TOPAMAX Reviews (TOPIRAMATE)Average Rating: 3.0 (1824 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare TOPAMAX with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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More on TOPAMAX: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR TOPAMAX | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 4 | Chronic Daily Headache | Minor tingling in feet, minor problem finding words early in dosage, constipation, 5lb weight loss in one month (not a bad thing) | I believe the key to mitigating the side effects is slow increase in dosage. My first try was 25 mg at a time and it was a disaster - new Doc and 15mg at a time for a week with a goal of 100 mg has been much more manageable. Now at 100mg, and after suffering for 4 years I am no longer having daily headache. | F | 38 | 31 days | 6/2/2007 | 2 | Migraine prevention | Tingling in fingers, diarrhea, loss of appetite with 5 pound weight loss, hair loss, word-finding problems | I very gradually worked my way up from 12.5 mg to 100 mg a day. Main causes of my migraines are strong odors and flashing lights. Even at 100 mg a day (25 mg taken 4 times a day), I still got migraines from these two sources. After being on this dosage for 20 months, I gradually went off the drug thinking, "why take it if I'm still getting the migraines?" Hair loss was the clincher for going off it. Been off completely for one week. Hair loss still going on, but migraines are no worse. | F | 55 | 20 months | 6/1/2007 | 1 | anxiety/seizures | first night i took it, went to sleep, woke up 40 minutes later and couldn't breathe | I was on wellbutrin for anxiety and had a massive seizure that landed me in the hospital. (oh what a wonderful drug it was up until that huge setback...) dr put me on topamax for the anxiety and (now) seizures and the first nigth i tried it i couldn't breathe. i read somewhere that if you take a higher dose the not-being-able-to-breathe side effect goes away. i am a little desperate for this to work (if a drug has a side effect i seem to get it) but the breathig thing is scary. | F | 27 | 1 days | 6/1/2007 | 4 | PTSD (50 mg) | Tingling in my face; diarrhea | I am taking this with Lexapro and Trazadone. The Topamax definitely has helped with the anxiety. I don't feel worried that I am about to get killed all the time. The other stuff helps with the sleep issues. | F | 33 | 2 months | 5/31/2007 | 3 | migraine prevention | Dry mouth, feel weak all the time, always hungry, moody, depressed, tired, confusion driving, itchy after showering,decreased sensitivity during intercourse, all emotional feelings are worsened and I feel withdrawn from people. | I started with 15 mg and slowly worked up to 100 mg a day. I didn't feel too many side effects until I increased the dosage. This week I have been doing the 100 mg, I am feeling the side effects full force. On the up side my migraines aren't as agonizing as they usually are, I can actually function - unlike before. I have been on topamax about a month now and I am hoping once my body gets used to the meds I'll be more comfy using them. The other thing I found interesting is that my dreams are a lot more vivid now, I used to not even be able to remember them before! Now I'm hoping that the weight loss thing that seems to be going on for everyone else eventually kicks in for me too! | F | 31 | 25 days | 5/31/2007 | 3 | hemigenplegic migrain | takes hours to type, reading (which I used to love) in a effort b/c if tracking, insomnia, fatigue no matter naps or not, no appetite-lots of toast and Raisin Bran (and I hate Raisin Bran!), forgetting or saying or repeating the same words and so on... | I am tired of being tired to being treated like a "poor patient" who is too stubborn to take care of herself instead of someone who is trying to adjust AND get her life back. This type of migraine cannot be treated by triptans or anything but hospital administered narcotics, so I - and my family - live in fear of a migrain, another TIA and worse, a stroke. I am now on 50 mg in am and 100 mg in pm | F | 45 | 1 years | 5/27/2007 | 5 | weight loss | weight loss, memory loss, failure to retrieve words, tingling in face fingers and toes. pop tastes horrible (and it should, it's horrible for you) | i was on 10 mg of zyprexa for over a year and gained about 50 pounds. it really hurt my self image and was making me a soppy mess. i tried working out but the weight was going no where. i was eating everything in sight and was gaining weight ongoingoing (im only 21 and 5 feet). my doctor prescribed 400mg of topamax and i suddenly cut down to one meal a day. i continued going to the gym and in 3 months i lost 30 pounds. i stopped taking the zyprexa because the topamax leveled me out and now im losing even more weight. the side effects are very tolerable once i got used to them. i would definently