Topiramate for Migraine Prevention User Reviews (Page 4)

• Jen...
• July 20, 2017

Topiramate "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, were well worth not suffering from migraines. HOWEVER - and I cannot 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 doctor to back off the Topamax. We will be looking into other options. Not worth it!"

• RJi...
• May 4, 2014

Topiramate "Wow, what a roller coaster ride! Started on 25 mg, 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 400 mg, 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 50 mg 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."

• Tam...
• September 4, 2015

Topiramate "I have had estrogen- and barometric migraines since my mid-twenties. I was noticing that the intensity and frequency of said migraines were getting worse over time (I'm 47 now). I was over-prescribed Imitrex and was having rebound migraines, suffering 20 migraines per month. So far, I've been on this medication for a little over 2 weeks, and am on 25 mg. I don't think I need to go any higher right now, which is fine by me. For the first 4 days, I had a horrid migraine, felt dizzy, and had some nausea. After that, I started feeling a lot better, more alert, no pain, felt sharper too. I'm in peri-menopause and have noticed that I get a migraine around the time of my period, but it's about a 5 or 6 instead of a 10. So far, it is working with very few side effects."

• Jen...
• November 5, 2018

"I am a doctoral student who has carried an A average and ran my own business for 6 years. I started having double vision, memory loss, and constipation. My grades declined. I had to wear glasses for the first time ever. Even with glasses, I still see blurry. I struggle to receive B's in my courses and no longer work my own business. I have gained 30 pounds in 4 months, look 8 months pregnant, and cannot have a bowel movement. A trip to urgent care showed that my stomach and intestines are full and paralyzed. The doctor called me this evening and told me to go to the ER immediately. X-rays showed I have ileus and my stomach and small intestines are much overstretched. I have no blockage, but my intestines are paralyzed from constipation resulting from taking this drug too long. I am getting dressed to go now but wanted others to know that unless your condition is serious, take something else for headaches. Loss of memory, eyesight, and bowel movements is not worth the trade-off."

• Ros...
• February 3, 2013

Topiramate "Topamax has significantly reduced my migraines from 1 a month to 1 every 18 months. I have also found that it helps you not overeat 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 symptom now. I am on 50 mg a day."

• tin...
• October 21, 2007

Topiramate "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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 2, 2013

Topiramate "I went from 1 or 2 migraines a year to about 9 a month. After a year or so of this, my doctor had me try Topamax. I've been on 25 mg, once a day, for the past three weeks, and I'm very happy with it. I've only had the beginnings of 3 migraines (immediately took my Relpax), and they went immediately away. I feel like I've got my life back. My only side effects are a slight loss of appetite (which I'm not unhappy about) and a little tingling in my feet. Well worth it."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2020

Topiramate "Started taking this just before my first semester of college. It was super effective in getting rid of the migraines, but the side effects quickly became too much. I experienced occasional numbness in my hands, which eventually spread all the way up to my elbows, memory loss, and confusion. I would zone out in the middle of conversations, and it got to a point where I would drop words and even phrases from my sentences as I spoke. At its worst, I sobbed through writing an essay as my mom tried to help me piece my thoughts together into something coherent and stop me from dropping entire sentences as I wrote. Quite possibly the worst experience of my life."

• Pai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 10, 2019

"Zero sleep, seizures, migraines, hallucinations, my mind going 24/7, heart racing, diarrhea, restlessness, brain fog. I could go on! And now I have to come off it. What a mess. Sending healing to anyone having to deal with chronic pain."

• mir...
• February 19, 2015

Topiramate "I've been on Topamax for about 2 months now. I've gone from having a migraine or headache of some sort every day to 2 migraines in the past 2 months. The only thing I don't like about the medication is the severe tingling in my hands, feet, fingers, and lips."

• Ash...
• March 11, 2019

Topiramate "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 on Topamax twice daily, and I have only had a small dull pain twice, where each time I only took one Tylenol, and they helped within 30 minutes. I recommend someone try this prescription for migraines after talking to their doctors."

• Anonymous
• March 27, 2008

Topiramate "I've been taking Topamax for about a year and a half now, and it has drastically cut down the frequency of my migraines. 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 I have trouble with word retrieval and 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, in my opinion."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2013

Topiramate "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 bed. I actually gained about 5 lbs. while I notice most everyone else lost weight. I cried every day 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."

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2014

Topiramate "After 7 years of debilitating migraines almost daily and rebound headaches from taking Excedrin and ibuprofen, I finally found a doctor that was willing to help me. She suggested Topamax, and just in this short period of a couple of months, there's been a significant difference. Not only am I rarely having pain, I feel less anxious and more balanced out emotionally as well. Even friends and co-workers can see the difference in my mood! As for side effects, I experienced tingling in my hands, feet, and face, but my doctor mentioned taking a multivitamin each day, which has seemed to help. I've also been drinking LOTS of water to counteract the major dry mouth. Overall, Topamax has been more of an effective, positive experience for me than anything."

