The following information is NOT intended to endorse drugs or recommend therapy. While these reviews might be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care.
Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: Topamax saved my life. I am 43 years old and have suffered from migraines since I was 18. I found Topamax this past June. Now it has been 7 months and life without migraines is wonderful. No more fear of when the Big One will hit. The weight loss (20lbs) was nice too. My worst side effect is the stumbling and grasping for words. My kids die laughing. So do I. My husband doesn't understand that part but it's ok. As long as the headaches don't come. I still have small, treatable headaches (part of another problem that I hope soon goes away). Topamax is my hero. Take away my car, my clothes, my house...but don't take away my Topamax.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: This medication has been working very well for me in preventing migraines with little side effects. The only thing is that it's really expensive.
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Topamax (topiramate) : After 25 years of suffering with migraines I've finally found something that works, bearing in mind I'm only 27. Although when my dose is increased I have really bad gastroenteritis and my taste has completely changed not to mention my weight loss, this is a really powerful drug. I believe it is working for me.
Ok, I am now updating my review...I am now 37 years old and I still take the Topamax daily, 25 mg in the morning and 50 mg at night. It works for me really well. Maybe 1 migraine a month and it is very manageable with Relpax. I still get a little bit of tingling in my hands and feet, and my weight has stabilized. I love Topamax. The only complaint I have is the price.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I have been on Topamax for nearly a month now and love it. I have some of the side affects. I was on it a long time ago. My doctor put me back on it again. I only need to find out about the dosage. She has me on 50mg 2 times a day. I think I need to be on 25 mg twice a day.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I was put on topamax for about 3 weeks for excruciating migraines that I would get just about daily. While it was pretty effective at decreasing my headaches (I only had about one or two in the three weeks I was on it), I experienced side effects from it. I was taken off it for a few days and then put back on to see if I still had the same problems. A little bit of lip tingling but nothing major. When I upped the dose like I was supposed to my gums started hurting so my doctor took me off it and put me on Depakote.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Bipolar Disorder: I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder since I was 16 and now that I'm 25. I feel good to have found a medication that helps me. The only problem I have is the fatige. I could sleep alot on this medication. I guess thats still better than being depressed and irritable.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: After 25 years of suffering with migraines I've finally found something that works, bearing in mind I'm only 27. Although when my dose is increased I have really bad gastroenteritis and my taste has completely changed not to mention my weight loss, this is a really powerful drug. I believe it is working for me.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Bipolar Disorder: I am 35 years old. I have been battling depression and anxiety for 10 years now. Last week I went to a psych. doctor and he diagnosed me with Bipolar II and ADD. He has prescribed Topamax. I'm not the CRAZED person I was but I'm still in the beginning stages of this. I could lose weight so that's a plus. I'm a little fuzzy thinking right now but hopefully after I get adjusted it will get better. I used to sleep all the time now I feel tired but can't sleep. I have this new CLEANING spree that I'm going through. My husband loves that.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Obesity: I have never had the feeling of being full and have fought obesity since childhood. I had a successful gastric bypass in 1980 (but with serious lifelong medical complications) and lost 170lbs at after the operation. Over the years I've gained and lost up to 70lbs but never held a steady weight. I saw a psychiatrist 6 years ago (for other reasons) and shared this with him. He told me about Topamax and explained that it did not work in everyone, but had with some of his patients with true food disorders. He started me at 5mg/day and increased the dosage by 5mg/ week. When I reached 150mg/day I noticed that I consistently pushed my plate away or stopped eating when I was full. It has been a miracle, and my weight hasn't varied more than 5lbs in 7 years.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I have been using Topamax for 1 year and I have not had a migraine in a year. Before taking Topamax I was in bed for 9 months with a migraine headache.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I have been taking topamax for three years (75mg daily). I lost 25 lbs and I get maybe a few headaches a month. I also take Imitrex. I used to get fifteen headaches a month. I also take neurontin now for nerve pain and muscle pain and head pain. Topamax is worth trying for migraines. The side went away after a month.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: Like many of you, I've suffered since I was a teenager with migraines 3-5 times a week. Some would be so serious I would end up in the hospital a few times a year. I even lost a job because of my migraines. I had to plan my life around them. Now at 35, I've been on Topamax for 6 years and it's changed my world. It's given me a life back. I'll still get an occasional headache that requires me to break out the Imitrex, but nothing serious. I haven't had too many problems with side effects other then having a little less quick recall/memory, but not enough to really matter. Potassium seems to help with the side effects. My main side effect is getting rash/hives from overheating.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Vulvodynia: I was diagnosed with a condition called vulvadynia about 5 years ago. It's pain in and around the vaginal region. The doctor tried me on all types of medicines. Mostly antidepressents for nerve pain. I was on amitriptyline, effexor and so on. They all worked to some extent but now my pain doctor, who was the one who put me on the pills, has put me on Topomax, which is working real well for me. I have no pain but sometimes I do feel a little uncomfortable, and have bad days but not too often. If it's not working then she will try something else. My dosage is 100mg once a day before bedtime. I don't notice side effects because I take alot of different medicines.
