Anyone take Topamax? Any side effects?

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I have been getting 4 to 5 migraines a week for the past several weeks (1 of which got me a trip to the ER and a CT scan) so my Dr put me on Topamax to try to prevent them.

So far I am not convinced that the side effects outweigh the benefits.

I am having trouble concentrating and horrible mood swings. I used to drink a Pepsi every day but now all soda tastes absolutely rancid so no more of that.

Anyone take this medicine? Love it or hate it? What side effects do you have?

Thanks!

 

[AprilShowers]

I used to take it, and despite the side effects, I LOVED it. I lost some weight because of the soda thing.

I no longer take it because it's so expensive and my insurance won't cover it. It really did minimize my migraines, and if I DID get one, it wasn't near as bad, and the other medicine worked within 20 mins.

Good luck!

 

[Jennasis]

It didn't work for me AND the side effects were exactly what you describe. It wasn't worth it. My nuerologist switched me to Keppra and it was like aMIRACLE. No side-effects and total relief!

On "dope-amax" I couldn't concentrate, would forget everything, couldn't spell things, soda tasted like boiled dirt and was witch. If somebody dropped 10 pennies on the floor and asked me to count them it would take me an hour!

 

[lsyorke]

Good site here on Topamax, don't let the site name put you off.

http://www.crazymeds.us/

 

[hellokitty86]

I was on it for a short time and couldn't deal with the side effects. My neurologist and primary doctor wanted me to stick it out but I just couldn't.

I had terrible mood swings (almost like depression- I would start crying at the drop of a hat ), bad back and stomach pain, soda tasted weird, I couldn't even count my money at the grocery store or spell things correctly. It's a good thing I didn't have a job while taking it because I'm sure I would've been fired!!

It didn't help with my headaches at all. My neuro left it up to me to start another medication (which I have not- yet- my headaches seemed to get better but now have been coming back.)


I hope everyone gets relief soon!!! It is a horrible thing to get these headaches all the time! Very debilitating, atleast it was for me.

 

[sunlver]

I took it for a short time, like 3 weeks. At first I was dizzy with it, but I got over that. The worse side effect was that my eyes hurt, seriously it felt like somebody was poking my eyes out..I read the Topamax site and sure enough that is a side effect, not a common one, but still there. SO I stopped taking it. It was prescriped by my PCP...

When I went to the neruologist(which I didnt like at all)I told her of the side effects, She told me that wasnt common and kind of blew it off. She try to tell me take one a day instead. I tried that,and within 12 hrs my eyes were hurting again..

 

[vettechick99]

If Topamax doesn't work, my good friend (who also had several a week - everything triggering them) is taking Wellbutrin and says its really helping! She's down to a few a month now.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I had a bit of the can't think straight thing. The biggest side effect I had was a complete lack of appetite and constant nausea--I never threw up, I just felt sick to my stomach all the time.

But it really did help my migraines! And I need to lose weight so I didn't really mind the appetite loss. But it was just too expensive to keep taking.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Good site here on Topamax, don't let the site name put you off.

http://www.crazymeds.us/

Interesting site. I love how they call Topamax the "Supermodel drug" because it makes you thin and dumb.

I am going to stick it out and see how it goes. I started taking the med on Friday and so far have only had 1 migraine which I was able to knock out with Excedrin Migraine. I am down 6lbs from the last time I weighed - which honestly was over a week ago - so not sure how much of that has to do with Topamax or cutting out my daily Pepsi addiction.

I honestly do feel "doped" up and hate that feeling but at least I can function and take care of DS much better than if I was in bed with a full blown migraine.

Not sure why but at the Pharmacy the other day my co-pay was $0. I tried to argue with the Pharmacist that I NEVER have a $0 co-pay but he kept insisting that is what came up in the system. Who am I to argue and this was BEFORE I took these mind numbing meds!

