TOPAMAX Reviews (TOPIRAMATE)

Average Rating: 3.0 (1824 Ratings)

Filter Results

Compare TOPAMAX with similar:
 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)

  

Results are sorted by Date added.

Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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


RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR TOPAMAXCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 4  Migraines drymouth, numbness & tingling in hands, feet & face, slowed thinking, repeating myself (over and over to the point of extreme annoyance), concentration is shot, fatigue & somnolence (actually falling asleep in class & at work while walking down hallways & almost while driving) - side effects have only been in the last 2 or 3 weeks of treatment 1 month on 50 mg, 2 weeks on 75 mg, almost 6 weeks now on 100 mg and at the 100 mg is when the side effects kicked in for me, numbness & tingling went away with increased fluids (1.5L/day & eating an orange/day), decrease in intensity but not frequency, still need a lot of breakthrough medication, trying taking the meds in the morning to decrease the fatigue/somnolence, seems to be helping so far F 25 3 months
3/28/2008
 3  Complicated MIgraine, Migraines Appetite Loss, Severe Tingling/Electric Shocks, Myoclonal Jerks, Muscle Twitching Classic Migraine Sufferer, was in remission but a cluster in December 2007 left me with persisting Visual Snow, Tinnitus, Palinopsia, Photophobia, depression and sparodic monocular diplopia and other symptoms typical of a complicated Migraine episode. I started on 25mg of Topamax and stepped up to 50mg. The classic migraine episodes ceased, though I continued to have migraine aura-like episodes followed by very mild pain. During the initial 25mg and the step to 50mg I encountered myoclonal jerks and muscle twitches / fasciculations which can likely be associated with the Topamax. When the Neurologist recommended an increase to 100mg, we did it 12.5 mg at a time. I did not encounter significant myoclonal jerks, but did have a return of the muscle twitches and fasciculations. The tingling is extreme - like electric shocks - and happens in my hands and feet. These shocks once induced a tremor in my right thumb that subsided with the shock sensation. I lost approx. 20lbs that I M 36 3 months
3/27/2008
 5  chronic back pain, DDD dry mouth, loss of appetite, tingling in the face and hands, weight loss, tastes changed, grogginess... I have degenerative disc disorder, facet joint arthritis, sciatica, and needless to say, chronic back pain. Since i try to stay away from Narcotics for every day use, and Topomax helped me SOOOOO much. It didnt take all of the pain away, but it took a substantial edge off, which made it easier for day to day life. I lost my appetite, and some sweet things didn't taste the same, soda, candy...I lost some weight on Topomax, which is always benificial, especially with back problems. Unfortunately, the dosage had to be increased every 2 months or so as my body got used to it...and since the medication had more and more adverse side effects the higher you went (it is an anti-psychotic after all...), my dr. didnt want me taking over 200 mg. So, once that dosage stopped working, i was wiened off the drug. Its too bad!!! It was a miracle worker for a while! F 24 10 months
3/25/2008
Email
 3  Migraines This seems to be a rare side effect, but occurs 24 hours a day without reprieve with the lowest dosage of 25 mg. It goes beyond dry mouth or a bad taste, as stated in the literature. It feels as if my teeth are coated with fungus or a horrible cottonball-type sensation. I can brush my teeth 20 times a day and use mouthwash and the feeling does not subside. This has affected my life negatively and my neurologist does not believe me. I am taking no other medications so this problem can only be attributed to Topamax. Has anyone else experienced this? F 49 2 months
3/25/2008
 3  headaches minor tingling in feet after waking up, MEMORY LOSS i was in love with this med for a while. I was only on 25mg daily too, and after about two months, i began to feel like i was losing short term memory abilities, specifically the inability to retrieve memories, names, things i needed to remember for SCHOOL, etc. the drug worked for about a month; i had no headaches for a month (before i had about 4 a week); i didn't have the memory loss. then boom, it started happening. i felt stupid and frustrated. I'm not saying this drug is bad...everyone has different experiences, on different dosages. it worked, for me, and you should try it if suggested by your doctor, because it may just work. 19 2 months
