User Reviews for Topamax oral

This review is going to be long, because this medication is a nightmare. It's hard to put into words just how awful the experience was, mostly because I was in such a fog that I can't remember most of that period of my life. I was given this medication after being diagnosed with epilepsy and struggling with migraines for many years. Within the first week, I felt like a different person. I would zone out, burst into tears, and had horrible intrusive thoughts about hurting myself. I had toddler-level meltdowns at the age of 20, and I felt absolutely helpless to stop it. Past the fog came genuine memory problems. I got lost in the backwoods of Michigan because I forgot where I was going and couldn't comprehend the directions my GPS was giving me. They make the numbing of hands and feet sound like a minor side effect, but it's awful. I would wake up at night to this constant buzzing. Falling asleep on your hand feels weird, but this medication feels like it's conquering your body and hurting it in every way it can. It's also physically hard to speak on this medication. I would get to the end of sentences and forget how they began. It would take me an entire day to remember the word "washing machine" (I still have a hard time with that, by the way. This medication doesn't stop tormenting you once you're off of it.) I felt like I was going crazy, like my body wasn't mine. I have never hated myself or my conditions more than when I was on this medication. No day was a good day. Did I have seizures? No. Did I have migraines? I can't remember! I warn everybody in my life about this medication. I cannot believe it is legal to prescribe this stuff. I didn't know what I was getting into when I got on it, and I am still struggling with the memory problems it caused me three years later. Do yourself a favor and never take this medication. There are others out there. There are combinations that will work. This is not worth it.Read More Read Less

I think everyone should research this medicine. And be aware of the side effects while on this medicine and if you are ever deciding to come off of it. My husband was put on topamax by the neurologist for migraines 150 mg a night. He was on it for 8 years.  It helped. He thought he was doing the right thing.  We never researched a thing. The head aches were better!  This drug really does a number on the brain. If you ever decide to come off this drug, have a good support system and hang in there. The side effects are wicked. It is possible. 4 Months later off of this drug he still has some long term side effects going on. Focusing took a bit to get back but still getting better anxiety and shakes, these still go on daily. If you suffer from migraines do your research and look for something that isn't going to send your life through a whirlwind. Read More Read Less

I started taking this at 25 mg before bed to help with sleep, a day or two after starting I got dizzy and numb, but remembered the doctor said stuff like this might happen while your body is getting used to the medication so I kept taking it nightly. By the time I took it for the fourth night I could barely walk I was so dizzy and numb, I couldn't feel my face or limbs. I contacted the doctor that prescribed it to me and they said to stop taking it so I did and I still felt bad so I went to the hospital. They couldn't/didn't do much and my doctor said the way I feel should go away in six days or so. I started taking it on Thursday, stopped taking it that Sunday and I still feel the effects Wednesday.I only took this medication a few days and felt like it caused brain damage that I'm praying goes away, so please be very cautious of this and any other medication. If I knew the way I feel was possible I would've never tried this medication, the risks do not outweigh the benefits for me personally. Read More Read Less

I was on a very low dose for vestibular migraines. It took me a month to work up to taking 2 pills in the morning and 2 pills at night. I took it for 4 months. Within the first month I noticed issues with my vision which became worse. 5 months later, I have permanent damage to my eyes causing nearsightedness. I have never worn glasses and now I will have to wear bifocals. I hate this drug!

The side effects of this medication are absolutely horrible!! I have experience blurred and double vision, severe eye pressure, light sensitivity, Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde mood swings, confusion, memory loss, sleeplessness for days at a time and the feeling of just wanting to end it all. I have NEVER had an issue with depression or thoughts like that in my life!! I will take my chances with the migraines and would not recommend this drug to anyone!!

Makes me sick: puking. Gave me a ringing in my ear that wouldn’t go away. Not to mention general confusion, and displacement. Threw those terrible pills away. All in all, this drug should be removed from the market. I do not know how anyone could prescribe this poison in good conscious.

My 25 year old son took this medication for three weeks at 25mgs for migraine prevention. It has ruined his life. I can't believe that nothing can be done about this. He has horrible anxiety with intrusive thoughts of harm. He has chronic chest pain that goes up to his neck. Panic attacks are debilitating. Doctors won't believe that it's from the medication that he's been off for over a year now. We've seen countless doctors that would prescribe antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antiphychotic meds. None worked for him. They only made him worse. Now he sees a natural doctor and therapist and has made minimal progress so far. I know not everyone is the same, but don't risk taking this medication. He doesn't even want to live anymore. I haven't found an attorney that will even take the case of a lawsuit against this drug. His medical bills are through the roof.Read More Read Less

Ive been on this medication for 10 years now... theres definitely pros and cons. When you start taking them the pins and needles are very strong, I take 100mg twice a day and I got pins and needles in my hands and feet for a good 4-6 weeks. I also bearly ate a thing for the first couple of months and lost a lot of weight. After that first period things settled down, however, the pins and needles return if I have not slept well or if I am ill. This for us ladies to look out for, the pill does not work, and now I am older, HRT is not effective with Topamax.Read More Read Less

I have no side effects aside from a tiny bit of weight loss and inability to taste carbonation. My migraines have been reduced. I take 25-50 mg at night depending on how I’m feeling.

