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 Date 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 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 |
| 4 | Migraine | Tingling/numbness in hands and feet, weight loss (~10%), loss of appetite, taste perversion / odd taste in mouth, trouble with "word finding" and spelling, lethargy | Reduced migraine frequency to less than 1x/mo, but these side effects have not been unproblematic. At the moment I prefer them to basically being struck down randomly 3-8x per month by migraine, as does my thankfully accomodating employer, but in other situations in might be preferable to be at closer to 100% mental performance on my non-migraine days and just have to deal with the prospect of having to lose those migraine days when they come. As someone who is a part-time graduate student, and to whom intelligence (expressed in terms of verbal and written communication) was a very important part of my identity, it has been difficult adjusting to "the stupids". But on balance I have decided to stick with it. | M | 28 | 10 months 75mg 1X day | 8/5/2010 | 1 | Migraines | tingling and numbness in arms, hands, legs, and feet. Nasty, indescribable taste in mouth. Paranoia and constant thoughts of bugs crawling on me. Major hair loss. Mood swings, Crying at the drop of a dime, Irritability | When I began taking this medication I noticed that the migraines stopped and I was so excited. But soon after all the side effects started popping up one by one. At first I thought nothing of it and really didn't notice. But once I became paranoid and felt the "bugs" crawling on me all the time I started wondering if I was insane. So I made an appointment with my primary care doctor immediately. He actually laughed at me a little and said "Oh, you just aren't taking enough." So he requested that I begin taking 100mg daily to "stabilize" my moods. And he also told me that hair loss was NOT a side effect of this drug. I was dumbfounded when I left the office. I immediately went home and googled it. That is when I found this website and I was so excited to see all these posts and find that I wasn't nuts! Thank you all so much! I quit taking the medication last night and just wrote an enormous letter to my doctors office! | F | 28 | 1 months 50mg 1X day | 8/5/2010 | 1 | migraines | Tingling and numbness in extremities and face, extreme disorientation and mood swings, unpredictable dizziness, severe and sudden depression, sense of unreality, fatigue and drowsiness that worsened as dosage increased. | It definitely prevented two migraine attacks, but I also had two others even while on the drug. I followed the dosage instructions exactly. | F | 39 | 3 weeks 50 2X day | 8/4/2010 | 2 | migraine prevention | early on weight loss, that stabilized, possibly trouble 'finding words' | took it on and off for a few years with vaying dosage. May have helped a little reducing migraine frequency but as I was overall still have several episodes a month did not feel that it was worth it. | F | 47 | 2 years 50 mg 2X day | 8/3/2010 | 2 | Migraines | Topamax was HORRIBLE. I've had problems with memory following a head injury in the past, but Topamax made it unbearable. I because physically weak, and fatigued, and my memory got so bad I was scared. I also felt paranoid, anxious, and depressed--all of which resolved when I stopped the medication. | It helped the migraines but made me unable to function with day to day tasks. I was fatigued, weak, paranoid, anxious, and depressed--all of which are not normal for me and resolved once the medicine was stopped. | F | 27 | 3 months 75 1X day | 8/3/2010 | 5 | Severe Migraines (since teen) | Loss of vocabulary (soooo glad I've read all your posts - I thought it was age !) Lost 25 lbs the first two months from loss of appetite. Weight stable now, although appetite iffy. | Worked great on my migraines. Now I only get one if I don't eat regularly. It was three yrs ago, but never had the tingly extremities...? And, I never noticed the flat pop. But...just over the past few weeks - Coca Cola hasn't tasted as good as it usually does. I HATE not being able to "think of a word"...I teach - so I have to turn my "loss" into a quick classroom activity..."OK class, what's another word for.....?" | F | 42 | 3 years 100 mg PM 1X day | 7/27/2010 | 1 | Chronic Sever Migraines | tingley hands and feet numbness the shakes horrible nightmares trouble slepping paroniod suicidal..... | THIS IS THE WORST THING TO TAKE IM ONLY 15 AND I FEEL LIKE IM IN MY OWN PERSONAL HELL. IM SHAKEY AND SCARED I THINK ABOUT DYING. I CANT THINK STRAIGHT I SWARE I FEEL LIKE IM GOING INSANE. IN THE MORNING I HAVE TO DRAG MYSELF OUT OF BED. AND I STILL GET THE MIGRAINES. I CANT SLEEP IM RESTLESS. WHEN I DO FALL ASLEEP I HAVE HORRID NIGHTMARES IM TIRED ALL TIME. IVE GOTTEN EVERY POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECT BUT WHEN I GO OFF OF IT I FEEL LIKE IM HAVING WITHDRAWLS. IM TERRIFIED OF THIS DRUG! DO NOT TAKE IT, YOU WILL REGRET IT. | F | 15 | 2 years 50mg 1X day | 7/27/2010 | 5 | Schizoaffective/Schizophrenia | Loss of Appetite | I got put on this medicine for my mood and to decrease my appetite that was increased by the high dose of Seroquel I am also taking. It has worked and I have lost about 7 pounds. I feel happy everyday, and I don't have any other side effects. | F | 22 | 1 months 100 MG 2X day | 7/26/2010 | 5 | Severe Migraines | crazy dreams, severe insomnia, severe numbness/tingling in face, numbness