Topamax and fingers

Hi all...I've been taking 25mg. of Topamax at night for 5 days now. Unlike most of you I have not experienced the tingling in the extremities or the weird taste in the mouth or even much tiredness at all other than what has happened as a result of my weird side effect. I was prescribed Topamax by my neurologist for my migraines. I've had them since I was 12 years old. I'm 49 years old. The got worse during peri-menopause which is kinda normal given the hormonal fluctuations, but was told by my neurologist that they would very likely subside significantly when I became menopausal. Well folks, I've been menopausal for 5 years and for the past 2 years my migraines have been the most horrific of my life. I have approx. 15 to 18 migraine days a month, some of the headaches lasting 3 bloody days. So it comes to this...Topamax. In the past I have suffered some pretty rare side effects from some very benign medications so I guess I shouldn't really be surprised that this is happening to me now. The first night I took it I slept like a baby. The second night I was slightly 'hyper' but managed to get to sleep. But for the past 3 nights it's been hell. When I lie down in bed, my body feels as though there are electric currents shooting through it and coming out my right leg. I have to move my right leg or go completely bonkers. Fortunately my daughter is away at university and so I can sleep in her room. So I lie there...on my left side...with my right leg hanging over the side of the bed swinging and swinging and swinging as hard as I can just so that I don't scream. It's awful. Last night was the worst. I saw dawn this morning. I just got off the phone with my pharmacist and he told me that I had described a classic case of RLS - Restless Leg Syndrome. And guess what? Topamax is used to trest RLS!! For bleep's sake! So nice people I am suffering a completely opposite side effect to the one that seems to be the most common one...tiredness. Has anyone else heard of this? Experienced this? It seems to all focus down to my right hip and leg. I have to move it vigourously or go nuts. I am so tired today but that's because I got like 3 hours sleep. I fell asleep from sheer exhaustion after my husband left for work at 7:30am.
A side note...I also take 75mg of Effexor for panic disorder and my neurologist told me that this is a very good mix of meds for migraine prevention. My top dosage for the Topamax will be 75mg taken at night.
I'd really appreciate any feedback on my side effect. Thanks in advance.

D.

I was on topamax for about 2 years. I took it for frequent migraines caused by my sinus's. I had all the normal side affects but got used to it after awhile. The only one i didn't get used to was the hair loss. During this time I started allergy injections and now i'm up to my maintenance level. So i decided to ween myself slowly off the topamax. I have been off for about 2 months now and I have been fine on the headache side, but i have started to get other symptoms (i think withdrawal symptoms). They have progressively gotten higher in number as the days go by. First my hair loss has not stopped. I gained about 10-15lbs, I am edgy and climbing the walls all day. I have a really hard time relaxing. I recently developed horrible insomnia, and about a week ago i started having digestive problems including water retention, bloating, gas, irregular bowl movements, and acid reflux. And I've recently had bouts of tightness in my chest and throat which make it difficult to breath (lasts about an hour). I didn't have any of these symptoms while i was on the topamax (except the hair loss), nor did I have them before it.
I am seeing an endocrinologist in a few weeks to make sure nothing on that front is causing any of this, but i really feel it's from taking and going off the topamax. If you can find other ways to deal with your migraines, DO!

Topamax may help some people, but for me it is poison and I've tried it twice! This second time around I tried it longer and went to higher dose. I'll just list the bad side effects that I had this time, although I had some of the same the first time. By the way, I took it for migraines. The first time a couple of years ago I was on 25 mg a day. Then, this time decided to try again since migraines were so bad thought I would give it another chance. I went from 25 mg to 100 mg a day slowly increasing as directed. The side effects started occurring right after the first couple of days, numbness in my hands, jaw area. Then sometimes numbness in my feet. Started to feel bloated in my stomach, waistband on pants a little tighter, and also noticed a little fluid retention in my fingers and ankles. I would forget a word here and there, or when typing, type the wrong word. Eventually it got so bad that I would sit there and think to myself, ok I know this is the right word but should I actually say it or type it? Friends thought I was in a bad mood when I wasn't. I would get very very quiet and I didn't want to leave the house. Thank goodness my husband was understanding. We knew it was the drug. And we knew I would stop taking it! Sometimes my back and sides would ache which is unusually for me, and I drank a lot of water. I lost my appetite completely but still did not lose weight at all like others say they do, if anything I think I gained in fluid retention. The skin on my ears started to burn and itch, then the skin on my face started to itch. I felt nauseous almost every day. I also felt like I was completely encased in cement, this is about the only way I can describe it. You just do not feel like yourself at all. You have that foggy brain feeling people mention. You know you don't feel like your normal self, but you feel so lousy you almost don't care. It's a scary feeling. This was all in one month, I figured I had given it a chance but that was it. Even with the warnings about seizures I quit taking it immediately. I would rather have migraines than have all of those side effects. Also I wonder what is it doing to your other vital organs if it can have those effects? For those who do not experience any of this, I'm glad, but I have to say very surprised.

