Topamax and migraines

I am decreasing my topamax meds now after taking it for 6 horrible months..
topamax? rather call it dopamax..
I took 100 mg daily
now i'm building of the topamax I can allready feel the difference..
I hope I become the joyful smart person again I once was before..
I lost weight during this six months, wonder if i'll gain it back.. but don't care. I must get rid of this drug.. I'm so sick and tired of the side effects!!
For me it wasn't a good solution for my migraines
They didn't stop.. the first month i took topamax, my god i could bounce my head against the wall due to the outstanding headaches i got; even worse then my normal migraine seizures..
i'm not gonna look for a replacer for topamax, i'll just take my migraine as i did my whole 22 years long.. That's life and I want MY life back
good luck to you all!!

I'm a 41 year old female in very good health- other than the obvious migraine problem that I have. I have been on topamax for 3 months and am now tapering off of it. I have had all of the side effects that others have experienced to the point that I can't continue taking the medication. My memory is horrible. I can't remember simple things, which is really causing problems at work. My mood is dull and lifeless, and all I want to do is, well, nothing. I'm not a big soda fan anyway, but now it tastes really awful. I noticed that almost immediately. And once in awhile I crave a coke, but can't drink one because it is nasty!!!
I have lost about five pounds, but I don't think I will lose any more since my appetite has returned. That's o.k., because that wasn't my goal anyway. The tingling in the hands, feet and face happens almost daily and feels like little tiny needles being stuck in me. It's actually quite painful sometimes. And, I have noticed blurriness in one of my eyes. This drug has not helped my migraines. We're trying something else. But either way, I would get off of this drug. It's not worth it to me. If you are considering it, I would think twice.

I finally stopped taking Topamax because of the side effects. But the worst was getting kidney stones from it. I only drink water and drink a lot, but I still got stones. The first time I was in so much pain that I could barely stand it. The second time, I had the pain and with it a kidney stone that was too big to pass. I could barely urinate. Had to have emergency lithotripsy to remove it. The doctor did a CT scan recently and it showed I still have many stones in both kidneys. I can't take another one of these attacks because they are so painful. My neurologist gave me a natural remedy for migraines called Petadolex. This stuff works! It has made my headaches much less severe when I have them which is not very often and my daily low level headaches are gone. This stuff is made in Germany and can be found in most health food stores and pharmacies. It also cost a lot less than Topamax.

When the generic Topamax (topiramate) came out, my insurance company wouldn't cover the real Topamax and it was costing me $400 a month if I wanted it over the generic. The generic was the worst drug I have ever taken. It is NOT the same as Topamax. I got so ill off of it that I had to get back on Topamax. I am finally off of Topamax completely after decreasing the dosage over many weeks. I was on 200 mg a day. I had all the side effects too like tingling hands, cognitive impairment and depression along with some others. This drug is poison and I am so angry the manufacturer didn't state all the possible side effects when they knew damn well it had them. There is a class action lawsuit against this manufacturer for not disclosing some of the horrible side effects.

I've been on Topamax for about a month now for daily headaches/migraines with 50mg/day and will be moving up to 100mg/day in the next few weeks. So far I have noticed the tingly hands and the nausea but the worst is the dry lips and how every beverage tastes either flat or odd. The only thing that tastes good is water and I can't get enough of it because I am always thirsty. My urine has turned a bright yellow, which I noticed no one else has reported so I'm a little concerned about that. However the headaches and migraines due seem to be improving so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

I have been on 50mg of Topamax for the 2nd time for about 8 months. This time not near as much weight loss but so many more side effects. I have had 3 kidney infections and just found out I have an ovarian cyst which is now being linked to this medication. It keeps the migraines away but I am not sure if the other pain is worth it, has anyone had any luck with other migraine medications? This had been the best for keeping them away but now I am at a loss as to what to do. A little toe and finger tingling I could handle....cyst that make me double over in pain, NOT SO MUCH!

Great drug until my hair started to fall out! Lost 55 lbs and pretty much had no migraines which have been with me since I was 12...I am 48. If it was not for the loss of my hair, I would still be on it.DEALBREAKER! I have been off for about 3 weeks, but the hair is still falling...I hope it stops or I will be bald by Xmas.

I have been on topamax for about 7 months now for migraines && im about to get off of it. Im 18 years old and "trying" to do college but ive had so many side-effects its crazy. I cant go to the bathroom w/out taking laxatives cuz i just cant go ne more i literally have to take something everyday or i will be stopped up for a week or more. Ive been depressed and my anxiety has gotten worse.I take 150 and they want to put me up to 175 but i refuse because ive heard of people losing their hair taking it especially when they have a b12 deficiccency...which i have. I have horrible mood swings i can be happy one minute then sad or mad the next and i never used to be like this. Ive now started getting my migraines back so im stumped on what to do. I cant word things right....i was trying to say i didn't like something and instead it came up "im not to high"... yea so its deff a crazy drug but it can work for others and not. Not for me!

i am getting back on topamax for the second time....the first time i lost a tremendous amount of weight. i am on it for migraines...working my way up to 200mg from 50mg. I am experiencing that memory lapse (having something i want to say on the tip of the tongue) all soda taste flat. Nausea and menstrual cycle is changing up. Been on meds 6 days so far lost 2-3 pounds. I have seen a lot of people say they have not lost weight the second time around. Is there anyone who has? I have definitely seen a change in my appetite at week one. I had the tingling in toes and feet the first time around but nothing yet. first time around it lifted my mood and I had tons of energy. It helped with my migraines that i had everyday for a year. Lost my insurance when I lost my job so now I have been able to start up again.

I took Topamax 50 mg for about 2 months and experienced a change in menstrual bleeding. I wonder if Topamax effects progesterone levels. I had light spotting 5 days before period due for both months. This medication also made me very depressed and angry. I quit taking it about 5 days ago and felt the depression lift on the 2nd day after stopping the medication. This was my 2nd round for Topamax. My first time taking it I worked up to 100mg and lost 15 lbs in just a few weeks. I had no appetite. I also go very sick with a respiratory infection and dry coughing. I had menstrual problems with the first round too but didn't figure out if may be the Topamax until my 2nd round. It did help my migraines significantly. But I'm uncertain how if potentially messes up menstrual cycle. The warnings for the medication says "menstrual problems" but doesn't go into detail. Anyone else have menstrual problems.

I was put on Topamax for extreme migraines about 6 months ago... Started up slowly with 25mgs to 50mgs to 75mgs daily and now I am taking 100mgs (50 in the morning and 50 at night). Topamax did the job in taking my everyday headaches away but I still continue to get the very painful and extreme migraines that last 304 days.

