User Reviews for topiramate oral

Topirimate has help to suppress my migraines, but it will really mess with your ability to think of the word you are trying....trying... to say. I've been using this for 15+years and have stopped using several times and my memory loss disappears. But my migraines return in numbers. I do use it, less in the summer.

Topiramate almost cost me my life and almost ruined my career! DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG!!! My doctor prescribed topiramate for my chronic migraines. I started at 25mg and increased in 25mg intervals until I reached 100mg. At first, I thought only had neuropathy in my hands and feet as a side effect. I thought I was getting a cold or had the flu. I had a very sore throat, but no other symptoms. I was tested for covid, influenza, and strep. All were negative. When I increased to 50mg the next week, I completely lost my voice, and the brain fog started. Three different doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong. It was just after Thanksgiving, so every doctor I went to thought I just had some virus causing the sore throat. I continued taking topiramate as directed, increasing the dose each week. Then I realized that I was actually doing things I don't remember doing, remembering having done things I didn't do. For example, I thought I bought a gift card for my husband at a farm supply store where my sister-in-law works. I had gone to that store that day and talked her, and I had told her I was buying a gift card. But apparently I walked out of the store without buying one, and I drove to the other side of town and bought a gift card at a pet store. I still have no recollection of doing that (but being a small town, this was all confirmed by people I know who saw me that day). Two days after Christmas, my husband and I set off with our children on the 600 mile drive to visit my mother in another state. At this point, I was on 100mg for 3 weeks and still had a sore throat and could not speak. About 2 hours into the drive, the hallucinations and paranoia started, along with the inability to control my eyes. I was driving 70 mph on the interstate and my right eye was moving back and forth uncontrollably, and I almost hit several other vehicles. I'm cannot stress enough how tragic that could have ended for myself, my husband, and our children. WE COULD HAVE DIED! I had to pull over and have my husband drive. I could no longer keep my eyes straight. After we arrived at my mother's house, my husband began looking into the side effects of this drug. The sore throat, the vision problems, the memory issues, extremely painful periods with cramps that woke me up in the middle of the night, food and drinks tasted absolutely horrible, etc were all side effects of the medication. I decided to taper off immediately. I cried every time I had to take my medication. I was so upset that I was having those side effects and couldn't just quit taking it. I've now been off of topiramate for 2 weeks, and I'm STILL having problems, like constant eyelid twitching in both eyes and memory issues. I almost lost my job because of the memory loss. I could no longer function at work. I've been in my profession for 23 years and almost had to give it all up. Read More Read Less

I have severe lumbar spine arthritis and could not take the nerve pain any longer. My doctor prescribed Topamax partially for the pain blocking and partially for weight loss to help ease the burden from my back. I am one of those 'never take meds' to taking this anti-convulsant so I was a bit uneasy however I needed relief as nothing else was working. It's still a bit early but I have noticed my back has settled down for the first time in months. As for weight loss, again still early but my appetite has really reduced (and I am not sad LOL). Lastly, the one side effect that is kicking me is nighttime muscle spasms and I hope these settle down over time. So far, I am okay with this drug.Read More Read Less

People telling others not to take this medication need to knock it off. If it doesn’t work for you then either reduce, increase or stop raking it, but your experience belongs to you and you alone and is not a predictor for everyone else. . Sometimes you have to wait out side effects until your body gets used to it. If you can handle them then don’t continue it at all. If you’ve taken it for very long at all then wean you off of it. This medication is SUPERIOR for many people for migraines and binge eating disorder, both of which I’ve had since childhood and helps with my bipolar disorder. I’ve taken it on and off over the last ten years but I always return to it. When you have bipolar meds have to be switched up from time to time. I’m glad I’m back on it. In fact I asked for it. ALL OF YOU NAY SAYERS STOP TRYING TO SCARE PEOPLE AWAY FROM THIS MEDICATION. IT CAN BE LIFE SAVING FOR MANY PEOPLE. Read More Read Less

