TOPAMAX Reviews (TOPIRAMATE)

Average Rating: 3.0 (1824 Ratings)

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 ANTICONVULSANTS

 Type: Rx Drug

  

TOPAMAX  (TOPIRAMATE):  Topiramate is used alone or with other medications to prevent and control seizures (epilepsy). This medication is also used to prevent migraine headaches and decrease how often you get them. Topiramate will not treat a migraine headache once it occurs. If you get a migraine headache, treat it as directed by your doctor (such as by taking pain medication, lying down in a dark room). Topiramate is known as an anticonvulsant or antiepileptic drug.   FDA Approval Date: 1996-12-24 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

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Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR TOPAMAXCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 1  seizures It made me VERY sick right after I took it. My stomach got really hot, I had to go to the bathroom and almost passed out. I also Got really sweaty and my ears started to ring like I was going to have a seizure. After about 10 minutes I was able to walk. I looked in the mirror and had hives all over my chest and neck. My Neuro- said it was an allergic reaction. F 37 2 days
25 mg 1X day
4/5/2011
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 4  Grand Mal Seizures Depression, drowsiness, inability to form logical train of thought, kidney stones. After reading others' comments, I agree that my social inhibition almost entirely disappeared since I started taking this drug. I also suffer from a drastic change in personality during the day. After a good night's sleep I feel and behave like my normal self. As I get more tired and towards the end of the day, I am told that I am more disagreeable than I used to be before I started on this drug. (The difference is that I have no control on this behaviour). My libido has also been enhanced, which could be a side effect of this drug. M 45 2 years
100 mg 3X day
4/3/2011
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 4  Bipolar II / mood stabilizer Intermittent nausea, decreased appetite, weight loss, sense of taste altered (particularly in carbonated beverages), trouble coming up with correct words, increased effects of alcohol The intermittent minor nausea for several weeks + decreased appetite = weight loss (50 lbs in 8 months) - more than welcome since getting off antidepressants which had kept me blown up for years; soda tastes flat; drinking liquor is a risk as I totally do not remember what I do or say if I over-indulge; beer is much "safer". Most troublesome: coming up with / delay in coming up with correct words in a conversation; decreased memory, constantly having to correct spelling and fill in missed words when typing; saying the opposite of what I mean or totally jumbling what I am trying to say, more difficulty in absorbing certain reading material. In other words: it has dumbed me down a bit. My psych warned me about this. But - it works great; it allowed me to ditch my weight-gain-causing antidepressants that had kept me so fat for so long (with the exception of one depressive setback to where I started a low dose of Wellbutrin - but it did not cause weight gain). I take it with Lamictal. This is the only cocktail since my diagnosis a dozen years ago that has remained effective for longer than a year. F 43 2 years
50mg 1X day
4/2/2011
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 5  Cluster Headaches,Migraines To say speech problems would be putting it mild, slow thought process,restless,sore throat,soda taste bad, decreased appetite, and minor hair shedding. After talking to someone who was once on the same medication, I decided to stay on it even though I was having all of the side effects. One day after the second week, the speech problems just went away and everything else just followed. Now I am headache free and no side effects for now. I am praying that I will not get any new ones, so for now things are great. Good luck to any one who is starting and to those who are already on it. F 34 4 weeks
50 2X day
3/29/2011
 3  MIGRAINES ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, FATIGUE, SOME MOOD PROBLEMS... I have had some headaches since but nothing compared to what I had before starting Topamax. Although the side effects have made me wonder.. The depression has been pretty severe at times.. I just started the full dose and I am going to give myself some more time to get used to the full dose before I decide whether to stay on it or come off bc the benefit of being on it far outweighs the side effects as of right now.. F 34 1 months
50 2X day
3/28/2011
