Topiramate and Hair Loss: What Users Say (Page 3)

• bec...
• October 29, 2024

Topiramate "I’ve been taking 100 mg 2x daily for several years for tremors. I feel now it’s not working as well as it did originally. I’ve also lost a lot of hair, I don’t gain weight at all. I really have no appetite."

• Ano...
• October 20, 2011

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Topamax worked pretty well for my daily headaches/migraines. I was down to using 6 of the 9 Imitrex pills that I usually suffered the rest of the month needing more of before. It also helped my cravings for alcohol (former binge drinker) and sugar significantly. Topamax works for so many things- but there were 2 side effects that I couldn't deal with- irritability and hair loss. I recently had the same experience with Keppra- minus the benefits of Topamax. I have gone through all the seizure medicines with minimal benefit, and all have caused hair loss for me except Zonegran, which didn't help my headaches at all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 25, 2022

For Bulimia "I was on topiramate 150 mg for 15 months. I went from 25 mg to 150 mg and stayed there. It worked wonders, I barely binged. I have been throwing up once a day since I was 15. However, my hair started falling out at the 8-9 month mark. Apparently, it depletes all sorts of vitamins in your body, and this in spite of popping a multivitamin, biotin, and iron pill every day. Post that, the last straw came when my bones started aching. The bone density test revealed I was at risk for osteoporosis, so I finally stopped. I am back to throwing up every second day and looking for a less scary alternative. This does work, but it comes with complicated side effects."

• doy...
• September 27, 2009

For Bulimia "As I type this, it is hard to relay it understandably because of the Topamax. I researched Topamax and heard it suppressed eating and stabilized mood, which I figured would help my bulimia, which I have been getting help for and am in recovery for. The Topamax definitely suppresses the desire to eat and have cravings, which is great. You do lose weight. However, it created other problems. I didn't realize it, but I was increasingly having a harder time talking to people. I can't do homework, write papers, and my relationship with my boyfriend-we ended up breaking up. My hair falls out. I had bad anxiety, I thought I was going insane. I then researched the side effects of Topamax and now realized this is what I am experiencing. I'm getting off."

• Hea...
• February 26, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I was on Topamax for over 15 yrs and am finally coming off of it. It seemed like a miracle drug for the first few years, but soon started having major side effects. I've had kidney stones every two years, no memory, major hair loss, tingling in feet and hands, and other minor side effects. I wish it hadn't taken me so long to realize that the benefit of fewer migraines was not worth all of the side effects of Topamax. Please think twice before taking this med. This med cost me $187 when I first started because they didn't have a generic, but since they have a generic now, it cost me less than $2.00!!!"

• Bos...
• April 12, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I started out slowly at 25 mg on topiramate for migraine prevention since I was getting 2-4 a week. The morning after I took my first dose, my Diet Coke tasted flat, and I opened 3 other cans thinking there must be something wrong with the case of soda I bought, refusing to believe that the side effect of making carbonated drinks taste flat could start after just one dose, but it did. Within 72 hours, I began having eye pressure and weird eye pain, I was concerned and saw an ophthalmologist, one of the adverse effects of the med is glaucoma, but everything was fine. When I increased to 50 mg/day, I was so thirsty all the time. At 150 mg, migraines were decreased, but I was cognitively impaired with hair loss. Lost 8 lbs after starting 150 mg."

• try...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 2, 2015

For Fibromyalgia "I've been on it all! Cymbalta, topiramate, Lyrica, and Nexium. Also, Inderal. Still am for that matter! Fibro kicks butt, and I don't know which one works and which one doesn't at this point. I do know I am losing my hair, and my nails are peeling off! If anyone has any suggestions as to which drug might be doing this, please help! I can't find this as a reaction to any of them."

• phx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2020

For Seizures "My wife had a seizure behind the wheel and involved two other vehicles. She was prescribed topiramate and lost weight from 140 to 95 lbs., muscle and tissue in three months (very concerned) and her bone structure is showing through her skin. She still hardly eats since being prescribed, lost/still losing hair. She just had an eye exam and her eyes have developed a 'film', her skin is extremely dry and sagging, she gets irritated easily and sleeps 9+ hours a day. Her blood results were okay, as well as X-rays and cancer tests were okay. Her doctor refuses to take her off, and I have spoken with her PCP and she says she can't do anything to take her off. I'm not on this drug, but seeing what my wife is going through, I do not recommend this drug. Is there anybody that can help us?"

• Cyn...
• June 24, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I've been taking Topamax since 1/2015 for migraines suggested by my doctor. She said it was a little pricey. If you don't have insurance, I would recommend websites where you can print out coupons and take them to the pharmacy, they saved me $188.00 for Topamax! No kidding. Anyway, Topamax works well. I did lose 7 lbs my first week, I ended up losing a total of 20 lbs in 3 months. I've been steady since. I'm still taking Topamax 6 months later. I'm looking into other options as I cannot take the side effects: loss of hair, tingling in my feet, hands, legs, face, odd places on my body, mood swings, I'm very irritable, I don't recognize myself. I need a change."

• ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 28, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I have never been so glad to read bad reviews in my life! I thought it was just me. My psychiatrist just kind of prescribed topiramate on a whim. I don't normally question him. He mentioned no side effects. But he never does. So, 200 mg daily for 8 months. I've wondered why I had less than no energy, sudden problems with bladder infections, hair loss, can't spell, can't remember yesterday, can't concentrate. It didn't help my moods either. I had just accepted the fact that it was me at 61. Now I know differently. It just took 12 hours of research to find out. It was worth it. I'm very upset with my psychiatrist of 12 years. Don't take this medicine if you have an alternative."