3/25/2008
 3  Migraines Altered my tastes (especially carbonated drinks - things now taste very "flat"). Feel a little "heavy headed" after taking it(50mg). Haven't had as strong of a migraine on it - we'll keep on it for a while to see if it's worth it. Thanks. F 35 4 months
3/23/2008
 5  Cluster Headaches/Extreme Migraines Mild tingling, soda and beer taste different/poor. These symptoms diminished after first few weeks. Now they recur when taking different over the counter meds and they stop when I stop the medication. Possibly slowed mental function but mind moved so fast it is a not noticeable non issue. This medication has given me my life back. The world caused me pain on a daily basis for more than 15 years. All of the other medications and I have been prescribed meds in every category caused all of the symptoms listed by everyone on this site and only muted the pain that was caused by my headaches. Before telling anyone to NEVER take a medication one should think of how that medication could help another person. This is the only med of over 50 that has brought normalcy to my life. Other meds left me dopey, tired and stupid. In one case addicted to narcotics. M 40 2 years
3/17/2008
 4  Severe Migraines/ Tension Headaches still expereince pins and needles in hands and feet often but this got better after four months of use. I got stomach aches, insomnia, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, hypoglycemia, slurring speech at times and word finding difficulties. All the side effects have gotten better except I still get fatigued sometimes for no reason, occasional pins and needles, sometimes I stutter or slur my speech and I take a quarter tablet of amytriplyline to help sleep at night (really helps) and my migraines are down to one a week on a bad week. I am currently taking 50mg a day. I used to get severe migraines 4 times a week and tension headaches everday. I didn't know how I was going to go on with my life until Topamax came along. F 27 1.5 years
3/17/2008
 3  Pseudotumor Cerebri I had all the standard side effects, especially the moodiness. Topimax is really turning me into a person that family doesn't know. I am moody, irritable, do not want to be around any one. I have a hard time typing and spelling and thinking of words. I find myself misusing works a lot. It interfers with my birth controls which is making my endometriosis worse. On a brighter note... my headaches have gone away, however, I toying with the idea of going off the medicine. I apprciate the feedback on this website, it help validate some of my concerns. F 27 6 months
3/13/2008
 4  cyclothymia Initially, I did not experience negative side affects. I was able to take off weight that I had gained on Depakote. However, several years later, I am now attributing insomnia and anxiety to this drug and am slowly weaning off it. F 50 7 years
3/10/2008
 2  Migraines Tingling in hands, painful cramps in feet, fatigue This drug did not help my migraines at all, though in fairness I have been on a low dose (25 mg) for one month only, but I cannot tolerate the constant tingling in my hands and the painful cramps in my feet which are keeping me awake at night. I am thankful for the info on this sight because I did not know these were side effects of the drug and thought I was experiencing some new neurologic disease! Instead I will get off this med. F 47 30 days
3/9/2008
 3  bi-polar & weight loss Carbonated drinks taste flat; some foggy-headedness, but I'm 4 months post-partum & attribute that to new-mommy brain. The doctor warned me about drowsiness but that hasn't been a problem. I purposefully didn't read about other side effects before taking the drug and honestly don't think I've experienced anything else. Unfortunately, this so far includes the weight loss. I started at 25mg 1x/day for a week and have been taking 50mg 2x/wk for the past 3 weeks. I also take 200mg of Lamictal, a drug which can interfere with weight loss. My doc prescribed Tmax when diet & exercise did nothing to budge the baby weight. I will re-rate the drug if a dosage increase has better (or worse) results. F 33 24 days
3/7/2008
