Topamax for migraine, has changed my mood, personality should I stop, this is worse than migraine?

19 Aug 2012

Tell your doctor you want off of it. You need to be weaned off of it, as there is a chance of seizures if you just stop it.

19 Aug 2012

Hello,

I took it too for my migraines , and you said it pal it is a "dirty drug", get off it asap ( you will only end up more depressed , trust me), you must stop gradually under medical supervision.

All the best,

maso.-

19 Aug 2012

I stopped a drug that affected my mood, Zonisamide. I was taking 200 mg, dropped to 100 mg for 4 days and I was off. I felt remarkably better in just over a week. I'll never go back on an anti sezure drug again. I took Topamax, also known as 'Dopamax', then Lomotrogine and lastly, Zonisamide. It is the only one that affected my mood, made me feel very unmotivated, 'sad', I was irritable and sensitive where I'd want to cry for no reason. Crazy!!! I had cognitive problems with the other two, I hate these drugs. I took my last "Z" pill July 18 and on July 19th I started 5 mg of Flexeril every night, I've had six migraines this past month, that is great!! I had 13 in June and 12 in May. The drug initially helped me, I started it on Jan 3, but after just a few months I was back up to having too many. Good luck!!

19 Aug 2012

I am in total agreement with kaismama and maso. This is a nasty drug. My son took it for the same problem. He had all the same side effects as you mentioned. Let your doctor know immediately.
Best to you ... pamee

19 Aug 2012

NO! Tell your Dr what you have told us here, let the Doc make the decision. Never just stop, you will regret it. Your Dr can help you stop in a way that will not cause you misery. Hope this helps.

20 Aug 2012

Hi, I had a friend that was on Topamax at the same time I tried it. We called it "Torpor-max" because it truly leaves ya feeling like you are in a torpor, or foggy headed. NOT a good medication for some people.
I couldn't remember squat on that stuff. I just told my doctor that I was not going to take it anymore, and he agreed. It also can make you lose weight that you might not need or want to lose.
Talk to your doctor and get off of it slowly.
Best wishes

20 Aug 2012

I had the exact same problems when I was on that drug. The stress and tension caused worse headaches though. Anytime the side effects seem worse than what caused me to be on the drug in the first place, I ask to stop. I would talk to my dr about getting off of it.

20 Aug 2012

Hello, My Pain doctor has me on 100mg of Topamax three times a day. For severe migraine prevention. I don't know if it was the awful car wrecks I was in a few yrs. back, but I have three disc'c (per MRI) in my neck that are messed up. And my neck and shoulders are constantly swollen. I think I have negetivity from this drug too and want to ask my doctor about something else. I get severe headaches alot, even on the Topamax. Can someone please suggest another migraine prevention medication that helped them? Ruthie

21 Aug 2012

Hi losingfamilyfriends, so sorry to hear about your problems with topamax. There are a plethora of medications in the same family as Topamax, so if the medication is helping your migraines there should be no reason why another medication in the same family shouldn't help also. You should not be forced to take a medication that changes your mood, or personality. BUT as others have said, you MUST go down slowly. It can cause seizures, and you don't want brain damage on top of migraines. Talk to your doctor. I'm sure that they know of another medication that you can try. Also, please ask about botox. It can work miracles!!

Best of luck!!

31 Aug 2012

I've taken Topamax for about 4 yrs., and in the beginning I felt like I was wound tightly inside, and was irritable with others. Finally I explained to them I was starting a new medicine and having side effects, & I was sorry the meds were making me act differently & they tried to understand. What I hate the most is being in the middle of a sentence when my thoughts become fragmented & whatever I had been saying won't come back to me. It is all tied into memory, and I don't know why it happens. Some side effects diminished, some improved... but I don't go to school & also don't work any longer. I would not be able to be employed at my full capacity while taking Topamax. For now, I weigh the pros and cons and know it is to my advantage to continue taking it.

And please remember, you CAN NOT suddenly stop Topamax, but your doctor will tell you how to wean yourself off of it. Good Luck to you!

2 Sep 2012

I had to leave my job because Topamax was affecting my performance.Get off it if you feel that way.I was at this job 22 years and now I have to work 2 jobs to make 25% of what I was making.Good Luck,Mograce

8 Nov 2012

Hi, I am on Topamax for my rapid cycling bipolar mood swings, at first it was very helpful but then my Dr. increased my dosage and I started to become confused, I lost my ability to concentrate and sometimes put the right words together. Instead of the mood swings I became numb with no emotions at all. I also had terrible loss of vision and very bad nightmares. I am a former nurse, and I know do NOT stop this drug cold turkey. Wean off of it slowly so you don't have seizures. Stay in close touch with your Dr. Good luck!

8 Nov 2012

There are other preventative migraine medications. Just have your doctor wean you off of it, and try another one. If none of them work, then you will be eligible for Botox which helps most people who are not helped by medications. Also none of the preventative meds worked for me, mostly due to side effects, until I found an herbal one called Petadolex. Good luck.

16 Nov 2012

i jst went to my neurologist 2day,is slowly taking me off of topamax,because of all the side affects,i was,(i mean, i am because im still on it)forgetting things,im mean,i talk slower than i normally would,i see flashing lights at times,so if you didnt already get off of it,in my opinion i think u should.GOOD LUCK

19 Nov 2012

Topamax is the bane of most psychiatrists. As everyone has stated here, it is a very dirty drug. To answer so other peoples question on other drugs that may help, you should talk to your doctor about Botox, D.H.E. 45 (dihydroergotamine mesylate) injection used with Phenergan (Promethazine hydrochloride) - one of the best migraine drugs and has been on the market for a very long time, Maxalt (Rizatriptan benzoate), Migranal Nasal Spray (dihydroergotamine mesylate), Neurontin (Gabapentin) as a prophylactic, Oxygen Concentrate - often over looked, and Zolmitriptan (Zomig). These are just a few of the drugs that could help you with your migraines. Hope this helps everyone.