It did work great for me at first but after 2 weeks I ended up in the hospital. I was having symptoms like a heart attack. I couldn’t talk, walk without a walker and my think process was not good. It took me months to bounce back.to this day I’m still having problems processing things

I take this medication for seizures, nerve pain as well as alcohol abuse. I was shocked to see all of the terrible experiences and I am so sorry for what you went through. I have been on topamax for about 5 years. I formerly was on depakote and neurontin or gapa-pentin(sorry if my spelling is off) Initially it made me slightly dizzy when I would close my eyes to go to sleep. I switched to taking it in the AM and have no issues now. Out of all the medications I have tried, this one has given me the least side affects. Gabapentin always made me feel an insatiable craving for, ANYTHING, SOMETHING, EVERYTHING. I would gain massive weight, and chronically relapse. Since on topamax my life has dramatically changed for the better. I have experienced only one small seizure, my craving- like anxiety feeling is gone, I am able to focus on work and recently received an award for "biggest impact on the team" for 2022. I have always struggled from mental health issues, ADHD, depression, addiction abuse disorder... I am not giving credit to topamax but I am grateful it hasn't given me excessive challenges like gabapentin did...on top of the ones I already had to fight. It sounds like it isn't a one size fits all but it has helped me in more ways than I can say. I currently take 150 mgs daily. Read More Read Less

My son takes a small dose of 25mg bid amongst other medications for unspecified mood disorder, and I moved to another state. They decided to try taking him off of it, because the dose was so small however, within two weeks, the moods appeared again. He’s extremely rude and volatile, so I definitely recommend this medication for behaviors disorders because he went to years without having any issues, and then all of a sudden we took him off this medicine and within two weeks I have been very close to calling the police on him and having had to admitted to the hospital again. Advocate for yourself and your family guys!Read More Read Less

I was prescribed 100mg of topamax for migraine prevention. In addition to the usual side effects like hands and feet tingling and dizziness, it brought back my PTSD and made me feel as though I was going to have a mental breakdown. I don’t understand why the official information about this drug lists these side effects as rare. I usually tolerate drugs well but this was appalling. One other thing it does is that it totally switches off your appetite, you literally forget to eat, it’s really strange, so I lost a lot of weight. But it wasn’t worth the mental anguish that went with it! If you have any pre existing mental health issues, even sub-clinical ones, I would be careful of this drug. Read More Read Less

I have epilepsy and Lupus. And this medication has been very good to me. I've taken ALL the seizure meds. I have seizures since I was a little kid. I also have migraines. This medication did give me some side effects to begin with. But when you have gran mal seizures like me.... meehh...I have been on this med for years now!!! Legit it has controlled my seizures and I think it helped my migraines also. It does have side effects. All meds do. But....as someone who's been on everything...it's working for me. JSRead More Read Less

Initially my speech was off. But I have had gran mal seizures since I was a kid. This along with another med helped control them. Kidney stones can be an issue. Drinking lemon water consistently will control that. However this medication changed my life. Patience is a virtue. Everyone loves to complain. But this medication changed my life fr!!!

33 female. Been on 75mg on Topiramate for over 2 years, had severe migraines with aura every single day could barley function before starting this medication. I dont have as nearly as many migraines anymore and this medication as really helped me function. I did in the beginning have the numbness in the fingers. Ive been on antidepressants since i was 15 so mentally i didnt feel any different then usual no worse just normal. Definitely havent lost weight on this medication hahaha. But it has helped my migraines! Read More Read Less

I am not sure if I experience any of the side effects as most of them are normal from my already health problems but this is the only medication that works for my migraines! I suffer from a ton of health & some mental problems some of which are but not limited to Type 2 Diabetes that have been out of control many years even though I take two medications a day it never goes below 300, and was for many years 600+. Its done a number on my body eye sight, feet, legs, and God knows what else. I suffer from Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD. I was not told that this medication would react with those things. Any way this medication is a mirical drug for me headache wise. I had them all my life to the point I would go blind & have them for weeks at a time.Read More Read Less

I have a concussion and constant headaches for 3 months. My neurologist prescribed this and said take 1/2 tablet first at bedtime. Took it last night and what a crappy day I had today. Stomach not good, food tastes like vinegar? Bad arm pain, and a slight fever. I was fine except for headache yesterday, and the headache is only marginally better. I’ll deal with a headache and not all the other crap that came with this medicine.

