Topiramate and Dizziness: What Users Say

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "Migraines, bonus weight loss. I’ve had migraines for years but they have recently increased in frequency. Suffering from severe migraines (2-3 a week lasting a day or two each). I finally decided to try a daily med. I started with Verapamil. No good - dizzy, could barely walk or function. Prescribed topiramate next. I’m migraine-free for two months (only 1 minor migraine the first week) and down from 139 to 128. I’m 5’5. No other side effects - mind is clear, no tingling. I feel great! Everyone’s body is different. I hope what worked for me works for you."

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2019

Topiramate for Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Two weeks ago, my Dr. prescribed Topamax to help aid my weight loss and reach my goals. All was well until last Friday, every food and drink, except for water and Gatorade, made me nauseous and sometimes vomit. Constant constipation or raging diarrhea. None of the foods or drinks had much taste. No appetite but growling stomach. My feet were constantly tingling. I started getting dizzy and blacking out. Horrible breast pain and just felt horrible. It was the lowest dose prescribed, so I stopped it last night and have an appointment tomorrow morning. The more I researched the drug, it's horrible for your body - eyes, digestive system, urinary system, and reproductive system to name a few. Just not worth it!"

• Aun...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 8, 2019

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I have been through so much with this medicine! I ended up dizzy, confused, very irritable, with pain behind my eyes so bad it would give me headaches every day. I was scared to death to drive as my perception was off, sometimes it was so bad it felt like the road was moving, not my car. I had memory loss and couldn't say things correctly or even make deposits at work, I felt as if my brain was trying to come out of my skull. Because of this, I had to go to the gynecologist because I had abnormal periods and to the neurologist because of my head! I also had breast, arm, and leg pain to the point where I couldn't wash my hair or get ready. My legs were so bad I couldn't make it up the stairs! My husband was scared, and I was scared I was losing my mind and had something major wrong with me. This medicine wreaks havoc on your body, brain, and eyes! NIGHTMARE DRUG... I stopped it 3 days ago and I'm getting better already... I'm 42 and a healthy person, or I was!"

• Rac...
• February 13, 2016

Topiramate for Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I suffer from migraines and also am overweight. So the Dr. prescribed me Topamax for both. I weighed in at 209 on Feb 2, 2016, and today, Feb 12, 2016, I am 203. So far so good with the weight loss. I'm not too pleased with the side effects, however. I feel fuzzy all day, like I'm on a cloud. Dizzy, tingling, and numbness in my fingers and toes. Hasn't helped my migraines at all either. It does, though, not make me hungry at all. I have to force myself to eat because I know I have to. I don't see myself taking this medication long term. I'd rather try and lose the weight naturally. Not worth all the side effects."

• Ain...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 20, 2017

Topiramate for Fibromyalgia "Diagnosed with fibro and CFS after a car accident. Began to get vertigo, light, and sound sensitivity on top of all the usual symptoms. They would stay for weeks. Found out eventually it was an aura of migraine. Topamax sorted me out. No more brain fog, vertigo, audio, or photo sensitivity. The tiredness also lifted, I can stay awake all day but can't overdo it. Pain is still there, though, but I feel so normal after so many years of dysfunction, it's unbelievable. It's like someone unscrambled me!!! I'm on 175 mg, 100 mg in the morning, and 75 mg in the afternoon."

• Ain...
• February 20, 2017

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Developed Aurora symptoms of migraine as part of the diagnosis of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue diagnosis as a result of a car accident. Debilitating vertigo, light and noise sensitivity. Extreme cognitive dysfunction and fatigue, which were constant, but the migraine came and went, although it would last for weeks. Eventually, it just stayed, and I felt like I was walking about drunk! I was told there was nothing that could be done for me and that this was part of my condition. I found Topamax myself when I had reached the point where I had decided to end it all if this was it. Sad but true. Fortunately and happily, I am a new woman. My brain has been unscrambled! I can function again! No more hiding from the light or trying to remember why I started a sentence."

• Rom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2013

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I was prepared for the basic side effects: Carbonated beverages not tasting right, and also some loss of appetite. I was put on 100mg from the get-go. I also had the fairly common side effect of just feeling confused, though this wasn't all that severe and I was still able to do well in school. I also experienced tingling in my hands and feet, and though this was irritating, it was bearable. The real kicker for why I quit taking this medicine was when I began to have what felt like panic attacks and severe confusion, along with elevated heartbeat and dizziness. Also, my fingers would move on their own and seem to get stuck sticking straight out, and I had no control over it."