I did have extreme tingling in the hands and feet for the first month but that soon tapered off. As far as my appetite - I never really lost that and my weight has stayed the same.

After reading all of your posts I can take a deep breath and believe that I am NOT crazy. I have begun to think so because of Topamax. I am constantly anxious (and being an over anxious person to begin with this is not good), my mood swings are horrible - I am a total bitch to my boyfriend, and my mind just does not seem as clear as it once was - struggling to come up with the simplest of words....

I feel like Topamax has made me very paranoid and has set me into a depressed state. It is just not worth it. There are many OTHER drugs out there that can deal with migraines - and trust me I know they are painful, but I am much more willing to get myself back than continue to deal with these side effects for the sake of getting rid of a migraine (which isn’t always the case for me).

After switching doctors (from the one who had put me on this drug to begin with) - she is helping me wean off Topamax and wants me to explore other options.

Has anyone experienced weaning off this drug before - how are the side effects? And will I ever be myself again?

I stared Topamax about a month ago and at first I was completely out of it. I couldn't remember anything to save my life, my speech was slurred and my brain was just in a fog...and I'm only 25. After about 2wks that eventually went away, however, I still cannot drink carbonated drinks, that taste flat and have a tangy taste to them as well, its gross. The one side effect that really bothers me about this medication as well is that I'm always nauseous. I haven't weighed myself lately but I definitely have lost weight because I never want to eat anything. The nausea seems to be more of an issue than the migraines. I was getting them about 3-4 times a week, now I get them about 1-2 times a week. By week 4 on the medication I started to break out on my face/chest/back really bad too, and I haven''t had acne since I was a teenager. The other odd thing is I feel like I've constantly had my period while on this medication too. Has anyone had any of these side effects as well? It's only been a month so I figure I will try a little bit longer and see if it helps or if I have to go up a little bit more in dosage if it helps but at this rate I'm thinking I may just need to try a different medication. The other bad thing is that I have become extremely agitated lately, which I'm sure my poor boyfriend can agree with because he gets the worst of it. I feel like my personality definitely has changed on this med...

I began getting debilitating headaches 3 years ago. They were everyday and not the classic headache (no visual, nausea etc). It felt like a jackhammer to the back of my head every single day. My neurologist told me they were migraines. I was skeptical as every other migraine med had not worked. I began on Topamax at 25 mg twice daily. I started at this dose for a month. The body really needs to adjust SLOWLY to this med. My side effects were pins and needles in the hands and feet, strange taste in foods, flat tasting sodas, drastic cut in appetite. My doctor assured me these would go away. Headaches did not start to improve until the second month when I went up to 50mg twice daily. By the third month I was up to 100mg twice daily and I feel like I have my life back. I still will have occasional migraine breakthroughs, but nothing like the misery I had before. Within 5 months or so, food began to taste normal again and the pins and needles stopped. I dropped 30 pounds total on Topamax. It has been a life saver for me!! My advice for anyone thinking about this drug is to ease your way up slowly until your body adjusts. One week on a dose is not enough time.

I conducted a search for "long term effects of Topamax" and discovered this site, and am so glad to have done so. I have been on Topamax for around 2 years now, at the 200mg level, for chronic, sustained migraines. I have figured out, through tracking, that I will get a migraine lasting 3-4 days during ovulation and again on my period. The Topamax has helped considerably with the headaches, although I do still get at least one per month. It is generally not of the same duration, though, and is fairly easily controlled with pain meds.

I've been a bit worried, though, about continuing the drug for life, as it seems I need to do to control these headaches--thus the search. I, too, have experienced the "mental fog," and general decreased cognitive abilities. I am an extremely intelligent person, a writer, a former English teacher. Why am I unable to pluck words from my brain when I need them?

I've also experienced the tingling and numbness in various extremities, sensitivity to cold, blurred vision, fatigue, and loss of taste sensation. I've also become a royal bitch to my husband and children--although I had no idea that this could be related to this medication. I feel relieved to know this now...to know that I can change and be the person I once was. I don't like myself very much right now, but it's like trying to stop a runaway train. I can no sooner prevent or alter my knee-jerk reaction to things than I can stop that train.

I've been off of the Topamax for approximately two weeks now, and have already gained 5 pounds, although I work out 2-3 hours daily and play competitive volleyball 2-3 times per week for several additional hours. I had initially lost around 18 pounds and kept it off, even when my appetite returned. I'm uncertain, though, why I'm gaining the weight back so rapidly. I'm eating fewer than 1500 calories/day and exercising like crazy. It doesn't make sense.

I don't care about the weight, though. My chief concern is the return of my cognitive function. Has anyone experienced a return to their prior cognitive state after getting off of this medication?

I was on 100mgs of Topamax a few years ago for migraines and lost about 15 pounds. It worked okay for the migraines, but I backed off on the dosage because of the side effects. But recently, the headaches returned so I increased back to my full dosage.

So now I feel exhausted all the time. I run a lot and have trouble getting energy to exercise. This morning at a meeting it took me about 30 seconds to remember my secretary's name. I feel like I have to push through this mental wall to concentrate, and on my job I need to concentrate. My mouth feels dry all the time. Some days good food just tastes like crap.

Now I'm remembering why I quit taking this drug in the first place. I don't have seizures, which is why they made it. I have migraines. There are other medications to fight headaches, and this drug just isn't worth the side effects.

I was placed on Topamax, off label, for suspected bipolar illness (now disproven). My cognition, word finding abilities, memory has been so adversely affected that I am now on disability. I had 5 kidney stones due to the development of Renal Tubular Acidosis, nearing renal failure (a side effect doctors don't warn patients about). This in turn led to osteomalacia, softening of the bones, only discovered after I broke all three major bones in my leg and snapped off my foot stepping off the lowest seat of a bleecher. I've suffered tingling in arms, hands, legs & feet (nerve damage), lesions in the brain, muscle spasms, heat & cold intolerance, insomnia etc... Although I lost weight, I gained it back (then some) as soon as I reduced the dosage of 800 mgs. Upon stopping the drug to save my kidneys, thus my life, my kidney function returned to almost normal within a few months, although there is residual damage. All other side affects remain two years later. Losing weight is not worth dying! Beware of this drug being used off label! I would never trust this drug!

Ive been on Topamax since for 3 months for migraines and have lost 30 pounds, I simply am not hungry. At this point its not worrisome as I did have a little extra weight to lose, but I cant keep it up forever. My doctor lowered my dose from 100 Mg, to 75 mg, which I split and take 50 mg in the morning and 25 in the evening, it has not made a difference. I had a tremor prior to Topamax, which my neurologist thought would be less with the Topamax but in fact it was increased, so I had to start another drug, Mysoline to counteract the tremor. Ive been on that for about a month and it seems to be helping some, Im at least back to baseline. I recently learned that my potassium level has decreased which is causing muscle cramps and can cause many other more life threatening problems, so please watch out for that! It is a listed, albeit less common side effect of Topamax. (0.4%). You Dr. should have checked basic metabolic panel (BMP) and should check it regularly. Oh, and IM MIGRAINE FREE!

