Topamax for Migraine Prevention User Reviews (Page 3)

• Anna
• January 29, 2013

"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."

• Fergu...
• November 22, 2015

"I swear, this stuff almost ruined my life. I am a veteran who suffers from anxiety and chronic migraines from an injury in Iraq. The VA (my neurologist) had me try this drug to see if it would help me with the migraines. After about a month I noticed that I couldn't concentrate, and I'd began to effect my studies badly. My anxiety was the worst it had ever been and I was slipping into a depression. I had no idea what was wrong g with me. The VA gave me (a person who suffers from anxiety) a medication that makes you stupid, and wrecked havoc on my mind without warning me about any potential side effects. I had to process the change on my own, figure out what was wrong with me, and ween myself off the pills. Use with extreme caution!"

• Tope...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 30, 2020

"On Topamax since 06' for migraines which is works, lost weight, works for that too, 200mg @AM and 300mg @pm now to manage. Only side effects are minimal. I can tell you that the weight loss comes to an end and you will have better luck with diet and exercise. Even on this med I have, because if you don't change your lifestyle and eating habits, when that weight loss stops, you just gain it all back. That's why weight gain is a side effect too. Just do the right way to begin with. You will be happier and healthier."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2017

"Now in my late 50's, I have been a lifelong migraine sufferer. My new neurologist recommended Topamax (FDA approved for migraine therapy). I am going on week 3 with promising results...for the first time in years I am waking up to no headaches and am not getting headaches as the day wears on. I'm sleeping better. I am experiencing a slight problem with focus/concentration but am told that this side effect should subside over time. Providing the side effects are minimal and non-intrusive, I can see staying on this medication-I'm hopeful."

• Jenn...
• November 15, 2016

"I have been taking 75mg topamax one a day for about 10 years now. I have gone as far as taking 100mg until I started not being able to get the words out that I was thinking of. That side effect has not completely gone away but is better. When I first started I did have the tingling in my hands and feet but it was no more than like having carpal tunnel, I also have the weird taste where soda tasted flat and tomatos tastes weird. I did loose a little weight. The tingeling went away, I adjusted to just not drinking soda. And tomatos started to taste fine. I also take Sumatriptan for when I still do get a headache. However the headaches are much fewer and further beteeen. I will get a cluster of them about every six mths but still better."

• Willard
• May 7, 2016

"After menopause, migraines soared to three per week. Top ax 50 mgs daily has been a miracle drug. Not one headache in 18 months. One side effect is dry eyes and dry mouth. Easy to live with that in lieu of disabling migraines that eroded my life."

• Happy
• October 3, 2018

"I have had migraines for 31 years that were easily controlled by Sumatriptan a few times a month and 25mg of Amitriptyline daily. While now going through perimenopause my migraines became more severe and harder to control. I was taking many milligrams of OTC pain relievers, tried all natural remedies, my life started being controlled by when I was going to get a migraine. My Neurologist prescribed Topiramate Sprinkle Capsules, started 15mg every three days until target dose reached. The first few weeks I was very tired and I did feel foggy, at 45mg I stopped having migraines and I have stayed at that dose for the last four months. Yes, I still do feel a little foggy at times, and I have to take it at night because it makes me very tired, but it really has been a miracle drug for me, and I'm glad I didn't have to take the full 100mg for the drug to work. I did have two headaches while on topamax, but both were relieved by Ibuprofen."

• Patti...
• July 25, 2015

"I've had migraines since kindergarten. They have become increasingly debilitating in adulthood and sometimes I would average 15 headaches per month! My life revolved around my migraines. I tried everything to stop them. When my doctor talked to me about Topomax, I was thrilled. It took me two years to get to a dosage that managed the headaches and auras but now the only time I get a migraine, it's weather related. I use Relpax to relieve it. Topomax has been a God send for me!"

• usmcw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2014

"I've been on Topamax for about 5 months now (100 am/100 pm) and finally giving up faith. The negative side effects outweigh the slight change in my migraines. Carbonated beverages taste terrible, I have to force myself to eat, I stutter constantly, I can never find the right words and often switch up words in a sentence. My memory is horrid, and I always see tracers, which is enough to drive anyone crazy. The only pluses are the slight decrease in consistency of my migraines and the weight loss."

• doodl...
• December 29, 2008

"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."

• Jojo
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2016

" This is the worst medication ever. Started at 25mg for 7 days at night then moved up to 50 mg. on night 7 to advance each week up until100mg. Didn't get past day12 and decided this was not going to work for me. Vertigo, nausea, loss of appetite, irrational fears, phobias, drug induced fog, depression, ringing in ears and can only smell certain strange odors which are unpleasant and all carbonated drinks are flat and tasteless. At this point, your quality of life is beyond worthless. It helped with migraines...but I was so preoccupied and sick with side effects I'm not sure what was worse."

• Over...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 29, 2016

"have been researching and researching for so many years and I have to say that Topamax saved my life. I am currently 23 years old, and I started having these migraines when I was 15. I didn't know that this would be a lifelong thing that would eventually lead me to be on daily medication. The frequency that I would get them,would be more than six times a month. Anyway, I went on propannalol? (Beta blocker), NO SUCESS. & then doctors prescribed me topamax. I didn't have any side effects. At all. No tingling. Nothing. And GUESS WHAT, I didn't have a migraine for 3 years!!!! NOT ONE. but I got off of it, thinking they were "gone" & now I'm suffering with new hormonal migraines. Going back on topamax & hoping for same results!!!!"