I was given topamax and I dont have seizures or anything. I have PTSD, Depression, and Panic Disorder. I was all over the map, having violent episode, and no memory of it (which was dissociation). They put me on this while i was in the hospital, and I became so non-functional it wasn't funny. I have a degree, grad school, and am 1/2 way through a masters, so I am normally well spoken rationale and well thought out. I was having trouble finding simple words. The effects came on immediately. My memory and cognitive abilities have been permanently affected. I was on for a year live in a outside a small city, and have no real option for other doctors. Not to mention..I found out that this drug has a high rate of users getting depression and in particular at risk for suicide. That was what happened with me...prior to taking it..Then they put me on it?

Trouble seeing, cognitive abilities, memory, depression (was already depressed, and suicidal, but I think it was counterproductive to the anti-depressants)

Is their any action against this drug?

I only started Topamax three days ago (25 mgs, but it will be increased to 100 mgs over an eight week period to help me adjust), and I've already experienced the loss of appetite, crazy mood swings, insomnia, eye aches, and head aches. I haven't had a migraine, though, so that's nice, I guess.

I took Topamax for 6 months. I am a control freak by nature and really liked the drug at the start when I took 25 mg.; however, like most people who take Topamax know, you increase the dosage until you get to 100 mg. By the time I got to 75 mg. I was a basket case. I did lose weight and I was really calm; however, I thought I had Alzheimer's. My short term memory was shot and was slowly effecting my long term memory. I was constantly at a loss for words and stuttering all the time. For someone like me who is extreme control freak this was very debilitating. I also had constant tingling on my nose (I know weird) and my fingers. My husband begged me to stop taking Topamax because he could see the difference in me. Like everyone else my Migraines completely went away and so I thought the benefits outweighed the side effects.. The doctor said that maybe 75 mg. was to high so he put me back to 50 mg. It didn't change. Finally after 6 months I was almost a vegetable. I stopped talking which is extremely unusual for me. I stopped hanging around my friends and family and wouldn't deal with my kids. My daughter finally came up to me and said I don't know who you are, but I want my mommy back. That was all I needed. I weened myself off and within 2 months was back to normal. Unfortunately, my migraines came back full force 4 days a week. The good news is that about a year later I was having a physical and the doctor said that my thyroid was off and needed to start taking Synthroid. I have to say I couldn't believe it, but ever since I started taking Synthroid my migraines have completely gone away. From having them 4 days a week to maybe have 1 or 2 a year since being on Synthroid. I have been basically Migraine free for almost 2 years. I highly recommend that people, especially women, talk to their doctor to see if their thyroid could possibly be causing migraines. I have had migraines since I was in college 20 years ago.

One thing I do have to say is that the company that manuf. Topamax listed all the side effects. It did say that Topamax could possibly cause Neuropathy, loss of memory, weight loss, etc... It also stated that the symptoms should disappear after 6 weeks; however, it some cases they didn't. I respect that they were honest with their research and were very clear in the side-effects. I have many friends who use Topamax and thank g-d for it everyday. They had no side effects from the drug and have been living happy lives.

hi started my topamax 25 mg at bedtime i take it for migranes been top for 3 weeks now i have noticed side effects however iam taking other meds and im having trouble distinguishing which side effect goes with what lol ..e.g.. paxil for anxiety , panic attacks and HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE for borderline blood pressure , i have experienced the tingling in the hands and the feet ..lack of appt,i wouldn't say my desire for sex is gone but im experiencing vaginal dryness and itching and numbness as well as problems climaxing sorry tmi lol ... thought it was a yeast infection but its kinda different? any girls ever exp that before while on top? im getting scared now reading the post about loss of hair im already very thin and have little hair as it is any help or suggestions would be great thx ...

