TOPAMAX Reviews (TOPIRAMATE)Average Rating: 3.0 (1824 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare TOPAMAX with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by length of time drug was taken longest to shortest. 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 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 |
More on TOPAMAX: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR TOPAMAX | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | Severe migraines | At first, a TON of side effects...OMG--carbonated drinks tasted awful, severe cognitive impairment!!! Virtually no word recall when speaking or even reading from a book. I would even have a hard time pronouncing words. I am a teacher and it was very frustrating trying to read and teach and speak to parents, etc....Memory loss....sometimes I would make a wrong turn on a route that I would drive everyday. This medication is called "Dopamax" for a reason. I wasn't overweight, but I feel like this medication has kept my weight stable (low) and allowed me to indulge a little more and exercise less (none)..LOL. If you are not overweight, don't expect a weight loss. | Even with the side effects, I LOVE this medication. As you can see, I have been on it for three years and plan on staying on it for the rest of my life. I had debilitating migraines that lasted days. I am a teacher and would crawl under my desk in my office until a substitute was called and then would be out for a day or so afterwards....they were that bad. I had the traditional aura and then exactly 20 minutes later pain and nausea that lasted for 8-10 hours. Then I would feel like my head was in a vice for 2 days afterwards. I have had two migraines in three years when I was having 1 a week on average, sometimes less, sometimes more. I tried 3 different migraine medications and they did nothing. | F | 38 | 3 years 50 mg 2X day | 10/18/2010 | 5 | Migraines | weight loss 10 lbs, improved sleeping, better mood. At original higher dose, experienced tingling arms and legs, difficulty finding words, periods of deep sadness, nightmares about dying. | At age 46 I had my first MAJOR migraine, with vomiting and sharp pain that lasted 10 hours. Then the migraines started coming once a week. After trying several other meds unsuccessfully, Topamax STOPPED them completely. It was such a relief to me and my husband and kids! My original dose was 50mg 2x/day, which I did for a year. At that dose I had some negative side effects. After one really terrifying nightmare, I decided to try cutting my dose in half to see if the headaches stayed away. It worked! The bad side effects -sadness, trouble finding words, nightmares have gone. Everyone's body chemistry is different. For me, this drug has given me my life back, (allowing me to hold a job) where before I would have to miss a day of work a week. Also, I can be the best wife and mom for my family. | F | 49 | 3 years 25 2X day | 10/20/2010 | 5 | migraines, fibromyalgia | Tingling of face and hands in the first 4 - 6 weeks that gradually went away, slight dizziness in the beginning that also went away. Weight loss and appetite suppression (yay!), but that became more mild over time. | My experiences with this drug have been great! After trying the nightmare that was Lyrica, I reluctantly went on Topamax because my migraines had gotten so bad and so frequent. I hadn't initially wanted to try it because I was afraid of what I had read about the side effects. However, they turned out to be quite mild and temporary and not bad enough to make me stop taking it. My headaches have been greatly reduced in number from several times a month to about 2 - 3 in a three month period, much more manageable. Also, much to my surprise, my fibromyalgia pain and stiffness has almost completely disappeared (I would actually take it just for the fibromyalgia even if it didn't help my migraines). I have also lost weight, which is a very good thing and have more energy! It's kind of been like a wonder drug for me. --------------LaTrisha | F | 50 | 3 years 50 MG 2X day | 1/19/2012 | 5 | Severe Migranes-Chairi Malformation | I have hardley no side effects---only gradually lose weight, loss of appetite only....This is the only medication of most the worked for me! This saved my life!! I was on the verge of dying, i swear!! Living with migranes everyday all day with no break was enough for me! I've lived with migranes since i was as young as 5 and this was definently my cure. I eventually want to find a more natural way to overcome my migranes so my body wont have to depend on a pill, but i have not found a way yet, all i know is this medication CHANGED MY LIFE FOR THE BETTER! I am a happy mother of 3 and im able to work and still be a mom i always wanted to be without any migranes... | F | 23 | 3 years 2 a day | 2/19/2012 | 5 | seizures | Haven't had a seizure in almost 3 years. Tried 4 different medications, and this one was the only one that seemed to work. Side effects include fatigue, and word finding. | F | 51 | 3 years | 2/28/2007 | 5 | Migraines | Tingling toes, have a hard time concentrating and finding words, no weight loss here (unfortuately), and very large increase in how tired I am. | I started