Topamax and 3 years

I've been on Topamax for 3 years for migraine and it works most of the time. I am currently having a hard time with the usual side effects of memory loss, hair loss, word recall problems, coldness, depression, no sex drive, and am developing a cough. BUT I had a side effect that has not been mentioned when I first started taking it (25 mg in am and pm -- I'm now on 50mg in am and pm).
For about 2 weeks, I would get in my car to go to work and miss my turns because they would cognitively come up too soon (this is after 15 years of going to work the same way everyday). I had to be extremely conscious of my surroundings when I drove or I'd miss all my normal turns. I got lost in my own neighborhood once going home. At work, I'd get up from my desk to go to a co-worker's desk and arrive there amazing fast to my mind. I was experiencing time/space/distance distortion. It became fascinating to me, but it passed.

I started right out 3 years ago on 100 mgs. and within a couple weeks migraines were virtually gone! I thought it was a miracle! Only slight side affects for a couple years and only an occasional migraine but not a three day long one. So, I figure, small price to pay for all that relief, right? Now, for the last 6 months or so I'm falling apart! My memory is just gone! Sometimes I'm afraid to leave my house because I'm afraid I'll forget my way back home! I can hardly concentrate long enough to put a meal together and it just took me 4 tries to remember how to spell concentrate! Thank Goodness for spellcheck! I've lost 42 lbs. that I can ill afford to lose and I now I have started to have these anxiety things that I've never had before. I feel scared and nervous and no idea why. I was on a couple of drugs for allergies, a couple for arthritis and a vitamin. I dropped everything except the Topamax and the DR. put me on a 1/2 mg. Zanax twice daily for anxiety which seems to do nothing except make me sleepy. Now it seems all these side affects have just bloomed and I have this constant ache over my right eye which isn't a migraine but never goes away. I'm afraid to just stop the topamax because of what I've read about suddenly stopping. Doctors are no help, they won't even admit there is a problem. They just wanted to check my thyroid.It was fine.

Ive been on Topamax for almost 3 years. Was on 100 mg/day for 1 1/2 yrs. Couldn't take the spaciness so I went off of it. A new Dr. put me back on 50mg/day 6 months later because my headaches were so bad. I'm doing great. Headaches are less frequent. Maybe 2-3 per month but not so violent. But lately I've developed this twitching under my left eye. It's constant. Could it be the Topamax???

I have been taking Topomax for migraines for about 3 years now. Staying at the 75mg at night dosage. Going to 100mg just does not work for me. GI disturbances too severe. Diarrhea mostly. Early on same as a lot of the other reports, tingling in hands, bad tasting soda, some hair loss, and intermittent upset stomach and diarrhea. Memory not as good as without the med and balance a little off. All of these have diminished in intensity and frequency. Up side, weekly headaches that forced me to go to bed gone. Being an irritable wretch because my head hurt, was about to begin to hurt, or just got over hurting gone. At this point in my life the pros still outweigh the cons and as long as that is true I will continue with the regimine.

I have been taking 25 mg. at bedtime of topamax for the last week. I was prescribed topamax to end my chronic headaches. The last week has been very difficult for me. In just 7 days I have gone from being sharp, aware, motivated, focused and in control... to scattered, unable to focus, can't remember my pin # that I have had for 20 years, stop mid sentence because I can't remember what I was trying to say, unable to hold a conversation, unable to think clearly, unable to interact with my children. My family says I have turned into a zombie. I am not safe to drive and cannot work. I did not take my topamax last night and won't be taking it anymore. I would gladly have my headaches back if I could just feel like myself again. I had no idea it would affect me so negatively in just one week on such a low dose. (25 mg)

Be so careful before taking this medicine. My doctor didn't discuss any of these side effects with me, but I did research the drug online before I took it and was aware there were serious side effects, but it never seems that serious until you actually endure the side effects for yourself. The drug is not for me.

I am a 39 year old man with peripheral neuropathy and migraines. When I was diagnosed 3 years ago, the pain in my right leg was horrible and headaches daily. My Dr. put me on Topamax and I was so happy, it seemed to help but one night( about three weeks into it) I went to bed and awoke in the morning legally blind. Topamax was stopped that day but it took 4 months ( and changing the prescription in my glasses 3 times) for my vision to return to 20/20. The doctors tell me I was lucky as some people have perminate lens damage from the optical pressure change.
My doctor said I could not take any thing in that class of medications as it would probably have the same effect on me. So he decided to put me on Cymbalta for the neuropathy. He said it was being tested as a possible use for neuropathy but had not been proven. It works great for the pain and oddly my migraines have gone down to about two a month.

