Topiramate and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Pro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 5, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "For the past couple of months, I have bounced around to specialists for increasing symptoms that I now realize are Trokendi side effects. The side effects are far worse than the migraines. I constantly feel as though I'm on the verge of passing out. I feel spacey and dizzy. I have trouble finding the words to speak-and I speak for a living and teach writing and speaking. I get out of breath. I have a dry mouth. My stomach is upset. I did some reading, and one PhD woman claims that the drug interferes with brain function and may cause brain damage. I'm appalled that my doctor put me on it. After he takes me off of it tomorrow, I am switching doctors. Also, they wouldn't let me dive the Great Barrier Reef six weeks ago because I was on it. Now, I understand why that was."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 6, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "I've tried every medicine you can offer someone in pediatrics, so they are now trying me on adult meds. I've been on topiramate for nearly 6 months, and it's not been great for me. I'm currently doing my AS levels, and although it has cut my headaches/migraines down from 6-7 a week to 3-4 a week, the side effects have been awful. I had been irritable and tired. I lost a fair bit of weight that I don't need to lose simply because I'm not hungry anymore. I've been experiencing pins and needles in my hands and feet and am constantly cold, and I am dizzy and feel like passing out. And with exams coming up, the memory problems and the problems with getting out my words aren't helping. At 17, suffering from migraines for coming up to 4 years, I don't know what to do."

• You...
• October 21, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I started out on 50 mg x2 a day. After a few hours, burning in between fingers, pins and needles in hands, double vision, vertigo, memory fog... Suddenly realized I was home with my kids, but how did we get here? Oh, I drove? Wow. I don't remember. Ever rode on the Gravitron? That's how bad my vertigo was, I could not lift my head up off my pillow. I actually ate more on this medicine because I felt shaky, like you would get if you hadn't eaten all day. For me, the only thing that kinda tastes close to normal was sugary foods. Heartburn. Nausea. Dry heaving. Motion sickness from waking, standing, sitting, and existing. Light sensitivity. Tremors. I'm sure I'm forgetting things, but the memory fog is too real. I felt drunk overall."

• Fay...
• April 25, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I've been taking this drug since the end of Sept 2014. On 100 mg per day, taken 25 mg 4 times a day, as I find them so strong. They've been working really well up until about a month ago, but the migraines have returned, so wondering whether I need to increase the dose or to request to try Botox - anyone tried this for migraine treatment? Side effects - these have been tough and ongoing. Pins and needles in hands and feet, severe nausea, dizziness, memory loss, lack of concentration, reduced heart rate (normal 70 bpm to 48 - I'm a 35-year-old female), find it hard to sleep. Have lost 2.5 stone so far, have real trouble eating as I feel so sick - the dietitian scored me with a high risk of malnutrition. Concerned about the damage this drug is doing."

• den...
• October 5, 2010

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Only side effects I have are numbness in hands and feet, a burning taste on my tongue when I drink sodas, and some mild dizziness the first few minutes after taking the medicine. Benefits definitely outweigh these minor side effects. I went from daily migraines to less than 3 a month now!"

• Mum...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 12, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "I started to take topiramate 100 mg 6 weeks ago after my neurologist prescribed it for migraine prevention. I feel awful :-( I don't feel human. I feel depressed, dizzy, agitated 24/7, feel like I can't cope anymore, and feeling suicidal. My partner, friends, and family have all noticed the change in me, and I'm now considering if it's worth me carrying on taking them. I was so hopeful when the neurologist mentioned this tablet because he said I would also lose weight with it, which I have lost 4 lbs with so far, but I would rather be fat and happy than skinny and angry if that's the choice I have with these tablets."

• Anonymous
• November 28, 2009

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "If I had to base my rating on migraine prevention alone, I would have to rate it a 10. My migraines were pretty much nonexistent while on Topamax. HOWEVER, I had extreme side effects: taste change, extreme mood and behavior change, tingling fingers/toes/lips, dizziness, vomiting, and increased eye pressure. I had to be taken off of it and put on Elavil. Like I said, as far as the migraine prevention, it was perfect, but it came with a price that my doctor and I thought was not worth it."

• Ash...
• May 5, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "I have only been taking this for 5 days now and have been experiencing serious dizzy spells and times of almost confusion. I actually almost drove through a red light yesterday, thankfully, my husband was in the car. I am going to stay more focused and let the medication get in my system before I decide if I will stick with it. These migraines are getting so bad that it's worth a shot."