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 have only been on Topamax for a couple of weeks now and it seems I've had every side effect known to man. It is not a boring drug. I've had all the ones you hear about--the fuzzy tingling/numbness in my feet and fingers, stomach cramps/nausea/disinterest in food that comes and goes, and sleeplessness. Sometimes I get this bizarre, creeping sensation that a hair is on this one part of my nose and I can't get it off, a bad weighted, heavy, weak feeling that comes over me about an hour or two after I take the pill, some dizzy moments and even some balance issues. I've had insane cotton mouth since taking the pill and just the last several days my eyes have been so dry it feels like tiny shop vacs are attached to my eye balls. I'm relieved this is maybe a common symptom because I had not read that one and I'm overly paranoid about my eyes because my doctor scared me to death talking about all of the potential rare side effects, such as glaucoma. I have no idea how to know whether what I am feeling is an early symptom of glaucoma versus dry eyes but I believe it is simply dry eyes. It seems logical is you have cotton mouth you'd have dry eyes. Does anyone know how common this is and does anyone have a great drop?

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.

I started taking Topamax a couple of weeks ago, but decided to make the decision to stop taking it.
Typically, I am a very quick, sharp thinker, but not while on this medication. I became very forgetful, almost absent-minded, and confused. And, the mettalic taste in my mouth was very unpleasant. I drink a lot of diet soda, a real bummer to discover it's flat taste. Also, a couple of days prior to my quitting it, the fingers in one hand were feeling numb.
If these are just the beginning of the side effects, I am saying no thanks to Topamax. There has to be something better out there with less side effects.

Started out with face tingling about a week taking it primiraly on the right side of my face. About 3 weeks into taking the medication I experienced Experience weakness on left side of body which included unable to lift left arm and left leg, unable to stand by self, involuntary tremors to the hands, fingers, legs and mouth, difficulty speaking, very emotional, very tired. Was hospitalized because emergency room doctor felt that the effects were due to reaction to an MRI dye 6 hours before. Was released next morning with slight improvements in left side of body strength, speech slowness cycled from normal to extremely slow, additionally the involuntary tremors with the hands, fingers, legs and mouth continued as well as the emotions, actions like eating and bathing required a lot concentration and caused extreme tiredness.

I took 75mg of Topamaz for 3 1/2 months for my chronic migraines. The side affects for me were nearly as bad as the headaches: I lost 17 pounds, tingling in my toes and fingers, tiredness, food intolerances, and still had the headaches. I went off the Topamax 2 months ago and thought I was going to be OK. But last week, I developed appendicitis and had my appendix taken out by emergency surgery. I am curious if any other patient has had appendicitis but just didnt relate it to the Topamax.

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.

Extreme moodiness, one day I love everybody, the next day I hate everybody, from my husband to my co-workers, even the lady at the gas station. Causes either extreme paranoia (from my husband is having an affair and Im going to get fired) to the other end of the sprectrum, TOTAL whimsical carelessness! Not me at all! Im typically very grounded, very stable, very predictable, very reliable, very easygoing, the office manager of a large corporation, with my husband for almost 14 years.

on a good note, I have lost approximately 6 pounds in 2 weeks. However, my feet, legs, fingers and hands tingle frequently to the extent that it is quite annnoying. Pins and needles annoying, at any given time. During traffic, in a meeting, its caused me to drop things.

After reading various posts, it causes concern to nerve damage. Its not worth the risk. I am going to back myself off of my prescription. If you are on topomax, and see any warning signs, Consult your physician!!

I fel like my face is twitching all the time, and my eyes are moving. I have the tingling feling in my hands/fingers and feet. Soda taste flat. I can't stand the blightness of the light outside and always have the shades pulled. My concentratiotion is crap, and sometimes I feel like I am losing it. Been making stupid mistakes at work. I really have to check my work over and over again. Taking Topamax for Migrains, just going on my 3rd week. Please tell me it gets better! I don't know if I can continue with this....I am getting desperate.......

I have been on Topamax for only 4 weeks now and I have lost alot of my taste for many things like soda. I am also now having tingling in my fingers and panic attacks. Is this happening to anyone else?

