Topamax and brain

I've been on Topamax for almost a year. I've had auras for years which were misdiagnosed as hypoglycemia episodes, then started having grand mals after detoxing from alcohol (I'm sober now), continued to have them in sobriety (I guess I messed up my brain from alcohol). I tried Tegretol but it made me groggy. Anyway, a few months into using Topamax I stopped sweating completely and got the numbness and tingling in my extremities, which drives me crazy. I also have trouble with urination, I've been put on water pills. I live in a desert climate and during the summer had bad problems with overheating, had to drink so much water that I had trouble with water retention and my electrolytes got messed up. I had no idea that it was the Topamax--the doctors put me through multiple blood tests, I discovered it might be the medicine by doing my own research online. I'm tapering off Topamax and trying the Low Glycemic Index Treatment to see if I can be off meds and not have auras because I don't want to be on seizure meds if I can help it. The withdrawal is pretty bad--anyone else have the problems with no sweating and wicked withdrawal?

Topamax makes things taste yucky!! things like soda, beer, etc. And I've typed a whole report before or listed something on ebay and only looked back later and called myself a STUPIDAS# because of all the misspelled words- should of used spell check- which if you take Topamax make sure your spellcheck is on! Don't know why but the med will slurr your speech and brain. I do still get the occasional migraines while taking it so I'll stop it, plus tired of the spelling probs I have while on it. But my doc says I should be persistent with it, just like everything else out there... there's always a price to pay! Other than that, no side effects like stomach pain or weight loss like I've heard in others. Oh but it will make you tired..especially at first..very tired!

I have been on topomax for nearly a year and have many of the same problems you guys have but a new one has popped up on me that scared the shit outta me and no one can seem to figure out what is causing it.
During sex just before orgasm my brain felt like it was going to explode!!
All I could do was hold my head in my hands and roll on the bed. this pain lasted for almost 8 hours. the next day i felt fine and went motorcycle riding and while racing my buddy and while passing him(More Excitement) It hit again and it was all I could do to stay on the bike. Went to the hospital and they did cat scans mri ,mra tests and have found nothing wrong w/my head .So my ? is could this be coming from my topomax??

Topamax can cause blindness. Please read about all of the side effects of your antipsychotic meds carefully, and never think you are immune to them. These are powerful drugs, and no one truly knows how they will effect each individual brain.

Ive suffered from migraines for about 5 years and never done anything about it until i seen a neurologist and found out i had a brain cyst. (not deadly) She prescribed me to topamax for migraines and immediately i started feeling change, i was moody and had no appetite, memory loss, chest/heart pain, short breath, paranoia, angry all the time, would cry at the drop of a hat, couldent concentrate, dizziness and it felt like a cloud was over my brain, i felt nothing all the time.

Ive never been suicidal and one day i lost it, i felt like everything out of me had been drained and it would just be such a relief to die right then. It was the worst 3 hours of my life, trying not to kill myself because i knew it was the topamax doing this. Definitely scared off it now, do not want that to happen again

After taking Topamax for six months, I found my self different person.... I started feeling this way just in the first few weeks after I started the medication, but the simptoms incleased with the time....Anxiety, nervousness, panick attacks, negative thinking and depression....crying, making up problems from nothing, hair loss also....I decided to stop it, slowly and without any concequences I thought I am out of it....But just a couple weeks I stop it is I noticed some red spots on my skin on the lower legs, soon they became more and stronger..... Two months later I was in abnormal stress that I am going to be sick from a terrible desease... Read so much on Internet.... I can explain how terrible I felt and even though I did blood tests (everything was in normal range!!) and spoke with so many doctors, nobody could tell me what exactly is wron with me. One Dermatologist named the skin problem as Progressive Pigmentary purpura and gave me a cream for that. Thanks a lot for that because the spots started desapearing, but it may come again.... nobody knows for sure.... I think this is another side effect of Topamax, that nobody had before..... Please tell me if somebody else had the same situation... I will feel much more relieved....