• mac...
• January 4, 2010

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Only took this for a week. I couldn't function at all. Was sent home on a daily basis as I couldn't speak, was dizzy to the point of falling over, everything smelled funny, tasted funny. As a busy mother and teaching assistant, I found this medication's side effects not worth the time or effort."

• 15A...
• March 1, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I have been on topiramate for approximately one month, and results are incredible. Within one week, I was completely migraine-free. When I first started this medicine, I was very nervous considering all of the possible side effects, but I have grown to conclude I only had a few side effects. I had weight loss, 10 pounds (good), and the bad, I get very dizzy sometimes. I also find I overeat at all, I feel like I might get sick (last about 10 min.). Lately, I have been very tired, I used to be able to stay up forever, now I go to bed at 9:30. Lastly, I have been experiencing random pains. They seem like body aches, like you would get when you are sick. Oh, and I almost forgot, foods taste different, and pop tastes metallic."

• Nev...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I had a horrible experience with Topamax... I went 72 hours without getting any sleep when I started taking it. I got the tingly feeling, I couldn't sweat or cry, I was having hallucinations at nighttime, I had the foggy feeling constantly and couldn't concentrate. I was a horrible mess. I was only on it for a couple of months before I stopped. It has been about 5 months since I stopped taking, and I still constantly feel foggy, dizzy, off-balance like I'm drunk. I do not feel like myself at all, and I'm nervous that this medication has caused permanent damage."

• Kie...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 20, 2023

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "It was prescribed to me by my consultant for the prevention of chronic episodic daily migraine with and without aura. Since starting it over two years ago, the main side effects are pins and needles in hands and feet, the sense of taste has changed (things taste sweeter, I no longer like chocolate or enjoy fizzy drinks). I eat less, appetite has gone down, and if I happen to miss a dose, I get dizzy and the pins and needles start about 6-8 hours later. I do still get migraines but not as severe or as often as I had them. I no longer have severe nausea or vomiting, but I do still use Triptans and ice packs to deal with pain. Overall, I wish I could come off this medicine as the side effects are annoying."

• Dre...
• May 9, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "I would 100% advise against taking this drug. I was prescribed Topiramate by my neurologist when I was 17 as a means of migraine prevention, and it made me so horrendously ill. Along with nausea and severe dizziness, I lost my muscle coordination and memory. I could barely walk up a flight of stairs without falling over myself. As I was in my final year of school, I was sitting exams at the time while trialing this drug. I had an upcoming piano exam but was unable to take it because I had completely forgotten how to play due to my muscle coordination and memory being so severely impaired. I never suffered from vestibular migraines until I took this drug. It has left me with lasting side effects such as vertigo, which can never be reversed. Dangerous drug when it reacts badly with the recipient."

• Dre...
• May 9, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "I would 100% advise against taking this drug. I was prescribed Topiramate by my neurologist when I was 17 as a means of migraine prevention, and it made me so horrendously ill. Along with nausea and severe dizziness, I lost my muscle coordination and memory. I could barely walk up a flight of stairs without falling over myself. As I was in my final year of school, I was sitting exams at the time while trialing this drug. I had an upcoming piano exam but was unable to take it because I had completely forgotten how to play due to my muscle coordination and memory being so severely impaired. I never suffered from vestibular migraines until I took this drug. It has left me with lasting side effects such as vertigo, which can never be reversed. Dangerous drug when it reacts badly with the recipient."

• Cys...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 13, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Please, if you want what’s best for your body, run! It does what it’s supposed to for mood disorder and bipolar-cool, but god forbid you stop taking it or miss a dose. You will go into a whirlwind of panic attacks and crying spells. When you sleep, you will wake up nauseous, dizzy, with a sharp pain in your chest you can’t shake. Then you will have cramps, and I personally couldn’t stop throwing up. I was hospitalized for 2 days. Fluids didn’t help. Nothing. I am scared for life. I am traumatized from the medicine itself :( I only stopped because I lost my insurance after my dad died, I couldn’t go to my psychiatrist. Please, just beware."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 3, 2021

For Epilepsy "I've had a very difficult time on topiramate and am finally weaning off of it, thank God! If only my doctor did this more quickly! I had mostly negative side effects from being on topiramate: memory loss, trouble finding words, dizziness, exhaustion, and irritability. I'm taking the topiramate with Trileptal, which is working great, but since we have to be 'careful,' the doctor is weaning me off the topiramate slowly. I'm still taking 150 mg ER dose, and it's unbelievably unbearable. I worry that I won't get my memory back or my words, does anyone have this fear?"