Those of you taking Topamax, you may want to talk to your doctors about trying Zonegran. I took Topamax for "dizzy migraines" and although it worked I had the same side effects you are all mentioning. Although the Zonegran did make me sleepy, if I took it at night I was at least able to function the next day plus no tingling hands or feet which on Topamax was a nightmare. If you decide to stay on Topamax know that Vitamin C helps with the tingling hands and feet very much (my neurologist told me this) and it truly works!

Last night I took my first dose of Topamax: 25mg for migraines. I didn't expect to feel any side effects with such a low dose but I feel very tired but restless at the same time. I feel like I should law down and sleep but I can't stop myself from shaking my legs or twinkling my toes. It's the only thing I've noticed so far. In six day I up my dose to 50mg a day. Wish me luck.

My experience was a seven day short-lived trip through hell on Topamax.

I began experiencing a constant headache for several months in February 2009 (no prior history of headaches). I am healthy 32 y/o male. After multiple MRI's and CT scans came back negative I had a very severe headache that sent me to the ER. The ER helped arrange for me to see a Neurologist, who after patient listening to my laundry list of symptoms concluded I was having migraines (even though I had no sensitivity to light, sound, or nausea). I had been doing a decent amount of research on headaches and didn’t agree that they were migraines but decided, he’s the neurologist, I should trust him. Let me also say at this point, I am not a person looking for a pill to cure my problems, but I was getting desperate as my headaches were ruining my life. I was prescribed Topamax.

I was suppose to start with three days at 25mg, then go to three days at 50mg, and finally up to 100mg per day. The first three days were uneventful when I hit 50mg and then 75mg…I was out of my mind. I read these messages and see people at 400mg with no problems…it makes me cringe to think of dosing that high. I stopped at 75mg…here were my side-effects. Tingling in my face, lips, hands, arms, and fingertips, chest pains (I do have GERD and it jacked up my GERD bad!!!), pain in the back of head, taste confusion (soda tasting flat), and pressure in my eyes and temples…But those are NOTHING compared to the complete feeling of anxiety that over took my body. I had a mild nervous breakdown at work, became paranoid to the point where I was afraid to do routine tasks. And the MUSCLE SPASMS…those are the worst part. I have muscle spasms all over my body, just random fluttering of muscles in my chest, arms, back, neck, head, and face! I became suicidal and had the worst night terrors ever, of things, that I wasn’t even afraid of.

I have been off Topamax cold turkey for four days now and the anxiety has significantly subsided. I have worked through a lot of the anxiety with my wife and I now believe that stress is the cause of my headaches, not migraines like I tried to tell the doctor…but the muscle spasms have not stopped (they have decreased) yet…but I can’t wait for the Topamax to leave my body.

I used to think these messages boards were part of the problem, but they are very helpful. Do your research before you put anything into your body…trust yourself and if you disagree with your doctor, get a second opinion. This has been a life changing event for me.

Health and Happiness to all

I have been taking Topamax for almost five years. I am currently taking 200mg in the morning and 250mg at night. The tingling in my feet and hands come and go. The weight loss has tapered off. My neuro and I very slowly worked up to this level but it has finally put a halt to my migraines. I may have one once or twice a year. He says this is the highest we could ever go so thank goodness the headaches stopped. The past year I have begun to be very forgetful, Over the past three months it has started to affect me on a daily basis. Over the last week, I haven't been feeling like myself and have started to feel emotionally numb. Meeting with my neuro today, Not sure if its the meds or not causing me to feel numb or just life's' stress.

This is not a medication that should be given to asthmatics. My son was started on this medicine for frequent migraines, >2 per week. He has asthma and is very small for his age 100lbs. He was taking the smallest dose of 25mg per day. He only took the pill twice and was already having shortness of breath and beginnings of sinus infection and upper respiratory issues. I really don't think this medicine should be prescribed to anyone with asthma.

I was taking Topamax for about 4 years for chronic/daily migraines. It helped tremendously after I had taken almost everything else with no success. Then I had an episode where I ended up with 5 kidney stones. They passed but my neurologist wanted me off the Topamax in case that was the cause of them. I went off and my headaches came back with a vengeance. I had them daily until I begged my primary care doctor to put me back on Topamax. I honestly would rather have stones than daily headaches. I am a mother to four and have a husband and a job. I can't live with daily migraines. After being back on it for about two weeks the headaches have disappeared. I take 200 mg twice a day. I do have memory loss and loss of words big time. It is VERY frustrating. I feel stupid. But I can live with that. I have tingling cheeks , lips and hands. I'm sensitive to sun and have to wear my sunglasses a lot more now. I now talk in my sleep- a little nervous about that :) I lost weight last time around but haven't yet this time. I am very happy, not sure if that is the RX or just me reacting to not having headaches. I guess you have to weight the side effects with the benefits. The choice is ultimately up to you. Good luck everyone!

I am a 38 year old male suffering from a combination of occipital neuralgia and migraines. For 20 years, until a year ago, i would endure pain that was only manageable with narcotic pain relievers (imagine all the gamut of such kind). I would have neck and head aches typically 3-4 times a week, accompanied by vomiting, dizziness which would put me to bed for the entire day. Work and family suffered in magnitude comparable to my own suffering. So then I finally saw my GP for that. The pain meds went up the roof, imitrex, maxalt was added to the equation with only marginal side effect. I saw a neurologist. He had me do an MRI and put me on Topamax starting from 25 mg, which I upped to 200 mg within 6 weeks. Past the initial side effects, the headaches subsided, the frequency reduced and i was able to enjoy weeks at a time with no episodes. Stayed at 200 mg for 5 months. In the meantime, the MRI came back positive for some brain inflammation. False positive they said, does not fit the clinical picture. Second MRI, same positive, this time proceeded with LP, which was negative. Third, MRI still positive; making the neurologist uncomfortable. While dealing with MRI results, the topomax had yielded positive results as far as pain management was concerned. But little by little I noticed that I was becoming more irritable, more impatient and more forgetful. Someone would have to remind me of something several times before it would even register in my mind. I empathize will all the posts that mention feeling like having Alzheimer's. I didn't care in the meantime. As long as I didn't have to deal with the pain it was ok with me. But the situation became worst and worst. I couldn't concentrate on anything, the mere task of remembering to do something was insurmountable. I would wake in the middle of the night and find myself staring at the bathroom mirror for no reason. I would have terrible panic attacks which i control with valium. But yet i continued on with topamax convincing myself and being convinced by other people around me that i just had a "personality disorder". Finally, work begun to suffer. I was loosing track of meetings, deadlines and when this happens someone knocks on your door (boss) telling you that something just doesn't click, something just doesn't feel like a personality quirk. Other people playing doctor would slap on my face that i just had ADD, that I should take something for that and get on with my life. But something was wrong. Pain or dizziness or lack of concentration etc are all electrochemical processes in your brain. It turns out that topamax was helping my headaches but it was not slowly deteriorating other cognitive abilities. Finally, the neurologist decided I should wean of the topamax, stepping down from 200 - 150 and then we go to 100 and so on. I dread the re-occurrence of the headaches. I am waiting for them to happen again at some point as I drop the dosage. But in the end of the day, I'd rather be in pain and in control of my life rather pain free and absent minded.