 

[hulagirl87]

I'm on it now and have been for several years. I have the side effects that everyone has mentioned. Low appetite, I get tingling in my hands, I feel stupid a lot of the time which is really frustrating, but I don't get headaches which is a relief. So it's a trade off I guess. One of the things I hate the most is that sometimes when I am talking I can't find the words that I want to use. That is so frustrating. My neurologist says that I can stay on it if I want or he can recommend something else for me. I'll stay on it for now as I feel that it works.

 

[Mahnahmahnah]

to you and others. Migraines are tuff. FWIW one of my BF is a chiropractor and the whole reason he got into it was from his own debilitating migraines. He said it helped tremendously.


My Dr prescribed Topamax to me when I told him I had trouble sleeping, it was going on for over a year. Why this drug I have no idea? I had no idea they where for migraines.

My worst side effect where crazy dreams and I mean crazy!

One dream was where my SIL's dog (a yellow lab) was driving a school bus and I was in the seat behind her. We where driving down the Garden State Parkway to go down the shore and she couldn't put the change in the toll bin at the toll booths so I had to lean over and throw the money in!

I only took it for a week.


I hope you have better luck.

 

[beavismom]

I am currently taking this as part of a clinical trial for a new weight loss drug. It is actually a combo of this and Phentermine. The two drugs sort of cancel out each others bad side effects. I say sort of because soda still tastes like what you imagine the liquid at the bottom of a dumpster tastes like and there is still some mental slowness, but I don't think it is as bad as the topiramate (Topomax) alone. The weight loss is great though and I almost never have headaches now. I wonder if your doctor could add in a prescription for Phentermine to go with it?

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I am currently taking this as part of a clinical trial for a new weight loss drug. It is actually a combo of this and Phentermine. The two drugs sort of cancel out each others bad side effects. I say sort of because soda still tastes like what you imagine the liquid at the bottom of a dumpster tastes like and there is still some mental slowness, but I don't think it is as bad as the topiramate (Topomax) alone. The weight loss is great though and I almost never have headaches now. I wonder if your doctor could add in a prescription for Phentermine to go with it?

What is Phentermine used for? It sounds vaguely familiar but I can't quite place it...

 

[Barb D]

I had pins and needles and diarrhea with Topamax, and it didn't help with my migraines. I've also been on Depakote and Zonegran, and tons of other stuff, and nothing helped. Even my ONSTIM doesn't completely get rid of them, but at least Imitrex and Excedrin migraine will (usually) blast them away now.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I totally forgot about the tingling! Yep, I had major tingling in my hands and feet and in my face. My cheeks and nose would sometime seem almost numb, but it was very random as to when in would happen and how long it would stay that way. Sometimes for hours and sometimes just for a few minutes. Didn't bother me too much, it was just strange.


Wasn't Phenteramine part of the 2 part FenPhen drug they used for weight loss about 10 years or so ago? But they found that combo cause heart problems?

 

[jryno28]

Took Topamax for quite a few years. Had the soda and the tingly hands, and the usual other stuff. What did it for me was 3 major bouts with kidney stones in less than 2 years. Spent a bit of time in the hospital. I'm off now!! Except for the kidney stones, I loved the stuff, and it kept my migraines away!!

 

[beavismom]

Phentermine is a stimulant used for weight loss for the most part and yes, it was part of the FenPhen combo.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Took Topamax for quite a few years. Had the soda and the tingly hands, and the usual other stuff. What did it for me was 3 major bouts with kidney stones in less than 2 years. Spent a bit of time in the hospital. I'm off now!! Except for the kidney stones, I loved the stuff, and it kept my migraines away!!

Ouch! Did you have any other risk factor for kidney stones?

 

[jryno28]

No, I never had a problem with kidney stones until about a year into the Topamax. I've read in all the literature that kidney stones are a side effect, I've been off 8 months now, hopefully no more problems!!!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

No, I never had a problem with kidney stones until about a year into the Topamax. I've read in all the literature that kidney stones are a side effect, I've been off 8 months now, hopefully no more problems!!!

I hope not!

I woke up this AM with my 2nd migraine since I started taking the meds on Friday. Does this have to build up in your system before it starts really doing any good?