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topiramate for Migraine Prevention: I have been using Topamax since February 2008 (this is August 2008) until recent stress reached an all time high Topamax had been working great. But with added stress of the death of my husband's father, my bipolar son going off to residental treatment, my other bipolar son having to come off of his Lithium due to his kidneys...well I am sure you can guess I have had several break through migranes.
Still, overall I have been pleased. I have lost about 40 pounds. I went from 228 down to 189. For a 39 year old, 5'3" woman. that'a a big difference.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I have only been on this medicine for about a month and a half. I was having about 6-8 migraines a week. I cannot tell you how much difference Topamax has made in my life. I feel like a new person. Some side effects , little tingling, my tongue feels weird, but only a few mini migraines here and there now and well manageable. Love it.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I have used Topamax off and on for the past 5 years. Off (due to pregnancies.) I am once again on and love the drug. Although the side effects are something to get used to, tingling in the hands, etc., those can be corrected with the correct dosage. The best side effect is the weight loss which certainly helps. My migraines have completely gone away. I have been a migraine sufferer since I was 5 years old (some 27 years). Topamax is a wonder drug!!
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I've been using Topamax for about 4 months after suffering for about 20 years. The migraines had started to come every week and I couldn't function for days. This medicine allowed me to function again without having to worry about when the next big headache was going to come. Side effects haven't been too bad, some tingling, and I can no longer drink anything carbonated, but well worth it.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Bipolar Disorder: Have used Topamax for over 2 years, in conjunction with Wellbutrin. Never knew that life was quite like this. I am now almost 53 years old. To think that I lived so many years never being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. I am so happy that life is so wonderful because of Topamax. Only side effect has been weight loss but, that really is a good thing. It is wonderful to be back at my true weight because the bipolar disorder is now managed.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Trigeminal Neuralgia: I have taken it for 1 and 1/2 years for migraine. Also, after developing chronic lower back pain from degenerative discs it has really helped me cope with the pain.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I have been on Topamax for about 5 years now, for Migraines, and it has been the best thing that I could have done. That in combination with a beta blocker works great. I don't suffer with a horrible migraine everyday. There are some days where I do get headaches but no where near as bad as they used to be. I am maintained on 175mg twice a day. I have had some side effects like tingling and weight loss but it's worth it to be able to have a normal life.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Bipolar Disorder: Love this. I have been on Seroquel and gained a tremendous amount of weight and turned into a zombie. I lost 20 lbs in 1 month and feel the best I have felt in a long time.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Bipolar Disorder: I have been off and on Topamax for about 5 years now and I must say that it works better for bipolar mood stabilization than any other one out there. The one thing I love the most about this medicine is that it is helping me lose weight. They need to put in the time to verify that this drug is in fact a mood stabilizer because it certainly does help with bipolar disorder.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I have been taking Topamax for about 6 years now. My current dosage is 200mg/day - the dosage was recently increased during a high-stress time. The main side-effects I notice are slight tingling in fingers, which only lasts a few moments. I have gone from 5-6 migraines a week to only 1 or 2 a month. Certainly worth it.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I highly recommend over many of the other medicines that are supposed to do the same thing. Does not cause weight gain either.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I delt with migraines for so many years that I can not even remember. Due to the cost of Topamax at one point I quit taking it. I am back on it now. It is a life saver for me. I have had some of the side effects, weight loss, tingling finger, cold feet, taste change, etc. but they are all worth it not to have the life stopping migraines anymore. Once the dosage is regulated it is wonderful. I have probably had 2 migraines in the past year and neither have been untolerable.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Seizure Prevention: I have been on this medicine for about a week now. I was on it before for about 3-4 years. After the inital side effects which lasted probably about a month the only one that lasted was that I had a lot of energy, which always isn't so bad. Everyone reacts to medicines differently though. I didn't have such a bad experience with this one.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Trigeminal Neuralgia: I suffered a stroke in '04 and my neurologist prescribed Neurontin to deal with the resulting numbness and tingling on the right side. A year later, and after emergency gall bladder surgery, he put me on a low dose of Topamax instead. It worked well, but I've had to eventually increase the dosage. The side effects were minimal; I needed to lose the 35 lbs I lost (and my wardrobe needed updating :0), and the additional tingling is nothing compared to what I feel when I don't take it. Expensive!
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I have been using Topamax for 7 months now and it has nearly eliminated my headaches. I read about the side effects prior to taking the drug and I was committed to taking the medication for at least a month to see what would happen. I had the typical side effects of tingling, change of taste but over the course of time all of these have pretty much gone away along with my headaches. The drug is expensive but it is well worth it for me.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: After suffering with migraines for over 10yrs Topamax has been a life saver. I had tried several other meds (Zomig, Imitrex, etc.) but they would only work for a while and then stop working for me all together. I have been on Topamax for over a yr now and went from 4 or 5 migraines a month to one every couple of months. I am currently taking 200mg/day (100mg in the morning and evening). Side effects are minimal compared to the agony of having migraines all the time.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I have been taking Topamax for about 2 full months now. I had a sudden onset of massive Migraine's.In one month alone I went 27 days with Migraine's, I was a nonfunctioning person. I ended up in the hospital for 2 days finally,I started taking this wonder drug!I have only had 2 bad Migraine's in 2 months.I am able to go to work and most of all function at home.I do find however that I have memory issues, and speech issues, ThankGod everyone around me is very understanding and we laugh about it.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: There are a few ways to get rid of one of the most annoying side effects, the tingling hands and feet. Potassium- I used to eat a banana or drink fruit juice high in potassium.
