Topamax and memory

I'm a 24 year old female, the doctor put me on topamax about a year ago for my migraines, since they stopped making midrin. It made me sleepy beyond anything. Food and drinks started to taste odd, I stopped taking when I lost insurance because it was $170.00 a month. I had been wondering if I should take it again and now after reading this stuff, I am not going to be doing so, while the weight loss would be nice, I don't need to lose my memory at 24 when I have a 3 year old son to worry about, thanks to call that have posted. :D

I've been on topamax at 400mg 2x a day for about 8 years now. It is a great drug but it has HORRIBLE side effects! It ( along with lamictal) gives me WONDERFUL seizure control. And it is safe for pregnancy. BUT it has destroyed my memory. short term and long term I cant remember much of anything! The sexual side effects is just awful. It makes reaching an orgasm almost impossible! I am very scared that I may have full blown alzheimers by the time I am 30!

Has anyone gained they're memory back after stopping topamax?

difficulty in quick memory recall. delayed response in some things. muscle fatigue (especially in lower extremities) ...but fewer migraines!

I had all of the above side effects when I was on this crap. Topamax is highly dangerous. I now have developed Narcolepsy, have problems with my joints, my memory has trouble here and there for simple things. I am only 29, and haven't taken this stuff for about 4 yrs. I have permanent problems now that I have to live with for the rest of my life. I didn't have a choice in the matter. I was ordered by the court to take a psychological evaluation. They asked some questions and determined that I was Bi polar. Topamax was the drug they put me on, and look where I'm at now. I also have Migraines, which I had way before this poison, and my advice to everyone is that this stuff is dangerous, don't take it!

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.

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.

Hi I've been on topamax for 4 years . Had all the side effects...weight loss,tingling in hands and feet,no memory and speech problems! I was taking 600mgs a day! I take it for epilepsy! I was on the highest dose. my doc then weened me from top. to zonegran 600mgs. It's very similar to topamax. For me it is not helping me as much as the topamax. I think it's a great drug!!!! I did not loose hair, no constipation, no rapid heartbeat for me! I am going back on it . Yes sometimes I would get in a hostel mood and can't spell shit , but for me it's all GOOD !

I've been taking Topamax now for about 6 weeks, and my headaches are still just as bad as ever, except now I have headaches with the thrill of numb fingers, confusion, weight loss, memory loss, an absolute horrid taste in my mouth, and now the latest.... my hands feel dirty all the time. Has anyone experienced this?? I just feel like my hands are dirty. I wash them, and a half hour later, it almost feels like there's a film on them, and I have to wash them again. Almost ocd-ish. So 6 weeks in.... Anyone have any advise on how much longer I should give this topamax before I give up on it & try something else? My doc said it should have worked by now if it was gonna - but I have read on here, that it sometimes can take months...? I just don't know if I can take these side effects, AND the headaches for much longer without going NUTS! {grin}
Any advise?

i have been on topamax for 6 months... i was also on tegrotol at the time. the drug made me stupid, i couldn't visualize things or think clearly, my memory had gone and i was forgetting the most familiar things in my life, i felt unreal and as if i were just a pair of eyes watching the world, i could ever just relax and feel normal, riving made me feel weird and i cant drive long distances. iv now decided to come off the drug and live drug free... i really hope that these effects go away... its the worst thing my neurologist has ever done...

I am a 35 year old female.I have been taking Topamax 100mg for over a year now, I went from weighing 155 down to 125 and my migraines have decreased a lot.I still get some but I will take a Maxalt as back-up and it takes it right away. I do believe I have become a bit crabbier though as people have told me that I'm not as fun as I used to be-more moody, but I'm not sure that may just be me-stress and all.Even if it was a side effect I don't think I would trade it back for the migraines EVER!! My memory is shot too- Ugh!

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've been on Topomax for about 3-4 months now. I've had memory loss, slurred speech, decreased concentration (I have to re-read something several times to understand it) tingling in the hands and feet, depression, increased anger, loss of appetite, weight loss. I'm now at the point where I have a rash on my leg, severe nausea, and abnormal bleeding. I going to follow up with my neuro and PCP to see what's going on so we'll see. My migraines have decreased from 3-4 a week to maybe 1 a week, so it has been worth it so far so I can function for work and for my kids as a single mother. I've suffered from migraines for about 10 years and can't take the pain no more!!! If anyone has experienced the nausea, rashes or bleeding please reply.

Hi
I have been on topamax for 5 months now. I first learned of this drug after holidaying in USA (i'm from UK!) and after suffering from horrendous migraines for years, with no relief, finally this drug has really helped. However it is certainly not without its side effects. One thing that i have noticed but no one else seems to have noted, so i'm not sure whether it is peculiar to me or not....is dry eyes??? My eyes are so dry all of the time. I am using eye drops 3 or 4 times a day and this is only since i've been on topamax. I'm interested to see if anyone else has noticed anything similar?

