TOPAMAX Reviews (TOPIRAMATE)Average Rating: 3.0 (1824 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare TOPAMAX with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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More on TOPAMAX: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR TOPAMAX | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | Migraines, Bipolar (rapid cycler) | EXTREME intestinal cramping and dirreha during first 2-3 days of menstrual period, used to be slight before taking this medication, now is HORRIBLE! Gets so bad I cannot stand up straight, and lose all appitite for 2-3 days every month. Has anyone else experienced intestinal/digestive/menstrual disruption since taking this med? If so, how have you coped? | I did have the sensation of feeling 'high' a bit at first, but is now gone. Normal appetite has changed for the better, eating much smaller portions and have lost some much needed weight. Migraines a SO MUCH improved, hadsuffered terribly with them since age 18 after car accident, they were crippling, now I can actually go to work if I have one and still function-this part has been like a miracle for me, I don't know what I will do if I have to stop taking it due to the intestinal disruption, this is the first medication in 25 years (other than Demoral) that has provided any signifigant relief for me! Have noticed for Bipolar side that rapid cycling has decreased, but can still be aggrivated by extreme stress. Depressive episodes have decressed and mild manic have increased very slightly, no complaints about that here. I find that slight manic episodes are controllable now, because I have learned to recognize when I am in one and how to channel that energy into accomplishing somet | F | 43 | 5 months | 4/8/2007 | 5 | Migraine | At the start i suffered, confusion, memory loss, nausea, no sex drive, depression, anxiety. | It was really difficult at the begining . .the first 3 months. Before taking Topamax i quit smoking, alcohol, caffine, and cut down sugar in take dramatically. I drink 2+ litres of water every day, and do a little bit of light excercise 3 times a week. The last 4 weeks have been really good. Nothing is perfect, but it is beter than suffering everyday. My advise to anyone out there, give it time! Work with it, and if you need to change some habit like i needed to . . do it! Slowly , slowly it does and will work for you. I felt like giving up so many times, but i am happy that i did not. At the end you are the best judge. | M | 35 | 5 months 100 2X day | 9/18/2010 | 5 | migraines | Can't find some words (but I couldn't before, so not a huge deal), decreased appetite, although food tastes the same to me...weight loss of 20 lbs. over 4 months, some of that muscle, ugh. And major HAIR LOSS!!! | I love this stuff, but the hair loss makes me want to cry. I am taking major vitamins now...wish the doctor had mentioned this might happen when I started the med so I could have started the vitamins then. I am also irritated because I took Topamax from July until October and had not one migraine or tension headache (and I had a really bad headache almost every day), and then my 100 mg completely pooped out on me in October. My new neurologist suggested splitting the 100 mg dose into two 50-mg doses, which helped for about 3 weeks, then the headaches returned again. I am now up to 125 mgs. After 150 mgs, he wants to change my med if it stops working, ugh. | F | 30 | 5 months | 12/18/2006 | 5 | Migraine prevention | Insomnia, Tingling "buzzy" feeling in face, lips, arms, hands, Can't find the right words at times, Stomachache (not nauseau, but pain), Coated tongue, Weight loss -- 30 lbs. in 5 months, Antsy feeling in legs at night, Hot when sleeping, then cold, then hot, Slight Diarrhea at times, Food, drinks taste funny, Marked decrease in carbohydrate cravings, Bruising on arms | I took Depakote for 3 years with OK results for migraines but found a weight gain of 50 lbs. to be unbearable. Topamax seems to be working-- Migraines down from several weekly (lasting 2-3 days to 1 or 2 per month, or fewer). Have now gone almost 1 month without a migraine. Currently taking 100mg. at bedtime. Most annoying side effect is coated tongue, dry mouth and "buzzy" feeling of face and lips. I do feel the bothersome side effects are worth it though because the migraines are so debilitating and interfere so much with work and home life. Hopefully the side effects will ease up over time. | F | 50 | 5 months | 11/28/2005 | 4 | mood stabilizer | first day or two, couldn't even write a grocery list. Numbness of hands, feets, and lips at times, especially after meals. This all goes away the longer