All of my side effects went away after 2 yrs on Topamax. It is hard to ween off of. I have not taken a pill for 2 mths and have far less headaches than before Topamax!!
Great drug! I lost almost 30lb but once we found the right dosage I leveled out and stayed that weight for a yr before weening off.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: WONDERDRUG!! Every drug has side effects people! The side effects from this one wore off for me after about 2 months..you gotta stick through it to get used to it, once you do it's totally worth it. I went from having almost daily headaches and weekly severe migraines to maybe 1 migraine every couple of months that even then it was very minimal. Totally worth trying!
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I've been taking Topamax for about a year and a half now and it has drastically cut down the frequency of my migraines and that is so worth the side effects I've noticed. Yes, I've had the tingles and some facial twitches, I've lost about 20 lbs. and have trouble with word retrieval & memory... but is it worth it? Absolutely! I currently take 250 mg/day -- all at night to help minimize the noticeability of the side effects. A good option, IMO.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I've had daily chronic migs for over 39 years now & have tried everything under the sun. Although Topamax doesn't get rid of my migs it allows them to be manageable. When they not, Imitrex is there. I LIVE on those two. Yes, Topamax has its side effects; I esp like the one where I forget words and objects. I've been on it for about 6 years now & although it doesn't work the best, it works better than anything else i've been on. I take 400 mgs daily. Have a pos outlook on life, it helps a lot!! :o)
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Topamax (topiramate) for Seizure Prevention: Topamax has really decreased my seisure activity, and as a bonus my headaches. However; I do still take a nap everyday after school. It is a must.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I have been taking Topamax 50 mg. 2 X daily for over a year now and found that it has helped me alot with a few exceptions. They are weight loss, kidney stones, tingling in hands & feet & frequent urination. I found that other medications din't help (Depakote). I also take this with Inderal(B/P Med) and Catapres TTS Patch(B/P Med) cause I also suffer high Blood Pressure and these two medications also are good migraine fighting meds. I do recommend the Topamx.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I love Topamax! I can finally sit through school without getting a migraine. It might make concentrating a little more difficult, but no harder than trying to concentrate with a migraine! The only side effect I can complain about is the tingling in my hands and feet, but that usually only lasts about 15 min. I haven't experienced any hair loss (thank god)and I also can't complain about the appetite loss.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I do not recommend Topamax as a solution to migranes. Although it did help keep the frequency of the headaches down at first, in the long run, I had just as many migranes as usual and there were too many side effects to make it worthwhile. My short term memory was practically shot, my hands would tremor and go numb as some points, and i experienced irregular heartbeat, trouble focusing, and sleep issues.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: After 8 years, five different doctors, and just about every possible prescription and home remedy, I finally found something that works. I have been taking Topamax for five months and love it. The only side effects have been a change in my taste buds and the tingling sensation. My doctor wanted to increase the dosage. However, after reading about the drug, I think the severities of the side effects are directly related to the dosages. My dosage is 25 mg twice daily and sometimes I only take it one a day. For those who are still suffering, I am sorry. Don’t give up hope. Something has to work and until then try the pain medication.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: Hi I have taken topamax for almost a year, not only is it expensive, my husband wanted me to stop taking it. He said I was acting like a witch, and I did not notice any change in my migraines just weight loss. I also had difficulty speaking and could not think of what I wanted to say. I no longer take it but I am still looking for something to help with my migraines.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I have been taking Topamax for about 10 months now for migraine prevention. I have had several undesirable side effects, including irregular heartbeat, shallow breathing, tingling extremities, memory loss, and even hair loss. It helped only during the first few months, but now I get just as many migraines as before.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: Topamax has been a life saver for me! I am living alone without fear for the first time in my life. I can go outside during the day and not feel like crying from the pain of 24/7 migraines. I can drive without fear of not being able to get myself home. The side effects I have had are weight loss (I needed it anyway). Some memory issues (I write thing down more) and last the big one. I have lost almost all my hair. It’s very traumatic, but after years of pain and fear I am free to live my life and if I have to live it in a wig so be it!
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I started topamax about 4 weeks ago for consistent, daily "addle-brained" headaches. Before that I was taking Depakote but I had gained a lot of weight. The topamax seems to be working well but I am doing very silly things, like throwing my wash in the trash and getting very emotional over the silliest things. Also, difficulty in speaking.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I took Topamax for about 10 days to prevent migraines. I had several undesirable side effects (trouble focusing, problems with word retrieval, sleepiness). But the worst was feeling depressed. I stopped taking it.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: Two of my sisters have been taking Topamax for a couple years for migraines. Both have seen their appetites decrease thereby causing them to lose weight, which they both needed to do.
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beadyb said: 
LittleZip said: 