reccomend this to fellow crazys who have gained weight from anti psychotics. | F | 21 | 4 months | 5/26/2007 | 3 | Severe Migraines | SEVERE inability to form words, spell, type, memorize, remember things. I would insert different words for words or different word endings on words or leave off endings when reading. WEIRD. Sometimes get lost while driving to work, put things in wrong places, etc... | I have been on T-max for a year and a half, off and on. IT DEFINITELY HELPS MY SEVERE MIGRAINES. I get them so bad that I get sick, can't see, can't smell,am sick for at least 24 hours....The trick is to take the MINIMUM dose as possible. I was acting like I had no brain at a mere 100 mgs daily and am now on 50 mgs and am much better. Still some confusion, definitely, but I can't live with the constant threat of migraines or I would have no life. If you have any questions, email me. I have probably been thru what you are going thru. I even went and had an MRI on my brain to make sure I wasn't crazy!That is how bad T-max can mess with your brain! | F | 35 | 1 years | 5/25/2007 | 3 | Migraine | Tingling in hands and feet. Some taste change (soda) that went away after a few months. Some brain fogginess and fatigue with dosage changes. | Have taken 75 mg a day (along with 160 mg/day of Propanonol (beta blocker)). Was quite effective for a number of months, then started getting headaches/dizziness/nausea again that would grab a hold of me for 2-3 weeks at a time. Also may have left me vulnerable to anxiety problems during these times of stress -- although I cannot say for sure that Topamax was at the root of this since I had been able to take it for a long time with no anxiety. With the return of headaches recently my neurologist has recommended that I move up to 100 and possibly 150 mg a day. So I have just added the extra 25 mg for the last couple days and am feeling some of the tingling/taste/fog return. Hoping my body adjust. Gosh, I wish a little of the reduced appetite side affect was there for for me :) | M | 44 | 14 months | 5/25/2007 | 2 | migrains | p.s. ANY VISION PROBLEMS... | KEEP CHECKING FOR GLAUCOMA OR STOP TOPAMAX | M | 50 | 5 weeks | 5/24/2007 | 2 | Migraines | eliminated about 90% of my migraines, that was nice. started getting rare optical side effects: retina lights (not auras), massive myopia swings (20/800 my normal uncorrected vision, to my guess 20/1400 and back in a few hours due to increased eye pressure), mild hallucinations, and a few more that would lead to glaucoma and blindness if I had not stopped(90%...sigh). | with out my meds my migraines had become daily. I got them on top of my severe 24/7, 27 year muscle tension headache, first E.R trip last week, given shot of morphine, it only took the edge off, told it was a large dose. been recently put on propranolol for anxiety, also completely eliminating my migraines(yessssss) now on to my other headache(sleeves rolled up and grrrrrrr) | M | 50 | 5 weeks | 5/24/2007 | 3 | Migraines | First time I took topomax had terrible side effects - felt as if bugs were crawling all over my body. Immediately went off it! Went to another MD, and after many other drugs tried titrating it slowly. I am now up to 90mg daily along with 150 mg effexor. Side effects include terrible thirst, major cognitive impairments (loss of words, cloudiness, stupor), constipation, severe hair loss, fatigue (but had this prior, so I am not sure if it is a true side effect of the drug or not) some depression, some irritability, some nervousness | I am having a difficult time in trying to decide whether or not to stay on this drug. It has helped. I have gone from daily migraines (and missing 40+ days of work last year) to 3 a week. However, the side effects are considerable. My job is not one that allows for much latitude in performance and I am just not able to keep up. HOWEVER I DID WANT TO NOTE THAT FOR THE HAIR LOSS I WAS TOLD TO USE A SELENIUM BASED SHAMPOO, AND IT WORKED WONDERS!! IF YOU COLOR YOUR HAIR, BE SURE TO USE AN ORGANIC ONE, OTHERWISE YOUR HAIR WILL TURN BLUE. GOOD LUCK TO ALL. | F | 39 | 5 months | 5/22/2007 | 1 | Mood Stablizer | Dizzy, Seizures, Loopy/drunk feeling, blurred vision, soda tasted flat, loss in interest in eating, weight loss, suicidal/obsessive thoughts. | This drug was HORRIBLE! After taking it I became convinced that I was going insane and that god and other voices were talking to me. It made me feel so stupid I couldn't even concentrate on watching t.v. much less read a book. Almost immediately after I stopped taking it I felt a world of difference, like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Use Caution when taking this drug! There is a reason its called "dopamax". | F | 21 | 21 days | 5/22/2007 | 1 | seizures | where do i start, basically every side effect the drugs website has. Anxiety, panic attacks, was hearing voices