I have been back on 125mg of Top for about 9 months now. I tried it for 1 year prior to this with too many side effect. I have taken it for migraines and an eating disorder. Instead of helping this time around I believe it triggered emotional issues, panic attacks, nerve damage in the occipital region of the left side of my brain (more than what seemed to already be causing headaches from the start), I relapsed with my eating disorder and lost too much weight, and had something called psychosis. Psychosis is a disordered thought pattern seen in many different mental illnesses or those in a confused state of mind. When I'd look at a stop like I would not be able to determine in my mind whether it was red or green and I would just go through it. I felt like I was going into some sort of coma all the time as well. Now that I am on an eating plan and exercising a bit less the side effects are a little less but the doctors are looking for an alternative at this time. I have tried every med out there.

I was doing just fine taking 50 mg of Topamax but I was still having minor headaches. My doctor said to go to a neurologist because there may be a tumor to worry about. He doubled my morning dosage and added an evening dosage so now I am taking 200 mg. a day. I started the insanity on Friday. By Monday i went grocery shopping and couldn't remember what I was shopping for. Thank God i brought my husband with me...when I could remember that he was with me. And then when I remembered to ask him what we came for I needed to remember where it was. Upon returning home I offered to help my 7 year old grand daughter with her spelling homework. Do you how embarrassing it is to not remember how to spell first grade spelling words? Tuesday was Mardi Gras and we went to the movies so I was saved any further mind questions. Then along comes Wednesday and I returned to work. Well, I tried to get to work. I got lost. Here I was at Walgreen's trying to figure out what I was doing out at 6:00 in the morning. What day was it? The looks on other's faces when you ask them these question is not something funny. So, I get back in my car and aim in the direction I hope is work. Luckily, I remember where I habitually stop for breakfast. My memory comes back again and I make it to work. I am on time and all is well. Now, the day begins.

I haven't had a period since December. Here it is February. And no, I am NOT pregnant. I can't concentrate. I ate 2 chicken nuggets for lunch and am full (now that is a healthy lunch, huh?). I was addicted to Dr. Pepper and now can't even stand the smell of it. I can't walk and chew gum at the same time. I found a note that I wrote sometime yesterday that really scares me because I don't remember writing it. It says, " Headache @ 1:55 no known trigger jut sudden movement to pick up papers from bin over desk. Nausea as well. Need to go to sleep forever." Good feeling to have? Depression is kicking in.

I just called my doctor and he says decrease the medication down to 100 mg. Ummmm...How about I decrease it down to 0 mg and I take a Imitrex or 2 and a hot bath with a nap when I get home and live to see my grandchildren grow old! I think living with a migraine or 50 is far better than what I have been feeling this past week.

If anyone can tell me that it gets better in less than 2 weeks I will stay with it but 1 more week of this and I will be a patient in a mental hospital. I can't even play Nintendo with my grandson...NOW THAT IS DEPRESSING!

I have had migraines for several years now and just recently found out that the med I was taking at each episode was really for those that have migraines a couple of times a year - I have them a couple of times a month. I was prescribed 50mg of Topamax, two times a day. I took both doses on a Thursday and could not go to work on Friday. By Thursday night I was lightheaded...by Friday morning I couldn't keep my eyes open, my brain couldn't seem to tell my fingers how to type, I couldn't come up with what I wanted to say, I tried to read in bed and couldn't even concentrate on what the book was saying. Normal events (taking my 2yo to the restroom, walking into a restaurant) were exhausting. I'm going back to the doctor tomorrow to discuss all that occurred. After reading all the side effects online, I would honestly rather deal with the migraines. At least I know they will go away. With the Topamax I felt completely out of control of my body...never a good feeling.