Hello to All
I'm 33 yr old female who began taking Topamax 2 years ago, after diagnose with Pseudotumor Cerebri,(elevated intracranial pressure),doctors still don't know why i have PTC, it is common overweight women, certain medications, secondary to disease, which all did not connect with me as I was not overweight, have never taken any medication, other than OTC allergy or pain relievers, and all secondary diseases I was tested, and nothing, with a history of migraines headaches, that suddenly became unstable, with vision disturbance I was put on diamax, it lowers elevated intracranial pressure, finally help for this horrible headaches, , I had a side effect it elevated my glucose levels to dangerous levels, due to elevated intracranial pressure I was hospitalize, undergoing several lumbar punctures and eye surgery for decompression of my optic nerve, doctors still unsure of my diagnosis, but telling me I must have surgery for a spinal fluid shunt, I was terrified, I decided to try and consulted with another neuro ophthalmology who had a totally different opinion, I switch doctors and this is when I was prescribe TOPAMAX 25MG to start, now I'm taking 250mg daily, at first the fact that I was going to be OK, that I can continue my life without shunt, no more lumbar punctures, the fact I was not loosing my eye sight, I can go running, rock climbing, after been told I couldn't, I was convinced TOPAMAX was a miracle. The 1st side effects constipation; decreased sweating, drowsiness, dry mouth, loss of appetite I lost about 20 pounds, family friends were really concern, after a while I gain it back, numbness, tingling, I was ok with it, because I no longer had debilitating headaches, had perfect vision, surgery was out the question. and I was stable, but then I suddenly experience seizure, 3 different occasion, no explanation, severe joint leg pain, trouble with speech, bruising, light sensitivity, severe acne, irregular menstrual cycle, vaginal issues, anxiety, heart palpitations, and the worst one yet, the reason I began to search on line mood swings, I'm in the medical field and the people that I work with tells me I'm just getting older, depression, 1st sings of menopause, I'm very active healthy women, with normal daily stress 2 children and 16 years marriage, I have seen my family doctor, had blood work done, and all normal. I have told my neuro about my experiences, and he says is not topamax, my ob says take birth controls it might help, im just lost any one suggestions?

Hey everyone
I am a migraine patient myself
I'm 21 years young and been having migraines since my 12 years.

i've started taking topamax 3 weeks ago..
first two weeks 25 / morning
25 / evening

so ok my headaches got worse

now i'm taking 50mg / morning
50mg / evening

so that's 100 mg a day

side effects: funny feeling in my sool on my feet
slow reaction, real bad headaches,
i have an implanon and haven't had my period for 2 months now i've suddenly had my period for 2 days..ok it wasn't much but it was there, never have acne now i have 3 zips on my face, always black spots in my view, coughing for 3 weeks, lose weight more easley (i'm always on a diet) , this weekend someone asked me if i lost an huge amount of weight (which isn't maybe 2 or 3 kg ) my appetite is also less, i can eat if i want to though.. i can choose it's up to me :-) hmm let's see what else is there.. i'm a telephone operator so the word loss isn't a good thing for me either i'm gonna see how far that goes..

so i've been on topamax 50 a day for 20 weeks
i'm taking 100 mg a day for over a week now
within a week i'm seeing my doctor again
if my migraines aren't better on this dose my doctor is going to sent me to a specialist..
whatever doctor that's going to be ? :-s

I'm 38 years old and I started Topamax in July of 2008 for severe migraines. I've had an average of 12-15 migraines per month since my early 20's and nothing was working. While initially adjusting to Topamax I had the tingling in my hands and feet during the first month but then it went away. My neurologist increased the dose very slowly from 50mg to 100mg to 150 mg. The migraines have decreased in response to each dose increase. At 100 mg the migraines reduced to 10 per month and at 150mg they reduced to 6 per month. My dose is now being raised to 200 mg which the Dr. says is the maximum recommended for treating migraines. The worst side effects I've experienced are extremely dry mouth (from 150 mg+) and slight hair loss. My starting weight was 138 and I lost 11 pounds very gradually before my weight stabilized at 127. I haven't noticed any problems with food or drinks tasting different. For some reason, I always have insomnia for the first week after a dose increase but then it goes away. I've only had mild concentration problems but nothing notable or problematic. So far, the medication has been remarkable and I can't believe what it's like to live life without so much migraine pain! I hope other people can have the same benefits from this medication.

I have been on 100 mg topamax for a few months now, and i was actually having people try my drinks bc i thought they was flat, and i would feel my fingers and my toes go numb and tingle. I honestly never thought for two seconds it was my medication. The only side effects i was warned about was weight loss (which hasn't occurred with me) and that i would be very thirsty, which i am. But i have NIGHTMARES about things im not even afraid of, and i have trouble spelling words i didn't before, and sometimes i can't even remember what i wore last week to school. Im starting to rethink this whole topamax thing, does anyone know any other prescriptions that will help headaches without the crazy effects?

I started Topamax 3 weeks ago and gradually worked up to a dose of 25 mg in the AM and 50mg at bedtime. After one week at this dose I have to start decreasing the dose again due to undesirable side effects. I expected the tiredness, stomach pains (which subsided eventually), diarrhea, numbness in hands & fits( the doctor said that if this happened I should eat a banana for the potassium)...but I wasn't expecting the slowed physical response time and "diminished mental capacity" to be as extreme as they were. It's a good thing that I was on a leave of absence from work because I wouldn't have been safe to be at work or drive to work for that matter. It was quite disconcerting. It was so bad, I laughingly said that I should pin a note to my shirt that said "If I am lost, please return to......." ;-). I am now back to 50mg at bedtime and although am still tired through the day at least I'm not walking around in a drug induced fog. I would like to try this dose to see if it controls my migraines....the residual side effects may be worth it....we'll see??

