only lasting side effect is occasional tingling/ loss of feeling in my feet and lower legs. | (*I was on 50 mg for the first month then increased the dose when it wasn't working enough.) This medication has almost completely gotten rid of my migraines and has completely gotten rid of my cluster headaches. I have had about 2 migraines since increasing the dose (compared to about 4 a week.) I have tried other prescription meds and was disappointed. Personally, for my situation, this medication is impressive stuff. | F | 21 | 4 months 100 1X D | 6/20/2012 | 3 | Migraine | Sex drive gone. Forgetfulness. Lack of concentration. Eye problem. Legs feel heavy. Feeling drowsy. | Helps to reduce migraine. | M | 55 | 2 years 50 1X D | 6/18/2012 | 1 | Chronic Headaches | Weight loss, change in taste, blurred vision, acne, difficulty finding the right words, depression | I was prescribed this medicine for chronic headaches. At first, it worked great! After a few weeks, though, I experienced weight loss, blurred vision, changes in taste, acne, and difficulty finding the right words. Those side effects weren't that bad......until I started to feel like I was withering away. I was literally grossed out by how I looked and felt. At my lowest, I weighed 92 pounds. (I'm only 5 feet tall, but I looked almost anorexic). I had horrible face and upper back acne. It made me really depressed after awhile. I had to quit taking it, because I was afraid I WOULD die if I kept taking it. Emotionally, I felt horrid. I never wanted to eat, because everything tasted disgusting! I couldn't drink anything with carbonation, because I would get a bizarre fizzy taste in my mouth. I would see flashes of light at odd times and I felt really out of it all the time. And the difficulty finding the words I wanted to use was ridiculous!! I would drive myself nuts because I couldn't even put a sentence together! I just felt stupid. Ultimately, it was a terrible medication for me and I've been off Topamax for awhile now. I still suffer from headaches, but at least I don't feel like I'm withering into nothing. I wouldn't recommend this medication. | F | 31 | 7 months 50 MG 1X D | 6/18/2012 | 2 | Headaches | Flu like symptoms (cough with mucus, soar throat, runny nose, sinus pain, pain in the ears, allergies) from the very beginning, for the whole 3 months. Took 2 antibiotics that didn't help much. As soon as I was done with them, the symptoms came back. Other symptoms: tired and dizzy all the time, dry mouth, loss of appetite, weight loss (18 pounds in 3 months), nausea, nervousness, numbness and tingling, trouble sleeping. | It helped me with my headaches, but I stopped taking it because of the side effects (mostly flu like symptoms for 3 months). | F | 43 | 3 months 75MG 1X D | 6/13/2012 | 5 | Migraines and MS(nerve pain) | At first it gave me a bad taste in my mouth and I felt a little funny but it did help with the migraines and as with any medications theres gonna be some side effect. I have lost about 25 pounds in a total of 6 years now of being on it an kept it off it does work if you give it time to do its job. | I think maybe some people may have other health issues other then what their saying topamax did or is doing to them. 2 or 3 months isnt long enough to get the full effects of this drug. Im on 200mg 6 years later maybe one headahe a year and it helps with my MS pain. | F | 37 | 999 days 200 mg 1X D | 5/30/2012 | 4 | migraines | tingling hands/feet, weight loss | update: since my first post in september, my doc upped my dosage because the migraines came back. but finally my insomnia went away, the tingling in my hands and feet are still happening, only on occasion though. confusion also went away, lasted about 2 months for me, that was probably the hardest side effect to deal with, almost made me toss the bottle. i've had only two "breakthrough" migraines. an extra bonus is the weight loss, after weight gain from being on another migraine preventative i have lost it all plus some on the topamax. i'm satisfied with this drug so far, it's been a blessing for me, i wish everyone else could say the same and i'm glad i stuck it out through the side effects those first few months! | F | 39 | 9 months 75 mg 1X D | 5/28/2012 | 1 | Chronic pelvic pain | Topamax was extremely effective in dealing with my pelvic pain, however, the side effects were so debilitating that I had no choice but to go on long term disability. It started slowly with speech problems, memory loss and slow motor skills as well as unable to finish tasks. Finally it affected my concentrations level so significantly to the point where I could not work anymore. I worked so hard to get this