I had cognitive loss, visual problems and hallucinations. It took me switching Dr's to get off this medication. I had every side effect plus some not listed.

I started taking this 5 days ago - for the first time in 7 years I have gone 2 days without headaches/migraines that are so horrible for me, they make me feel homicidal. I would do anything to make them stop and had genuinely forgotten what it felt like to exist without chronic pain. In addition due to bipolar 1 and extensive attempts at treatment via medication, I have gained a disturbing amount of weight for my frame, size and activity level. It has only been 5 days but I am already feeling better than I have felt in years, and can actually feel and see it in my body that I go to the gym 5 days a week. This is something that never happened pre topamax, even at my peak diet and fitness regiment that resulted in several broken ribs from over exercising. I am so excited to continue with this medication and be myself again! I am on 25mg, 1x a day at night. The only side effect I am experiencing is extreme nausea, which I unfortunately experience from everything anyway. I am taking a low dose of Zofran every morning to combat this and it is working perfectly. For anyone ONLY experiencing nausea as a side effect or that is concerned about it, I would recommend getting an anti nausea prescription as well. Read More Read Less

My dr. put me on Topamax to prevent migraines. It works great! It does lower my appetite as well. I also have Bipolar so that is an extra bonus along with a few others for b.p.

I have been on Topamax for bipolar disorder for about 3-4 years now and I love it. Originally I was taking 100 mg twice a day, my doctor upped it to three times a day though a couple months ago. The only side effects I really experience is the tingling in my feet and the speech issues, but I also have ADHD so my brain may just be trying to go faster than my mouth. My taste buds do change every so often though, but I'm not complaining because it helps me lose weight. Soda tastes like salt water, so that's both a positive and a negative, but mostly a positive. I can't really enjoy hot dogs or pizza rolls anymore because it hurts my stomach, but it's ok. I definitely recommend at least trying it, and if it doesn't work, maybe increase or lower the dose. It's been wonderful to me, and I thought all bipolar meds would only make me gain weight. Honestly Topamax has helped me be me again and I'm thankful for it. Read More Read Less

I have had migraines since college (no aura, but severe nausea). I have taken this as a preventative, 100mg daily, for many years now. It is effective and drastically reduced the number of migraines I get. That said, I do experience some of the cognitive side effects -- feeling slower, forgetting words or names of things, trouble articulating sometimes -- which never used to happen. It certainly helps keep appetite down. If I could guarantee something else would work as well I would probably switch due to the cognitive impacts but always just accepted it since it is very effective. Read More Read Less

My migraine with aura( zig zag vision) became worse. Three times more episodes than normal. Weight gain on 20 lbs. I felt out of it most of the time I took the drug.

Taken for migraine with aura. Made me get them more frequently and with greater intensity of aura.

Dangerous medication that was taken for a summary of things including headaches, weight stability & depression. Ended up developing severe night time panic attacks that led to insomnia that at its worse had me awake for 11 days with 20 minute gaps of passing out in between, didn’t know it was possible to not sleep that long until this ruined my brain chemistry. Developed severe psychosis and hallucinations that still occur if I don’t take sleeping medication as I no longer can fall asleep without some sort of medicinal aid and the more tired I am the more prone I am to a psychosis episode. I also nearly had a heart attack as I wasn’t informed how severe the danger (or at all) mixing it with my adhd medication would be and nearly was sent to hospital as I believed I was dying. Took multiple days of a high dose of sereqouel to remotely calm my heart beat and begin sleeping again. Read More Read Less

I’ve been taking this for about 3 months now. It’s honestly been life changing. Rarely ever get a headache and not one migraine with an aura. Also I’ve lost about 20 pounds so far. No cognitive side effects. All I’ve gotten is that soda tastes bad (which is a win, I just want to drink water) and my hands and feet gets pins and needles. My doctor says that is if I haven’t eaten enough potassium so I eat a banana and it’s better. That has worn off in the past month too. I sleep better too. I take 100mg at night. Read More Read Less

Well s***, I have to agree/admit with/to everyone else! Didn't realize how serious the side effects were until I began reading the reviews. I'm going cold turkey after taking it for 6 days. New to me, I was looking up for another reason. My headaches are gone which I've been grateful for. My symptoms have been medium and I don't want them to get worse.

Did nothing for headaches. The dosage I was told to take 25 mg pm and then week 2 am/pm and week 2 50 mg pm 5 mg am, week 4 50 mg am and pm By the time I got to week 3 I was suicidal PLEASE take precautions Far too many people have these side effects