at a very low dose of Topamax and it was a miracle. I went from having 1-3 migraines in a day for weeks at a time to only a couple a year. At first, I had no side effects. However, as my dosage has had to be increased, (I am still only at 100 mg/day) I have started to notice a drastic change in how it effects me. However, I will take those side effects any day over another migraine. I have tried so many other medications and this is the ONLY thing that has worked. | F | 25 | 3 years | 10/4/2006 | 5 | Migraine / Chronic Headaches | Began at 25, then 50 mg. At low dosage, experienced panic attacks and shortness of breath. Possibly d/t transitioning from Depakote, which while it eliminated my headaches, it made me feel emotionally flat and chronically tired. Ramped up to 400 mg before headaches were under back under control. Experienced mild cognative disfunction at 400 mg, side effects gradually worsened after 2yrs at this dosage - (confusion, language problems, trouble concentrating, short term memory problems) Also had trouble sleeping (staying asleep), became very sensative to caffeine. Reduced to 200 mg, reduction in side confusion/cognitative effects. However, still have trouble sleeping. Headaches are still well controlled at 200 mg. 1 headache (mild) in 10 months since halving dosage. | Is not quite as effective as Depakote, but side effects (so far) are more tolerable to me than that medication. | M | 39 | 3 years | 7/10/2006 | 5 | PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress) | Weight loss comes and goes. The Brain-less effect seems to stay forever. Have found help with that though. Drink V8 juice daily when going up to counteract potassium block. Also continue to experience hair breaking and shedding--hope bald is in 10 years from now. | Put an almost instant stop to PTSD symptoms. Stupidity drove me crazy until DR put me on Exelon. I'd sugest anyone feeling the same stupidity symt. look into it. The only bad thing is Topamax seems to build up in my system after a while, then I have to take a break. Weird--it's supposed to be in and out. | F | 27 | 3 years | 1/13/2007 | 5 | Migrains | Soda tastes flat, I have loss, about 30 lbs, but I rarely have headaches anymore and if I do a tylenol gets rid of it! I was a little foggy for the first couple months but nothing I couldn't deal with after what I had been thru with all the headaches. | Think the trick is to be on the lowest possible dose. My Dr started me on just one tablet for 6 months and that was plenty. I have heard some go to two tabs right of the bat ...took a bit for the body to get used to. | F | 55 | 3 years 50mg 1X day | 7/7/2015 | 5 | Migraines and depression | So far Topamax has been a blessing for me.Helps from having to suffer from having headaches for days.Also helps to stabilize my depression meds. | F | 60 | 3 years 200 x day | 5/29/2016 | 5 | Migraines/Arteriovenous malformatio | This is my second time being prescribed topamax. It has helped me tremendously with my migraines. I went from 5+ migraines a week to an average on 2 or less a month. It is amazing! Most bothersome side effect the first go round was I lost 50+ pounds in about 6 months which really killed my energy. I just wasn't eating enough. The appetite was a problem. After about 3 months of being off the meds my migraines were back up to 5+ a week so I began taking it again about 2 months ago. I have not been losing weight this time. But I am having this tingling in my lips and chin area and twitching in my fingers. The good definitely out weighs the bad! It helps me!! | F | 30 | 3 years 75mg | 10/30/2014 | 5 | Tingling in my fingers for first few weeks. Loss of Weight. Eye Twitching. Diarrhoea. | Was on 150mg and migraines began to come back so increased to 175mg which I stayed on for about 6 months till the migraines appeared agan so I went to 200mg but this was when I began to experience severe eye twitching and diarrhoea. As soon as I lowered the doseage back to 175mg, the eye twitching stopped and so did the eye twitching and my migraines are very few and far between. I think it is important therefore that a Doctor makes sure to prescribe this according to the weight of the patient as obviously 200mg was enough for a person much heavier than I was. Although I have experienced side affects, I would not stop taking Topamax as it has changed my life. I used to get Migraines at least once a week and swallow numerous pain killers and now I might get a migraine about once every 9 months. | F | 3 years | 9/18/2009 | 5 | Migraines | Weight loss, tingling, cognative functioning diminished at first, loss of appetite | TAKE VITAMIN B SUPPLEMENTS. Specifically FOLIC ACID. Topamirate depletes folic acid, & if you look up symptoms of low folic acid they are nearly identical to Topamax - fatigue, tingling, congative problems. But the weight loss is still a side effect even if you take B. Once I upped my folic acid intake, I eliminated most of the negative side effects. I went from 3 migraignes a week to at most 3 a month. Love it. | F | 27 | 3 years | 4/8/2009 | 5 | migraines | Been on 25mg. for 3 years. side effects... couldn't think/ not hungry/ some tingling/ lost 20 pounds. Gained about 10 back - weight