point in terms of education (B.S in chemical engineering and M.S in organic chemistry) as well as my career as medicinal chemist for last 15 years will be wasting away. Not only that, my family life has been changed completely for last few years. I lost all my interests, including many of my kids' activities. I can't tell you how awful I feel everyday. I know many people are thinking this would not happen to you. I don't even know how many people are awear of FDA warning about increased risk of birth defect by Topamax. I can't stress this enough " please do not take this med unless you absolutely don't have any other choices. It is not worth it. | F | 43 | 1 years 50-100mg | 5/23/2012 | 3 | weight gain due to bipolar meds | Not much weight loss, however I never gained weight while taking it. BUT - after slowly tapering off to zero - not long after my short term memory could be compared to that of a goldfish. | Is it the Topamax - or lack of it - that is causing this memory loss and frustration? | F | 41 | 1.5 years two 25 MG 2X D | 5/7/2012 | 4 | Migraines | Occasional loss of appetite, pins and needles in feet and hands, fatigue, rapid heart rate (over 100 beats per/min), when inceasing my dose it would make me feel sick. | It did help with my migraines, I used to have a migraine like every day and now I'm down to 2 to none a month. As for the side effects I take like four other medications so you never know what side effect is from what exactly, I just started getting those side effects when I started this medication. | F | 18 | 2 years 125 1X D | 5/2/2012 | 3 | Mood stabilizer / weight management | Skin itching, pins/needles feeling in feet, brief periods of lack of appetite (nothing like I had hoped for) | I was very nervous about taking this medicine due to the "dopamax" effect that is so commonly reported. However, I was mostly interested in in for the wight loss side effect. That being said, I am not overweight... and most people would think it was absurd for me to be taking it for that reason. I'm 5'7" 140 lbs. So far, no weight loss. Needless to say I am disappointed, but I haven't reached my therapeutic dose so there may still be hope. Anyway... I am also taking it because I am possibly showing symptoms of bipolar disorder. None of the side effects have been bad at all really. The most noticeable is the pins/needles in my feet. I suppose it should be noted that I am also taking 450 mg Wellbutrin. | F | 22 | 3 weeks 25-75mg 1X D | 4/28/2012 | 5 | Mood Stabiliser and Alcoholism | A bit tired first couple of days, tingly hands and feet but this go away if I take grapeseed extract. I also recommend you take a very good multivitamin with this as Topamax is a strong drug that can deplete your body from some nutrients. | Topamax has absolutely saved my life. After 14 years of not having any help from all the different pills I tried Topamax finally lifted my depression and took away my gnawing alcohol cravings. I have more energy, I wake up with a song in my heart. I feel normal. To anyone reading this that has an alcohol problem I recommend http://www.mywayout.org where they explain how you can ask your doctor to RX Topamax to help you wean off alcohol. Also if you are like me and you are soft spectrum bipolar/treatment resistant depressive (not sure which one it is) and nothing else work, please don't let the other people's side effects scare you off Topamax. I have none of these and feel great. I thank God every day for finally giving me something that helps me feel better. | F | 32 | 60 days 50MG 1X D | 4/27/2012 | 1 | Mood Stabilizer, Headaches, Weight | Worsened Anxiety, Outbursts, Agitiation, Overall Weird Feeling, Dizzy, Blurred Vision | I have GAD and PTSD. My Psych Dr started these Tues and I took my last dose last night. I left a message today for him to verify that I can come off without any problems, but this medicine makes me feel WEIRD!! I have a history of not being able to tolerate SSRI's. Wellbutrin, Celexa, and Zoloft ALL worsened my anxiety and made me feel irritable and aggitated but this medicine by far, was the worst! The others, at least, took a little while longer to cause similar symptoms. I am on xanax .5mg twice a day and have been for 2 years and still barely sleep. I know I'm developing a tolerence but don't want to become more dependent and up the dosage. If you have similar experiences please respond! I feel hopeless!!! | F | 34 | 3 days 50mg 1X D | 4/27/2012 | 4 | Mood disorder, Headaches, Bulimia | Brittle/dry hair, loss of appetite | I've been on topamax for awhile now. I don't really have terrible side effects like other people; what I do hate is that my once super thick, shiny