• Bul...
• February 13, 2021

For Bulimia "This is my update review. Please see the below experience. I was very happy with my progress with this medication. Nothing has helped before. I was getting healthier, not binging, losing weight, and breaking out. I haven’t broken out in years! My hair is still falling out in clumps, and I pop in biotin, B5, B12, selenium religiously. I am on 100 mg every day. So after seeing the state of my skin, I have decided to discontinue use. Breaks my heart to see my skin so bad, but have been an acne sufferer for years and only managed clearing it in my early thirties, which was a huge blessing. The search is still on!"

• Eva...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 3, 2024

For Migraine Prevention "This works well for migraine prevention. I have had them since I was a child. It stops them from occurring. I went from 50 to 100 mg. However, it causes hair loss, so I had to stop. I liked that it causes weight loss. That was such a plus. I had to make a choice, unfortunately. I chose my hair."

• Bok...
• May 13, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "I am getting ready to start this medicine, so thanks for all the information. I also have tried everything with no real help. I also had bad hair loss for years now. And am not sure what causes it but have found a fix: onion juice. I liquefy an onion with olive oil. The smell will be horrible, put it on all over hair and scalp. Leave on for an hour or more. Shampoo with Dawn dish soap good twice and soak hair twice with vinegar. This will take care of the smell. The results were immediate and awesome. Now, instead of a handful of hair with my shower, I only have a few strands. I have done this for two weeks in a row, now I'm gonna go to once a month."

• bec...
• October 29, 2024

Topiramate "I’ve been taking 100 mg 2x daily for several years for tremors. I feel now it’s not working as well as it did originally. I’ve also lost a lot of hair, I don’t gain weight at all. I really have no appetite."

• Tsa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 16, 2021

For Seizure Prevention "Topiramate has saved me from terrible migraines and focal seizures caused by a TBI. Starting low and slow is important: 25 mg once a day for a week, then twice a day, and increased as needed. But my 3x per day seizures stopped, and I haven't had a migraine in 10 months since starting it. My hair is getting thinner; I'm taking biotin and silica. I still have headaches managed with braids, and I do search for words and stutter some, but it's totally worth it to not have the debilitating migraines. I've only had 4 breakthrough seizures in 10 months, so that's pretty darn great... and I've lost 25 lbs comfortably."

• 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."

• Kit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "Have chronic migraine, every day for 21 years. Tried everything, hypnosis, Botox, you name it. Got on topiramate in Vt. The generic CIPLA. Few early side effects. Worked good, still had low-level headache, nothing compared to decades of the pain I had been having. I was selling my beloved house of 30 years and depressed about it. Divorce, moving south. I got on an antidepressant. Several months later my hair fell out mega! But, I also was getting the headaches back. My northern doctor upped my dose, made no difference. Then I found out all the FL pharmacies did not carry the generic CIPLA brand of topiramate!!! And would not order it for me. A new, small, independent pharmacy opened up, he got me the correct generic. But, combining it with the Ajovy shot also caused hair loss. Stopped Ajovy after 4 months. Stays in your system forever. Hair growing back, again. Am working up to 75 mg at night. Was on 100 first time. Am having vivid wild dreams now, will stop."

• Kit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "Have chronic migraine, every day for 21 years. Tried everything, hypnosis, Botox, you name it. Got on topiramate in Vt. The generic CIPLA. Few early side effects. Worked good, still had low-level headache, nothing compared to decades of the pain I had been having. I was selling my beloved house of 30 years and depressed about it. Divorce, moving south. I got on an antidepressant. Several months later my hair fell out mega! But, I also was getting the headaches back. My northern doctor upped my dose, made no difference. Then I found out all the FL pharmacies did not carry the generic CIPLA brand of topiramate!!! And would not order it for me. A new, small, independent pharmacy opened up, he got me the correct generic. But, combining it with the Ajovy shot also caused hair loss. Stopped Ajovy after 4 months. Stays in your system forever. Hair growing back, again. Am working up to 75 mg at night. Was on 100 first time. Am having vivid wild dreams now, will stop."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2016

For Smoking Cessation "I'm probably a very rare case. I'm being prescribed Topamax 25 mg at night as needed for sleep through the withdrawal of a prescribed pain medicine from a car accident. It is being prescribed only temporarily for two months. After reading all of these reviews, I am now terrified of hair loss, as I have grown my hair to donate for almost 20 years now. I have always had very thick, wavy/curly hair and felt others could benefit from it and liked giving back. Can anyone please give their input on if they think the temporary use of this medication will affect my hair? Thank you so much in advance."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 20, 2012

Topiramate for Fibromyalgia "Weight loss great but hair loss is not worth it."

• Nel...
• July 8, 2017

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Medicine works, but my hair is falling out after being on 100 mg a day for 6 months."

• lea...
• October 14, 2010

Topiramate for Bipolar Disorder "Caused hair loss, moods were crazy-very anxious and memory loss. After 8 weeks, the weight loss is not worth it. 5 lbs, and I bet that was just in hair loss!"

• Lis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 10, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "Trokendi has worked wonders for my migraines. That being said, why can't there be a migraine prevention that does not affect hair or cause it to thin out?"

• Bal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2016

For Seizure Prevention "I lost every piece of my beautiful long black hair in just over 3 months! MD's assured me it would pass. Never did."

• Che...
• October 5, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "Caused weight loss as well as major hair loss. I lost four inches or more in hair over a year period."