Topiramate and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Ama...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2014

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Worked wonderfully to get rid of my headaches! For the first time in nine years, I didn't have daily headaches. The side effects were awful, though! Ringing in the ears, dizziness, flushing, numb face/hands/arms/feet, the list goes on and on. My doctor had to wean me off of it."

• Tos...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 25, 2017

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Was on Topamax 200 mg 2x a day for eight years. It cut back on my daily migraines. Went down to about 2-3x a week. I lost 125 pounds in the first year I was on it. No appetite. Food tasted metallic, flat, or just weird. I did get one kidney stone. After years of being on a high dose, I started getting chest pain. My doctor took me off Topamax about 7 years ago. I had bad withdrawals after weaning off, no seizures thankfully. Migraines have been daily again for the last 18 months. Tried to go back on Topamax, but I can't tolerate it anymore. After one 25 mg tablet at bedtime, I woke up with a severe headache, dizziness, and nausea. The next night I took one tablet, and the side effects were increased. I stopped. Side effects were bad for two weeks. No thanks."

• Anonymous
• September 5, 2009

Topiramate for Seizure Prevention "I've been on this medication for 3 years now for my seizures (50 mg/2 daily) and have not had any episodes since. At first, I would get a tingling feeling in my fingers and toes (like soda fizz), but it went away once my body was used to the drug. Recently, my pharmacy switched me to the generic version, and I hated it. Immediately that first day, I would get crazy headaches, feel dizzy, sick to my stomach, and I couldn't concentrate on anything. I went back to my neurologist and got a new prescription for brand name only and have not had any problems since. I was also still using the drug during my recent pregnancy and am happy to report no problems or side effects whatsoever."

• Nic...
• March 21, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I was for about a year on gen Bupropion 300 mg (Wellbutrin), gen Lexapro 20/10 mg, and Clonazepam (0.5 mg). These kept me functioning for some time and pulled me out of a very debilitating depression that kept me at home for a month. During this year, I still suffered from a lot of ups and downs, my anxiety was getting worse and worse, so were my mood swings. I kept pushing my psychiatrist, she was skeptical about my mood swings, but I knew there was more going on. I am now on 50 mg of generic Topamax (it has definitely controlled my mood swings and a bit of my anxiety). It's only been 2 months, but I definitely feel a change. Planning on stopping taking Lexapro. My side effects: weird taste on (black sodas) and dizziness. A new one is phantom smells."

• Hut...
• February 7, 2016

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Horrible medication with tons of side effects. I have tried this stuff twice over a 15-year period, and this time was much worse. All the side effects listed I got to experience within two weeks of taking this drug with slow introduction. And I still got migraines even while taking it, and now I have to take eye medication on top of wheezing, felt like puking, dizzy, edgy, and wanting to kill myself. Throw this one in the wastebasket and try the alternatives before touching this stuff."

• AH0...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2015

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "The 2 weeks I was taking Topamax ended up being the worst 2 weeks of my life. I was started on this med on Wednesday. By Monday, I was halfway through my day at work when I got lightheaded, dizzy, a terrible headache, and started experiencing left-sided numbness/tingling. Nearly wrecked and ended up in the ER, where they diagnosed migraines. Was sent home to have a headache with left-side weakness/numbness, confusion, and a foggy feeling for the next 2 weeks. 5 doctor's appointments, 2 ER visits, 1 outpatient infusion for migraines, and 1 admission to the hospital later. I finally figured out on my own that when I stopped taking Topamax, my symptoms got better. Although they are still not gone. My vision has changed as well as other long-term effects."

• mel...
• December 19, 2014

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I started taking Topamax a year ago, and it helped with my visual migraines. I had the side effects such as delayed speech, confusion, numbness, carbonated drinks are horrible tasting, dizziness, all the normal side effects. But they only lasted a few weeks. I'm at 100 mg a day now, 50 in the morning and 50 at night. Now the side effects don't bother me at all. I haven't lost not one pound, so I'm not sure what the weight loss is about. I actually gained 10! Overall, it's doing its purpose."

• Mac...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 8, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been taking this drug for about 6 months now. I take it in combination with lamotrigine. I was concerned about weight gain as I was already heavy for me, but weight loss was certainly not my primary goal. For the first 3 months, I felt really great. I did lose weight consistently, which I do think added to my feeling good. About 3 months ago, I entered a pretty severe manic episode. It was probably one of the most intense ever. I am increasing my dose, and it's early on with that. I'm headed to 250 mg per day. My husband and I are in hopes that this will help. My side effects of brain fog, fatigue, and dizziness were temporary. Other than that one bump in the road, I can honestly say this has been the most effective drug combination I've ever been on, and I can't see myself switching again."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "I was prescribed Topamax for migraine prevention. I have low-grade migraines that I treat with sumatriptan. After 3 nights of taking 25 mg of Topamax, I had a very strange experience whilst in a work meeting. Very scary. Not sure how to describe it, but not exactly light-headedness, more a warping feeling in my brain. I also experienced feeling unsteady, brain fog (couldn’t get sharp cognitively), hot flushes, drowsy especially in the morning, and worried about driving. After 5 nights, I stopped taking it. The side effects are very slowly wearing off, I still feel strange 4 days after stopping. Would advise against others taking this drug."