I was on Topamax for migraine a few years ago and had to go off of it because my insurance changed. I was crushed!! I was on a lowww dose- only 25mg. morning and night. It helped soooo much- and really- the only side effect was some weight loss and the tingly fingers and maybe weird taste in foods.Also- and maybe it's because I;m relieved of constant headaches- I have MORE energy and even better breathing, seemingly!! ( just now had a problem spelling 'taste'- and have read where that is a side effect but think for me it's just being 51 and a tad flaky with menopause. :) ) I'm back on it now- 25 mg. morning and night- and am very happy. The several times a week migraines ( the real thing) are gone- as are the constant floaters I get in front of my vision, and the things like vertigo and photo-phobia that I have constantly even when I'm not in a full-blown migraine. I just don't get the fatigue, headaches, etc. other people do- in fact, almost nothing by way of side effects. That is no doubt due to the low dose and also because everyone's system is different. I am lucky to have found the one med which nails my migraines! I've read all the posts and am definitely upping my water intake, however- thanks for that head's-up! It never hurts! I would say that anyone with intractable migraine should at least try it- although at a low dose. My doc is very cautious and started at the lowest possible end luckily for me.If you're one of the fortunate people who toleates this med it definitely works beautifully to prevent the majority of migraines in chronic sufferers! It IS expensive, though-even in it's generic form- and I really hope to keep affording it!!
Blessings- A.

I had the most horrible experience with this medication. Part of it was due to my doctors poor care. On Monday I started at a new doctors office which is rather large. I gave him him my history with migraines and told him I was finally ready to start some sort of treatment. My previous doctor in the town had often recommended that I take something but I didn't want to take a daily medication. I am a fairly healthy 21 year old who gets between 5 to 10 migraines a month and many more headaches a month. I told him that my doctor and I had always concluded that my migraines were stress related. I told him that I have been experiencing a high degree of anxiety (I am a junior in college and it's the last week of class before exams.) He recommended Topamax and told me that it was an anti-seizure medication that was often used to treat migraines. He warned me that if I had any trouble with speech to let him know immediately but other than that he hasn't seen any other problems. He prescribed me 50mg twice a day,which he did not titrate as he should have. I took the first dose before bed Monday night and woke up so dizzy Tuesday morning I missed my first class. The dizziness passed and I just thought it was an adjustment period so I took my morning dose. I began to feel some tingling in my hands and feet and my reflexes were slowed (I felt like a drunk driver) I am a manager at a retail store and I forgot to do some of my most basic tasks. I took my evening dose and was described by fiancee as zombie. On Wednesday I woke up very emotional and cried a lot but didn't really think much of it. I took that mornings dose. By midday my anxiety and depression was so high I became suicidal. I had a panic attack while driving, i stopped off at my place of work because i couldn't drive anymore and my manager informed me that I was having a panic attack. I had never had one before. I have not been taking this medication for 48 hours but it has not left my system yet. I sought out counseling and am no longer depressed but I still have a great deal of anxiety and have been on the verge of two panic attacks today. I can write today, which I could not do yesterday. I do not recommend this medication to anything. Especially after what it did to me in just 3 days.

I am a 34 yr old woman who has suffered from migraines for 13 yrs and chronic head pain for most of my life. I have had sinus surgery, my vision checked, TMJ corrected and anything else I could think of to alleviate my headaches. I took various anti-depressants to treat for chronic pain. About 3 yrs ago I began taking Topamax after my grandmother & both my sisters went on it for migraines. We all have experienced success in treating the headaches and both sisters lost weight. Grandmother and I did not. We all still have migraines occasionally and my youngest sister cannot miss a dose w/out having a headache. My grandmother has had to discontinue Topamax because it was effecting her memory, speech, and concentration so badly. All of us experienced the "loss of words" problems at first, but learned to adapt and became used to it. But grandma is in her 70s and its not as easy for her. However, in the past month, I have been experiencing the same thing--memory loss, calling a place or object the wrong name, and poor concentration. I feel like I can't even read today. I was taking 150mg and thought I was pregnant so I started decreasing my dose down to 100mg to wean off. I'm not pregnant and I'm thinking of discontinuing the Topamax anyway. It's bad enough when I can't remember things at home, I can't work like this. I have always raved about how great Topamax is and that if it kept my head from hurting, I would take it forever. Now I feel like I'm in the early stages of dementia.

I am a 27 year old female and have suffered from migraines for 10 years. My neurologist prescribed 12.5 mg for the 1st week, 25 mg the 2nd week, 37.5 mg the 3rd week and 50 mg by the 4th week and then we will re-evaluate on the 6th week. I am on my 2nd day and have experienced a few side effects.....tingling in my arm and lips, frequent diarrhea, carbonated drinks taste flat, trouble typing/spelling and a burning sensation in my eyes. My arm also feels heavy and dead. I am willing to give topamax a try--I can't stand living with my migraines! I think the most bothersome side effect is the inability to type/spell correctly. Hopefully with time, these effects will subside. Wish me luck! (hope I spelled everything correctly!)

As mentioned in a previous post, I started Topamax the end of October. Since then, I have lost 25lbs, I am 5'2 & weigh 90lbs.

I have been taking 50mg's, but as of last week, I have cut back to 25mg's. It has been really stressful for me because I am scared about getting my migraines again & possibly going thru the HORRIBLE side effects I went thru when I got on the pill.

In the last 8 days, my anxiety level has been really high. I have been taking more (sometimes 2x a day) of my .5mg of Xanax. I have felt myself gasping for breath from time to time. I think that my headaches come from tension/stress, my jaw tenses up. The headaches feel like brain freezes. I am also able to verbalize my thoughts better, so I don't feel so stupid.

My goal is to be more clear-headed, gain 15/18 lbs & hopefully my complexion will clear up. I will probably stay on 25mg's 2 more weeks before getting off. I will let ya'll know how it goes.

I took 400 mg of Topamax for about 5 months for migraines. It did help some when seroquel and verapimil were added to it at the end. I had a severe psychotic reaction and was diagnosed as bipolar. The dr wanted to put me on a high dose and let me spend the rest of my life twiddling my thumbs rather than admit Topamax was the cause. These psychotic event have been documented since the 90's.

It took me 3 years to regain my typing ability. I still scramble some words 4 years later. I proof read, but I may have missed some errors in this post. Thanks you Topamax!!