in extremeties, cramps, not being able to find the right words... | This medication is working great on my migraines. I just started taking it two weeks ago after jumping thru so many hoops with other medications that just didnt cut it. Im diagnosed with severe mental health problems and have not yet had any side effects of that sort. Im hoping none come along but I would totally reccomend that someone else at least give this medication a shot before turning it down. Im still at a low level but who knows what will happen next! | F | 23 | 2 weeks 25mg-50mg 1X day | 7/25/2010 | 3 | migraines | weakness, depression, the shakes, such tiredness. | After dealing with having a migraine everyday, I was willing to try anything that would take the pain away without destroying my liver, but this is awful. I am so weak and my hands shake constantly. I cant think straight without having to talk slow or just not talk at all. Reading, my favorite pass time, cant happen because every time I try to read for any length of time I get dizzy. I am only 21 and I have to go back to school soon, but I refuse to go back to school while on this medication. I am having dark thoughts along with anxiety. I am not a fan even it does take away the pain its not worth having the depression, the shakes or the suicidal thoughts. | F | 21 | 3 weeks 1X day | 7/24/2010 | 5 | Migraines | It took some adjusting to at first (or if I'd miss pills the side effects would come back) and that lasted maybe a month or two? I can't remember now. But when I first went on it I remember being SOOO exhausted that I felt like something was seriously wrong with me. The tingling in my arms and legs was slightly annoying and parts of my body that had never "fallen asleep" before (like my knees) would tingle. That was annoying but not terrible to deal with. Carbonated beverages tasted weird at first but I drank them anyway and just got used to it that eventually they no longer tasted weird. Lost a TON of weight! But that was a plus. When I was adjusting to it my memory was shot all the time and every once in a while I'd have difficulty remembering something big, oh, like one time I couldn't remember one of my friends' last names! Ridiculous. But like the other side effects, I think my body adjusted to that as well. | When I went on it I started with 25mg, then 50 mg, then 75 mg, then settled at 100mg. It is a drug you need to taper on and off of. It also takes some adjusting to the side effects but overall, this was the ONLY drug of any other drug (and I tried many, many) that did anything for my migraines. Was so worth it! But, be warned. Without insurance it is SUPER PRICY. Was paying something like $160/month for it when I had to pay out of pocket. | F | 23 | 2 years 100 mg 1X day | 7/23/2010 | 1 | Chronic Migraines | tingly hands and feet, anything carbonated tasted flat,horrible panic attacks, mood swings, suicidal thoughts, insomnia, when i actually do sleep i have crazy dreams | I have never felt the way I have on this drug. I have had severe chronic migranes since i was 16 and i cant even function with them but i will take them any day before the side effects i am getting with this med. It is scary!!!! I didnt start haveing the panic attcks until about 3 weeks after i stared takeing the med and they have just gradualy been getting worse. In the past week the have gotten to the point im getting them 5 to 6 times a day especially at night. i cant sleep and in the last 3 to 4 days i have started to get suicidal thoughts. I talked to my neurologist today and i hope that my life will get back to normal soon.. All I can say is if you are getting any of these major side effects JUST STOP TAKEING IT!! Its not worth it.. | F | 26 | 8 weeks 25mg 1X day | 7/23/2010 | 2 | migraines | Tingling in fingers & toes, weird taste in mouth, confusion at times, trouble with conservations, tired, just a sense of not feeling all there. I did lose 8 lbs with it. | I had noticed that my fingers and toes were tingling and feeling numb on and off all the time. I have nerve damage in one of my legs and foot and was really scared it was spreading to other areas. This also just felt different from my normal tingling that I usually have in my foot and leg. On my last visit to my Dr. that was went I found out that was a side effect of this medicine. I also have had a weird taste in my mouth all the time that I have blamed on some dental work that I had gotten done not long after starting medicine. My headaches have started again so it seems as if it is not even working on that anymore also. So I am working my way off of this and hopefully the tingling will go away from my fingers and toes. This is a medicine I will be very happy to be off of. | F | 45 | 5 months 200 mg 1X day | 7/20/2010 | 3 | cluster headaches | tingling hands and feet,severe abdominal cramps constipation,loss of appetitite,no energy, | after increasing debilitating headaches emergency room visits where fluids and morphine were needed, missed work I was willing to try anything. However the side effects are no longer worth it...the vertigo is so bad I passed out at work.....I have to take daily laxitives....depression....I cant articulate at work I stumble over my words...my hair is thin....I lack enthusiasm for anything and the people around me notice the difference....I am slowly tapering off the 125 mg a day....i cant live like this....I cry or get angry.....I have insomnia....I dont want the intense pain of the headaches sometimes weekly but I