you take topamax. I have very few side effects now except lack of appetite. | I take 200mg of Topamax once daily. I also take 150mg of Wellbutrin. I've lost 20 lbs in 5 months. I recommend Topamax for weight loss as long as its combined with a walking program. As a mood stabilizer, it still left me depressed. It got rid of the "highs", but kind of made me feel a little less like my fun self. However, the weight loss is making me more confident so I'm sticking with it until I can't afford it. | M | 38 | 5 months | 10/5/2005 | 4 | migraine prevention | Tingling in hands, confusion (temporally), weight loss, don't like coffee nor chocolate anymore, concentration difficulties and still enjoy sex but CAN'T HAVE AN ORGASM ANYMORE with my husband???!!!! | After a long search, I have finally got my sex life back to normal without having to quit topamax. I have tryed totally herbal and safe pills called SENSAFEM. You can read all about it on www.senfafem.nl and I bought them via www.drogisterij.net (the only online address where they send them around the world) This pill is for women only cause guys have the blue one... I just want to help women cause I know how frustrating it is to suddenly lose control of your great sex life with your husband. With this pill everything will go back to normal again! PS: I've also tryed SPANISH FLY and it also helps but it is different if you know what I mean... Good luck! Barbara. | F | 30 | 5 months | 3/24/2006 | 4 | migraines | felt rested in the mornings, lost 8 pounds | The first few days I took topamax I felt wierd, I didnt feel comfortable driving and felt a little spaced out. After a few days I felt normal again though. It made me sleep harder and feel more rested when i woke up. I didnt have headaches at all for a few weeks then when they started coming back I went up to 100 mg a day at night. The migraines stayed away for a few months but eventually started coming back so I went off of it and tried other things that didnt help. Im about to go back on it because its does help more than anything else Ive tried. | F | 22 | 5 months 100 mg 1X day | 9/16/2010 | 4 | Migraines | Queivering lips, weird metalic tastes to all foods - been to clinic several times because of weird effects, GREAT Weight loss - lost 25 pounds, kidney levels concern for doctor so reduced from 50 MGs to 25 MGS; | No more headaches!! I had about six migraines a month which would literally put me to bed and miss work and my Imitrex wouldn't even touch them and this medicine has taken them all away!! I haven't had a one since I started taking it last October!! Wonderful! Just remember to drink your water!! Very hard on your kidneys!!! | F | 39 | 5 months | 3/5/2007 | 4 | seizures, twitching | tingling, loss of appetite, trouble finding words, crying, trouble with the heat - when I start to get warm I tingle and itch ALL OVER | I sleep great, I have lost weight, I am not having seizures, my twitches have reduced but are not gone, the tingling that has replaced them can be annoying at times | F | 37 | 5 months | 3/19/2007 | 4 | Confusional Migraines | tingling feet, lower legs, hands, lips, and inside of mouth, loss of appetite and weight loss (10 lbs so far), at first migraine pain but that has gone away, fatigue, confusion, losing train of thought, can't think of words or can't put thoughts into words, difficulty doing complex multi-step tasks, memory problems, apathy, beginning to feel depression and wondering if that's also a side effect | It has helped greatly with the confusional migraine symptoms, many of the side effects are similar to the migraine symptoms but they are milder and most of them seem to be getting less frequent and/or getting milder except for the fatigue, cognitive issues, and the depression which is new and getting worse. I started with 25 mg, increased by 25 mg a week until I got to 100 mg a week and have been holding at that dose for 2 months. I don't want to increase dose and may discuss reducing as long as migraine symptoms don't come back. The words of those who have been on it for many years are encouraging. | F | 44 | 5 months | 7/24/2007 | 4 | migraines | ringing in ears, weight loss even though I am already thin, very strong tingling in extremities(hands and feet) to the point of painful, sinusitis- my sinuses flow heavy all the time now, soft drinks and some other foods do taste awful | I started on 25 mg twice a day and worked up to 100 mg twice a day to control a migraine problem of 3-4 per week on average, but now have about 1 a week which is good. Topamax does work, but after 5 months none of my bad side effects have lessened so I am not really too happy overall about this drug. I gave