I am a 42 year old woman. I started taking Topamax in March of 2008 for severe migraines. The migraines often caused vomiting and for my body to jerk similar to having seizure. I have had migraines for the last 15 years, but prior to starting Topamax I was having migraines almost every day (for about 6 months). My life had come to a stop. I had been through all of the neurological tests, and CT scans, etc. with no results. Topamax has nearly halted my migraines. I have a severe "head-ache" about every 6 weeks now that last 3 days. A huge improvement! However, my doctor had said that I should not be on Topamax long term so I have tried going off of it twice in the last year, each time on the 5th day to be hit with an all consuming migraine. I had come to this website to find out why I should not be on Topamax long-term to discover that many of the other health problems that I have been complaining about in the last year are probably a result of Topamax and the doctor did not ever suggest that was the case. I have TINGLING IN MY HANDS AND LIPS...the doctor thought this might be my thyroid, but that test was normal. I have had REDUCED VISION, the doctor said it is due to age and working on a computer all day. I have had JOINT PAIN which they are treating with an anti-inflammatory and suggested it’s probably the onset of arthritis. I have had WEIGHT LOSS, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, and the PAIN IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD. These are all things that I see others describe as symptoms of Topamax! Wow! I wish my doctor would have told me this so I didn't think there was something else wrong. I WILL NOT STOP TAKING TOPAMAX. Even if taking Topamax meant that my life would be 2 years shorter or something like that, there is no living in that kind of daily pain. But I am grateful to know that the symptoms are normal. Topamax has giving me back my life.

I am new to Topamax. Just started for severe/horrific migraine pain - I have been getting migraines that lasted 8 days long without relief for the past few years, popping imitrex like m & m's. Mine seem to be related to a drop in barometric pressure as well as to being perimenopausal. They were ruining my life. I am currently on the 25 mg in the am dose and 50 mg pm dose schedule to titrate up to 50 mg twice daily. So far I have had only 2 migraines in the past 30 days instead of 8-16!!! I am a much happier person- I can't even describe it. People at work even tell me I LOOK different! I do however, have some intermittent tingling/numbness in my fingers mostly, passes quickly, little back pain, and some little headaches that come and go. I can so deal with these. I have only had to take Tylenol or Motrin on three occasions in the past month. I used to take two imitrex and still had take 400mg of Motrin and 1000 mg of Tylenol just to numb my migraines. Can I tell you I used to be somewhat non-functional and still go to work everyday- I am a nurse!
So far Topamax has given me my life back because I seriously considered driving into a tree one day on my way to work before starting it. Wish me luck.

Ok, so here is a new one for you. I have had migraines for a very long time, since I was a teenager, and never really sought physician treatment because in our family a headache was "nothing to cry about". So, now that I am married with 4 kids and an advancing career, having migraines on a weekly basis isn't something I can live with anymore. So I went to my doctor. He said what about preventing them with Topamax. I know what Topamax is, I'm a nurse, I know what the potentials are, but I had not really heard of the side effects when using it in a perfectly healthy person. ANd I must say it has to be my own fault for saying "sure" and not investigating first. WARNING= Topamax is a drug for seizures, effecting the central nervous system, and will have effects on a healthy person's central nervous system. Now, not doing my research I will also not have known that you are supposed to be titrated very slowly up with increasing doses, starting at a suggested dose of 15-25 mg per day for the first week the 50 then to 100, etc. I was begun at 50 mg/day for a week then 100 mg a day thereon out. Please, if you experience the symptoms the pharmacy warns you about, but they are exaggerated, go back to your doctor!! Here are my symptoms by day
Days1-3- Normal effect- tingling hands/feet, taste loss of some drinks, foggy unable to think clearly
Day4-5- horrible head pain, back of my head, not like my migraine pain, stabbing and pins/needles in hands/feet, still can't taste, nausea, dizziness, confused (like I couldn't find my way to my doctor's office confused)
Day 6- And I am entirely embarrassed to say this one because I am a nurse, and I know what it implicates... Pseuedoseizure. I was in the doctors office, in the waiting room and I could not control my muscles. I knew it wasn't a seizure because I could hear some of what was going on around me, but something was not right. I couldn't move anything and I didn't remember everything. And all the above symptoms, along with. But, naturally normal CT...
Day 7- It happens again... And this time I have some right sided weakness and all the above, that's it, it has to be the Topamax, we are done. It's only been a week, so cold turkey.

That is my experience with Topamax, and unless I am actually seizing, it is a journey I will never take again, I have 4 little ones that depend on me too much. PLEASE research before you try whatever is handed to you!!

Been taking Topamax since August 2008 for migraines . in November 2008 my doctor upped the dose from 50 mg to 100 mg because I began having daily headaches , even though these weren't migraines . This headache has been CONSTANT for 3 months, right behind my eyes , is with me morning . noon and night along with blurry vision . I have been taking hydrocodone for the pain while I went on a round of doctors visits and tests ...blood work - normal , ct scans -normal . Interestingly , along the way , my OB found an ovarian tumor that was 12cm and made with thyroid tissue of all things so I had surgery to remove my ovary ...but still the headache remains and the awful eye pressure . Also , word recall and math skills have become laughable ...doctor kept saying .you are 43 . maybe you are just getting older . after reading these posts I say I believe that my eye pain and my headache and my sudden stupidness and maybe possibly even the tumor can be attributed to the Topamax ...tonight I start titrating down from 100 mg back to 75 then 50 then OFF because I am not brave enough to go cold turkey ..I am already not sleeping at all since I gave up the ambien last week ( I have decided less pills may equal more health ) but the topamax seems to make me anxious NOT sleepy like it does some people , so I will also start splitting the dose am and pm to see it that helps . I will write back in a week or so with an update . How simple it will be if 30 doctors visits ( at 20.00 each ) plus a cancer specialist for the tumor ..weeks in waiting rooms and hundreds of hours on the internet wondering what was wrong with me could all boil down to ....one little pill. For me , I will go back to working with my migraines if this is the case .......

I am 43 , I have been taking TOPAMAX for 3 yrs for migraines 50mg for 1 1/2yrs and then increased to 100mg. It helped for the first 2yrs but, not now... The side effect have took over my life!! All the routine S/E I have heard you all talk about plus, eye pain and more headaches!! Not migraines but, bad headaches! I thought I was having sinus pain...BUT, it never stopped and was daily for a yr. I could barely work! I am a R.N. and I have researched this drug and, talked to many different doctors...unless, it is for seizures I would NOT take it again!! If it seems to help your migraines, be sure you understand there is a trade off!...and it is NOT good in the long run! I felt like I was going crazy..and started feeling so "old"?
I went cold turkey 4 days ago...eye pain/daily headaches GONE!! I do have a nervous feeling, and do not feel hungry and ...I am sure withdrawal s/s.
I hope the "stupid" feeling will go away soon...feeling more energy already :)
I use to love this med...now I hope I do not have any long term memory effect ect... sorry if I misspelled any words ....the TOPAMAX you know!!LOL!!
Good Luck to you all!