• Des...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2017

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "ONLY 25 mg/day, 2nd try. Lasted 3 days. Whoa, just whoa! Within 1 hour, my pain lessened, but side effects were already producing. First, my vision got really distorted. I couldn't focus on command at all. Then my bottom lip wouldn't stop tingling with a numb feeling. I got extremely dizzy and felt out of it. So I thought, let me lay down. Fell asleep 15 min. Woke up, thought an hour passed, was completely out of it. The whole left side of my face felt palsy, completely numb. Tingling/numbness in arms, hands, legs, and feet. The next day, visual less, but symptoms still there. Then the suicidal thoughts and worthlessness came. I made it one more day. Missed a day and took it the following day. I can't do anything on it. Comatosed and psychiatric mind games. DONE!! I'm better without it."

• Anonymous
• April 8, 2012

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Topamax worked great to prevent migraines, however, the side effects that I experienced were not worth the prevention. I experienced numbness and tingling in my extremities, severe problems with word retrieval, a complete inability to focus or concentrate, anxiety, agitation, and severe mood issues (I became very angry and upset at the smallest of things). But what finally did me in was severe epigastric pain, nausea, dizziness, and disorientation that came about suddenly and was persistent until I titrated myself off the medication after a visit to the urgent care. As soon as I got off Topamax, the migraines were back every day, and I question which was worse - the migraines or the side effects."

• Pre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I have been on the 25 mg tablet of topiramate for 5 days now. I was put on it to deal with episodic migraines and cluster headaches and the prevention of such as well. I have not had one headache at all since I started taking it. At first, it had me feeling really doped up and out of it, along with getting dizzy spells on and off throughout the day, and the nausea started to get increasingly worse. Now, the other symptoms I was experiencing have lessened, but the nausea is still going strong, and it is starting to affect my appetite. I have reached out to my PCP to have him prescribe me something to take for the nausea while I am on this pill. I will not go higher in dosage because 25 mg is enough for me. This pill is not easy on most people's stomach at all. So, if you experience lots of nausea while on it, have your doctor prescribe you an anti-emetic/anti-nausea drug right away, okay."

• Lor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2015

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "First week okay. Dizzy first day. Overwhelming sense of wellness for the first week, minus dizzy feeling. I thought this was great. When I increased the dose as prescribed the second week, I developed a headache the next day. Had pains in my abdomen, all throughout my back. Continued for 2 more weeks, then my body shut down, had the worst migraine that lasted 2 days. I slept for 4 days. Then muscle weakness, nausea, and persistent headache. My bladder was painful and felt like I could not empty it. Three days off them, I can finally stand up straight, but I lost a week of work. Might have been okay if the dose was not increased."

• jus...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 23, 2016

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I have been on Topamax for a little over 6 years. I started at 25 mg and slowly went up to 250 mg. I experienced the weight loss, tingling, and the other minimal side effects at the lower dose but was encouraged to stay on the meds. As I increased the dose, I started having hair loss, dizziness, and 'white outs' where I would not be able to see at all for up to 20-30 seconds at a time. I also started having the memory issues. I started seeing a new neuro and we dropped me down to 100 mg. The hair loss stopped, but I still get the vertigo. I am now down to 50 mg. I suffer from eye pain in my left eye and still the random dizziness-which is horrible. Weaning off of this, I do Botox injections now for preventative with some relief."

• jus...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 23, 2016

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I have been on Topamax for a little over 6 years. I started at 25 mg and slowly went up to 250 mg. I experienced the weight loss, tingling, and the other minimal side effects at the lower dose but was encouraged to stay on the meds. As I increased the dose, I started having hair loss, dizziness, and 'white outs' where I would not be able to see at all for up to 20-30 seconds at a time. I also started having the memory issues. I started seeing a new neuro and we dropped me down to 100 mg. The hair loss stopped, but I still get the vertigo. I am now down to 50 mg. I suffer from eye pain in my left eye and still the random dizziness-which is horrible. Weaning off of this, I do Botox injections now for preventative with some relief."

• 2Lo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I took my first 7 pills, which was 50 mg, and no problems. Then started on the second bottle, which were 100 mg. On the second day of taking the 100 mg, I had changed, but because I have rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia, I thought it was from that because, at the time, I had been waiting on my Humira to be approved. So I continued taking this drug my doctor prescribed for weight loss along with phentermine and became deathly weak, no appetite, dizzy, dry and burning eyes, suicidal, in more pain than normal, anxiety, and depression. I think if this drug is to be prescribed, it needs to be tested more and not ever be prescribed again because had I continued to use it (because it says do not stop it abruptly unless advised by your doctor), I would be deceased today. I felt like laying down and not ever waking up! DON'T TAKE THIS DRUG!"