• dim...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 11, 2015

Topiramate "I was taking this medication for over two years. I had to stop it because my memory is terrible. Places I have been going for over ten years, I forgot where they were and how to get there. This medicine has messed up my life, even after I stopped it, my memory still hasn't returned. I deal with this every day, and it scares me so bad. I have to write things down every day in order to remember. It did help with my headaches a little, but if I had read up on this medication before I started, I can promise you I would not have taken it."

• Sca...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 11, 2017

Topiramate "I was diagnosed with vestibular migraines in 2010, and I had severe 24/7 vertigo. I always had 'regular' migraines since I was a teen, but after an infection of the inner ear in 2010, my migraines changed, and I had both pain and vertigo. For one year, I had constant vertigo, and I honestly thought I would become housebound. I could not go to theaters, malls, stores, or any areas with lots of people because crowds would make me dizzy. My work was in jeopardy. I tried Topamax, and it gave me my life back. The initial side effects were awful, but my body slowly adjusted to them. Eventually, the dizziness went away. I now take 225 mg daily. I have some word-finding and concentration problems, but that sure beats 24/7 vertigo."

• you...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 2, 2024

Topiramate "Ok, so I was only on this medication for about two weeks for headaches. I can't speak about the effectiveness because I don't feel like I was on it long enough. First week at 25mg and second at 50mg. But what I can talk about is the side effects. If you have a history of depression or anxiety, I would advise to stay clear. Even if you are doing great right now and feel it's pretty well controlled. At 50mg, I felt a lot more irritable, slight feeling of inner turmoil, and every day I'd have at least one onset of extreme panic for no reason. Just sitting at my desk or something. I felt it significantly impacted my memory and my ability to think and do my work. I'm usually done with all my work in a few hours. I felt it took me double the time due to a new and unwelcome ADD. I know I was only two weeks into it and some of that might have gone away, but it wasn't worth it for me to see. Other side effects were a weird taste in my mouth and not being quite as hungry (still managed to eat, lol)."

• Bez...
• September 20, 2016

Topiramate "I've had migraines since I was 25 (am now 68), and my life was hell until I discovered Topamax 18 months ago. I must be one of the lucky ones because I didn't have any horrible side effects, just some mild finger tingling. I lost a little appetite but made no difference (I'm slim anyway and probably lost 5 pounds), otherwise, it has been a miracle! I started with 25 mg, increased to 50, then to 100, didn't like it, went back to 50, and am now on 25 again and feel great. Sometimes I also take the generic and have no problem at all."

• Bev...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 22, 2019

Topiramate "I have been taking Topamax for one year for migraines with muscle spasms. Topamax is really the best drug for reducing my headaches and also for controlling the migraine-caused spasms. Nothing else stops the spasms - they are debilitating. That said, I started at 100 mg, and it was a nightmare! My right leg became icy and numb, and that spread to my right abdomen and then the right side of my brain. I had difficulty walking and functioning because of this. I was so numb, I was constantly bumping my right side and bruising because I couldn’t feel anything on that side. I couldn’t lift my leg to climb stairs or to get in a car to drive. I had yeast infections that wouldn’t end along with differences in menstruation. There were other side effects also, but these were the worst. I reduced the dose to 50 mg. The side effects were greatly reduced. The headaches are more frequent, and the spasms much more bothersome but still reduced enough to live with."

• mel...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 6, 2013

Topiramate "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 the dosage up throughout the day (200 mg daily). Additionally, I have experienced weight loss (a significant amount of 50 lbs) I could not afford to lose. However, the weight loss has subsided as well. Upon beginning the medication, I had trouble 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 lifesaver for me. I had tried many other migraine preventatives to no avail."

• Bhx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2024

"I am leaving this review because I waited for months to start this medicine because I was afraid of the side effects. I have suffered from migraines since I was 13, cluster headaches, and recently a new headache in the cough headache/hemicrania continua sphere. I was miserable. Topamax has helped me so much. I started slowly. Increased by 25 mg every 2 weeks up to 75 and then stayed there for a few weeks and then up to 100. I have not had a single side effect. Nothing! I haven’t had a single headache since being on the 100 mg either. It may not be for you but it can’t hurt to try! I’m female in my 40s."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2024

Topiramate "I just want to say, I feel that for me, this medication is a miracle. I don't understand how anyone could hate it? It calms me and gives me a feeling of wellbeing. It's like a good hug, and I have noticed many positive effects from it."

• all...
• December 15, 2016

Topiramate "I have only been on it for about 6 days and already seen an incredible difference. I had a headache every day for a year and a half and got bad migraines about 2-3 times a week. I have not had a migraine yet, and my everyday headache has calmed down. When I first started, it did make me very drowsy, but that went away as I got used to it."

• mnp...
• November 12, 2019

Topiramate "I took 50 mg Topamax daily for migraines. Six 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 half 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 doctor and I missed that this is listed as a side effect. I stopped the medication six 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. Two 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."

• Eaz...
• March 1, 2008

Topiramate "I do not recommend Topamax as a solution to migraines. Although it did help keep the frequency of the headaches down at first, in the long run, I had just as many migraines 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 at some points, and I experienced an irregular heartbeat, trouble focusing, and sleep issues."