I loved topiramate until I absolutely hated it. I started taking the medication in my junior year of high school and took it until I graduated. It did help to completely rid of my daily migraine but that was not enough for me to remain on the medication. I had to stay at a 50 mg dose due to how badly side effects were with higher doses. I experienced tingling and numbness in hands, brain fog, memory loss, confusion, attention span issues, and weight loss. Weight loss was okay in the moment but then I realized that it completely demolished my metabolism. After coming off the medication my appetite came back. My body became so used to surviving off of 500-800 calories a day that when I started getting back to a normal 1200-1500 calories my body gained everything back and more so. To this day, 2 years off the medication,I cannot eat red meat or drink or eat anything with too much sugar (I water down everything I drink and soda is not an option anymore), and my memory and attention span are completely wrecked— it feels like what I think ADHD is like because I match all the symptoms when in the past I did not. I now think the topiramate has cause some type damage to my temporal lobe. I would not recommend this medication. Read More Read Less

DO NOT take toprimate unless you really need to, you will be drowsy, have memory problems etc, rather have the migraines

I have been taking Topamax for Epilepsy for about 20 years. Compared to the other anti convulsant meds, and anti depressant meds I have taken since a teen, this is by far the best med with least side effects. Other meds have caused massive weight gain, crying everyday, blurred vision, pulling my hair out, etc. After brain surgery 18 years ago for Epilepsy and brain tumour, I am still on it, and have had no seizures. Thank you TOPAMAX! ??

I was prescribed this medication for headaches prevention. I've been on it for over a month. The past two weeks I noticed that my breathing got harder. Pretty scary. I'm only on 25mg that the doctor wants to increase. It doesn't help my headaches ar all. I'm going to stop taking it. Hate the headaches but terrified of not breathing right.

CAUTION. I raised my dosage over several weeks which I believe is normal but perhaps enabled me to not be aware of my growing depression which grew severe and into suicidal thoughts. It wasn't until I was literally writing notes to family members that I realized I needed help. Stopped the medication immediately and the depression cleared within several days. Scare of my life, I will never take medication again without serious consideration first

I take Topamax for chronic nerve pain in my neck. I had the initial side effects of stomach issues, maybe slight memory problems. The stomach problems went away after about 3 weeks. I take the smallest does I can that works, with is only 25mg. It takes a few weeks to start working and longer to become more effective. I had to work with my doctor to stay on the 25mg once a day, with the ability to add a second one for a few days if the pain is worse due to activity. He wanted to move me to a 50mg but I would rather have the control and stay on the smallest dose that works. I think the people with the really bad side effects are taking way too much and are not patient enough to let it start working. It is a gradual process.Read More Read Less

I tried this medicine for migraines. The Dr. did have me start slowly taking 1 tab for the first 3 days adding on a schedule. One of my eyes went blurry but cleared up after I stopped. He suggested a smaller dose and that seemed to not cause eye problems. I only got up to two tabs daily and started experiencing flu like symptoms… those aren’t symptoms listed… checked twice for COVID..negative ..no temp. Just listless, breathing problems, body n joints ached with tender skin. No I did not have the flu! Tried to get used to the medication and gave it a month. Called Dr. Office and they dismissed symptoms because not common. It took at least another week to start feeling better. No way I will take this medication. Now I do think it helped with headaches but not worth it. Sumatriptan works fine! Read More Read Less