• Mad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I've been taking this medication for a little under two weeks. To give you a background, I'll be 20 in a week and have had migraines with auras since I was about 10. I've had numerous prescription meds, from injections to triptans to hydrocodone, etc. I think topomax makes #13? Anyway, over the last year, my migraines have increased in frequency. I'm guessing because of the stress of college, but I get them every week, about twice a week, one right after another (triptans for me usually trigger another migraine). I've been dreading starting this medication, but finally decided to give it a go, as I'm on winter break, and quite frankly, this is all I have left to try. Literally half of my life has been consumed by this. Right now my right foot is tingling, and my chest hurts. I'm rather dizzy and have been forgetting things all week. I've felt super anxious and down all week, but I haven't had a migraine in 20 days. Sprite tastes flat, but I don't really drink soda apart from that, so I don't mind. So far, this is bearable. I noticed when I went up to 50 mg, the side effects increased, so I'm worried about when I increase to 75 and 100 mg, but we shall see."

• Mig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 13, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "Sorry I couldn’t resist the screen name Yep - like a bunch of others. I ended up in the hospital on my second day of use. I was in an absolutely vegetative state, couldn’t form sentences, extremely nauseated. I truly do not understand how a drug can have such a breadth of side effects. For days after - crying at every little thing, uncoordinated, vision blurry, the most extreme dread I have ever experienced in my life. Please be cautious taking this medication!"

• Blu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2018

For Fibromyalgia "I started this medication for fibromyalgia and weight loss. I had a horrible reaction. I felt like I had the flu, I was cold and hot. The worst part was it was like it sucked all the energy out of me. All I could do was lay in bed and cry. I only got up to get water and go to the bathroom, and even that was hard to do. Every time I would get up, I felt like I was going to pass out. I would get dizzy, and I had shortness of breath. Finally, after 5 days, I gave up and stopped taking it. Never again will I take this medication."

• Nat...
• May 18, 2013

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I have always had chronic, severe migraines, often for 15 days or more of each month. Topamax has helped, but I tend to develop a resistance, so when I started getting resistant to Topamax, I came off and have not been on anything. 15 days ago, I started having severe vertigo, now diagnosed as vestibular migraine (a new twist on my migraines), and am back on Topamax. I immediately noticed a severe drop in my libido. I don't remember it from previous times. Of course, being dizzy for 2 weeks may also be killing my sex drive!"

• Anonymous
• May 10, 2009

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I've been on Topamax for 2 weeks now after switching from Elavil. Now I'm seriously questioning that decision despite the problems Elavil caused me. The insomnia is outrageous. I have to set an alarm to take my morning dose at 5 a.m. so that my evening dose can be taken around 3 p.m. This way its effects have kind of faded off by bedtime, and with the help of some prescribed sleeping pills, I'm lucky to get a tiny bit of sleep. Of course, along with that, I have tingling, slight numbness (not enough to even complain about), dizziness, decreased appetite, taste aversion, and weight loss, of course. I haven't had too many experiences with confusion yet. On a positive note, my migraines haven't returned."

• Num...
• November 5, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "Started Topamax at 25 mg on Sept 2nd. Had constant dizziness right away, all day and night. Stuck to it as it was slightly decreasing my migraines. Had to cancel a follow-up appointment with the neurologist due to an emergency, and it would take about a month to get back in, so I was now on it for 6 weeks at the 25 mg. A week before my appointment, while at work, I started stuttering really badly and just couldn't put my sentences together and was very out of it. My supervisor took me to the ER thinking I was having a stroke. They did both a CT scan and a brain MRI, but they were clean. I continued for another week with the same symptoms. Stopped the Topamax, and it has all gone away."

• It...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "My doctor prescribed it for pain, but after taking only three pills, I was dizzy, confused, I couldn't finish my sentences. I felt like I had had a stroke. I was in such bad shape. My daughter came over right away and took me to the hospital. They did a CAT scan because they thought I had a stroke. I think I did! I am writing this from the hospital. Don't take this medicine!"

• MLL...
• August 8, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "Absolutely the worst drug I have ever taken. Caused me to feel like I had taken acid or was on an LSD trip. Strong lingering effects even four days after taking one dose. Significant issues with cognitive ability, change in taste, balance, drowsiness, disorientation, nausea, tingling in hands and legs, numb lips. Inability to think and caused hallucinations. Hospitalized four days post-medication to administer DHE to counteract this drug. DO NOT TAKE this medication. No warnings on the prescription. Asked the pharmacist if this would cause drowsiness, slow my mental function, or have any adverse effects, and he informed me that 200 mg was a low dose and I would have no adverse side effects. Based on my research since taking the drug, this is NOT accurate."

• Kel...
• March 16, 2017

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "To be honest, I can't tell you if it helped with the prevention of migraines or not. I have had chronic migraines for 15 years now. They are accompanied by a loss of feeling in my hands, aura, and sometimes my words come out as gibberish. I have tried just about everything from medications to natural remedies for my migraines. When my new neurologist suggested I take Topamax, I thought that I would finally be rid of my migraines. I didn't even last a week on this medication, though. I couldn't stand for more than thirty seconds without being dizzy and having shortness of breath. My stomach ached, and I had a tingling sensation in my hands. I also had a slight fever. My doctor wanted to attribute all of these things to the start of a cold."