• mnpos...
• November 12, 2019

"I took 50mg topamax daily for migraines. 6 months into it I started noticing increasing hair loss and looked for answers including having both hormones and thyroid checked. I reread the included drug information several times and found nothing about hair loss. At the point I had lost 1/2 my hair I finally Googled Topamax hair loss and found it is a side effect of topamax. Also during this time I had extensive testing trying to find out why I was having increased period pain and both my Dr and I missed that this IS listed as a side effect. I stopped the medication 6 weeks ago because of the hair loss but also putting on hold additional procedures considered for dealing with the menstrual pain as there is a good probability this was also caused by the Topamax. 2 stars that I give the drug are only because of the "bonus" side effect of the weight loss, which was the ONLY hesitation that I had about stopping taking it, and the nominal reduction in the number of migraines I was experiencing."

• Super...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 9, 2019

"I took Topamax for about 8 to 10 years at maximum dosage for migraine prevention. (Don't recall actual dosage but I think is was like 400mg daily) I went from over 300 migraine days a year, down to less than 12 migraine days a year. That's a solid rating of 10 for relief. But, the side effects are really bad while on such high doses. 1) Memory loss was terrible and it does not come back. 2) Kidney stones are another side effect. Turned me kidneys into bean bags, every 6 month scan added 4 to 6 more stones. Finally had to give it up! Now, after being off of Topamax for 3 to 4 years, the migraines are back with a vengeance. P.S. Going to the generic (Topiramate) gave me identical results."

• Ash
• March 11, 2019

"I have been having headaches about 20-27 days out of a month and lived on Tylenol and Motrin. Reaching 5000 mg a day on Tylenol which I knew was terrible for my liver but that was the only bit of relief that I got and that still didn’t help. Not to mention I was taking 3-4 Benadryl OR 4 melatonin a night to sleep and would only get 3 hours of sleep. After seeing a neurologist he put me in topomax twice daily and I have only had a small dull pain twice where each time I only took one Tylenol each time and they helped within 30 minutes. I recommend someone trying this prescription for migraines after talking to their doctors."

• Kate
• January 8, 2015

"I started taking Topamax about two and 1/2 weeks ago. In that two weeks I've lost close to 10 pounds. I've also had the tingling in my fingers and feet and toes. I've gotten tingling in my lips too. Other then tingling body parts, so far I love it and Ive gone from headaches every day to maybe 4 really small ones and one migraine."

• Malus...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 28, 2013

"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."

• Beth
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 4, 2023

"This drug is awful. I took 50mg per day for migraine prevention and it caused significant hair loss. I already have thin hair, and this drug made it worse. My hair was coming out in clumps in the shower. This drug should be illegal. Do not take it if you want to keep your hair!!"

• Lexi
• May 10, 2015

"This medication has been a miracle. My migraines have been disabling to the point where I could not turn my neck and I could not stand up. With this medication, I can live my life. I am on 150 mg a day. Thank you topamax!"

• RJinV...
• May 4, 2014

"Wow, what a roller coaster ride! Started on 25mg, no effect, then 50, 200 finally 400. It did stop the cluster headaches, but Extreme confusion, serious loss of hearing, forgetfulness, couldn't remember my phone number! My wife wouldn't let me drive at 400mg, I was dangerous, parking became very difficult, once I had to get out of the car and let her park. Frustrating and humiliating. In the end, I was down to 50mg a day, Doc said that wasn't causing any side effects at that low dose. WRONG! When I finally stopped, it took a couple of weeks to become me again. I was shocked at the difference it made being off of it. Some of my hearing came back thankfully. I did lose 30 pounds that did not come back."

• Cherb...
• December 22, 2014

"I fell four feet backwards off of a straight truck and whacked the back if my head off of a concrete parking lot and gave my self a concussion. Long story short, I have had a rough go at the post concussion symptoms and the migraine/cluster like headaches have played a MAJOR role. Theres days where I just lay around in the dark and do nothing. The pounding just takes over and that's all that matters. You are not even you anymore. I was prescribed Topamax on Nov.18th and started one week on 25mg. Nothing changed. Then two weeks on 50mg, again nothing changed. This is my third week on 100mg and I am FINALLY migraine free. The side effects do wear off after time. You just have to give this medicine time. Worth it."

• Jen
• July 20, 2017

"I'm writing about my 18 year old daughter who is currently on Topamax. She has suffered from migraines since she was about 12 years old. They would take her out for 2-3 days each, occurring anywhere from 2-6 times a month. When she was first given Topamax we thought it was the greatest medication ever. Problem solved, she felt that the tingling fingers, and face as well as the flat soda taste was well worth not suffering from migraines. HOWEVER - and I can not stress this enough as she increased her dose, she exhibited personality changes. She became depressed and overall just wasn't herself. Thankfully we recognized this and are working with her Dr. to back off the Topamax. We will be looking into other options. Not worth it!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 13, 2014

"I have been taking Topamax for 2 years now after trying many different medications. Yes I got some of the side effect mainly thought process was slow and word confusion that was real frustrating it is worse under stress. The all over tingling is not as bad anymore but not have headaches every day, you have to weigh you options."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 28, 2012

"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!"

• Beran...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2016

"Had migraines for 7 years. Take Fioricet for pain, which works well, but I wanted to try prevention. My doctor had already tried Gabapentin, Sumatriptan, and Propranolol, all of which had side effects but did nothing for migraines. Next came Topamax. Side effects were: Slight change of taste (sodas tasted flat, bread tasted sweeter), and gradual loss of memory and concentration, such that it was hard to read or study an issue at work and be able to understand it. It did not affect my eating habits or energy levels, did not affect my weight at all. It also did nothing for my migraines. It severely impeded my ability to think and thus my ability to work in the tech field, so I stopped taking it, and my work performance improved drastically."