 3  migraine WORD FINDING DIFFICULTIES, tingling in extremities, excessive thirst, focal seizure (with forgotten dose!!!!!), loss of motivation, no more desire to purge! When you are on drug cocktails for migraine and anxiety it is hard to say whethere it is the drug alone or the combination that causes the problem. On 50mg per day I was experiencing migraines 2-3x week. SCARY thing- I missed a day or two of DOPaMax and had a focal seizure. That's right folks, missing a dose or weaning too quickly can induce seizures! The answer was to INCREASE MY DOSE. Titrated rather quickly up to 200 mg in 20 days. Still getting migraines, although they are reduced in intensity and duration. Weight loss? not that I can see...I am always thirsty.....I was a bulimic (as an aside) but I must say since starting this drug I have NO desire to purge...so i will stick with it for my health.... M 34 4 months
3/5/2008
 1  visual migraine Prior to taking this med attacks were infrequent. Taking this med guarenteed an attack 16 hours later. Use for a few weeks seems to have permanently made attacks far more frequent! Promotes its own use and make patient permanently more vulnerable. Creates a serious dependency problem, and seems to permanently damage the patient. M 63
3/5/2008
 1  migraines extreme depression, suicidal thoughts, Couldn't concentrate, couldn't recall words, soda tasted horrrible. NO weight loss for me! Wellbutrin caused migraines to increase to daily even 3 months after stopping the drug. Topamax stopped the migraines. However, side affects- depression were too much. F 38 4 months
3/5/2008
 4  severe migranes tingling in face, feet, fingertips. kidney stones(if dont drink enough fluids), weightloss(killed my appetite), short-term memory loss, word-searching, slurred/stuttered speech, forgetfulness. noone ever believed that i just all of a sudden became Forgetful, after taking this medicine..but it really does mess with your speech, rate-of-processing, memory, and wordsearching was crazy. yeah, its great that this med really helped my migraines (they went from 20 BAD migraines a month, to 0-2), but sometimes the mental aspect with the language difficulties was a hassle. the tingling is fine, it entertained me at times.. ha i change my dose every so often(50-75mg) and it does make a difference sometimes. i highly recommend increasing fluids, unless u enjoy kidney stones. F 26 8 years
3/4/2008
 4  Migraines Tingling fingers, decreased appetite at first, and then a strange appetite, some memory loss, irritable, drowsiness. After about 3 years of constant and almost daily debilitating migraines and bi-weekly visits to a chiropractor, I was pointed to the direction of a neurologist. She suggested I try out Topamax and advised me to start out with 25 mg and then move up to 50 mg a day. Almost immediately, my migraines have stopped. I now get them very infrequently and I suppose the side effects are totaly worth it because it is so annoying to have a migraine every single day of your life, from the moment you wake. The first week, I wasn't hungry at all it seemed and then my appetite came back. Sometimes I feel really hungry now but sometimes I feel I cannot eat. It hasn't effected my weight, though. I am pretty slender though. It does make me drowsy soon after I take it so I take it at night. I do find that I am pretty irritable, though, like I have some minor mood swings. Anyone else? F 27 30 days
3/3/2008
 4  Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertensio Tingling in the hands and feet, feeling hot, feeling a little at a loss for words at times. Haven't experienced depression or moodiness and hope I don't. F 33 4 weeks
3/2/2008
Email
 5  Migraines Some tingling hands and feet (went away after awhile); Soda tastes flat; Weight Loss (40 lbs); Memory recall on words and names (always on the tip of my tongue). This was a miracle for me! I used to get up to 3-4 migraines a week. Nothing was working. My doctor suggested we try this. After the first year we did have to increase the dose from 100 mg to 200 mg because it felt like it wasn't working as well, but it's working now. It has brought me a new life and even though I sometimes miss the soda I really didn't need it anyway. F 33 1 years
2/29/2008
Email
 5  Migraines Still a bit slow to find words, I make a lot of "double word" typos, tingling in heels, carbonated beverages taste bad, I'm tired of never feeling hungry I've been taking Topamax for 2 years for my migraines, 100 mg at night and 50 mg in the morning. It works...I only used Imitrex once in the last 3 months. The only migraines I still get are triggered by big storms moving in (low barometric pressure). I used to need Imitrex 5 times a week before I started taking Topamax. I'd rather have the side effects than the migraines. F 41 2 years
2/29/2008

Previous Page       Next Page

BACK TO TOP