Topamax Side effects!!!

[admin]

I've been on topomax for a over a month. 125mg a day. At first the confusion and stuipidness were really bothersome but that has gone away and I feel much better. I am happy to say that my migraines have decreased drastically and I've lost about 10 pounds. (cuz everything tastes awful) I still have occasional tingling in my toes but even that is starting to go away.

[admin]

I read your message and all I can say I am really really sorry for you. I have had a similar experience. and went through hell the first 2 months. On 25 mg. I am upto 100 mg now and threatened to take myself straight off it if the symptoms do not improve. I gained weight but cannot be sure if its from coming of Prozac cold turkey or the Topomax. Either ways take your dosage at night and lower the dosage helsp. I take it for migraine. I get terrible bloating with it Eating far less carbos has helped but not much. i am giving it 2 more weeks or giving it up. Drink lots of water that helps and walk -

[admin]

yeah I should have mentioned that earlier. You really must take it at night and only when you are ready to settle down for bed. I took it one night and then decided I had to run to the store about a half hour later. That was scary. I was half way through a red light before I realized I had run it. But yes, After being on for a little over a month and taking it at night, the side effects have definetly subsided. I don't see how anyone can function taking this stuff during waking hours. And do drink lots of water. I can't stress that enough. This med tends to dehydrate your body so you really need to drink your water. As for eating. I have a grapefruit everyday because they are the only thing that tastes good to me and then I'll have whatever for dinner but usually not much of it because it tastes so bad. Everything tastes very salty. Especially sodas. Yuck!!!

[admin]

I have just been diagnosed with fibromyalgia.After seeing doctors and a specialist i have now been put on Topomax 25mg per day at night. I will be greatfull if anyone out there who suffers with this terrible disease and has been treated with Topomax could tell me what to expect.

[admin]

I have been on Topamax for about 8 months for migraines and immediately started losing weight. I am taking 75 mg 2 times a day. I have lost 25 lbs and hope I do not lose anymore because I am down to 106 lbs. I have terrible memory loss and confusion and it is affecting my job and other areas of my life. I was already having some memory problems before taking Topamax but now it is far worst. I just had some neuropsych testing done last week but have not received my results yet. I had these tests because of memory problems and my MRI show that I have lesions on my brain and that I have had head trauma which I know was caused from being abused as a child. I am thinking about getting off Topamax but it has been a lifesaver for my migraines. I just hate feeling so stupid all the time when I know I used to be a very sharp, smart person. The rest of the side effects I can deal with...the tingling in my toes and fingers and the bad taste of pop and being thirsty all the time.

[admin]

I just recently experienced the same symtpoms; memory loss, brain fog, so severe, that everything confused me. I decreased my dose from 100MG to 50mg and gradually the mind fog is starting to clear. I am also taking it for chronic migraines and so far the decrease has not affected them as well. I would definetly recommend you talking with your Dr. and decreasing, there is no way I could of retained any responsibilities in a job or outside the home with the total brain fog and memory loss.

[admin]

Just ran across this site and read Lisa's exp. with w/ Topamax. I've been on it about 1yr. now...greatly reducd my migraines but no weight loss. I have developed the same symptoms Lisa had...depression, suicidal thoughts, and cognitive thinking so fuzzy I sometimes think I'm about to lose it. Lisa, did you ever find anything else to take that kept your migraines to a minimum like Topamax does?

[admin]

I take Topamax for major depression and bipolar (II), and my psychiatrist recently decided i needed to triple my dosage so i'm up to 600mg a day.

I've been taking that dosage for a week and a half, and I'm just now at a point where I almost feel like myself again. This drug really can throw you for a loop! The first couple of days I felt like I was in an old episode of the Twilight Zone; just not really being in this dimension and not comprehending what was going on or where I was. For a whole week I could barely put together a sentence, let alone a coherent conversation! And counting past 3? Forget it. Memory loss and confusion galore. But I'm back at work today, and I'm doing alright.

Once I get used to it, I really love this drug though. The other side effects I get are the slightly painful, pins-and-needles in my feet, but that's mostly just as I'm falling asleep. On the upside, now that i'm taking Topamax, I actually can fall asleep every night which I couldn't do before. Also, my whole life I have been a binge eater and/or bulimic, and since I've upped my dosage of Topamax, I look at food totally differently for the first time ever. Usually I would eat out of boredom but now I will go so far as to open the fridge and look at the food but then realize I don't want it and walk away. I NEVER would have done that before! That is a BIG deal for me! I've lost 4 pounds this week by the way.

[admin]

I take Topamax for major depression and bipolar (II), and my psychiatrist recently decided i needed to triple my dosage so i'm up to 600mg a day.

I've been taking that dosage for a week and a half, and I'm just now at a point where I almost feel like myself again. This drug really can throw you for a loop! The first couple of days I felt like I was in an old episode of the Twilight Zone; just not really being in this dimension and not comprehending what was going on or where I was. For a whole week I could barely put together a sentence, let alone a coherent conversation! And counting past 3? Forget it. Memory loss and confusion galore. But I'm back at work today, and I'm doing alright.

Once I get used to it, I really love this drug though. The other side effects I get are the slightly painful, pins-and-needles in my feet, but that's mostly just as I'm falling asleep. On the upside, now that i'm taking Topamax, I actually can fall asleep every night which I couldn't do before. Also, my whole life I have been a binge eater and/or bulimic, and since I've upped my dosage of Topamax, I look at food totally differently for the first time ever. Usually I would eat out of boredom but now I will go so far as to open the fridge and look at the food but then realize I don't want it and walk away. I NEVER would have done that before! That is a BIG deal for me! I've lost 4 pounds this week by the way.

[admin]

I take Topamax for major depression and bipolar (II), and my psychiatrist recently decided i needed to triple my dosage so i'm up to 600mg a day.

I've been taking that dosage for a week and a half, and I'm just now at a point where I almost feel like myself again. This drug really can throw you for a loop! The first couple of days I felt like I was in an old episode of the Twilight Zone; just not really being in this dimension and not comprehending what was going on or where I was. For a whole week I could barely put together a sentence, let alone a coherent conversation! And counting past 3? Forget it. Memory loss and confusion galore. But I'm back at work today, and I'm doing alright.

Once I get used to it, I really love this drug though. The other side effects I get are the slightly painful, pins-and-needles in my feet, but that's mostly just as I'm falling asleep. On the upside, now that i'm taking Topamax, I actually can fall asleep every night which I couldn't do before. Also, my whole life I have been a binge eater and/or bulimic, and since I've upped my dosage of Topamax, I look at food totally differently for the first time ever. Usually I would eat out of boredom but now I will go so far as to open the fridge and look at the food but then realize I don't want it and walk away. I NEVER would have done that before! That is a BIG deal for me! I've lost 4 pounds this week by the way.