• Tru...
• August 7, 2021

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Caused retrograde ejaculation. Took this about a month, it worked great on me not getting my migraines, BUT I started to notice that I was decreasing in ejaculation until there was nothing. My vision got worse, and I got very dizzy and nervous at times. I'm stopping this medication immediately. Just don't like these side effects."

• mig...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 22, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "My migraines always last 8 1/2 hours of pain and nausea with 1/2 hour aura and 2 - 3 days of pain after. I started on this 10 years ago at 1 x 25 mg pill each night before bed. Since starting, I've only suffered from 4 or 5 migraines. I used to have 1 migraine every week or 2. I've spent less time worrying about when I'd next be suffering. But the side effects were terrible. Brain fog, slowing of mental and physical activity, memory issues, confusion, speech and language issues, trouble concentrating, and increased anxiety were the worst, I haven't felt like myself in years. I also had fatigue, insomnia, depression, eye problems, tingling extremities, weight gain, and occasional dizziness. I stopped it 2 months ago and am still migraine-free so far."

• Nan...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 3, 2017

Topiramate for Seizure Prevention "Topamax is not for me. I only take 50 mg and have side effects, word retrieval issues, sleepiness, balance issues, etc. But it is the only one I can take that my stomach can tolerate! Seeking other avenues to control seizures, like reducing the radiation around me, particularly at night...appears to be working!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2022

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started on 25 mg of topiramate for weight loss, and then the second month my doctor switched me to 50 mg. I had horrible side effects. I experienced double vision, extreme dizziness, lightheadedness, headaches, nausea. I was unable to drive at times due to the dizziness. I stopped taking the medication a few days ago but am still experiencing the symptoms. Although it helped with weight loss, the side effects are not worth it."

• Top...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "No migraine, but a really bad reaction to just 3 nightly doses of 25 mg (the symptoms got worse each day before I stopped). The same thing happened to a friend. Struggled to breathe (had to breathe deeply with each breath and even took an inhaler to see if that would help). I felt disoriented, dizzy, and like I was walking underwater with blurry vision. I was extremely lethargic and had trouble climbing a flight of stairs without getting winded. I was having sharp pains throughout my body (breasts, stomach, and back). My heart felt like it was beating really hard (not fast, just through my chest). My face and arms were tingling. I had a really bad taste at the back of my mouth, and everything I ate/drank tasted weird. I'd prefer the migraine."

• But...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 5, 2018

Topiramate for Seizure Prevention "My doctor put me on Topamax because I could no longer afford Lamictal for my bipolar disorder. It was the worst experience of my life. It gave me a severe headache, loss of coordination -- if I was walking forward, I would suddenly start walking on my tiptoes in a sideways direction. I couldn't spell or form sentences. I had slurred speech, and my eyes were glazed over. I also had mild anxiety the whole time I was on it. The only good thing was that I literally had no appetite and lost a lot of weight. I only took it for about ten days a week and went back to Lamictal. I'd rather be poor than have to be on Topamax."

• Nat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 6, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "Tried this last week to try to stop my migraines. I felt very weird the first day, but thought I would adjust to it. On the fourth day, there was no help with migraines, plus the weird feeling didn’t lessen. I couldn’t do very much while taking it. Couldn’t drive or exercise. Even cooking dinner was uncomfortable. The feeling was like being dizzy/sleepy/intoxicated."

• Swe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 12, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "It worked a little bit, reducing my migraine about 25%. I have had migraines since I was 6, but at 18 they started becoming constant, so I needed relief. I had the numbness in my hands and feet, I have severe memory issues. It has ruined my life. My fiancé left me because she did not want to take care of me, because I lost most of my short- and long-term memory. I was always fatigued when taking it, and dizzy. I took 25 mg, then 50 mg, and then 100 mg, moving up every few months because of my headache. It is awful."

• Tha...
• May 5, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I began taking this drug at 25 mg and worked my way up to 200 mg a day, 100 mg in the morning and 100 mg at night. At first, this drug was amazing, but it had to be supplemented with sumatriptan in case it didn't fully stop the migraine. I didn't lose any weight, but what I did lose was the ability to remember sharp details that I would have been able to before. I would lose feeling in my feet, my legs, my hands, and my arms, and in the worst of it, the dizziness got so severe that my vision blacked out. I would not recommend this drug to anyone. This drug may fix your migraines, but it will give you 1000 more problems."