• Sky...
• September 20, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I was initially on this medication, topiramate, for chronic adolescent migraines for about 6 years and tapered off when I grew out of the condition. I’m back on it again for appetite and weight loss. I started taking the medication at 200 lbs, it’s been 3 weeks, and I have not been weighed yet, but I can already feel a difference. I eat less than half of what I could have before, where I’d eat 2.5 servings of a meal, I eat 1, and I am satisfied. Although Topamax has been helpful more than once for me, they don’t call this stuff 'dopamax' for nothing. I’m extremely tired at inappropriate times, I cannot wake up in the daytime without feeling dizzy and exhausted. If you have a schedule that requires you to be awake and aware for a good amount of the day, I would avoid taking this stuff. This med is royally screwing up my ability to get to my morning classes. Other symptoms I feel were initial cold symptoms, tingling hands and feet, restlessness, and going to the bathroom more than usual."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2019

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Topamax was a dreadful choice for me for my migraine prevention. Topamax did nothing to improve my chronic migraines and made life even more difficult than it was by making me fuzzy-minded. I couldn’t concentrate, carry on a conversation, finish a task without having to stop and think about what I’m doing and why. I was too woozy to drive-I even felt wobbly while walking. I couldn’t function at all. The worst of it was this: I’m normally right-handed. While I was on Topamax, I started using my left hand as the dominant hand and knocking things over, dropping things, and generally getting frustrated by my lack of coordination. This troubling symptom lasted the longest after stopping my use of Topamax. I understand that some find this drug helpful, but it was a nightmare and a danger for me."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2019

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Topamax was a dreadful choice for me for my migraine prevention. Topamax did nothing to improve my chronic migraines and made life even more difficult than it was by making me fuzzy-minded. I couldn’t concentrate, carry on a conversation, finish a task without having to stop and think about what I’m doing and why. I was too woozy to drive-I even felt wobbly while walking. I couldn’t function at all. The worst of it was this: I’m normally right-handed. While I was on Topamax, I started using my left hand as the dominant hand and knocking things over, dropping things, and generally getting frustrated by my lack of coordination. This troubling symptom lasted the longest after stopping my use of Topamax. I understand that some find this drug helpful, but it was a nightmare and a danger for me."

• DIA...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2014

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I used it for migraines. My side effects were: depression, dehydration, impaired thinking, confusion, drowsiness, memory problems, nervousness, trouble concentrating, weakness, loss of appetite, vertigo, and severe anxiety. After stopping this medication, I still suffer from severe anxiety and vertigo."

• Gin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I was put on topiramate to help with a plateau on losing weight. I was on it for 4 days and experienced severe side effects. Four days after, I went to the ER for confusion, trouble speaking, dizziness, and headache. An MRI shows I have a brain lesion, not sure at this point if I actually had a stroke."

• Alm...
• October 11, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I really hated taking this medicine. At only 25 mg, I was feeling like a zombie all day, very dizzy, confused, had a hard time putting sentences together. Very embarrassing I couldn't drive because I was almost always crashing due to the lack of concentration. Also, I was always angry. I didn't even want my kids to come near me. :( That's when I decided to stop taking it. It really did help me lose weight, but I’d rather lose weight on my own than to have to go through that nightmare again."

• Joj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2016

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "This is the worst medication ever. Started at 25 mg for 7 days at night, then moved up to 50 mg. On night 7, advanced each week up until 100 mg. Didn't get past day 12 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. 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."

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

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I am currently taking it for intense migraines. 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 tingling in my hands and feet. I occasionally get tingling on my tongue and a weird burning taste when I drink soda. I get 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 from the migraines. If you live with migraines every day, you're willing to put up with a lot of side effects just to be pain-free for a while. This medication is totally worth it."

• Tam...
• September 4, 2015

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "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."

• Won...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 20, 2014

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I've been taking Topamax (brand) for approximately ten years. Due to severe migraines, this was the only medication to prevent what had been debilitating headaches, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light, smell, sound, movement, and dizziness. After several years, my insurance refused to continue payment of the brand until I tried the generic tablets. After 3 days, the original symptoms returned. They finally approved continued payment of the brand, and now, two years later, they again have refused to cover (pay) for the medication, although it falls under the plan. For three months, my neurologist and I have issued appeals with no clear explanation of the denial. I would just like to again take meds to rid myself of this pain."

• Ves...
• February 29, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "If you have vestibular migraine, you can understand the pain. First attack, this drug worked amazingly - got rid of the vertigo sensations. Got me out of bed so I could feel the cold air and see people. It also got rid of the horrible headaches, which soon came after the vertigo! Dull, numb, stabbing sensations. I’m not talking 2 days or for a couple hours. I’m talking 2 weeks nonstop, from when you get up to when you go to bed! Second attack happened 4 years later. Topamax got rid of the dizziness straightaway again, but the headaches are still with me! The pain is the worst for me. 2 weeks in, doctors can't do anything. Lost my job, mortgage to pay! All my love goes out to people who suffer this baffling condition! I feel all your pain and send you all the love. You are not alone!"

