Topiramate and Depression: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Tru...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 21, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "After many years on Topamax 100 mg, excellent results for migraines, anxiety, depression, weight loss, now on generic Topiramate 300 mg. Only keeps migraines at bay. No other good side effect. Gained back weight and stay depressed and anxious. Phcy. says it is the binders in the Rx."

• Kri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 17, 2023

Topiramate for Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Well, if you’re willing to put up with all the side effects, it works for weight loss. My doctor prescribed it to me for weight loss because I have a problem binge eating. However, the side effects of depression, mood swings, contemplating where my life is going, and overall feeling like a cancer patient outweighed the want to feel the need to cheat in my weight loss journey. I understand there are people out there who truly benefit from a drug such as this for health reasons. However, for my doctor to prescribe me, a 22-year-old female, mostly healthy, was questionable because she did not mention the serious side effects it can cause. Within a couple of days, I noticed a change in my vision for the worse. I also had no idea this medication was sued at one point due to birth defects due to mothers taking the medication while pregnant with a child, and as a person who definitely wants a healthy baby in the near future, I will not take this chance just to be thin. The tingling in feet!!!"

• Duc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 28, 2022

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "My neurologist prescribed this for migraine prevention. Did an excellent job at that, BUT the side effects made me quit after one year. Ultimately, I think it was another med causing my migraines, as I'm off the Topamax a week now and only one headache so far. I'm 28 F, a bit overweight. The side effects, in order of severity, were: emotional numbness (I felt like a shell of my former self), fatigue, overheated easily (sweated less), feet/hand tingling and occasional numbness, clumsiness, dry eyes."

• Dov...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 26, 2021

Topiramate for Fibromyalgia "This drug had absolutely no effect on my fibromyalgia symptoms, and on top of that, it severely worsened my depression and suicidality. The only benefit I experienced was it inhibited sweating, which was a nice relief, albeit not the point. I tried it alone and also with Keppra, to no avail. All of this occurred in my early teens, so I can't remember the exact dosage - I believe I was taking the recommended dosage as suggested by Table 1 in the dosage guide, but only once a day."

• 811...
• January 3, 2011

For Migraine Prevention "Acute depression for the 1st 4 weeks on this medication, then it tapered off. Other side effects: upset stomach, tingling in fingers and toes - daily, altered taste. The good side was it reduced the intensity of the migraines, but did nothing for the frequency of them. Getting off of it now, trying Keppra. Have had migraines since I was 8, and they have progressed in intensity and frequency as I got older, now 60. I expected to grow out of them - who knows!"

• Squ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "As a migraine prevention, it worked wonders for me, I hadn’t had a migraine since I was put on them 3 months ago! Now here’s the downside... I’ve had to come off them as they’ve made me severely depressed, paranoid, and I would cry over the slightest thing. I haven’t got the energy, or I can’t be bothered to do anything! So back to speak to my neurologist to find an alternative."

• JCa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 28, 2019

"I was put on this drug for back pain after a stint of LYRICA. I had to stop taking this drug immediately. It made my limbs feel like they weighed a ton. I felt depressed and sleepy all the time. I didn't like the residual effect of the drug at all. I would not be able to recommend this drug to anyone who has been on a narcotic regimen of medication."

• HTL...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I took this for my chronic migraines (first 25 mg, then up to 50 mg). It did nothing for my migraines, sadly. My side effects were tingling hands/feet/face, like a pins and needles feeling. I also lost 25 lbs in 3 months because I had no appetite. I also got severe depression while on this. I tapered off because I am already on the low BMI spectrum and was scared how much weight I lost. I had bad withdrawal symptoms - tremors, headaches, very cold, fever, extreme nausea, vomiting. My depression and appetite improved once I got off this drug."

• Bke...
• February 12, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "Took it for about 4 months in 2010 for severe and persistent migraines. It completely got rid of the migraines. I’ve had maybe 3-4 in the last ten years, and they are nowhere near as bad as they used to be. Lost a significant amount of weight while taking this. I wasn’t overweight, but I did become underweight. Hair loss was extreme. I have long and thick hair, it started falling out in clumps and took about 4 years to thicken back up after quitting. Coming off of the drug was one of the worst experiences of my life. Terrible depression and OCD. However, I did quit cold turkey, which is a no-no. Had a hard time recalling words while on the med. Could not think as fast or as clearly. But that weight loss, though! I’m considering taking the drug again in 2021 because the weight loss was incredible, quick, and completely painless."

• Pad...
• April 8, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I was placed on topiramate tabs 4 months ago for prophylaxis, starting with 50 mg at night and then maintaining at 100 mg. I didn't have a single migraine in weeks. I, however, started experiencing virtually all its common side effects: mood swings, tingling sensations in my hands and feet, stomach cramps, short-term memory loss, depression (I became an emotional wreck, suddenly pining over my ex-girlfriends), and the worst was the weight loss. I'm a naturally skinny guy. I'm 6 ft 3 and weigh 75 kg (165 lbs). At around the 3rd month of my topiramate use, one of my buddies at work asked me if I was ill. He said I was getting too thin. When I got home, I weighed myself only to discover I now weighed 67 kg (147 lbs). My appetite has just gone since I started taking topiramate, and since the migraines have stopped, I've spoken with my neurologist and I'll be weaning myself off the drug gradually over about 4-8 weeks and hope my weight improves and I don’t ever need to use topiramate in the future."

• fir...
• October 1, 2009

Topiramate for Seizure Prevention "I have had extremely positive effects from this drug, but I do have to take Prozac with it as it causes mood swings or depression with me."

• F 2...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "It’s helping with weight loss, but unfortunately, my depression is back. I’m losing weight in large part because the depression gets rid of my appetite."

• cog...
• October 10, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I fell two stories off a roof last year and had a traumatic brain injury, which left me with migraine headaches all the time. Topamax did not help at all, and I felt more depressed. Use with caution."