want my personality back...my clear thoughts....laughing.. | F | 51 | 1 years 125mg 1X day | 7/15/2010 | 3 | Migraines | Extreme exhaustion, difficulty with short term memory, recall, loss of vocabulary, lost train of thought, focus, concentration, inability to follow conversation, general dulling of wits, constant fog in the brain! | Severe migraine sufferer, 3-4 migraines weekly. Incapacitating & blinding, where bedridden for 2-3 days straight, sick and virtually unable to walk or stand when migraine occurs. Extreme sensitivity to estrogen, food triggers, and other drugs. The first two years I took Topomax I felt almost no side effects--just the sudden absence of migraines! It was wonderful. Initial tiredness for about 2 weeks as I ramped up the dosage to adequate level. However, for last 2 years *severe* brain fog and exhaustion has set in. Perhaps critical buildup has occurred & my body cannot process the drug; I am operating at the mental level of an 80 yr old. VERY hard to follow conversations. Miss my wits, but do not know of an alternative medication, and must continue to function/work! | F | 36 | 4 years 100 mg 1X day | 7/15/2010 | 5 | migraines | Tingling in hands and feet, light trails, bruising, suicidal thoughts, etc. | I loved the fact that Topamax got rid of a lot of my migraines however, the side effects were scary so I stopped taking it one night and called my Dr. To tell her the next day. Tingling in my hands and feet, all I had to do was reach over my head for a minute or two and I had pins and needles in my hands. Cross my legs to sit and one or both feet had pins and needles or would go to sleep altogether. Light trails. I would watch the light that surrounded an object that moved, move after the object had stopped moving. Breathing problems. I could no longer walk as far as before without being short of breath. I walk a lot at my job, about 6 miles a night or more. Bruising. I got bit by your average yard ant a few times on my foot and I scratched it like normal people do, they turned into bruises. Same with mosquito bites. Probably the scariest side effect I had though was at work one night. I'd had a rough day already and some problems at home. I found myself planning suacide. I caught myself and I knew something was wrong. I had never done that before and I was with it enough to realize that something was seriously wrong! That's the night I quit taking Topamax! I've been fine since then besides the fact my headaches are back. I will attempt to find another way to deal with them. I'm 32 and I've had them since I was a very small child. They won't kill me but I was scared that Topamax would! | F | 32 | 3 months 50 2X day | 7/12/2010 | 3 | Migraines | Extreme weight loss!! I look emaciated and everyone thought I was on drugs! My Dad thought I had cancer that's how skinny I became. Complete and total loss of appetite. I had to stuff food down my throat which didn't help the weight loss. The weight loss died down though after about two years or so. Maybe more a year and half. Now I am as big as a house... don't think it's because of the Topamax. I am currently coming off of Topamax. All the way down to 25 mg! I started at like 100 mg which isn't much, but it's what I was on. | Go off Topamax slowly! You get massive headaches when you are going down. I suggest you even cut it in quarters if you have to. | F | 29 | 5 years 75mg 1X day | 7/5/2010 | 1 | Migraine Headaches | Numbness and tingling of extremities. Brain Fog mild to severe that eventually cleared up as I was stepping up my dose. Once I reached my maintenance dose had thoughts of suicide at times of severe stress from job. Never had this happen prior to taking this drug. After being on Maintenance does for another two months starting having symptoms similar to IBS and Diverticulitis with severe pain in lower left quadrant. | Migraines also came back. Started tapering off medication. After googling Topamax and IBS. I thought I had diverticulitis again the pain was so bad and considering last time I had to have 13 inches of my colon removed this was not a pleasant thought(I have IBS) Dropped 18# in two weeks. Not very pleasantly I might add. I was so miserable that despite recommendations I stopped tapering and just quit taking the drug 4 days ago and finally feel half way decent. Seriously I think the daily migraine is better. | F | 41 | 6 months 200mg 2X day | 7/4/2010 | 4 | migraines | tingling feet and hands, severe insomnia, loss of words and other memory problems, hair loss, speech problems, initial hyperactivity and a huge jolt in libido | I've had migraines since I was 12 and have tried nearly everything. Botox was working well until it caused my eyelid to droop. Started with 25mg 1x/day for 2 weeks, now at 50mg 1x/day at bedtime. 50mg has cut back migraines from 3-4 week to maybe 1 a week, except for menstrual migrianes. My problem is I've always had trouble with insomnia and take 100mg Trazadone + 10mg Cyclobenzaprine at bedtime to help with that. I'm sleeping 3hours and waking- unable to go back to sleep. Adding 0.25mg Xanax dosen't help. Can take Ambien and sleep about 6 hours, but it's not a restful sleep. Does anyone take Topamax in the AM to help with insomnia? | F | 47 | 2 months 50 mg 1X day | 6/30/2010 | 1 | migraines | Felt like a zombie, exteme tiredness, loss of energy, vivid dreams, and difficulty thinking/concentrating. | Did not help headaches and made me feel out of it. Would not use again. | F | 24 | 9 days 25 mg 1X day | 6/30/2010 |