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 5  Migraines Tingling in hands and feet. Hands would not be able to un-bend for a few minutes. Forgetfulness. Memory loss. Cannot come up with words. Some Weight loss. Very tired, and always tired. I experienced migraines since I was atleast a baby. I went to a neurologist a few years ago after noticing things like Excedrin and Ibuprofen would not work. The Neurologist diagnosed me with migraines. Frequency of them were about 80 to 85% of the month. He started me on Topamax. It has worked wonders. Since the Topamax, the frequency has maybe been 1 or 2 every few months. I am currently starting the process of going of it to see if the migraines come back. I want to try to go off because I do not want to become dependent on the med. If they start to come back, I plan to go back on the Topamax. F 22 3 years
50 to 100 2X day
3/27/2011
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 4  Bipolar 1 MRE Drowsiness, deep thoughts, high, euphoria , Slow, hungry. I felt so deep into my thoughts that it felt as if I could solve any problem. And then when I try to say something I couldn't get the words out lol , make sense? lol I'm actually on it at this very moment. I just worry about the rare side affects. M 30 9 days
25mg 2X day
3/26/2011
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 3  migraines tingling arms, hands, lips, blood sugar dropping, mental blocks, cannot add simple numbers, spell, complete thoughts, no appetite, 6 lb. weight loss in a week, mood swings, anxiety & crying jags, feeling really "pissed off", first 3 days slept non stop, fatigued, stomach upset, frequent nausea, dry eyes first few days were hell but after that my body seems to be adjusting; i have to eat something healthy every hour or two to keep glucose levels up or i feel faint. i take it at nightime but have weird dreams; body temp goes from hot to cold thru out 24 hr period but i stopped getting migraines everyday so it is helping. F 57 8 days
100 mg 1X day
3/26/2011
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 5  Fibromyalgia, neurological pain Tingling in my fingers; you have to get the dosage EXACTLY RIGHT or you feel numb and it's difficult to manage. Make sure your doc works to get the lowest dose you need or you'll feel drugged out. This drug is going to decrease your hunger so make sure you are eating correctly when you are on it. This drug is great. A lifesaver. I had such intense fibromygalgia pain I wanted to die; it did not stop night and day. I couldn't stand up, lie down, sleep without intense pain. I'd tried neurontin, lyrica, nothing helped but this. Thank god for this. F 31 2 weeks
25mg 4X day
3/24/2011
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 1  misdiagnosis of mental illness I felt like I had a stroke-I could not think straight, would have to practically play charades to get a simple point across. I thought I was indeed, losing my mind. Then one day an agency nurse told me the nuses have a nickname for this drug - "Dope-a-Max", specifically for the "dumb" like trance some patients find themselves in. I began to refuse all meds 48 hours in, and effects were still present weeks later. I have NEVER had side effects from any medication to such an extreme as I had to this one. It should be pulled off the market. Far, far too many bad side effects to warrant any benefits that just may be available to patients by other, safer means. Of course, when there's $$$ to be made, all caution is thrown to the wind. F 52 3 days
60 3X day
3/24/2011
 1  Migraine prevention cognitive impairment, short-term memory loss, word-fishing, losing train of thought in mid-sentence, insomnia, amenorrhoea (stopped menstruating), no difference in frequency of migraines or headaches I had high hopes for Topamax, but it had side-effects similar to Lamictal with the short-term memory and cognitive problems. The word fishing got really annoying, and I felt like a total idiot talking to anyone, because it was so difficult to remember words. F 27 2 months
100 mg 2X day
3/24/2011
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 1  Complex Migranes Lack of sexual appetite (coupled with the depo shot for birth control which also affects your sex drive), affect on menstral cycle, weight loss, mood changes, numbness and tingling in fingers and toes, fatigue, overall anyone considering staying on this drug should look at the side effects after a year. Unfortunately, my doctor put me on this so that I can limit my chance of a stroke and there are few other drugs like this. My husband and I are going to wean me off of Topamax and try acupuncture. You have to wonder if the side effects are truly worth the benefits... F 24 1 years
125 2X day
3/20/2011
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 1  chronic headaches My Dr. Prescribed me Topamax due to my long lasting headaches. When I began this med. I was on 25mg for 2 week & after it was 100mg. At first I felt ok & the headaches became mild...but they never stopped completely. About a month or so the headaches began to be intense. However I believed my dr so I continued to take the meds. During this time in addition to the topamax, I was giving injection shots into the back of my head a number of times & put on Frova. None of these worked. Of course I had the tingling in my hands & feet but when I drank at least 100oz of water it went away! I had a ct scan...it was normal. I got tired of going back & forth to the dr. & wasting money. I decided to stop taking the topamax...Guess what immediately the headaches went away...I have been headache free for a few months! F 30 8 months