Also, noticed facial tingling..(pins and needles like) and feel like i have a chest infection all of the time. I also am very forgetful and where once i was incredibly articulate, my memory is definitely impaired. VERY frustrating and embarassing in business situations....BUT i rarely have a migraine and for that i am thankful!

Be careful, do your research before taking Topamax. I took Topamax for 5 weeks for severe migraines. The first 2 weeks were fine, a slight decrease in my appetite. The third week, my memory suddenly got really bad, really scary. By the 4th week, my memory was non-existant and I felt slightly depressed. My Dr. assured me these side effects would soon pass. By the 5th week of Topamax, I plunged into a horrendous, suicidal depression. I cried all the time, I woke at 4 am with irregular heart beats. I have never been so uncomfortable in my own skin. I became a stranger to myself.

I much prefer my migraines over the side effects I suffered from Topamax.

Topamax is w/out a doubt the WORST drug I've ever been on. It made me brain dead. I couldn't find a job on Topamax. I would be in interviews and would space out and couldnt' answer questions. People looked at me like I was crazy. I felt like I had Alzheimer's at 38, especially when my neuro prescribed Exelon, the drug for Alzheimer's to counteract the cognitive side effects. As I said, couldn't find a job, had no insurance. My topa-lovin' neuro was giving it to me and getting me on the patient=ass program through Johnson/Johnson, the maker's of TM. She didn't want to help me get on another anticonvulsant PA program. Finally, I had to charge another med on my credit card because I couldn't take this toxic gunk in my body anymore. The decay of my mind has escalated to the point that I don't know if I will ever be back to myself again. BEWARE of this drug. I haven't even covered the eye pain, insomnia, headaches, leg cramps (i can go on).

My name is Cricket I left the comment below about Topamax, I would like to ask for your prayers for my hair to grow back and my memory to get better.Thank You so very much.I hope and pray you will research Topamax before you take it, because there are serious side effects. The side effects may not be noticed at first but over time you will,and then its to late.Goodluck!

I have been taking Topamaz spinkles (30mg a day) for 3 months. I can't tolerate higher doasages. Migranes have lessened in intensity, although I still have a least 2 a week. I have toruble with my memory and hair loss. I have had a slight wt loss. I have no sex drive. Food does not interest me.
I started taking topamax because migranes were interferring with school. Catch 22 - I failed last semister due poor recall. I am taking myself off topamax. I may have migranes, but at least I will enjoy sex.

I was given Topamax about 2yrs ago because I have epilepsy. It seemed to be working pretty well at first, all I had noticed was that I lost about 10 to 15lbs and that the medication seemed to be controlling my siezures fairly well-and who was going to complain about that right? As time went on both my family and I began to notice that my weight wasn't the only thing I seemed to be losing. I'm only 20 and I'm losing both my memory and my hair. At first I just seemed a bit more flighty than usual, and I was finding my hair everywhere-but at this point its really just impossible to deny the difference in me or the amount of my hair thats consistently in my hands, sink or tub. I don't care how thin I am, it's not going to be worth anything if I end up without any hair.

I started topamax on 6/28/06, building from 25mg's to 100mg's for simple partial seizures and migraines. I'll have to say it has helped tremendously. I woke up every single day with a headache! Not anymore. All I have now, is a mild sinus headache here and there. I will say on the negative side, I have absolutely no appetite (although i stand to lose 30 lbs), numbness, tingling, memory dullness, bowel changes(yuck with bowel cramping) and my menstral flow is well off track! Has anyone else had any of these problems too? Oh and I definitely have shortness of breath. And I'm making sure to drink plenty of H2O!!!PLEASE RESPONDE!!!

I have a prescription for topamax now for 3 weeks and I have been scared to death to start it just because of the side effects of nurontin. Those were nothing compared to what I have been reading for topamax!! I have badly damaged nerves, plus I take many other meds such as oxycontin, norco, soma, baclofen, phernergan, levid and xanax. I am waiting on my nuro doc to tell me if taking topamax is ok. My memory is my life....I have a great ability to multitask about 12 things at once and do them all at 100% and have a memory like an elephant...I dont want to lose that and from what I have read, topamax will do it to me. I can handle the nausea and anxiety because I have meds for that. I wear strong glasses already because of my bad eyesight...I am afraid of making it worse. Please give me your opinions. I have a home to take care of and a husband and 2 young daughters...my husband does so much for me and the thought of this drug making me hate him or treat him bad is more than I can handle. He does it all for me, get me out of bed, take me to the bathroom, get me dressed sometimes..I am scared. Someone please give me some advice.

Tinay from Houston

I started topamax on Friday December 30, 2005. I am on 25mg in the AM and 25mg in the PM. I have had one migraine a day, which might sound like it is not an improvement, but that is coming off a 2 week straight one. I do not seem to be having the "typical" side effects, but I CANT SLEEP!! I finally fall asleep about 3am and wake at 6am, thats it. I am kind of tired during the day, but not as much as I should be. I have ringing in my ears and chills that started with the prolonged migraine and have continued, I am not sure if it is the topamax or not. I do not notice the memory or feeling "stupid" issues". I do feel "peaceful".