I was put on Topamax around thanksgiving time 07 for Bipolar disorder. Over a week my dose was raised to 100mg/day. Immediately I began experiencing muscle cramps in my Legs that were intermittent. It wasn't too severe so I decided to give it time. Also, I was an inpatient at a Psych facility when I was put on Topamax and was also placed on a few other things at the same time. Recently, the pains in the legs have become severe and I have been getting pains in my arms as well. In addition to this I have been getting tingling in my face and hands and numbness in my throat. It has been difficult to breathe at time, especially if I really relax, then I suddenly realize that I am not breathing at times. My eyes feel like they are going to pop out of there sockets. I tried talking to my Psychiatrist and was told to go to the ER. At the ER I was told to goto my Psychiatrist. No one will listen to me!!! Finally yesterday I decided to take myself off of the Topamax. It's hard to tell if things are any better yet and I imagine it will take time. I have noticed what I believe to be improvements though. I guess the moral of this story is sometimes you have to use your own brain and do what you know is right for you.

I'm on my first month of Topamax and going to work for the first time in two weeks! Someone mentioned feeling like a box of rocks on this stuff, its true, but in my case the dosage increase might have been too abrupt. I take it for epilepsy, 100 mg. I was completely non-functional during the transition! Not only was I so tired I couldn't move, so sick I couldn't eat (I've lost a lot of weight), but I was constantly dizzy. I would often get icy to touch and pass out, mores after eating.

Cognitively, I was severely depressed, and had a constant "noise" sensation in my head which I started yelling at during odd moments. I believe I even hallucinated at one point that the room was expanding. Mostly, people thought I was stoned because I would just stare at the wall and have difficulty talking to them without slurring my words.

It's been a truly terrifying couple weeks, however I've settled pretty quickly out of the major side effects. I think thats pretty much what happens for everyone. I'm happy to have my brain back.

i have had seizures since 1998 first put on depacot after 3 years of no relief they put me on topamax, which at first felt like someone had climbed inside of my head and turned the light switch on. i couldn't believe how wonderful it was now after 4 years of being on it, i have experienced the same side effects as mentioned above. the one about dry eyes hits home too it has effected my eye sight more and more. i am now for some reason or another thinking about getting off of it however i never did experience any dark or strange dreams though. my depression goes to extreme highs to extreme lows if you know what i mean. all in all i would not want to go back to where i was before taking topamax it was literally like someone had shut the light off of part of my brain. joyce from texas

I have Been on ToPamax for 2 months now i am have trouble controling my blood sugar never had this problem before topamax , just wondering if any one else has had this problem also after takeing topamax

I took Topamax about 6 years ago for migraines, and experienced no side effects. Just started it up again 3 days ago, and I feel like I am totally drugged and my head is spinning, can not drive, can barely hold a conversation, only started with 25mg, and can say that each day I feel a little better, but the only difference this time is that I am on Lexapro and my Dr. said the side effects could be worse till I get used to it..anyone else take this combination? And how long till I can function again?

I have been a migraine sufferer for over 13 years and have run the gammut of medications to prevent and deal with them. My mother took Topamax a couple of years ago with disastrous results. I didn't realize, but I guess she was so loopy and forgetful that it was enough to cause my grandmother and stepfather to perfom an "intervention" to get her off of it. So, here I am a couple years later starting it myself, wondering if the side effects are worth the trade off. I'll be honest and say that I love Coke. I mean, loved. Carbonated drinks of all ethnicities taste like slimy metal now. How disappointing. And considering that if I went a day without drinking a Coke, I would get a wicked migraine, I've resorted to putting Crystal Light Energy (Wild Strawberry) in my water to give me the needed caffeine.

I've also noted tingling in my face, kinda like numbness. Nothing that is earth-shattering, but noticeable. I get dizzy a lot. I've also lost about 5 lbs since starting the medicine. And today, I could not find the word "prescription" in my mental warehouse. Not a difficult word on a normal day. I've only been on Topamax for a week though. I'm going to give it a good month to see if the side effects dissipate. But if I get any stupider, I'm going to have to go another route.

Just one question I have been on this stuff at the beginning dose for less than a week. My eyes hurt, my head is about to explode, I am sick as a dog, I lost 5 pounds, I can't eat, constipated, can't sleep, can't function, ringing in my ears, and the ADD is unbelievable. I am a medical transcriptionist I kind of need to be able to work, no work, no pay. Topamax is going bye-bye for sure but how long till the side effects go away?