I'm almost 21 years old. I have been taking 100 mg of Topamax before bed since I was 17 for migraines. I did not have the weight loss that a lot of you had. I did have the tingling in the hands and feet for about the first two years. I have also had a lot of memory loss and a change in personality. I have become depressed and aggressive. I have also had extremely realistic nightmares while on Topamax that I did not have before I was on the drug. However, I don't think that I could go off the drug because I ran out of it once, and I know that you aren't supposed to stop cold turkey, but I had terrible headaches and could not go to work. I ended up in the ER because I had such a bad headache.

We learned about this drug in my Educational Psychology class. If you start taking it when you are younger and stay on it for an extended period of time, it can prevent your brain from developing. This would explain the memory loss, at least for me and other people that started taking it when they were young, but the memory loss and confusion is worth it to be able to keep a job and get good grades in college.

Like most of you all I am on Topamax 100mg. I am a 27 year old female that has suffered from severe migraines for over 20 years that would last up to 2-3 days and completely debilitated me. I would bleed from my tear ducts from the extreme pressure and I would need to be in a quiet, cold, closed off room to be left alone until the migraine was gone to continue on with my life. It was ruining my life and taking over my day to day routine. I could never really commit to anything without the constant worry in the back of my mind about a possible migraine until I found Topamax. Now on Topamax I went from 4-5 migraines weekly to 1-2 monthly, it is truly amazing, however there is a catch. Although the medication is wonderful and I will never get off of it at the rate of success that I am at, I do have side effects. I have extreme tingling in my extremities, (hands, feet) along with my face. It feels like they are constantly asleep. I also have noticed the poor tasting carbonating drinks along with my taste buds changing with certain foods that I use to be so fond of. I also have a very smokey haze where it almost feels euphoric if I wake up in the middle of the night. I have horrible nightmares of people that I have not seen in or thought of in years, memory loss and spelling issues-all goes away after 3-4 months of uses. I had shortness of breath, however that subsides as well with the use of the medications along with several other side effects. I have lost over 30lbs that is along with diet, so I can't say it is all Topamax. I have noticed little nodules that have been showing up on my hands since I stared taking the medication that I am in ? about I have a call in to my neurologist to see if he has heard of any such thing. Other than that I love the medication, because if not having migraines is one of the side effects-lol I can handle the side effects. I hope that this will help anyone that might have anything similar to what I am going through. If you can shed some light on my nodule situation please let me know. Thanks

I was prescribed Topamax for prevention of migraines, since they are getting worse, and my usual meds didn't seem to be doing the trick.

I only took it for 9 days at 25mg dose (1X per day) and at day 8 I awoke with the most HORRIFIC back/side pain, I could hardly stand. It worked for my headaches, but now I still have back pain, and I have to call the doctor, as I am showing serious signs of KIDNEY DISTRESS.

To the best of my knowledge, I did NOT have any issues with my kidneys before taking this med, but I may now. I was told about many of the side effects, but NOT this one. I sure hope this drug hasn't pushed me into some kind of renal failure. I would rather deal with the migraines any day. Thanks, Topamax!

Started taking Topamax about a month ago for frequent migraines. I used to take Axert 2 to 4 times a week. If I did it at the beginning of a headache it worked very well, with little or no side affects- just got tired of having so many headaches. Started the Topamax and worked up to 100 mg per day (50 am 50 pm). Seems to control the headaches well, down to maybe one per week and I think less severity.

Side effects so far: 1. Perhaps some memory stuff as described by others (hard time spelling formerly familiar words etc... but doesn't seem real obvious to me (maybe to other!!!). 2. Diet Coke tastes terrible like everyone says!! This one hurts cause I love diet coke. The good news is that I don't notice the effect as much now a the first couple of weeks.
3. I have frequent (emphasis on frequent) diarrhea- like a couple times a day four to five days a week. This one doesn't seem much better. Now there has been some associated weight loss as reported but Im not sure that is due to reduced appetite or daily diarrhea or both. Either way I was glad to loose the ten pounds I needed to loose anyway, just wish I could do it without spending so much time in the bathroom.
Have not had any of the tingling in the hands or fingers that others have reported.

I am a school teacher and got hit in the head by a student and suffered a severe concussion. I was having head swelling when I read, listen to any rhythms or use the computer. I get severe headaches after doing these activities which are most of my job. I am on worker's comp at this time and find that the doctors I had were horrible. The first two months I was on pain killers every six hours and they didn't work. Then I thought finally I thought I would get some relief when I got a neurologist. He put me on Topamax 25 mg the first week and then after 50 mg. He gave me Treximet even though I am allergic to Alleve he refused after that to give me anything for the onset of my migraines. I got really aggressive on Topamax. I was spacey. He then doubled my dose to 100 mg. The Dr. just said I didn't want to go to school even though I was getting worse and worse and could hardly take care of myself. . I was still having head swelling and headaches when I read etc. but my memory was gone and I was ready to throw thing and hurt others. My aggression was worse than when I had several courses of steroids years earlier. There were many times that I couldn't talk in sentences. I would forget what I was doing and also get lost. I was like an Alzheimer's patient. I couldn't get to my thoughts no matter how hard I tried. I have just got off Topamax and can now speak in sentences and the aggression is gone but my memory is still not completely back. I couldn't do simple subtraction or addition. I was better at it in the second grade than on Topamax. I couldn't remember 3 words after about ten minutes only one word. I couldn't draw a simple geometrical figure. I had all the same problems but on Topamax the addition of horrible side effects. The only side effect I could have used and didn't get was weight loss. My parents actually had to come and take care of me because I couldn't fill out the paperwork and also I couldn't even talk and was having fits and tantrums like a child. Thank goodness I had a regular Dr. that knew what was wrong and sent me to get weaned off Topamax. At that time I was told it would take 3 weeks to wean me off and there was no way I could go to school until it was out of my system. I kept telling the neurologist my side effects and even wrote him a letter explaining but he didn't pay any attention and acted like I was making it all up. I asked for a change of worker's comp doctors. He didn't like that at all and now I have to go for psychiatric testing before I go to my new worker's comp neurologist. All I want is to go back to school and to be able to do my job. I would have never had the memory, cognitive, reasoning, or speaking ability to get back to school taking Topamax.

First I want to say, after reading several posts, that it seems a lot of you are taking Topamax without food, which may be causing your "spaciness." My doctor suggested always taking it with food, even though it says with or without food, and I only experienced spaciness the few times I took it at bedtime without food. Once I started taking it with breakfast and dinner, that never happened again.

