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
 
 2  migaines Lots of hair loss, mood swings, stomach problems, numbness & tingling, muscle pain, loss of energy, loss of appetite, couldn't sleep I was very happy with topamax when i started taking it, weight loss (10 lbs) and it stopped my migraines. I was able to take motrin to stop any migraines i did start to get. But 6 months in i started lossing hair and major other problems. My doctor thought i had a gluten problem. A week into a completely gluten free diet i felt even worse. My hair loss has gotten really bad that now i have a handful after i wash and dry my hair. And i lost 3lbs in one week. My doctore just switched me to another migraine medicine so i will see how that goes. He said there are so many side effects they don't post for this medicine. F 28 7 months
25 2X day
9/20/2010
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 3  I was having really bad migraines. Tingling, loss of appetite, depression, word loss, It helped at first, but then the side effects came. I'm more than likely going to stop taking it, and ask my doctor to find something else for me. F 15
100 MG 1X day
9/19/2010
 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
 2  migraines Loss of words, visual problems, blurriness, extended menstrual cycle (4 weeks), swelling of ankles, leg cramps, no appetite, horribad dreams, no energy, unable to focus on everyday tasks. These were prescribed by a neurologist when I was diagnosed with a calcified meningioma which turned out to be non-existant. I did suffer from chronic headaches, some migraines.They did stop the chronic headaches, but I'd rather live with them than deal with all of these side effects. I am due to take college exams next week and I doubt I can focus long enough to pass them. I'm going to stop taking them. F 50 30 days
25 1X day
9/18/2010
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 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
 1  migraines very sleepy, extreme dizziness, loss of balance, loss of memory, problems with speech, mood changes, loss of appetite, wierd sensations in my arms, diarrhea, trouble concentrating, shortness of breath I started this medicine on a Thursday and was in the ER on Tuesday. I was admitted for tests. I still fell a little out of sorts but the doctor said it may take a while to get the medicine of my system. I am afraid to try another migrain medicine. This experience was worse than the migraines themselves. F 39 4 days
50 MG 1X day
9/16/2010
 3  Migraines Memory loss, confusion,decreased appetite, lower libido, tingling in legs and feet I have suffered from migraines for 15 years. I've tried quite a few different drugs including Effexor.I was skeptical about taking an anti seizure drug to help with my migraines, but also desperate because nothing else I was doing helped. I did notice a difference in the frequency of my migraines within the first couple weeks. I have taken it for 3 years now. I am slowly decreasing my dosage because I am having memory and concentration problems that are effecting my everyday life. At 25mg a day, I'm having only 3 to 5 migraines a month verses daily ones. F 34 3 years
50mg 2X day
9/9/2010
 2  Severe Headaches. Numbness in face, memory loss, loss in taste, infection in chest, nightmares, and loss in apatite. (Note:I just recently quit taking the medicane due to the side effects becoming so strong) The only pro I personally found using TOPAMAX was the weight loss. I loss 10 pounds in the first four months, which was wonderful. However, my headaches barely subsided. My mother continued to tell me to let it take time upon me. My nightmares were so terrible that at school I had no sleep plus a huge part of my memory was GONE! I got a horrible infection in my chest because of this medicane. All around the cons outweight the pros. I would never recommend this medicane for someone under the age of 20. F 15 7 months
50MG 2X day
9/9/2010
 2  Chronic Sinusitus depression, loss of motivation, fatigue, Around three years ago i was diagnosed with Sinusitus by my local GP. I was told that a dose of antibiotics would fix all my problems. 8 courses of antibiotics and surgery later i still had symptoms that (based on descriptions) are akin to a migrane in intensity, but i'm in pain 24-7. I;ve tried several drugs to try and help witht this, including Endep, which was absolutely horrible and brought me to the verge of suicide. after that i tried periactin, which did absolutely nothing, which brings me to Topamax: At first it seemed to help the pain a little, and i didn't feel any side effects except some mild pins and needles here and there, but it never really helped that much. Then my Neorologist, true to his philosophy of "If it's not working you simply aren't habing enough of it" put me up to 100mg, which seemed to help the pain a little more and i didn't question tings. However over the last few weeks i've noticed the side effects creeping in, the familiar numbness that i felt from the endep returning. a couple of times recently i've been so zoned out in the morning that i've forgotten to take a tablet, and i've felt much happier and energetic on those days. I think thast even my memories of those times without topamax is better, and the pain doesn't seem to be any worse. Still my mum refuses to take me off them, insisting they help and that i should try a lower dosage first (and barely lower at that.) In a week or two a plan to stop taking it of my own a M 16 100 days