I have been on Topamax for three weeks now. I have a genetic brain abnormality that causes severe and frequent migraines. Before being put on Topamax, I was experiencing at least one migraine a week lasting for NINE hours. They were unbearable. I am still working up to my full dosage of Topamax, but it seems to be working. My head is clearer than it has been in some time. At this point, I am experiencing some side effects including decreased appetite (though nothing that I couldn't afford to lose) and tingling in the toes and fingers. Of course these pale in comparison to the migraines that I have been rid of since I have been on the medication. I will repost later if I begin to have negative experiences.

Myhusband has been on this mdeication for 4 weeks now,, He suffers from epilepsy and was on dilantin for almost 2 years. Unfortunately he wasnt able to maintain the correct level for the dilantin to be effective and is now being weaned off of it and onto the Topamax..Myself and my whole family have noticed a significant change in his personality and moodiness, he is always tired and seems to be more depressed then before.. After some of his comments today that he has said to be and reading the postings on here, I will be contacting his neurologist on Tuesday (like I'll be able to get in touch with him on xmas,, NOT) and get him off this and onto something else.. As far as the weight loss, I haven't noticed any difference, he has commented about the tingling in his fingers.

I have been on Topamax,50MG for a year. At first the tinglig in my fingers made me feel like I had Raynards Syndrome. So my doctor said to take it before bed. The migraines stopped, but after 6 months, I had a sudden loss of hair. My doctor thought it was thyroid. She does not seem to aggressive about helping me with it. She does not seem aware that it is associated with the Topamax. I am quitting it. I will find a way to deal with the migraines.

I have been on Topamax since December 5, 2005 and I have experienced the following: tingling in my feet and my fingers, sleeping is more deep, horrible loss of words when trying to talk/complete sentences while talking; kind of like a stuttering problem. Memory loss. Even though I have had these side affects this is the best medicine I have ever been on for the treament of bipolar. I feel great, I never want to fight with anyone, yet i also don't feel doped up on medication. I will continue searching for another medicine while staying on topamax.

Started at 25 mg 9 months ago for migraines. Now up to 50 mg. I get the tingling in my fingers every now and then. I get indigestion pretty frequently. I went from 130 lbs. to 120 lbs. I used to have a really sharp memory, now finding myself having to concentrate a lot harder to retain things. Never can find the right word I'm looking for either. But the headaches are almost nonexistant!
K.L.

I am on 75 mg for migraines. I've been going up by 25mg intervals and my doctor plans to keep increasing. I have tingling in my fingers that's getting kind of annoying. Does anyone know if that goes away with time?

I have been taking Topamax for 4 months. I got up to 100 mgs but went back to 75 mgs and am going to go to 50 mgs to see if things improve. My migraines have diminished 90% which is wonderful. I've gone from 128 lbs to 116 lbs and don't need to lose more but I am not hungry ever. Food has no appeal to me. I feel nervous all the time. The tingling of my fingers doesn't bother me or the forgetting of words which seems to be subsiding. But the nervousness is driving me crazy. I feel like everything is bothering me and my life is slipping away. I've had constipation but think it's because I'm not eating properly. I'm going to see if I can get away with taking only 50 mgs of Topamax. I love not having the migraines but I don't want to live like a zombie either. Anyone feel like this?

I was diagnosed petit mal epilepsy many years ago. My doctor thought we should try switching medications. I took topamax for about a month with no problems. I did experience the tingly sensations in my fingers and I also had to give up sodas due to the bad tastes. But once I increased my dosage to 150 mg, I started experiencing a new side effect that I have yet to find anyone else complain about. My doctor says it's not Topamax, but it only happens when I take this medication. My eye was twitching constantly. It would only stop for about 30 minute intervals every few hours. Once I stopped taking topamax, my eye stopped twitching. I thought perhaps I was just stressed or fatigued, so I tried to go back on it. Once again when I got back up to 100 mg I noticed it would twitch once the medicine was in my system. I suppose this is some sort of facial tremor.

Migraine Use: Fingers were tingling intensely 1st day AM after 1st PM dose of 50mg. Continues, though not every day and has spread to feet. Recently went off nasal sprays for allergies because of light nose bleeding. I've had a cold, too, but nose bleeds ever since starting this med! Wondering if there's a connection. Only other time I had nosebleeds like this, I was pregnant! Gained weight on Lexapro, hoping to lose it on this!

tingling in my fingers nad toes, cold hands & feet, loss of appitite i have not lost weight, yet.