I have been on topomax for 2 years for seizures. They had my dosage up to 200-250mg at one time and now I am on 100mg 1x a day do to the side effects. Now being on the 100mg I just don't feel like the topomax is working or worth taking. So, I stopped taking all together 2 days ago. I have had no side effects and I feel great. I think that topomax is great in the beginning and then being on the med for a prolonged period of time messes with your body, mind, etc..

I had been taking topamax for 4 years for complex migranes and then stopped cold turkey after feeling like there was a tight band across my waist and watery diahrea and soreness in lower back , burning itchy pain..... went to the emergency room 14 times for them to tell me that I was crazy. I had a feeling like water was running in my head, normal cat scan of brain. water feelings throughout body... they still come and go but last a couple of seconds.... feels like sensory or nerve damage of some kind.... don't know if this is a side affect or not..... Doctor finally is getting something done. she checked my heart becasue I have MVP... and I am shedualed to get a mri of brain... I have a herniated disk in lower back, scoliosis, degenerative disk disease.... nuerologist checked for nerve damage due to herniation. won't hear back anything on that till after mri of brain. won't hear back about the heart till april.... Just found out that I am borderline hyperthyroidism... and the doc is sending me to a specialist. thyroid is inflammed and big.... My bones are crackly and pop alot and sore.... The water feeling and burning and tingling hands and feet scare me alot but I try to not think about it... Try to stay positive.. I am only 29.... I feel like I am 70 sometimes...... Does anyone have these symptoms after taking topamax...????? Yes I do have the thinning hair but that could also be the thyroid... and fatigue... problems sleeping and hot flashes. palpatations..... any help would be nice... Thank you,,,, love and light to all, jess

I have been taking Topamax 50mg for 6 months now and feel it is a life saver. I would have 2-3 migraines a week, a couple with auras, and one that lasted 8 days and sent me to the emergency room. I thought I had menengitits the pain was so bad. Unfortunately migraines run in my family. I tried everything, inclunding injectable Imitrex. Nothing helped. Now I can go as long as 3 months without a hint of a migraine. I will still get the once in a blue moon hormonal migraine near that time of the month, but my quality of life is so much better. The first week I was sleepy all the time as I got used to the drug, and my brain felt jumbled, but I stuck it out and after a couple of weeks the symptoms went away. Now I just sometimes forget what I was going to say or what word I want to use, but its totally worth it. Most of the time I feel completely normal. I also lost 25 pounds, but that was just a bonus. Thanks Topamax!

I have been on Topamax since 5/2004 for depression. Currently down to 100mg/day

Negative side effects:
Memory loss
Aphasia
Weight gain (I actually began binge eating and gained 60 pounds on Topamax after having lost 120 pounds on atkins -pre topamax)
Sleep irregularity
Irritability
Leg cramps, stomach pain
Lethargy

Positive side effects
No more migraines, but I am not sure I have a brain left that can feel pain!
The depression is not crippling, but certainly not cured.

What drives me crazy are the things that involve my brain. This includes speeking, thinking and comprehending, and memory loss. When I go to talk, instead of saying "vinegar" it comes out "vigenar" for example. People have to tell me things over and over and most of the times very slowly until I have it correctly in my head. It frustrates me so. However, the memory loss is the worst. It as if I have become an amnesia patient. I am currently dating a man that I dated a few years ago. We go places that I think we have never been before. So I start telling him about the place and what I like about the place and I go on and on and then it dawns on me that we have been there together and I feel like an idiot and become so embarrased. Or I start to say something like, "Did we ever go to such and such a place?" and he might say, "No, why?" Now, in my head I'm thinking it was him and actually it might have been another guy, but I can't remember so I have to cover for myself so I say, "Oh, it must have been a dream I had of you." Now the doctor who checked me in for my last hospitalization said, "Well, if you can stand the confusion for a little bit longer and lose some more weight, why not stay on it?" I don't know if it's worth it....