hair is now dry and straw-like. I've lost some of my hair, but it's not that noticeable. | F | 19 | 1.3 years 100mg 1X D | 4/25/2012 | 4 | Migraine preventative | Constipation, memory loss, insomnia | The Topamax I take for migraine preventative has helped tremendously. I have much fewer migraines. When I do feel one coming on, I simply take my regular migraine medication, which is Zomig. I have tried a higher dose and get the tingling in my feet and legs. I have never had any weight loss with it, which I have seen in others, but I also have a thyroid problem. Overall, Topamax has helped change my life in a positive manner. I do have a prolonged QT interval on EKG, which I did not have prior, but I am on so much medication, it would be difficult to pin down which one is actually causing it. I rated Topamax a 4 because it is short acting, as if I miss a dose, I will already get a headache. | F | 40 | 4 years 100 MG 1X D | 4/24/2012 | 3 | Mood Stabilizer, Depression | Insomnia, word loss, constipation, comatose-like-state, loss of hair, aged skin, bruising, gastritis, bouts of diarrhea, intermittent twitching under left eye, mental processes slowed | Started Topamax at 47 with other meds (Effexor 300 mg, Dextroamphetamine 30 mg)- 300 mgs – 1 pill/a.m. & 2 pills/p.m. Sfx (eg. word loss, constipation) minimal until abt 57, [finished menopause]. Symp suddenly ↑ in # & intensity (see sfx box). Saw docs, but all, incl shrink, said I was getting older. Thyroid/hormone tested. Blood & saliva = neg, excp my ratio of testos to estr was off. Forced to quit job, & spent days in bed, unable to move. Due to ↑ insomnia, given Temazepan (30 mgs). By 2011, sleep ↓, & presc Trazodone to add to Tmzpn, 150 mgs/night. Soon ↓ to 50 mgs/night. Now taking 25 mgs/night. As docs seemed uncurious, began researching causes. Found this site & read of others in same boat. Found good psychotherapeutic help. End of 2011, I decided had to get off Top. Began ↓ by 25 mgs/2-3 wks using pill-cutter. Temp ↑ Dex by 15 mgs. Took last Top Apr 16 2012 & stopped extra Dex. Big difference! Energy still low but most days. No longer feel drugged, able to leave apt for short distances & I’m more lively. Hope hair regrows. Still stomach problems [not as bad, hoping will resolve. Wonder if age or menopausal state changed body’s ability to handle meds –producing sfx. Wish docs had been more knowledgeable of sfx, so would not have had to suffer so long for no reason. | F | 61 | 13 years 300 MG 1X O | 4/21/2012 | 2 | Borderline Personality Disorder | Extreme weight loss (went from 180lbs to 105lbs and I am 5'8")), mood swings, suicidal thoughts, crying spells, extreme rage, restless feeling inside | My incompetent ex-psychiatrist prescribed me Topomax after I gained quite a bit of weight on Trileptal. He failed to warn me or my family that there is a risk of adverse effects in this and all psychiatric medication. I have BPD and always had horrible mood swings/rage/anxiety, but instead of helping with any of my symptoms, the Topomax worsened them. I would wake up sobbing for no reason, would start thinking suicide was a logical option, severe anxiety that I attempted to quell with drinking and INSANE weight loss. You just can't eat. I apparently was high risk for an eating disorder and the Topomax triggered Anorexia that I have been battling for years. Instead of switching the meds, my psych assumed the side effects of the drug were symptoms of my mental illness and upped my dosage which in turn made things worse and he would up them more. I finally figured it out after doing some reading and stopped it all together. Of course I still have BPD symptoms (depression, anxiety, fear of abandonment, etc.), but what the psych had assumed were symptoms of the BPD all went away with the Topomax. I've since dealt with my BPD in therapy and refuse medication and am a perfectly healthy, functioning adult. Topomax may help some but it also may cause the opposite effect! If you show any early signs of an eating disorder or already suffer from one: STAY AWAY. This shit made me think I was legitimately insane for four years! | F | 23 | 4 years 300 2X D | 4/13/2012 | 3 | Severe Migraine | Tingling in fingers, feet and around mouth. Some Constipation. A bit of Insomnia. Some weight loss and a little loss of appetite. | Developed severe migraine after discovery of two cerebral aneurysms (one of which has since been coil embolized) the topiramate or topamax has greatly helped with the pain although not taken it away completely. The side effects i've had so far I can in all honesty live with as they pale in comparison with the pain of the migraine. | F | 42 | 6 weeks 25mg 4X D | 4/12/2012 |