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 | Headaches | Loss of memory, vision problems, depression, leg pain, lack of concentration. However, I have tred other medcations and Topamax is the ony medication that ca keep my headace at bay. It does not take it away, but it makes it at least bareable. The doctors cannot find a reason for my headaches and cannot give me a diagnosis so this is the only solution for nw. | F | 35 | 2 years 175 2X day | 4/19/2010 | 2 | Migraine | Kidney Stones | Drank plenty of fluids | M | 48 | 2 months 100 2X day | 4/15/2010 | 4 | cluster headaches | stupidity - memory loss, trouble forming sentences, finding the right words, loss of concentration, loss of appetite, taste changes, tingling in extemities, lack of energy, confusion | I recently started back on topamax after a new cluster began. I took this drug 5 years ago and it stopped the cluster after about one month. The side effects can be hard to deal with but no where near as bad as the daily headaches. If your Dr puts you on a 100mg or higher dose to begin with, find a new doc. This stuff requires you to start slow and build up to a dose that works for you. Start with 25mg at night for a week then 25 at night and 25 in the morn after a week, then 25 in the morn and 50 at night for a week, then 50/50 for a while. I was able to drop down to 50mg per day taken at bedtime to limit most side effects and still keep the pain away. I eased off the drug after 4 months and was OK as the cluster had passed and was headache free for 5 years. I'm working back up to 100mg per day now since this cluster started and have just has the first 3 days in a row with no headache. I will continue to take the med like I did last time knowing what to expect. I quit drinking carbonated soda (and beer) last time and never started back so no problems there. This med really makes soft drinks taste like crap but the caffine wasn't helping the headaches so it needed to go anyway. The side effects ease up after a while, especially if you can get by on a lower dose. I still keep some triptans around in case of a breakthru headache but I know with the topamax I can survive till the cluster passes and and all the side effects will be gone soon after I discontinue use of the drug | M | 37 | 4 months 50mg 2X day | 4/12/2010 | 1 | Epilepsy | Hyperactivity, weakness in legs during running (I've been running races at least three miles a day five days a week for the last two years), dazed, empty-headed, forgetful, totally high, and lack of concentration | I've had seizures since I was 14, but I wasn't diagnosed until last October when I was I was kicked out of the military for having what I called "blackouts", which I now know to be seizures, I have generalized and focal seizures. This is my fourth seizure drug experience (I've also tried Keppra, Tegretol, and Lamictal), and for me, it was the worst, and that being said, Lamictal MADE me bipolar. But Topamax is taking away my ability to run, which means its taking away my ability to relieve stress, so I really, really hate being on it. That paired with constantly being high and spaced out and being a college student who can no longer focus in class in the final crucial weeks of the semester, I'd rather have seizures again than stay on this drug. | F | 19 | 3 weeks 75 Mg 2X day | 4/10/2010 | 4 | mood disorder NOS (low-lvl bipolar) | Some slurred speech and disorientation; overall okay. | I was on it for 3 years (ending 2 years ago), low dosage, overall positive. I didn't really notice much when I was on it - a little steadier moods. But when I tapered off, the edginess, intensity, and anxiety that I'd been experiencing before taking meds came back... meaning that it had been helpful in taking the edge off my mood swings, anxiety, and depression! I'm doing okay without it now, but it worked reasonably well for me. Family history of epilepsy, migraines, and temporal lobe disorder, so it may have just been happenstance that I got a drug that works right on my brain. | F | 23 | 3 years 50mg 2X day | 4/7/2010 | 4 | migraines | difficulty with words, spelling, tingling in feet, hands, generally feel stupid at times. When I went to 150 mg a day, became very irritable and emotional and anxious and had to go back down to 100 mg. | I have had migraines with aura since I was 11. I am 44 now. I have tried every drug in the book and only Topamax has reduce the frequency and severity of the migraines. I would have 14 migraines a month without, and am down to 2-4 with the Topamax. I don't like the side effect of feeling stupid at times, but if I go off, I go right back to having tons of migraines, so I'm just going to wait it out until they finish developing the drug specifically for migraine sufferers that is in the works. Topamax has also reduced the pain, but has done nothing to get rid of my auras. | F | 44 | 2 years 50 mg 2X day | 4/5/2010 | 2 | Migraines | As my dose increased from 25 to 50 then 75 then 100, the tingling sensation in my hands and feet was unbearable. Changed from capsule to tablet, 100 Mg and this improved. After a few months my wife began noticing how poor my concentration and response was to almost anything. Led to very difficult period of depression low self worth before I saw my GP and came off | Ability to focus on anything very difficult, the comments aboput this drug making you stupid are spot on, I feel permanatly drowsy and very down all the time, and this has led to some very