I have been taking Topamax for 3 years. I started out at 25 mg, ramped up slowly to 75 mg and have been on 100 mg for 1 year. Over the past 2-3 months, though, I've been feeling very weird, almost like I'm not here sometimes. It's hard to explain. Sometimes I'll get all the way to work and I can't even remember getting ready for work. My short term memory is shot, and that's bad for me. I used to remember everything. I just don't feel like me anymore. I did lose about 30 pounds when I started taking it, but I've gained that all back. I also had tingling and the carbonation in sodas went away for about 6 months. It did take away my headaches for the most part. Axert alleviates any that I do get now.

I started taking Topamax 3 weeks ago. My Neurologist started me on the 25mg dose and gradually moved me up to the 75mg dose. I've had several different side effects. I don't like this medication at all. I want to stop it but I'm afraid because all the web sites say when you stop it you can have seizure's. I have suffered the last 3 years with everyday headache's and would do anything to have relief but cant stand the way this medicine is making me feel. I have felt nausea's for day's. My 3year old has ate more than me. I cry over anything. I'm tired! I've had a headache everyday while on the med's. I have a nasty taste in my mouth. My vision is impaired. I definitely will not stay on this medicine. I would rather deal with my Migraines, then to deal with Migraines and side effects!!!

2 yrs ago I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy. I have been on Topamax since, because of the severe pain it causes. I have never experienced weight loss and I was on up to 400mg a night. I am now on 200mg a night. My tastes are fine and my drinking sodas were never like metal. But for the fatigue of the disease I also take Provigil in the morning. I have noticed my eyes have changed. Never gave it a thought to be Topamax. Plus I just got new glasses again 3 months ago and am seeing a change in my sight again. Also there is a noise in my ears,not ringing,but sounds like crickets. Never had that before. I was on 2 other meds but I took myself off of them because I really don't like taking so many. The others had worse side effects. Until they find a cure for this disease it looks like I'm stuck with Topamax. This is one pain I will not and can not live with.

I have been on Topamax for a little over a year. I've had most of the side effects; tingling, numbness in the fingers, dry mouth, forgetfulness, and weight loss - love the weight loss. All the side effects have sort of slowed down as I've been on the medication longer. The weight loss has slowed and I've even began to get my appetite back- I'm afraid I'm going to start gaining weight now! I've lost about 40 pounds and I needed to lose it, so that was wonderful. I've had a very hard time losing weight all my life so this was wonderful.

I was addicted to Coca Cola and this med also helped me kick that habit because I lost my taste for the carbonation.

Does anyone know if the weight loss usually evens out after about a year or a year and a half? I need to lose about 30 more pounds and was hoping that I would continue losing weight!

Anyway, I was on the Topamax for headaches and it has completely helped that! It has truly been a God-send for me. Other than monthly hormone headaches, I don't get migraines hardly at all!

I am wondering about having my doc up my dosage for the weight loss aspect????

I've been on Topamax since just Tuesday, 10/9/07. I find that I get very tired a couple hours after taking it and I have horrible nightmares and very dark thoughts, too. Diet coke tastes so HORRBILE which is bad because I loved my diet cokes, but then again I guess that's good b/c I need to stop drinking them anyway. My worst side effect is that I have horrible mood swings. Is this normal? Is this going to go away over time? Because if not, I'm going to stop taking it now. This is not like me and I am not going to subject my family to this - losing weight is not THAT important to me. Thanks for any help. :(

P. S. I'm taking 25 mg in the morning, afternoon and evening.

I have been on 100 mg of topamax twice a day now for over three years. Most of the early side effects have worn off like soda tasting bad and the memory loss. I never had any hair loss. Also the weight loss has stopped and I did gain it back which really stinks. Anyway, the reason I was looking, was that in the last several weeks, I have been suffering horrible body aches and joint pain. My hands and knees hurt very badly. I am 39 years old and hate to think that arthritis has set in so quickly. And I know that I can't have the flu with no other symptoms and so often. Does anyone else have these symptoms? Also I wonder why these could have started after so many years of taking it.I have tried to wean myself off in the past and the migrains came back full force.

Just started, and reading all these post, eeeeekkkkkkkk. I have mig everyday, and just want help. Is there any one with a good experince on topamaz? I mean really? SHouldnt there be people that it help's?