100 1X day
3/18/2011
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 3  Migrain/bipolar/concussions Neurologists unable to pinpoint for sure severity of factors contributing to Med. issuues. On 60 mg. ramping up to 100. I've been dumber than dumb; can't formulate sentences, remember zip code or phone #. Young child is reminding me milk goes in fridge not cupboard or microwave!!! Off work for 7 mos. now; have yet to find med that covers all the bases. Very frustrated. Taste buds altered, confusion/blurred thought process. Pills hard to swallow-light/floating sensation. Me? ;) Hell, went back to caffeine...after 7 mos. no meds were easing Mig.; I get 3-7 days OFF per Mo.! F 45 42 days
60 mg. 1X day
3/9/2011
 1  migraines Constant period Two weeks into taking Topomax (generic) I started a menstrual cycle, after not having one for 7 months. I was starting menopause. My cycle lasted 6 weeks. I saw my GYN, after ruling out any other issues, (had to have a D&C) the culprit in all of tis was the Topomax. I stopped taking them and the cycle stopped. F 50 60 days
25 1X day
3/9/2011
 4  Migraines Loss of interest in food, weight loss, carbonated beverages taste horrible, word finding problems Completely lost interest in food, I can stare at cabinets and fridge full of food and just not want anything even when I'm hungry. I was 129 lbs size 4 now 112lbs size 0. However, I've had almost daily migraines since I was 13 and was taking pain meds 3-4 times a week to function. I haven't had a migraine in 6 months and I don't need pain meds anymore so to me losing weight, not drinking soda and not liking food that much are a small price to pay. F 29 6 months
50mg 2X day
3/6/2011
 4  Alcohol cravings & OCD The cravings and OCD were greatly reduced, almost nil. However, I started getting severe acne & my hair is falling out. I am wondering if anyone else has had this happen. At the same time I was put on this medicatin, I was also put on Trazodone & Cymbalta, so it is difficult to know if the Topiramate is the cause. This medication does make me feel very strange, rather disconnected and I often times have trouble finding the words to express myself....which was never a problem before. I am encouraged enough by the cessation of the alcohol use AND OCD that I really do want to be able to take this medication. F 59 4 months
50 MG 2X day
3/5/2011
 1  Pseudo Tumor Cerebri severe memory loss, almost alzheimer's like, confusion, dizziness, anxiety I took this drug for 3 days and stopped the night my husband rushed me to the ER because he thought I was having a stroke. Was in the grocery store and had no idea how I got there, standing in my own bedroom not knowing where I was or who my husband was. I couldn't form coherent sentences, and it was like everyone was speaking gibberish to me through a tunnel. I was at the hospital, didn't even react to the IV because I was so out of it. I understand this is a rare but serious side effect, and the ER docs took me off of it immediately. F 29
25 mg 1X day
3/4/2011
 5  SEVERY EVERY DAY MIGRAINE F 40 3 weeks
50 1X day
2/28/2011
Patient History
 4  Migraines (Topiramate) drop in blood sugar is adjusting back to normal levels as I’m getting used to the medication, but was really bad the first couple weeks; word loss; easily distracted to the point of getting lost in my head; more aggressive but in a good way since I’m usually very mellow; occasional foot and finger tingling; moody/sensitive, this is getting better as I’m adjusting; lack of interest in food, this would be great except I have to watch my blood sugar; trouble focusing especially if it’s outside of a regular routine and forget about learning anything I’m not interesting in – I can control this to some degree by getting enough sleep and watching my blood sugar; I’m quiet and happily introverted, I joke that this might make me sociable, but I think it might not be such a joke. I might actually become a social butterfly on this stuff. The first two weeks were hell, but I upped my second dose a couple days too early – don’t do this! It takes time to adjust to this med, even just 25mg makes a huge difference, and a couple extra days to adjust. We also didn’t realize till week 2 that it was making my blood sugar drop. Now, at day 17, I’m starting to feel back to my pre-med self. My blood sugar is mostly back to normal, I have energy, I’m smiling, I can think. I sleep like a baby, but I don’t need to sleep more than 7-8 hours. I still have brain fog and I have trouble processing anything quickly, but I’m seeing my moments of clarity grow as I adjust to the meds. Each person is different and I’ll have to give it time to see how I react and decide whether or not I can live with the side affects. Some, like the 1 second dizzy spells, are a little fun. I can do with out looking like a ditz because I forgot what I was talking about mid-sentence. F 41 2.5 weeks
75-100mg 1X day
2/25/2011
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