50mg 2X day
9/9/2010
 3  migraines It improved my focus and mood at first. I felt better mentally at 50-100mg. But it caused GERD at 100mg which got worse at 150mg and became volcanic at 200mg. I would throw up in my mouth after taking a sip of water. It was constant and intolerable. At 150mg I became aggressive and had daily bouts of rage in the morning and at bedtime, where I'd get in mental fights in my head with doctors and people at work. It started to come out at work and I almost quit my job. Insomnia - about an hour each night, set in at 150mg as well. I also felt the little pains of kidney stone formation each time I raised or lowered the dose. It also became difficult to breathe through my nose at night at about 150mg so that I had to use breathing strips. Overall, the bad outweighed the good. The pain prevention was slight at 50mg, and each additional 50mg was a slight improvement. I probably would have needed to get to 300mg-400mg to prevent the pain completely but I was a wreck with the side effects at 200mg, and it wasn't worth it at 50mg when the worst side effects faded. M 35 2 months
200mg 1X day
9/5/2010
 5  migraine Some numbness/tingling in my feet, occasional word loss This drug has ended my migraines completely. I went from daily headaches and missing work one day a week to no headaches at all. Topamax also has vastly improved my ability to sleep, which has improved my life and made my prescription for Ambien irrelevant. The side effects are minimal and not bothersome. Would love to see the weight loss but have not, at least not yet. The prospect of kidney stones is worrisome, so I try to drink a lot of water. If your doctor suggests this drug, try it. If it works for you, great; if it doesn't, you can go off it. F 41 6 weeks
100 mg 1X day
9/3/2010
 5  Bipolar Experienced tingling in extremities only when dosages were increased. The only time I ever felt like an "idiot" was the very first day I started on Topamax, other than that I have been fine. Soda and anything with sugar tastes disgusting. Weightloss has also been a side effect. This drug has been a miracle for me. I have suffered with bipolar depression for years and have had a hard time with medications and side effects, topamax surprisingly has been a godsend for me, and my family too for that matter- I guess everyones body is different and reacts differently- I haven't lost my hair, I have lost weight, I feel good and no longer suffer any side effects of the drug. F 33 6 months
100 mg 2X day
9/3/2010
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 3  mood stabilizer altered taste sensation, fuzzy thinking (although this seemed to wear off after a little while), weight loss, severe acne breakouts I was initially really pleased with how topamax helped me feel: calmer, more in control of my emotional reactions and responses, more able to rationalise rather than feeling like everything was doomed; I also experienced quite significant weight loss. However about 2 months after taking it ,my skin started to break out really severly, especially around the jawline. I had teenage acne so did not initially put it down to being the topamax, especially as its not a listed side effect. However no treatments, skin care or other topical medication helped, and ,y confidence fell really low. Stopped taking topamax about 2 months ago just to test out what would happen, my skin has improved to the point of only a minor breakout at certain times in the month....but, I am also noticing a return to old patterns of thinking and a drop in my overall mood stability. Im hoping to find an alternative when I next see my psych. F 32 6 months
100mg 1X day
9/2/2010
 5  migranes weight loss, tingling in my hands and feet sometimes in my face, slight hair loss but nothing significant, change in appetitie, pain and neck ache, loss of menstrual cycle, sometimes fatigued to be honest, i don't know what i'd do without it. i've been on it since i was 18, and though i have some side effects, i feel that they are minor, nothing life threatening. my mirgranes went from pretty much daily to maybe once or twice a month. definately recommeded. F 23 6 years
75 mg 2X day
8/27/2010
