Topamax and feelings

i was put on topamax for migraines back in aug 07.

well, i stopped it like 5 months ago. (2june 08) i still feel "out of it" like i'm here but im not. headaches came back but i would rather deal with them than all these side effects. i got severe panic attacks and nervousness, MAJOR HAIR LOSS, AGORAPHOBIA (FEAR OF LEAVING MY HOUSE CUZ IM SCARED TO HAVE ANOTHER PANIC ATTACK), i constantly feel dispatched from my family (i have 3 boys and a husband) every day i feel sick or tired, or both. which led me to stop the meds. (25mg am and 25-50mg pm) i weaned off over like 2 weeks (on my own cuz the neuro told me not to stop it and its all in my head.

i had to quit my job cuz of the panic attacks that just happen for no reason.

i still feel all the side effects even though i have been off topamax. hair loss, panic attacks, depression, "high" feeling all the time, cant hold a normal conversation. i have changed soooo dramatically from when i first went to the neuro and started this HORRIBLE DRUG. poor concentration, i don't feel like i want to be involved in anything- i just wanna lay on the couch with an ice pack on my head. i don't know what to do. my neuro doesn't know i stopped the drug and i was so mad at him for putting me on it that i didn't go to my last appt. now i have to wait until January to see him.

I am on 300mgs of topamax a day for epilepsy, and my side effects are the flat tasting carbonated beverages. But the worst side effects is the feeling in the bottoms of my feet. They feel as if my sox are all bunched up and stuffed between my toes, and knotted up under the balls of my feet. It is a miserable feeling. I get the tingling feelings as well. My wife and I love hiking and I a try to stay in shape by doing 4 miles a day on my treadmill. I am 60 years old. I have to really push myself mentally. I hate this feeling. I don't mind the flat tasted, as I can do without the carbonation anyway, but the feet stuff has got to go.

I've been on Topamax since Sept 2007 and the only side effects I have had were at the beginning were the tingling in the hands and feet when I was brining my dosage up. Soda tastes awful but I no longer drink it and that is a godsend after being a heavy drinker of it for years. I do find there are time when I can't find the right word to say, or I forget what I was doing, but I deal with it. I have lost 20 pounds since being on the medication. After being on it for 6 months the tingling is gone, I usually counteracted it by drinking plenty of water in the morning, that got rid of it. The drug has taken away the migraines, and regular headaches I have suffered from for years. It has also stabilized my moods and taken away my anxiety issues. I'm 36 and have never felt better. Topamax is definitely not for everyone. For those that are suffering, please do contact your doctors and try to get off the medication.

Chest pains, fatigue, mood swings, pins and needles feelings in hands and feet, nausea, depression, terrible terrible medication.....do not take this medicine.. I actutally sent a letter to the FDA telling them to re-evaluate this medication.

I have been taking topomax 100mg twice a day for one year. I began taking it for seizures and headaches. I weaned myself off of it in December feeling that it was unnecessary being that I've always been on lamictal as a monotherapy treatment for my seizures and that the dizziness, memory problems and tingly feelings were not worth it. Now the ten pounds that I originally lost and kept off for all this time has came back on and all the while I have been exercising 1 1/2hrs a day (which is new to me) and it isn't helping. I am back at my normal weight of 123 whereas I was happy to be 113 while on the drug. I am going to begin taking it again to see what happens... I don't experience the symptoms I spoke of before-unless I take too much because my memory is bad.

Does anyone here have positive side effects on topomax??? All I have read are negative ones!

As for me it's been a blessing. I have noticed some side effects annoying, but not to the extent that I don't want to quit it.

If you are experiencing side effects to the point that you want to kill yourself, first of all call your doctor IMMEDIATELY! Check with your doctor to see if other medications you're taking could be causing your feelings.
I've noticed that many of you who are feeling suicidal are also taking Effexor or something else that could be interacting with Topomax. Check into it, and don't stop EVERYTHING at once!!! Doing THAT just might kill you!

Always wean off the drugs with the help of your doctor. If you don't agree with your doctor then go to another one or at least go to the ER and they will help you. Don't take matters into your own hands. Doing it yourself puts your life in risk.

If you think you are suicidal then remember you are not thinking objectively. YOU NEED HELP. If you make a foolish decision you will not only destroy your life, but the lives of many people who love you. GET HELP NOW. Please.