a 4 rating because it works not because I want to keep using it. | M | 44 | 5 months | 4/30/2005 | 4 | Partial seizures, migraines | Extreme tingling, numbness in nose, lips, hands, feet during first month's titration to 100 mg/day. for one hour after taking dose. Carb beverages flat for first 4 months. Sl. improved but miss the taste of a really good Belgian ale on occasion :-( Libido non-existent. Lost 15 lbs. | My doc went too fast (would have had me up to 100 mg/day by end of a week!!!)she is an idiot--I spent a week in bed from sleepiness/lethargy then a drug rep friend, thank goodness(from Ortho) told me go slower (25 mg/wk) and that was the answer. Migraines and seizures have improved. Increasing dose to prevent occ breakthrough migraines (doc suggested it) made me so agitated and irritable I couldn't sleep or stop moving while awake. Now I just take Axert for occ h/a. Still on 100 mg/day Top. Cognitive slowing, some trouble with word-finding, memory but don't see a way around it. Too many other drugs have same or worse effects. | F | 48 | 5 months | 5/3/2005 | 4 | pseudotumor cerebri | I would like to start by saying this medication definitely helped the migraines associated with my condistion. However, I've had a lot of side effects. Most of my side effects are when increasing my dose. I have a lot of numbness in my hands and feet. Mostly my fingertips, sometimes to the point that I can't even feel them. I get very nauseous and sometimes can't even look at or smell food. The only thing that helps is orange juice. I have horrible insomnia and sometimes don't sleep for days. I also feel very foggy and have mood swings but that's mostly just around dose changes. My dreams have become very intense and I sometimes have hallucinations at night to the point where I'm unsure if I'm awake or asleep. I know this sounds like a lot but for me it has been worth it because of the excruciating pain I was in. Be sure to consider side effects before you start and weigh out the benefits. | F | 19 | 5 months 100MG | 8/2/2014 | 4 | Complex Migraines | Tingly feet, Carbonated drinks taste flat, loss of apetite, occassionaly lose train of thought (getting better), forget names | Have been taking this for 5 months now and my migraines are pretty much controlled. My brain scan shows unsual activity and when having migrains I lose speech and have seizure like and sometimes stroke like symptoms. The big attacks were only happenning every few months but chronic headaches weekly however other nuerological symptoms were increasing. I was on Eplilum but it made me tired and very stupid and I have a the type of job were I need to be on the ball (so not an option to continue) I have some strategies to overcome my slight word forgetfulness with Topomax. Overall feeling great. As my neuro siad can you live with the symptoms? Ps Topomax helped me lose the 7kg Eplium helped me put on. Watch the mood swings - they only lasted about three weeks for me as I transitioned meds. hang in there : ) 75mg twice daily | F | 32 | 5 months | 3/30/2008 | 4 | Migraines/benign brain tumor | Tingling in hands and feet; social aggressiveness/lack of inhibition; feelings of regret, remorse over stupid comments/behavior; loss of visual "map" for driving--errors in driving regular routes. | I began taking Topamax after being diagnosed for a benign brain tumor. Already I had experienced years of headache patterns following a serious car accident. Topamax worked--actually works--miraculously for me in SOME ways. I have relief from headaches that have plagued me for twenty years, specifically headache pain at the base of my skull, tension headaches, and occasional migraines that had recently come back at me after years of abatement. Topamax relieved these within one week. Initially I took 25mg morning and night but had to increase within 2 weeks to 25mg morning and 50 mg at night when the lower dosage would not hold back head pain. I have been on this drug for 5 months and am committed to taking it--however, the side effects are daunting. I am a professor and I am now STUPID. This is a professional liablility, no doubt. I have some difficulty keeping my place in conversation. Additionally, what others say about spelling is true--esp difficult for teachers who write on the board. Worse than that, I am already an extrovert, and Topamax takes away some social inhibition. I have said some things in social situations that astound me and later, keep me up nights in fits of shame and remorse. I am struggling now to keep my mouth shut-- a near impossibility. Driving: at times I lose my visual "map". But I'll tell you this--I will try to stay on Topamax; I panic when I think about