 4  Migraines Loss of appetite, itchy scalp, lower libido, dry mouth, some brain fog Took this for 2 years then took 1.5 years off, now have been back on for 1 year. I have had migraines since I was 10 and have tried every drug, this is the only one that has helped. I lost some weight--about 10 lbs. But started out slim so there wasn't much I could lose. My scalp has been very itchy and I get terrible dry mouth/bad breath. I also have noticed a lower sex drive. This has also significantly helped with my bulimia---have only binged/purged once since I went on it. To me the side effects are worth it. F 24 1 years
200 mg 1X day
8/27/2010
 4  Migraines tingling in hands and feet, hair loss, weight loss, loss of appetite I have been dealing with migraines since I was 16 years old. When the doctor started me on this medicine, we had to keep increasing my dosage because it didn't seem to be helping. I am taking this along with Imitrex. since taking the higher dose, it has minimized the amount of migraines I get a month. Instead of getting the 2 a week I used to, I now get maybe 2 a month. So it definitely works, the only downfall is the side effects, which aren't too bad...I have experienced weight loss, I have lost 30lbs since being on it..people comment all the time and think I don't eat. I am loosing hair, not to the point of baldness, but loosing more than normal. I sweep up hair off my bathroom floor everyday. I get tingling in my hands and feet, not everyday, but every once in a while. But I will take the side effects if it gets rid of or reduces my migraines! F 25 2 years
100 MG 2X day
8/23/2010
 5  MIgraines weight loss, head itching, some hair loss, tingling of feet and hands, loss of words. Nothing real major I can deal with all these side effects, I love the Topamax it has been a godsend to me. I have had migraines since I was 15 and nothing has helped but this drug. I have lost weight from it, which I needed to anyways so that was an extra plus. A few small migraines have slipped by but nothing like before. F 53 1 years
2X day
8/19/2010
 4  Migraines Hair loss to the point I am currently wearing wigs to grow my hair out, abdonial/pelvic pain, back pain, bruising, dizziness, fatigue, weight loss (80 pounds in last 3 years), sometimes confusion and at a loss of words I have had severe migraines since I was 13 years old that resulted in 2-3 ER visits a month. I couldn't function or work. It was unbearable. Topomax has literally saved me! When I first started the medication, my sodas tasted like metal and food tasted horrible and my fingers and toes tingled but those side effects went away. The past six months I have developed new side effects that include abdominal/pelvic pain to the point that I ended up in the ER on several visits that resulted in undiagnosed pain. My hair has also thinned to the point where I have started wearing wigs until it grows out. Over the last three years I have went from a size 16 to a size 3/4. SOme people say I look as if I do drugs or have an eating disorder. Despite these side effects and the pain my body feels, to me it is worth it because I have not had a migraine in three years! This has been the only drug that has worked for me for my severe migraines. F 34 3 years
100 2X day
8/17/2010
 3  migraine the reason i have been prescribed this is because two years back i have been getting really bad headaches, i could clear a box of panadol, panadine etc in a week, and obviously they all dont help. so my neurologist suggested these. this year during the first semester i have been getting daily headaches. after taking topamax the headaches decreases substantially, however theres still a few that manage to sneak in. and about that tingling the in the feet. for a moment i thought i got athlete's foot or tinea, so everyone, thanks for the confirmation that i havent gone mad! i have lost weight, i just dont feel like eating. i can survive a day with a regular long black and a piece of dark choc at the start of the day. getting up in the morning is hell!. and memory loss is hell. ive asked a few doctors about this they all seem to deny it/ saying the dose im on is too small to cause any damage. luckily i didnt bring up about a few websites (including druginfo) saying how it can cause been dep F 20 1 months
50mg 2X day
8/16/2010
 1  mood stabilizer pins and needles, nausea, loss of sleep I was prescribed this medication for a mood stabilizer and also to help me sleep. I took one at night before bed time, and I woke up and felt so sick to my stomach. I also felt like someone scratched me on my leg when nothing was there. It made me have weird dreams and sent my mind racing. Needless to say I got no sleep and felt really loopy. I stopped using this drug the next day. F 30 1 days
100 mg 1X day
8/10/2010

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