I am going to begin taking 25 mg of Topamax at bedtime tonight. ...

I have been on Topamax for over a year now. I am seriously considering going off of it. I loved the fact that I lost weight on it, but when you lose over 70 pounds in less than 6 months, that's not a good thing. I was NOT aware of all the side effects when I started taking Topamax and now that I look them up, I see that I have experienced several of them. I thought I was losing my mind. I would forget the simplest of words or what I was talking about in mid sentence. My stomach hurt all the time. I have had so many tests run on me, CAT scans, MRI's, blood work, X-rays, nuclear gall bladder tests, sonograms. Nothing shows up, yet I feel bad. I know something is wrong. My back and breast have started to ache all the time now, so now I have a new set of worries. I must mention that my vision has also worsened considerably. My advice for people who wish to take it for weight loss is to think long and hard. I have battled all my life with my weight, but this is not worth it. I think I will just stick to Relpax when I do get a migraine instead of trying to prevent them. It's a hard decision, because it does work, but they still need to work on the formula and make sure it's safe for long term use. I just hope I haven't caused any permanent damage.

Hi. I was on Lamictal, when my doctor suggested we try a combination of lamictal and topamax. Currently, I am at 50mg of Lamictal, and 100mg of topamax a day. I have been at this dosage for almost 4 months now. I have lost about 30lbs, I have to force myself to eat once a day, most of the days I just drink water. Diet coke which was my favorate now tastes bad, and I have found the best way to stay healthy is by drinking protein drinks from GNC. I have 2 a day. The LEAN BODY, are the best. Dont use that slim fast junk from cvs or anything, you have to use the real stuff. My doctor suggested that if I am not going to eat food, that is what I do. Mentally,l havent felt this good in a long time, although there are many side effects. My fingers get numb, a few times a day for a minute or two, also sometimes my toes. My face goes numb, but not as often. Also, I get headaches......all in all, topamax has been a blessing for me, my doctor and I are planing to monitor my dosage to see how it goes before we think about up-ing it again! Good luck to all!!! take care everyone!

I am on Lamictal 100 mg/day. I am bi-polar with fibromyalgia and chronic migrane headaches (sometimes several in one week). I have been on Lamical for years at the same dose. Was on Topamax a few years ago - 200 mg./day for headaches, etc. Lost 40 lbs. was down to 98 lbs. I'm 5'1" and 51 yrs. old. Went off the Topamax when my bone density test showed Osteopenia and my teeth started cracking. My doctors think it was from the weight loss due ot the Topamax. Needless to day, I went off the Topamax. My headaches returned. I am now out of work, I have headaches all the time. My body aches from the fibro. I still take the Lamical for the bi-polar, Pamelar for the Fibro, and Relpax (which I live on now) for the headaches. I'm overweight now, from all the drugs, and have just recently started the Topamax again, at a lower does. I don't know what is worse, the headaches or the side affects from the Topamax, but I decided, I can't live with the headaches anymore, they are too debilitating.

Good luck everyone

Hello! Today is 1/13--and according to your post, you started on 12/28..how r you doing? I started on the 12/14 and I was really scared,too--believe me! HOWEVER.....I have to say, this is the best medication I have ever taken in my life! It must contain fairy dust from heaven and they can't have it back...no matter what! I have Major Depression and had been getting progressively worse--I was taking depakote and Zoloft for years with nothing but weightgain to show for it- The depakote and BP diagnosis was eliminated and the Zoloft is being weaned slowly as the topamax is slowly being increased-Side effects- Carbonation in any form tastes like manure( everyone says that) so say goodbye to your Mt. Dew--a little wabbly on my feet, nothing problamatic tho--my appetite is healthy --I am not overeating whatsoever and am dropping weight beautifully--I sleep like a baby--I feel good in my body, if that makes sense--and my depression? what depression? I really am loving this medication....GOOD LUCK and be a careful observer..no one knows your responses better than YOU!

i was placed on Topamax 25 in morning 50 at nightfor seizures (thought to have been brought on by stress and lack of sleep -due to a complete house fire lossing everything.) been on it for 2 months I have been on prozac 150 mg. 2x day and xanax (when that is needed, )for about 10 years. everything was fine until the seizures. Topamax has really messed with my mind. the tingling,memory loss, consintration,And get this--Were tring to rebuild a house from ground up that I have to constantly be aware of what is going on. My worse side effect that drives my crazy is the eye twiching. I dont want to be on it either. but the side effects definitly can be controlled by relaxing with yoga. Im not being wierd , you need to try it.

I have been on topamax for about 2 months tried lamictal (rash had to stop) and several others - nothing worked like this with WellbutrinXL. I have not had the memory issues if anything that has gotten better. topamax is at 50 mg at night and wellbutrin 300mg in the am. thirst is the biggest draw back - but i love the sleep and feeling nomal again not gloom and doom or ready to rip some ones head off if they say something wrong

I know your posting was quite some time ago. I hope everything is going well for you on the Topamax. I have taken Topamax for at least a year now and in combination with Effexor XR and Strattera. The side effects aren't that bad really. I've cut down on eating and drinking soda. That helped me to lose 70+ lbs of which 40-50 were in the first 6mo. One thing noone ever mentions is, and maybe because its not reported or it doesn't happen often, smelling food that doesn't exist. I can be at work and I'll start smelling cupcakes or fresh baked bread. That is one side effect I wouldn't give up for the world. The tingling sensations just feel like your foot went to sleep or something and go away. I'm combating the lack of concentration with the Strattera. Just have to figure out what works for you. I wish you the best of luck and hope you get one of those rare awesome side effects like I did. People may look at you like you're weird, but who wants to be normal? Embrace your weirdness!