is stable and can eat whatever I want. Tingling is only occasional. Confusion is a friend, I've learned to work with it. After 2 years I thought I didn't need it and weaned myself off. In about 3 months the migraines were back with a vengeance! Went back on 25mg. and in 3 months -- no more headaches. I WOULD NOT WANT TO LIVE WITHOUT TOPAMAX! | F | 50 | 3 years | 2/25/2009 | 5 | epilepsy | weight loss, fatigue | F | 25 | 3 years | 3/31/2008 | 5 | Migraine | Occasional tingling of the hands and feet. Aphasia, and some mind numbing effects. On the initial taking of the drug, I had experienced bad stomach problems. ED. | Originally started off with 100mgs, and got really sick. My doctor restarted me back to 25mgs for a week, then built me up to 200mgs a night for migraines. This stuff works great for me. Has cut them down by 80%. He upped me to 250mgs, taking 50mgs in the morning, but it was giving me problems trying to concentrate at work, so he told me to add it to my night routine. I have been taking it now for close to 3 years, and I still experience the tingling hands and feet every now and then. The aphasia happens like that as well. It does impact my concentration when I try moving from one thing to another, like working on the computer to answering the phone. | M | 43 | 3 years | 2/11/2008 | 4 | to prevent miagraine headaches | I have been on Topamax for 3 years. only take 50mg. Higher dose doesn't work for me. I did drop 50 lbs. after being on it 2 years. Weight loss didn't happen fast. The really bad feelings have gone away. at first I couldn't think, sleep, talk, feel...it was pure hell. But guess what....so were the the daily headaches I had for 35 years. Now I might have 2 a month. This medicine isn't for everybody, you just have to decide how bad you want you head to stop hurting.....what you are willing to do. | F | 51 | 3 years | 12/25/2008 | 4 | Migraines | problems with vision (blurred / twitching, spasms in and around both eyes) almost constantly 24/7, occasional tingling in hands/feet, slight weight loss over time, forgetful moments (especially short-term thoughts), sleep problems. | I was one of the earlier people to start taking this drug when it first came out. I took it initially for a couple years and noticed all of the "scary" side effects right away. However, it did work for chronic migraines. Other forms of treatment weren't as successful as I have severe drug allergies to other medications...so T. seemed like a good alternative...though the eye problems concerned me the most at the time. I stopped the medication for a little over a year and the side effects (all of them) seemingly went away. However, I recently went back on T. and yup...all the side effects are back full blown and just as intense if not worse. Of course, it is also working again for the migraines (which attack 3-5/week easily) if untreated. So....somewhat of a Catch 22 ...but I am always scared about it...and hope that T. doesn't leave me in a permanently worse off state of being down the road. Hard to say...I can't function with the migraines though. | F | 31 | 3 years | 4/16/2008 | 4 | severe migraine headaches | tingling in the arms and legs, forgetfulness, spelling problems, loss of hair, acting out temper problems (for the first time in my life) no longer happy all the time, pain in legs, sour feeling in stomach, decrease appetite | I know these side effects sound scary;however they did not occur all at once. The "tingling" happens if you do not drink enough water. Decrease appetite happens from too high a dose too fast and YOU WILL PUT THE WEIGHT BACK ON!!! AND MORE WHEN YOU COME OFF THE DRUG AND START TO EAT AGAIN! Take Vitamins. B's Zinc, Biotin and digestive enzymes so your body will absorb them this will stop your hair from falling out, and eat, even if you are not hungry. This med effects your thyroid gland not monitoring it and starving yourself to stay thin you will pay the same price as someone who suffers from thyroid problems. After 3 years, this drug took away a 20 yr hell I had with migraines, but I respect the power any med has--especially one as powerful as this. Taking the vitamins is a must as the drug interferes with the absorption of nutrients which is the cause for many of your symptoms. You esp. need B12 to stay mentally healthy. If you can't effort good vitamins get off the drug!!! | F | 50 | 3 years | 2/24/2009 | 4 | migraines | tingling, confusion, forgetfullness, loss of apetite, change of taste | I cannot believe people who take this drug (or any other for that matter) for 1-3 months or even a few weeks only and claim they went off of it due to side effects. These drugs do have side effects whether we like it or not. And it takes time for them to go away - anywhere from few weeks to few months. Anyone who is sick enough will pull through these few months to see if the drug helps. It took me over 3 months to stop being confused and disoriented. I had to make myself eat. But after that everything went back to normal and I saw the drug actually helps. I've been on for 3 years now and still helps. Just be strong and continue on - the side effects will go away but it will take more than just a few days. | F | 28 | 3 years | 7/23/2008 |