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've been on topamax for 3 years now i've had all the hell topa side effects i'm up to 400mg a day and xanax 3 times a day i still have sez 1 or 2 a month but it gave me back my life i can walk outside again without fear. i take other meds in my cocktail but the side effcts of topa went away or i learned to deal with them after about 3 mo i know sounds long but is worth it. i had some of wosrt to i could not talk most of time soda forget it now i love my dt coke again. i still zone and repeat myself sometime memory is still short (but i'm blond so its ok) but don't give up hope it gets better.

I have been on Topamax for a few months now. I can't remember exactly how long because, to be quite honest, I have the memory of a gnat since starting this medication. My neurologist prescribed this medication for me after I was finally put on medication for grand mals seizures. I had been having them sporadically since 1999. I also suffer from migraines and he said it would help with that, my weight and my depression. It sounded like a wonder drug until my dosage kept increasing up to the 300 mgs. he needed me to reach.

I became a lethargic, depressed and very detached, angry lump to describe myself best. I have had a difficult time doing housework and everyday activities like playing with my children. My depression was first improving but it took a turn for the worse and I have found myself feeling suicidal at times. I have suffered breast pain so severe I had to have a breast ultrasound done. Nobody ever told me that breast pain could be a side effect in women. My menstrual cycle has also been unpredictable as well since starting this medicine. I called my neurologist's office in inquire about this and they were unaware about this side effect.

My mental clarity is totally gone. My memory is so bad I have missed doctor's appointments for myself and my children. I have to write things down everywhere and have my kids remind me of things instead of the other way around. I find myself trying to form a sentence at times and it comes out like gibberish.

I stay on the medicine because my five kids were witnesses to my last seizure and it scared my oldest three so much they remember it as if it were yesterday. I made them a promise it would never happen again. The last medicine I tried left me with bruises all over my body and unable to get out of bed. If left with having to choose between the two medicines I have to pick Topamax. I can't be a guinea pig anymore. My kids need me to keep my promise and I have vowed to do so. If you could see what I deal with every night when I put my daughter to bed you would understand. She says she is afraid to leave me to go to asleep because she is afraid I will have another seizure. Being on this medicine is the reassurance I offer her to prove that everything will be okay.

I spent years on SSRI's trying to fight anxiety and depression and I suffered horrible side effects so I am at the point that I am willing to settle. Currently my dosage has been cut down to 250 mg. and my rage is pretty much gone. I am still depressed and somewhat lethargic. The good news is that I did lose 30 lbs. since starting Topamax. Unfortunately, Topamax doesn't do much for me in the way of migraine relief. Since my seizures are sporadic I honestly don't know if it is even controlling those either. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

My heart goes out to all of you taking this medication. I know how you feel right now. If you are lucky enough to get off of it and are able to find something else less stressful on your body then that is great. If you are in my situation and you feel as if this is as good as it gets, well, at least you know you are not alone. I know now that there are alot of us out there. I am not sure how much consolation that really is but it is something I suppose.

I've been on this for 2 days. My doctor said the trick to Topamax was gradual increase in dosage. My doctor is rarely wrong and is quite sensible with things. Not that he's perfect or anything. I have a good feeling about this medicine because I know a few people that have been on it including my mother. Perhaps some of you started on it too high? I already have some of these problems naturally... My memory is horrible, I doubt it coudl be made any worse by this drug. Anyway, I've also ready good things about Topamax. Different meds affect different people... differently. So hopefully it will work for me. I was put on it for depression, self injury, help with appetite suppressing to aid in my diet, and correcting my sleeping patterns. The research I've done said that this drug helps that. If it messes me up too bad, then I'll try something else. Until then, I'm staying optimistic. :)

I have been having temporal lobe partial complex seizures since I was 5. Was put on Topamax as solo therapy for use also for migraines in 1999. Controlled both well. Gradually I developed severe depression. It was so subtle I was not aware it was my medicine. I did tell my neuro. and he added different antidepressents to the regime to no avail. My life continued to deteriorate. I also had the tingling fingers, toes, twitches on my face, confusion, could not remember anything. I finally became suicidal and a regular MD decided told me to switch neuro and get off the meds in 2005. 1 month after coming off the med I was my old self again. My memory everything came back. I felt like i had lost all those years.

minor tingling in feet, appetite suppression (which for me is good since I'm about 100lbs overweight as it is and gained weight on Seroquel), minor boughts of memory confusion/loss), TERRIBLE tastes with carbonated beverages (which again, for me, is a GREAT thing)..

I've been on it since mid December. Up to 150mg. Have had minor hand and feet tingling. I do have the problem with memory and trying to get the right words out. Was up to 100 mg and then increased to 150 mg, since then having terrible stomach pain almost daily. My Dr. cut me back to 100 mg to see if it would take the stomach problems away. I hope so, since being on it my migraines have been almost eliminated and I have lost 36 lbs.