going back to the head pain that I lived with. TIPS FOR RELIEF: Add Z | F | 47 | 5 months | 6/24/2009 | 3 | Severe migraines | Didn't notice any side effects at 25mg twice a day and I actually felt better on the low dose it was making my migraine frequency better but it did nothing for the severity of my migraines so after one month the doctor had me titrate up to 50 twice a day, noticed some tingling, sleepiness which I welcomed because I have insomnia and I didn't need my ambien for a while, side effects generally wore off except tingliness- in the beginning of June she titrated me up to 100 mg and that caused insane lethargy- granted I have other issues that could cause lethargy so this could just be making it worse, mood swings, caused worse tingling, dizziness, anxiety which I already have bad issues with no need for the drug making things worse, I told my new neuro the of side effects and she felt the need to titrate to 150 x2 anyways she told me if my migraines didn't get better at 150 we would go down, and it made all the symptoms even worse, I called my dr office to tell them I couldn't handle this anymore and I'm awaiting a call from my dr office this week to see what I should do because my appointment is weeks away and I can't wait that long. | F | 24 | 5 months 25-150mgx2 | 7/14/2014 | 3 | Migraines | ....... | Im taking topamax right now and have been for about over 5 months maybe more i cant even remember. They previously upped my dosage to about 100mg and want me to go up to 150...if im comfortable there. Because my migraines werent going away...& they findout that apparantly it was working because i had accidently forgot to get the topamax from my mothers and missed taking it for 2 days and ended up with a 3 day migraine. NOTHING helped.Which apparently that meant my migraine needed the medicine from what she told me. Idk. I dont like blaming things but lately i have been Depressed, I dont have friends anymore, i havent had a normal bowel function (constipation),Major mood swings,and im always angry, Ive always been smart but now my class is getting harder for me, ive fallen behind. I probably wouldnt take this medicine without researching it and knowing EVERYTHING. If only my doctor mentioned all this...all she had to mention was weight loss which didnt happen till i was upped to 100mg and ive lost 10 pounds. Im thinking about gettin off this medicine...and yes i feel stupid.So RESEARCH first! | F | 18 | 5 months | 9/14/2009 | 3 | migraines | I was on 25 mg first and only had the tingling in my feet in hands, memory loss, and slowed reaction time but now I'm on 50 mg and I have extremem fatigue. It is very hard for me to stay awake during the day. I've only been on 50 mg for a week so I am going to try and stick it out. | F | 19 | 5 months 50 MG | 12/22/2015 | 3 | Migraine and Tension Headaches | I had the tingling,pins and needles for about two months.Food doesn't appeal to me like it use to,which is great,since I gained 40-45# while taking Lyrica for my fibromyalgia. I am having a lot of hair thinning problems. I am also having short term memory loss. I have problems with my gait being unsteady. I feel like I'm in a fog all the time. I'm also having problems with my vision getting increasingly blurry. My headaches aren't as frequent as they were,but I have to get off this med. | F | 42 | 5 months 100mg | 12/22/2014 | 3 | Migraines | Headaches are better - but not gone. Hormonal headaches still a problem. Tingling in extremities for first 2 months (made worse by cold weather) as I worked up to 200mg per day (increased by 25mg per week), soda/carbonation/metallic taste problem stated by so many, worsening vision, hair loss which I originally thought was b/c I had a baby several months before starting but am realizing is b/c of the Topamax, loss of appetite in the beginning resulting in a 12 lb weight loss the first 2 months (actually not a lot considering I weighed 236 when I started), appetite has returned and weight loss has ceased (weight loss was one of the most attractive effects of this drug). Also, I have had ZERO sex drive – to the point where it is starting to affect my marriage. I thought that might have been from the Wellbutrin I also take, but I have cut it from 450mg to 150mg and have seen no change. Also, I do not remember having this problem with Wellbutrin before I got pregnant and quit taking it. | I MISS DIET COKE... but not nearly as much as I miss sex. The lossof libido will cause me to come off of this med. I would rather live with headaches than lose my marriage - and it is coming to that point. I did not realise that Topamax could have this effect. | F | 28 | 5 months | 5/31/2005 |