difficult situations. Ability to concentrate and respond severely impaired. Havent had a migraine since I went on them though, so at first I was happy, but now wish I'd never gone on them as I am constantly worrying about everything. | M | 35 | 9 months 100 Mg 1X day | 4/4/2010 | 3 | debilitating migraines | memory loss (words,things,...) irriability,paranoia, parathesias to lt. face, arm and hands,minimal weightloss | I never even had a headache until I entered perimenopause at age 43, suddenly, in Nov. of 09, I was struck with severe debilitating migraines. After a few visits to the E.R., my OBGYN prescribed Vicoprophen, which worked, and I figured problem solved, although I never exceeded my Mdd, I think I was a little too liberal with the script, hence my referral to the neurologist. I was so nieve, I thought "great", they will give me the migraine fixer pill, Topamax lets you die in increments, instead of the migraine which will make you blow your head off. In the mean time, I will keep my ears open for the frienly local drug dealer. | F | 44 | 2 months 50 7X M | 3/31/2010 | 1 | mood stabilizer | Dyslexia, inability to find a word, changed cadence to speech, tingling in fingers and toes, absolute loss of appetite (resulting in a major eating disorder and loss of 20 lbs in 2 weeks), change in the way things tasted (chocolate and soda especially became bitter and awful), sleeping all the time, stopped my birth control from working which shot my hormones all over the place and made me manic depressive. Memory loss and talking too much about my life to strangers. Weird need for acceptance and validation. | I stopped taking this medication finally because I ran out and didn't get some for a week. The medication does not have the same affects (good or bad) if you stop taking it and start again. For me, in my altered state of mind, this was bad because my appetite came back and I couldn't control my eating habits as much as I would like with my eating disorder. So that delay in getting my prescription probably saved my life or I would be about 85lbs today and convinced that that was fine. Very powerful medication. I have been off for several years now and still have some of the side affects. It's hard to find the right word and I still can't read numbers out loud in the correct order without going very very slowly. I killed my metabolism with the eating disorder and now have 35 lbs to lose instead of gain. Oh, and my ex's family still thinks I'm nuts because they met me on this medication. Would have married that one too. I don't recommend this medication. | F | 30 | 1.5 years 100mg 2X day | 3/31/2010 | 5 | Severe Headaches/Migraines | Numbness of toes & fingers, (pins & needles) feeling cold, Mild hair shedding/loss, weight loss, feeling full, no appetite, feeling tired, being thirsty all the time, weight loss, twitching under eyes | When i first started this medication, i was a bit sceptical as ive suffered with chronic headaches/migraines since the age of 18 im now 34. I have tried alot of preventative medications, & painkillers which i became highly addicted to. It took about 3 months for the Topamax to really take "effect" i refused to give up the headaches were still happening in the first month or so after about the 6 week mark i started to notice that i got fewer & fewer headaches they were coming every second day then every third then fourth then twice a week, then once a week, then a few times a month & then they just stopped coming all together!! This was after about 6 months or so, i still got the odd headache here or there, but certainly NO migraines. I eventually worked my way up to the dose of 200mg per day which but i did this very slowly that is the only way with this drug SLOWLY! I have been on it for 2 years now & it has changed my quality of life. I have noticed lately more frequent headaches creeping back so i will be slowly increasing the dose again up to 250mg or to what i can tolerate. | F | 34 | 2 years 200mg 1X day | 3/30/2010 | 3 | migraine | memory loss, difficulty spelling, concentrating and writing, tiredness, tingling in extremities and face (fixed by taking CoEnzyme Q10), difficulty sleeping | I began taking Topamax over 2 years ago to prevent near daily migraines. It has reduced the frequency of my migraines by about half and has made them more responsive to my rescue meds. I am considering going off it however because of the devastating side effects. I used to be an A+ student, I graduated from high school with a 4.0 GPA. Now, I am struggling to make grades in college, and not because I am too social, I barely even go out because I always feel so exhausted. I have trouble concentrating, remembering things, spelling and constructing sentences. I had more to add to that list but I forgot it, which is typical. Very bad memory, compared to my very good memory before starting Topamax. I used to be quick as a whip, but not anymore, I am very very slow. I also have difficulty sleeping and have needed to get glasses since starting Topamax. I am glad I am not the only one who is suffering from these effects and I hope that once I go off the med I can get back to my old self. | F | 19 | 2 years 100 MG 1X day | 3/29/2010 | 4 | migraines | Rated from the most dominant side effect to least dominant side effect: Initially menstruation cycle was every 2 to 3 weeks, then it all together stopped!, tingling of fingertips, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatty foods(like butter/margarine)and soda taste different, lack of concentration, occasional blurry vision. That pretty much covers it for me. | First off, I want to address, I there is a MAJOR difference in side effects between TOPIRAMATE(the generic form) and TOPAMAX!!!I can't stress this ENOUGH! I went from MEAN, ANGRY, IRRATIONAL, UNSOCIALABLE while being on Topiramate, to back to normal when switched to BRAND NAME TOPAMAX!!! It definately works. It took away my migraines that I have been treated for with maxalt, immetrex, vicadine, for 8 plus years. I still get an occasional headache, that I can treat with an Excedrin migraine. I can handle that. | F | 44 | 4 months 100 2X day | 3/27/2010 | 3 | migraines | Was taking topamax for migraines. I also have severe nerve damage in my spine so I'm also on a pain management program for back. My 13 year old daughter keeps saying she wants her old mom back. When I ask her what she means she states that about 3 years ago I changed. I have weaned myself off topamax. With my doctors help. I have been completely off it for 2 weeks. I am irritable, on edge and weepy. I feel clearer in my head but I am a mess emotionally. Don't know if this is a temp side effect for not. | F | 53 | 3 years 10 1X day | 3/27/2010 | 4 | Migraine | Helped the migraine, but caused SEVERE irritability. | I'm thinking seriously of stopping Topamax, but first I will talk to the pain doctor who prescribed it. I'm way too grouchy. Topamax has helped ease the migraine a bit. The drug has taken the constant migraine pain from a level 8 to a level 6 (on a 10 scale). But my 40 year long marriage is suffering. I am so crabby. This is not worth ruining my marriage. | F | 60 | 1 years 100 mg 2X day | 3/25/2010 | 5 | Migraines | I haven't had any side effects. | I started on 50 mg twice a day and the Dr. gradually increased me until the headaches went away. I am on 125 mg twice a day now. | F | 63 | 125mgs 2X day | 3/24/2010 | 4 | Chronic Magrianes | Not being able to find the right word and then not being able to pronounce it when I do finally find it. Significant tingling in both feet (more so in left foot) some in arms/hands. Some crying for no reason, eye pain and trouble sleeping. No weight loss for me at least not yet. | Recently I have been having problems with my left shoulder and my doctor advised I had a 'frozen shoulder' and said it might be from the topamax -wow that's scary! It's the only thing that works along with MAXALT when I get a migrane. Was getting 4-7 per week, started @ 25mg per day gradually increased to 150mg per day!! It does work, but am wondering if it is worth it. | F | 47 | 3 years 75MG 2X day | 3/19/2010 | 3 | migraines | 3 months on, 2 off then back on so on so forth. tingling in face and hands.loss of appetite, made certain foods and drinks taste horrible.hard to focus on reading,concentration on certain things takes more effort. | i did find it helped a lot with the migraines as they were taking over my life but, loss of appetite and foods tasting funny lead to me going off them as i wasn't healthy on them, i found the concentration got better, and the tingling subsided. | F | 19 | 3 months 100mg 1X day | 3/19/2010 | 3 | migraines | kidney stones caused me to discontinue the drug (and no one in my family has ever had them), tingling of extremities (b12 shots reduced this), nausea at first (went away), fatigue at first (went away), worse headaches at first (they improved after about two weeks of sticking with the drug), soda tastes bad | my headaches were greatly reduced, I didn't lose weight although my appetite was a bit suppressed, my moods were much improved overall...I am so disappointed I developed kidney stones | F | 25 | 4 months 100mg 2X day | 3/18/2010 Patient History | 2 | Migraines | lack of concentration/focus/ can't grab the word i want when speaking, HAIR LOSS, decreased appetite, memory loss, tingling in feet/hands. | I had to start on a VERY low dose because I have had such extreme reactions from other drugs in the past. After 2 weeks on this my hair has started to fall out (with the root attached) it looks so thinned now. I feel really really DUMB! dumb dumb dumb I have to really think about what I'm saying as I'm saying it, I pause frequently during my sentences. I have alot of trouble thinking of the right word (SO I'm so sorry if this sounds like it was written by a 5 yr old), small amount of tingling i don't mind that as much. I can't believe these are all happening to me on such a low dose after such a short amount of time!!! | F | 21 | 2 weeks 25MG 1X day | 3/18/2010 | 5 | Chronic Daily Headaches | Tingling in hands and feet; minor memory lapses; minor lack of organizational skills; visual disturbances, but only when first getting out of bed in the morning. | Topamax has completely cured my chronic daily headaches. For almost 2 years of suffering, I told my family doctor he had to do something, so after a cat scan of my sinuses which came back ok, he sent me to a neurologist who diagnosed me and prescribed Topamax. I had pain in my head every day for 2 years, every time I coughed, sneezed, or bent over, plus migraines on top of that. That is now completely gone, and I have not had a migraine for probably 3 months. I will not go off Topamax, and I will live with the side effects as long as they do not get any worse or affect my job. I go for a follow-up in 2 days and will discuss these with him. | F | 46 | 6 months 50 mg 2X day | 3/16/2010 |