in my head, couldnt relax at all, very jumpy even paranoid, depression like i've never felt before even thought of suicide | i dont recommend this drug to anybody, i was on 200mg a day, and it basically drove me crazy for the 4 months or so i was on it, i'm off it now and feel like a completely different person, went back to tegretol, i still have a sense of anxiety from time to time but i'm seeing my doctor about that | M | 22 | 4 months | 5/22/2007 | 4 | Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy | NO appetite. fast weight loss, tingling, numbness, jittery almost like a caffeine high, drunk, loopy silliness, loss of coordination, falling over, some hallucinations and blurred vision | it helped with my seizures tremendously so far! then again, i know not to trust anti-epileptic drugs as they can fool you in the beginning, but this seems to be working, the side effects are a bit annoying, but i would rather take the side effects over the seizures anytime! | F | 17 | 6 days | 5/19/2007 | 3 | migraines/cluster headaches | tingling in the hands/feet, taste changes esp. with sodas when dosages are increased, tinitis(ringing sounds in ears, severe increased acne(any body else have this??) mood swings, stoned feeling without euphoria, weight loss | Topamax has helped decrease my incidence of headaches from daily to 2-3 a week, which is better. I still feel pretty spacey, especially when the dosage is increased. I am now taking 100 mg 2 X a day. I think I actually felt better when the dosage was 75 mg 2x a day. The jump up has been a bad transition. Sprinkles were way better than the time release. | F | 32 | 4 days | 5/18/2007 | 2 | Weight loss, depression | Blurred vision; mood swings; depression; forgetfulness; confusion; occasional diarrhea. It changed my personality and made me somewhat loud and obnoxious. It also made my depression worse. The side effects eased up after a while but they never went away. I didn't have a single headache. But the mood swings were too much, even at lower doses. | I gained 60 lbs on antidepressants. After going off them my doctor prescribed Topamax temporarily to help me lose some of the weight. I started at 25 mg/day and by week 3 was at 100 mg/day. Food and beverages tasted normal (of course) and I didn't lose my appetite (typical). I didn't lose weight either (go figure). I'm the only person who didn't lose weight on Topamax. I went off it after 3 months because I lost my patience and the side effects were too much. | F | 43 | 3 months | 5/17/2007 | 5 | Migraines | In the beginning, I had to titrate to a higher dose of 75-100 to get my migraines under control. I had been having them almost every day...very debilitating. After one year, they are well managed (SO wonderful!) and I now take 25 mg. a day with very minimal side effects. The "stupimax" factor is real but for me it wore off after about 6 months. You should be careful if you are on a higher dose and driving though. I have found the lower dose to be very effective in controlling once horrible migraines. This has been a great drug for me in relieving my migraines. (Read my additional comments though). | Look at any other medications you are taking. They sometimes compound the sleepy and low cognitive impact...even something as little as Benadryl while on Topamax can really be impacted (increased effect). This could make it much harder to function. As far as hair loss, I've heard great results with taking Biotin (available from the health food store) which is a vitamin that is depleted by anti-seizure medicines. I know this drug can be hard to get use to at first and will not be for everyone. Good luck to all! | F | 33 | 18 months | 5/15/2007 | 3 | Migaines | Tingling in hands and feet, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss | I started taking Topamax for my migraines at 25 mg and moved up to 50 mg a week later. Right after I started taking 50 mg, I started to have diarrhea and bad stomach cramps, as well as tingling in my hands and feet. I have barely been able to keep food in my body for a week now and am still waiting for my Dr. to return my phone call. I have talked to another Dr. but was told my stomach symptoms have nothing to do with Topamax. Can anyone help me out? Please email me! | M | 25 | 13 days | 5/15/2007 | 3 | Migaines | Tingling in hands and feet, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss | I started taking Topamax for my migraines at 25 mg and moved up to 50 mg a week later. Right after I started taking 50 mg, I started to have diarrhea and bad stomach cramps, as well as tingling in my hands and feet. I have barely been able to keep food in my body for a week now and am still waiting for my Dr. to return my phone call. I have talked to another Dr. but was told my stomach symptoms have nothing to do with Topamax. Can anyone help me out? | M | 25 | 13 days | 5/15/2007 |