[sarahb1981]

I've been taking topamax now since last January for seizures. I was on valproic acid for many years before that in addition to Lamictal. Since going on the Topamax on the Topamax I feel like I've totally lost my personality, I'm much more emotional then I used to be and especially during dosage changes I find I can cry at the drop of a hat. The worst is the paranoia that comes with it at the same time. I've come to accept the speech issues and the memory loss because valproic acid had simular effects, but does anyone else feel extremely emotional and paranoid on this medication? Some days I feel like I'm going crazy....

thanks

[sindie]

My son has been on topamax for a while and it did not seem to help control his seizures the only thing it did do is make him more angered at times to the point he is out of control.... now all we can do is wait until we can change meds completely and that can take up to a year to totally switch his meds so that we don't cause hime to have a seizure But we added Keppra and he had a surgery and we have not had a seizure since March of 05 .... any one else see these issues My son is 9

[sarahb1981]

I have only been on topamax for a short time and have had more seizures on it then I have had in the years since my diagnosis with epilepsy as a teenager. Granted the petit mal seizures have lapsed I have had two grand mal seizures since July and it seems like very small things trigger them, things that I never had to worry about before. I also find that I'm much easily short tempered and emotional on the medication to the point that I sometimes wonder who I am when I hear myself speak to others. My actions don't even seem like my own, especially when handling my son and the people who work under me. I feel for your son as I would not know how to handle such a medication when I didn't have the words to describe what it was doing to me, even now its hard for people to understand that my actions sometimes really are not me and are induced by a drug I am forced to take just to function. I have tried so many medications since my diagnosis 10 yrs ago I'm beginning to give up hope that I will ever live a normal life, and fear that my son has a future of this to look forward to. I don't know what drugs you have tried for your son, but I was most controlled on Depakote and Lamictal however Depakote (valproic acid) has the side effect of shutting off your ability to know when you are full. (something ym doctor never mentioned to me) I took it for 6 yrs and complained constantly that i was gaining tons of weight and was just written off that it was a side effect and atleast I was controlled. It wasn't until I met with a female doctor who explained exactly what it did to your body. So if they suggest it, it is a great drug for the seizures but monitored the snacking because he will constantly think he's hungry and want to eat even if he just had a huge meal and it can definatly get ahead of him.

[jalink]

Originally Posted by sarahb1981

I've been taking topamax now since last January for seizures. I was on valproic acid for many years before that in addition to Lamictal. Since going on the Topamax on the Topamax I feel like I've totally lost my personality, I'm much more emotional then I used to be and especially during dosage changes I find I can cry at the drop of a hat. The worst is the paranoia that comes with it at the same time. I've come to accept the speech issues and the memory loss because valproic acid had simular effects, but does anyone else feel extremely emotional and paranoid on this medication? Some days I feel like I'm going crazy....

thanks

I take Topamax for my diagnosis of Bipolar disorder but really that is where our difference ends. I take right now 200mg twice daily. I went through most of the side effects you list up there for about 3 months and everything as passed. Nuff about me though.
It sounds clearly like you need to see the doc and change your Medications to something else. A year of the side effects you have meantioned is just not accectable. I hope you find something that works for you
Peace