Anyone take Topamax?

[disneymama73]

I've been taking Topamax for about 6 wks now for migraine prevention. My dosage is .25mg twice a day. I have been completely migraine-free for the first time since I was about 10-yrs old. After all the things I've tried, it's just amazing!

Here is my question. What side effects have you noticed? The first side effect I noticed immediately was that I completely lost my appetite. I have literally had to force myself to eat anything at all. In 6 wks, I lost almost 20 lbs. Now I'm not complaining about that. My appetite is slowly coming back, and I just make sure I eat.

But, suddenly, I am feeling very weepy, emotional and sad. My mom swears it's the Topamax. I do take Zoloft to help me deal with severe marital probs, but I'm wondering if anyone has had increased depression caused by Topamax.

Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks in advance! :

 

[luvdzne]

I was given topamax for my migraines. It worked very well, but as you said I was tired, weepy and depressed. It also made me "stupid". I couldn't think of simple things, I would forget what I was doing. Someone would ask me a simple question and I wouldn't have any idea what they were talking about. If you Google topamax you can read about it. I have heard of others complaining about it making them "stupid". I know it sounds kind of silly. I now take Axert for my migraines and it works well however it is not always covered by the insurance and is rather expensive. My co-pay ended up being $125 but it was well worth it. It also doesn't have any side affects that I have noticed other than making me tired. You only take it at the onset of a migrain.

ETA: I believe it is also used to treat seizures as well as depression.

 

[disneymama73]

Thanks so much! I have tried Googling it, and mostly find weight loss and tingling sensations as the most frequent side effects.

Now that you mention it, I do have trouble finding certain words at times! Someone will ask me the name of say, a doctor, and I can't think of his name, even though I've gone to him for years. Hmmm...making me stupid. I don't know if I like that too much.

Did you lose weight, too? Did you gain it back?

ETA -- I did try Axert, and it helped for awhile, but my migraines are so frequent, I really need a preventative.

 

[AprilShowers]

I have been taking Topamax for about 4 weeks and have lost 7lbs. I have had about 3 migraines in that amount of time. Although, the Relpax has taken care of them rather quickly.
I normally would have had about 8-10 migraine headaches in that amount of time.
The appetite thing, and the tingling sensation thing are the things I've noticed the most. The "stupid" thing - yes. The memory thing - yes. but on a much more limited basis. I've taken to writing things down when I'm not sure if I'll remember it later, like at work.
I also get weepy, but I'm a very emotional person anyway, so I've just chalked that up to being super sensitive person anyway.
At first, DH said it made me "different" like in a paranoid kind of way, but he said that wore off. But I didn't notice it.

 

[HoneyPooh]

I started Topamax about four weeks ago and I've lost about 11 pounds. You're right, food just doesn't hold much appeal for me. Other side effects for me have been the tingling in my hands and feet which is more frustrating than anything else and the "dumb as a box of rocks" feeling I get sometimes.

The side effects are worth it. I was having pain every day and full blown migraines at least once per week that were not being helped by my meds any longer. I have had pain only once every two or three days and only one migraine (which my migraine meds helped) in the four weeks so far and I'm not up to my max dosage yet. I'm thrilled!

 

[disneymama73]

Well, I have to agree with all of you, being pain-free is worth just about anything. I hope the weepiness wears off though. I feel like I'm pg.