Topamax and experiences

25 mg 2x a day to 100 mg 2 x a day will cut back to 100 mg 1 x a day because of the sinus/ ear problems however i began taking as a mood stabilizer/weight management drug and it has been wonderful. side effects have included tingling in hands, feet and face and appetite suppression. I have not been on any other prescription medications, so for you others, who have had bad experiences, most of you I have been reading have been taking one to three other meds at one time, maybe that could be adding to the issues of your side effects?? I'm not sure, but it's been great and I've not had any ongoing irritating side effect other than the ear pain caused by the high dosage.

I'm a 26 year old female and I've been on Topamax since March 2007. It has completely gotten rid of the debilitating headaches I experienced 3-6 times a week. It also got rid of my anxiety. I got my life back, my antidepressant kicked in at the same time. I experienced all the usual side-effects, tingling hands and feet, forgetting words, memory problems, loss of appetite, but was COMPLETELY pain-free. I still am. However, I never remember anything now, forget whether or not I did something, paid my bills, etc, lose things constantly, and I have lost about 20 lbs. Not good. I look anorexic. I have bones sticking out. Eating is hard. I forget to eat and drink all day and food is just unappealing. I feel fuzzy and stupid and slow. Not sharp like I used to be. It has killed my confidence and self-esteem. But I was wondering if any women out there got yeast infections while they were on Topamax. I've had one monthly since I started it, and my doc said it's a rare side effect. Oh yeah, I've had mild hair loss and mild to moderate acne now. This drug, it is such a 50-50. Living with chronic pain, those headaches were awful. But doubting yourself is awful too. Anyone have similar experiences?

I am going to begin taking 25 mg of Topamax at bedtime tonight. After reading all of these posts I am a scared. I was prescribed Topamax for bipolar disorder. I am currently taking Lamictal as well. I always gain weight on psychotropic drugs and need to lose about 15 lbs (all of which I have gained over the course of being on Lamictal). Any who-my psychiatrist said that this medication may help counteract the weight gain I have experienced. Although I do not consider my self an overeater now. I do hope that it helps me to not like the taste of sodas though. I am addicted to Mt. Dew and caffeine, which I wouldn't mind stopping. Anyway, I am supposed to increase my dosage by 25mg per week until I reach 75mg per day. I am also supposed to go back and see my doctor before I increase the dosage beyond 75mg. I just hope I do not have the horrible side effects I have read here. Some of them I know I can deal with especially if they are temporary but the anxiety/depression/shortness of breath/lack of energy/morbid thoughts are the main ones that concern me. My psychiatrist said that with this medication I should drink plenty of water. He said that it could cause headaches and other side effects if I'm not sure to drink plenty of fluids with this medication. So, I am planning on hydrating myself really well today before taking it this evening. I'll post back and let you know how the side effects are going. Is anyone else on a combination of Lamictal and Topamax or on it for bipolar disorder? I'd like to hear more of your experiences.

After using Topamax for a week and two days for migraine prevention, I pretty much went blind. I went from having 20/20 vision to -6 in a matter of hours. I was diagnosed with Acute Induced Myopia, a "rare" side effect of topiate drugs. It was prehaps one of the most frightening experiences of my life. While this side effect is widely documented online and in numerous neurolical and other health journals, my neurologist failed to mention the possibility to me. From what I've learned, this is a fairly common, yet reversible side effect, and is found mostly in women ranging in age from 25-50, if topamax isn't stopped immediately, it can result in permanent glaucoma. In 2001 the World Health Organization released a warning describing this side effect and urged medical professionals to discuss it with their clients prior to taking the drug. Apparently my neurolgist missed that memo. Now, three days later my vision has returned to 20/20- much to the surprise of my new opthamologist (never needed one before). I urge everyone who takes Topamax to pay very careful attention to their vision and stop taking the drug if any decrease in vision or blurrieness occurs. I'd hate to see anyone cause themselves permanent damage.

Hi! I was on I had chronic daily migraines for about seven years I am now thirty. I have tried everything in the book. I was on Elavil and became headache free for about five years and went off of it an was fine for about two. the cam back and nothing has worked since not even the Elavil. I took Topamax for about three weeks 25mg. a day and my husband thought I was insane!! I could not eat because my stomach was so nauseas and i developed severe depression. Al thought I was almost immediately headache free. But my husband and I could not handle it. Nothing worked for the next year so I am back on it. I have been on it for a month. I am relatively headache free. I am at 75mg twice a day. Lost weight not depressed but extremely nauseas so we will see. Good luck to those our there. I feel your pain and connection. If you have a similar experience and information on the Longevity of Topamax side effect that would me great. Happy holidays!

I've been on Topamax (150mg/a day) for 4 years for migraines. At the start I had some of the common side effects: dropping things, memory loss, mood swings, weight loss. The weight loss evened out in the first year or so, and the other side effects went away in the first few months-mainly after my Dr. had me take it as one dose only at night, and increase the amt. of water I drink. I am still on it, and they just increased my does to 300mg/ a day for chronic pain. So far, no weird side effects, but I'll wait and see. I'm sure anything is possible. But after trying everything before for migraines, this was the only thing that worked, and was worth riding out a few months of side effects. I was honest with family and coworkers when I did dumb stuff, or had off the wall mood swings and got through it. Guess I may have to do the same thing again. Reading on her some many bad experiences, I hope some of the people starting it or thinking about, will give it a chance to work. I was desperate and so out of options, I am so glad that I did.

My husband was on topamax for mood disorder. He experienced SLEEP problems, weight loss, and abruptly discontinued the topamax and committed sucide. I am not sure if these symptoms go with the topamax but he never attempted sucide until he was put on the topamax.

My daughter has been on Topamax for 5 weeks due chronic head pain from a fall she had a few years back. This had made her break out, she is already slender, and it has caused her to lose weight. Nightmares have flooded her sleep and causing her to wake up multipul times a night. She experiences rapid heart beat, plapatations if you will, and dizziness. We haven't even come close to what the doctor wants her to be on for her full dose, and quite frankly, I think this medications side effects are worse than the chronic pain she still suffers on top of the side effects.

Well it is now three weeks since my last posting here, and 3 months on Topamax at 200mg per day. My sleep pattern is back to normal and my migraines which were 2-3 times a day before topamax are now only 1-2 times a week which is so much more tolerable! My trigeminal neuralgia is completely under control, I never have any pain while I take this medicine. I have lost 26 pounds in 3 months since I started taking topamax. I used to drink diet soda all the time and now just drink water with an occasional crystal light. What a difference. I must say my energy level isn't what it used to be but that is something that I can try to work on. I have to try to find energy to exercise. My appetite is much lower, so I don't eat as much as I used to...and it takes quite a bit less to fill me up at a meal. Even before Topamax I was on the weight watchers plan, so I eat right and know that I am not starving myself or making bad meal decisions. I don't sweat like I used to, and that is something we need to be aware of so we don't overheat. I still have the tingling in my feet and hands every day but am getting used to it. I don't seem to lose my train of thought or "lose my words", like I used to when I first started taking this drug. I hope that is a good sign for us all. Overall, Topamax has been a very positive experience for me and I hope that others of you out there have the same good experiences that I have had. Good luck!