• Chu...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 27, 2017

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I was prescribed Topamax as a migraine preventative and experienced just about every side effect. I started 25 mg/day at night for 7 days, moved up to 75 mg after 3 weeks, and remained there. Within 48 hours, I didn't have a headache at all but was experiencing side effects of tingling fingers, no appetite, and a change in the taste of foods/carbonated beverages. I did have a hard time concentrating, I'd get confused and would randomly slur words. I weighed 120-ish when I started, and within a few months, was 110 or less. I did work out and noticed no matter how hard I pushed, I didn't sweat and randomly got dizzy. Side effects are no joke, but you adjust after a few weeks."

• WKB...
• June 9, 2017

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I had a horrible experience on this medication back in 2005/2006. I started on a low dose of 25 mg/day and had severe nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, and memory impairment. Worked up to 50 mg 2x/day, and the nausea/diarrhea eventually abated, but the dizziness, fatigue, confusion, and memory problems continued, and I developed a bad tremor in my hands - I was dropping everything, couldn’t write legibly, and spilled food constantly. And I still had 10-15 debilitating migraines a month. Had to wean off it, but 10+ years later I STILL HAVE MILD HAND TREMORS. Worst medication experience of my life."

• Ell...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 30, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I am bipolar II with anxiety and depression but was put on Topomax because I suffer from migraines. The first time was before I was diagnosed, and I got severely depressed and had a suicide attempt. Within a week of getting taken off of it, I was better. The second time I was put on it was after I was diagnosed and put on mood stabilizers, and my doctor wanted to try it again because he thought my depression may have been from my BPD, not the meds, and it really did help my migraines. Same exact thing happened. Within a few weeks of being on it, my mild bipolar disorder was uncontrollable. I wish I could be on it because it really helped my head and counteracted weight gain from my other meds, but my body just cannot handle it."

• Anonymous
• February 10, 2010

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "LOVE LOVE LOVE this medicine! I was apprehensive at first because of all the side effect horror stories, but I was at the end of my rope with around 15-17 bad migraines per month. Sometimes I would have them 10 days in a row and my insurance would not pay for enough Imitrex, then I would run out and just suffer for days. Side effects were so bad the first week I almost quit: dizzy, complete 'weirdness,' inability to handle more than one task at a time, anxiety, spacing out and forgetting things, etc. And I still got migraines. It was a little scary. On day 8 I took a leap of faith, increased my dose (as per the doctor's orders), and the side effects all but went away, as did the migraines. Life is better now."

• KDa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "Started on topiramate after being on Topamax from 2007-2009 (separate review, 10!). Within the first 2 weeks, had problems with balance, memory, coming up with words. For my job, I had to conduct a 3-4 hour weekly meeting with the same info each time. I'd been doing this meeting for 2 years & became unable to do it because I could not remember the info. I was afraid people at work would think I was drunk because I couldn't walk straight & had to use the wall to guide me. Felt stupid because I couldn't come up with simple words. 2 months later, ended up in the ER with 16 stitches in my head because I fell due to balance. When I went to have stitches taken out, my NP said 'hmm interesting' - at least 2 other patients in my Dr's office had been in recently for the same issues (balance, cognitive) & all had been switched to topiramate from Topamax at the same time I had. I immediately got off of it & went back to suffering with the migraines. 10 years later & I still have memory, cognitive, and balance issues."

• Kay...
• October 13, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I took this medication for about 2 weeks, hoping it would help my hypomania. Some members of my family said it helped them. NOPE! Complete DISASTER for me. I could not stay on this thing for a month! The loss of appetite really sucked, but I expected that, I thought maybe I could look past that. But I went from 120 to 117 in 5 days. It did not help my mood, it only made me dizzy and gave me uncontrollable jerky movements. I was forgetting words. I could not concentrate in school (senior in high school). Everything felt like a dream. I basically became really stupid. I was seeing flashing lights. It was bad. Once I got off of it, I felt much smarter and better. I had many adverse effects from this medication."

• sal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2022

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I took this for 5 days and nearly tore my hair out. So much nervousness, anxiety, dizziness, nausea, and tiredness! I cannot function on this pill. 25 mg per day, and the doctor told me to increase to 100 mg per day. I think I would have died, and plus, it does NOT work."