Also known as: Topamax, Topamax Sprinkle, Topiragen
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.
Review by Anonymous (taken for less than 1 month):
User Rating:
1.0
Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: Female. 19. I had sinus surgery then started getting headaches after surgery because of nerve damage. I was taking 25mg once every night for a week and every next week would up the dose. My experience was awful! I had the usual side affects people had- tingling in lips/hands, and weight loss. Main one for me was, I was so extremely fatigued and weak. I'm a young healthy girl who eats healthy, is a healthy weight, and before my surgery worked out 4 X a week. I would have physically to force myself out of bed. And as far as the headaches it reduced the intensity of the migraines, but did nothing for the frequency.
Review by Anonymous (taken for 6 months to 1 year):
Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: My current dosage is 100mg daily. I started at 113 pounds, today I weigh 100 pounds due to Topamax. Yes, I agree with everyone in the beginning the side effects were the worst. However, my doctor warned me that I would not feel relief until I reached my full dosage and my body adjusted to it, which was about 12 weeks. And I did see a difference. Before Topamax, migraines controlled my life, I had roughly 15 a month. With the Topamax I rarely have a severe migraine at all. Typically I just get 5-7 headaches a month which is a big difference. Yes, sometimes I forget my train of thought or tingly in my feet. However, those side effects beat the alternative to 50% of my life being controlled by severe migraines.
Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I have now been on Topamax for about 6 years now and in all that time I can honestly say I have only had bad head ache and no migraine at all and the only reason started the medication is I had meningitis in 1993 and one of the long term side effects of this is migraines for life so Topamax has been a lifesaver for me.
Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I've been taking Topamax for over 3 years and the only side effect I experienced was an initial weight loss of about 15lbs. If there was any cognitive difficulty, memory loss, difficulty remembering words, etc., I didn't notice, as it was worse when I was experiencing a migraine. Before taking Topamax I would have a headache for months, with no relief. After I started taking Topamax the migraines were down to 3 month. My Dr. started me on a dose of 25mg, 2 X day and titrated me to 100mg 2 X day. Unfortunately, the Topamax no longer seems to be effective and on my next visit I will ask my Dr. to either increase the dosage or to prescribe a different medicine. Also, I have to agree with another post I saw, I am always freezing!
topiramate for Migraine Prevention: I have epilepsy and chronic migraines due to a head injury. I have had this condition for 3 years now. It wasn't until Topamax was added to my regimen that I was seizure free. I do still have occasional migraines but I personally feel Topamax gave me my life back. 6 months ago I got my drivers licence back after 3 years. I attribute that to Topamax.
topiramate for Obesity: I have been on Topamax for around two months. I decided to go on them because I weighed around 105 kgs, I was feeling depressed and I couldn't stop binge eating. Through Topamax, I have lost 10 kgs in one month (that would be around 22 pounds). I feel so much better. My urge to binge eat is gone. I feel human again. I don't feel any side effects. I sleep better than before, I drink more water than before (as much as I should drink, before I didn't drink at all and had problems with my kidneys). When I first started topiramate, I got double vision. I read that this was a common side effect and saw my eye doctor about it. She said that it was because my vision improved a great deal. So, thank you Topamax, My health greatly improved.
Review by tinkerbell420 (taken for 1 to 6 months):
User Rating:
10
Topamax (topiramate) for Fibromyalgia: I was put on Topamax 2 months ago after a serious car accident that left me in a flare up of my fibromyalgia. I have not reacted well to medications in the past and have had serious reactions which lead to serious consequences to the other meds I was on. Topamax has been the only medication that I have been able to tolerate well. It does take a while for it to start working though and I have had a few side effects but none that I'm not willing to put up with and 2 of them have gone away since I have started the Topamax.
topiramate for Migraine Prevention: Been on topiramate for around 9 months now. I've suffered with severe migraines for years and tried everything, started at 25mg, now on 100mg, they are trying to put me up as far as 400mg to find the optimum dose but I told them that I feel like it's making me sick, my memory has gone seriously bad! I keep feeling freezing cold all the time, I also have a serious stomach condition making my life miserable since taking these tabs, 3 days ago I Googled topiramate and realized why I am ill, now coming off it. It really helped reduce migraine frequency and severity but side effects I cannot cope with right now, such a shame.
Topamax (topiramate) for Tourette's Syndrome: I have Tourette's Syndrome and ADHD. Tried different kinds of medicines for my TS. Depending on my day, I could have some to a lot of tics. Topamax did wonders for my tics, but it can have side effects that are similar to ADHD symptoms - different remembering some words/names when asked, unable to concentrate, etc. I also experienced that my thought-pattern were kind of limited to a certain degree, as I would sometimes have difficulties thinking further ahead. This medicine however, was much better than other kinds I've tried.
Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: Began taking Topamax in 2006. Before starting on Topamax migraines were lasting 4-5 days after onset; and frequency of approximately 3 times per month. I experienced some diarrhea which subsided after breaking dosage up throughout the day (200mg daily). Additionally, I have experienced weight loss (a significant amount 50lbs) I could not afford to lose. However, the weight loss has subsided as well. Upon beginning the medication I had trouble with recalling words and memory loss. At this juncture the side effects have since passed and so have the migraines. I experience 1-2 migraines quarterly. Topamax has been a life-saver for me. I had tried many other migraine preventatives to no avail.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I have chronic daily migraines, and have tried several medications for migraine prevention, including Depakote, Elavil (amitriptyline), nortriptyline, and propranolol. The Depakote, amitriptyline and nortriptyline were too sedating. The propranolol worked well, but I had too increase the dosage over time to the point where my blood pressure became too low. Right now a combination of Topamax at 50 mg and propranolol extended release at 60 mg works best for me. There are few adverse effects. The Topamax does cause some frustrating cognitive difficulties but I think I can live with them, considering the relief it gives me from the migraines.
Topamax (topiramate) for Bipolar Disorder: I have had a good experience after trying to find the right cocktail for several years. I have a very high-stress job and my anxiety is put to the test daily. It is not clinically significant at this point and I can only attribute that to finally having my medicines right. I am taking Wellbutrin, Lamictal, Topamax and Zoloft at pretty low dosages for each. I did lose about 70 pounds. After over a year on the Topamax, my normal appetite has started to return and I have gained back about 10 pounds, but I still have self control that I lacked when I was fighting depression which is now at bay.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I started taking Topamax since Monday, February 4th, 2013. I have a history of migraines and lately have been having just bad headaches everyday. I am taking 25mg a day and it has really helped. I have had no side effects except lack of interest in eating. I have lost 3 lbs this week. I look forward to no headaches and will watch the weight loss but I can stand to lose a few pounds at this point.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: Topamax has significantly reduced my migraines from 1 a month to 1 every 18 months. I have also found that it helps you - to not over eat or drink alcohol. I am very happy being on Topamax for all these reasons. I initially did have tingly feet, a small price to pay, but rarely get that sympton now. I am on 50 mg a day.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: Took my first dose of 25mg on a Wednesday evening, that Thursday morning I woke up with nausea and diarrhea that only became more severe as the day went on. Had to leave work due to the severe nausea. Went to sleep around 2 p.m. and didn't wake up until 1 p.m. Friday. The only benefits I can say I had were the loss of weight (159lbs at appointment on Thursday/ 155.5lbs on Sunday) and I was able to quit smoking as I didn't have the urge to.
14 users found this comment helpful.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I am a retired teacher with a long history of migraines. Because of a heart condition, there were many medications I could not take. I suffered through many days taking mostly over the counter medicines. I was put on Topamax 10 months ago. At 100 mg a day, I was so stupid I could never have run a classroom. I could not do simple math problems or remember the names of streets nearby my home. The huge relief of not having migraines made it almost worth it. After all, I was now retired and did not have to be as sharp as I once was. It was a tough decision . My family was frustrated too with my huge brain fog. I also had the tingling and taste changes but they are easy to adjust to. I recently weaned myself down to 50mg a day and its working well.
23 users found this comment helpful.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I am currently taking it for intense migranes. It is the only thing that I have found that has helped. I do have breakthrough migraines but the medication does keep the majority of them at bay. I do get many of the side effects. I get the tingling in the hands and feet. I occasionally get tingling on my tongue and a weird burning/taste when I drink soda. I get a slight dizziness when I first take it. I am more sensitive to cold and I get diarrhea. All of these side effects I can either live with or treat and are worth the freedom of the migraines. If you live with migraines everyday your willing to put up with a lot of side effects just to be pain free for a while. This medication is totally worth it.
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Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I took Topamax for 2 months until I finally threw in the towel and could take no more. It did stop the migraines but the other side effects were horrible. I did have the tingling in my hands, feet, and lips and food did taste way different. I was so depressed I could barely even get out of the bed. I actually GAINED about 5 lbs. while I notice most everyone else lost weight. I cried everyday for a week straight and I'm not like that. My house was a wreck and I could barely help my son with his homework.
12 users found this comment helpful.
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Review by Anonymous (taken for 6 months to 1 year):
User Rating:
7.0
Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: I started taking Topamax in January of 2012 for migraines, I was getting one a day. I did experience the brain fog at first, but I found that after about a month or two, I was mostly back to normal. I have experienced the weight loss and loss of appetite, and I'm also lactose intolerant, so I'm trying to work on eating a healthy amount. I have found that drinking a lot of water really helps with the tingly feeling in my feet and hands!
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Topamax (topiramate) for Seizure Prevention: Confusion, forget, tingling, lights in the corner of eye shining, drops of water dripping on head at times, but the weight loss was good, but its not worth it for me.
Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention: Began Topamax in 2005 after suffering from migraines that would last for weeks. The litany of side effects is true, and its nickname, "Stupamax" is honestly earned. Word recall, memory, trouble focusing, hand numbness, fatigue, insomnia, the works. But number of days with headaches went from 21 to 9 the very first month. Now, after years of taking it, my body has been depleted of vitamin B12, and I have been suffering from horrible GI troubles. However, none of my doctors seemed to link Topamax to the B12 depletion. It took Google to figure that one out. But thank you to Google and B12 supplements. I hope this helps someone else relieve any issues they've been experiencing.
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