I am a 48 year old woman, prescribed Topamax in September of 08 for migraine associated vertigo without headaches, with facial numbness. The first thing I noticed was I immediately had headaches, which to me indicated it was dehydrating me as that is the only time I get a "normal" headache. So I knew I had to drink a lot of water. Soon after starting Topamax I developed a dry cough that lasted the entire time I was on the med. I did not relate it to the drug at the time, however. It never even occurred to me. After about two months on the drug I started having trouble breathing with extreme dryness in my airways. I was prescribed an albuterol inhaler which did not help. I was then prescribed a corticosteroid inhaler which also did not help. I thought the trouble breathing was from taking Nadolol which I was prescribed for occasional heart fluttering - the neurologist said this was a normal side effect of Topamax. I stopped taking the Nadolol but the trouble breathing continued. I also had more migraines with vertigo and facial numbness than before I started taking the drug. I hoped it would eventually stop and the drug would kick in to help the vertigo, so I stayed on the drug. I had very minor tingling in my feet, but it was tolerable. I became very stressed out, had trouble sleeping, depression, my face started breaking out in November (and still is), I lost interest in everything that I normally enjoy - reading, photography, following politics in the news (sort of an obsession of mine). In December I was so depressed that for the first time in my 11 year career I started canceling appointments and eventually took three weeks off from work to "re-group." In January the neurologist decided that we would increase the dose from 100 mg to 150 mg for one more month, and if it did not get rid of my migraines with vertigo, we would discontinue the drug. The first day on the increased dose I had a killer headache, and I drank 150 ounces of water before it went away. That night I did not have to go to the bathroom during the night, unheard of for me. That's a lot of water to drink and not have to pee. Within two days of increasing the dose, my cough became much worse, and within three days, the breathing became more difficult. Within five days, I was having trouble speaking because my airways felt so dry. I called the doctor the next morning and he said it was not the drug, but if I wanted to, stop taking it. So I went off it cold turkey, per his instructions. I had rebound migraines every day for a week or two and my heart was pounding, sometimes for three or four hours at a time. Eventually the cough and trouble breathing went away, however, I had to continue drinking lots of water or I would notice that I didn't have to urinate, sometimes not at all. Again, unheard of for me. I saw a cardiologist at the neurologist's urging and they said the heart pounding was just anxiety. I disagree, as did another doctor of mine. We both believe it was withdrawal. I have now found out (by getting copies of my medical records) that the neurologist is now attributing all of my side effects from the Topamax to "somatization." In other words, psychosomatic - not a side effect, but just a way of getting medical attention. I am seeing a few people on this board who have also experienced a dry cough and trouble breathing. Can I have the same side effects as other people and have them still be psychosomatic, even though I had no idea those side effects could occur? I don't think so.

I have a theory that Topamax interferes with hormones which causes a lot of the side effects like lack of concentration, memory loss, anxiety, depression, insomnia, acne, and hair loss - all symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause. Ask any woman in her 40's or 50's if she has these symptoms and most of them will say yes. My face has not been this broken out since high school! My hair is falling out at a rapid rate. I won't even bother mentioning these to the neurologist. He'll just say it's not the drug.

I'm very frustrated and not sure what to do at this point. The neurologist has me taking a supplement called Migrelief now, but I think it takes three months to kick in, so I have no relief at this point.

Has anyone else experienced the trouble breathing with dry cough? I don't believe for a moment that it was psychosomatic.

I've taken topamax off and on for years..I never had any bad side effects. I actually lost 30lbs in a month which was awesome..I did stop taking it though due to the fact I don't think it was working anymore for my migraines or weight loss..

Topomax has been the only drug to keep my migraines under a reasonable amount of control with no ill effects. I really can't complain about anything with this drug other than its cost. The only thing I ever experienced was early on when I was still adjusting to it, sometimes if I was sitting still with my arms crossed, or I was laying down, my arms and hands would suddenly feel detached from my body and big like balloons...like they weren't mine or something. I'm not complaining though, I actually really liked the feeling -- it was accompanied with a slight light-headedness. :)

I'm a 38 year old female who took Topamax back in 2003 as a migraine preventative. I don't remember any diminished brain capacity, forgetfulness, etc., but then I also suffer from ADD, so who would know. Anyway, I don't see this particular side affect with anyone, but exactly 72 hours after starting Topamax, then 72 hours after each dosage increase, I would suffer from severe body aches. The worst I've ever felt in my life and I usually get body aches with the flu.......these were much worse. If I remember correctly they would last for several days then gradually fade away. The Topamax didn't seem to help my migraines because six months later the neurologist switched me to something else. I'm seeing a new neurologist now and he wants me to try Topamax again. I'm worried and stressed beyond belief. I don't want to go through the body aches again. Has anyone else experience this? Am I maybe deficient in something that I could beef up on while taking the Topamax to decrease the body aches side affect?

sd

since starting topamax in may 08, 50mg twice daily, i have had constant pain under my right rib, feels like something is eating a hole straight through to my back where the pain wraps around. also have some trouble breathing, constipation. have had gallbladder ultrasound, hida-scan of gallbladder, endoscopy, cat scan of chest and abdomen and chest x-ray, along with a zillion blood tests all showing normal. no one can find the source of my pain, the only thing is how the time corresponds with my pain and when i started the topamax. can anyone tell me of any similar side effects they have had, is it the topamax causing this? and should i stop. i'm feeling as if i'm poisoning myself. i need help. thank you for anything you can tell me.

Hello,
I'm a 38 yr old female who was prescribed Topamax about 8 weeks ago for Migraine prevention.
So far, the drug is working fabulously for it's purpose.
Here are the pros and cons that I have experienced:

PROS: No migraines. Yippee!, A small amount of weight loss. This did not happen until just in the last week or so. My mood has stabilized.

CONS: Flat tasting soda, Dry skin, Dry eyes, dry mouth, (drink LOTS of water to combat this). Blurred vision, bouts of memory loss and slurred speech, loss for words. Some of these improve as your body adjusts. Worst for me is that if I miss a dose or don't take it at the same time every day (50mg in the morning, 50 at night), I'll have middle of the night anxiety attacks or even amnesia.. short-lived attacks, but very terrifying.. I always think someone is out to kill me. But again, for me, it's short lived and it only happens when I'm not taking the meds on a schedule.

Overall, I am happy with the drug. I am not experiencing hair loss or tingling. I drink a TON of water because I hear kidney stones are common with this medication.
I will endure all of the above to prevent the wretched migraine....

I hope this helps someone...

Take care and remember, God can help in your healing.. ask Him for it.. :)

God Bless..