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

• Jil...
• June 5, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "After working my way through approximately 7-10 different medications over a 3.5-year period, Topiramate was a game changer for my OCD (skin picking)-Holy Hannah! I realize now I've just been band-aiding my OCD and skin picking to this point. Unlike the many SSRIs I've tried, Topiramate starts working immediately. I'm taking 100 mg, and I'm fortunate that I do not experience any of the memory issues. I am calm, free of anxiety, and I genuinely wake up happy every day and love my family (every single member :) I no longer have days where I feel foggy, fuzzy, and dazed. I'm sharp, clear, and full of life. My only regret is that it took me so long to find this med. As for weight loss, I didn't really have any to lose (that hasn't been a focus), and so I'm happy to report I've only lost 5 lbs, and hopefully no more, otherwise, that will become an issue."

• Bel...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 2, 2017

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I've been taking this med for almost 10 years now. I started when I was 18, it was the first drug my doctor tried... I am almost 28, and I am so upset looking back that I didn't ask more questions or realize that this was the issue. I started at a minimum dose, but I was eventually up to 300 mg/day. I thought nothing of this because if the doctor wasn't worried, why should I be? I had been to three different doctors that never asked me if at that dose I was having memory problems, etc. I don't remember anyone telling me the major side effect was memory problems, brain fog, etc. No kids... I went through college thinking there was something wrong with me. My new doctor has put me on something else that is safe if my husband and I get pregnant. She also was in shock that for migraine prevention I was taking such a big dose."

• Uni...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 25, 2015

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I took Topamax a few years ago and regret it. It has changed my life for the worse. Even after stopping the meds several years ago, I still have bad brain fog, loss of vision, memory loss, especially short term, lost the ability to comprehend things, and lost the ability to do simple functions such as basic math. Prior to taking this medicine, I was at the top of my game. Now I feel helpless, and the doctors were no help. My vision changed after it. Mind you, I had Lasik eye surgery and could see perfectly fine prior to this. It's frustrating because I have to do things differently now, and it's embarrassing because people look at you like something is wrong since you can't do simple things a 2-year-old can do!"

• fey...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 17, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I was first prescribed topiramate for pain. My final dosage was 75 mg twice a day. At that dosage, I started having memory loss and confusion. Now I am starting at 25 mg twice a day and plan to keep it there for weight loss. I don't know if the loss is a side effect, but I find less is better for my age, which is 65. I also take Percocet 5 mg for pain three times a day and wish to avoid interactions with my liver. I started back on this medication because I cannot move around as much anymore, and almost any food I eat turns into weight gain. I plan to only maintain weight loss of 20 lbs from my current weight. Doesn't seem like much to many people, but I have bones that improve with less fat on them. In the past, I have weighed up to 240."

• Rez...
• May 23, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking topiramate for about 3 years for depression along with Viibryd. I did lose 30 pounds and do have some memory problems. But what I have discovered is my hair has been thinning out. My hairdresser told me that she has been noticing for the last 6 months that my hair is a lot thinner and has been wanting to tell me. This prompted me to go online to see if my medicine was the cause of this. The first few comments I started reading were people saying their hair was thinning out. So I am going to assume this medication is the culprit of my hair thinning. What do you think?"

• Bee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2015

Topiramate for Bipolar Disorder "I had extreme vision changes, loss of memory, extreme depression with long crying spells, anger, and suicidal thoughts. I have tried it at three different points in my life and have had the same experience each time... NOT GOOD. I tried the medication three times because the doctor and I thought that perhaps the side effects were from a mix of other medications I took with the pill. I did have weight loss, but it was not worth it at all. I could barely drive, and soft drinks (although not really important) tasted amazingly disgusting. I had no warning about all of the things I might experience, and it was horrible trying to teach middle school, raise two young children, do daily tasks, and drive. I've had friends get divorced due to side effects."

• Pol...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 26, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I’m currently on Topamax 600 mg/day for anxiety/OCD. I’ve been on this for many years for OCD as an off-label use, and along with cognitive-behavior therapy, it’s a life changer. (Note: everyone is different, and my friend who took this for anxiety had a side effect of extreme anger. I don’t have that whatsoever.) I do have the tingling, but it goes away, and when I get it, I know it’s just the medication and it’ll subside. The big thing for me is memory loss. I work in film, so instructions and continuity are important, and it’s difficult to share with people that you’re on a medication that affects that without worrying about your career. Another thing is withdrawal. Always remember to renew your prescription ahead of time. This is important for anxiety because, for me, after day two of not having it, I feel like I can’t leave the house. I’m glad my psychiatrist tried this on me. No sexual or weight gain side effects like SSRIs or SNRIs, and for me, it’s way more effective."

• com...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 22, 2013

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "The side effects outweighed the wonderful absence of migraines. I did not remember most things I was told. I couldn't remember words, was in a constant fog, hardly smiled or laughed anymore. After I get over these odd 'withdrawal' symptoms, all will be back to normal."

• The...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 20, 2019

Topiramate for Epilepsy "It made me skinny and dumb, but worked too. I have been taking Topamax for about 13 years now for my epilepsy. It took a long time for it to work completely (near), but has helped my migraines a lot too. The side effects are horrible. I dropped to 7 stone very quickly, and it took a long time for my weight to stabilize. The pins and needles in my feet come and go, but can be bad at night still. But the worst is the memory. Words fail me. I can’t do simple math in my head anymore. I don’t remember people’s names. Just terrible sometimes. If it was only migraines, I’d survive with sumatriptan. I need it for my epilepsy though. It’s good, but terrible."

• Anonymous
• July 28, 2009

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I have been on Topamax for eight months. Prior to that, I was having clusters of migraines (5 to 7 per month). I have had two total migraines since starting the medication. Recently, my doctor increased my dosage to decrease the breakthrough migraines. I do have tingling in my hands/feet and have lost 35 pounds (but needed to). I also was a soda drinker prior to taking the medicine but have not drank soda since starting Topamax. I do struggle with memory and finding words. Although the side effects are problematic, they do not outweigh the benefits of not having migraines."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 7, 2015

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I started having migraines a week after starting the birth control pill as a teen. Over the years (I'm now 55), I have tried many drugs for the treatment of or prevention of migraines. I get the classic vascular migraine with an aura each time I get a migraine. I finally was prescribed Topamax as a preventative, the final dose that worked was 75 mg in the am and 75 mg in the pm. My migraines went from daily to maybe once a month. I took this for at least 3 years. I was just at the point of quitting it when I lost my job, so I had no choice. The reason I was quitting it was that I lost so much weight that I looked anorexic! I soon realized that my memory was horrible!"

• Jes...
• October 6, 2019

Topiramate "Left me cognitively impaired with poor memory, concentration, speech problems, and word retrieval. Not giving up on life, just adding avocados to my diet along with fruits and veggies. Avocados help improve cognitive functions, memory, and concentration."

• Pur...
• May 7, 2013

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I've been taking Topamax for over 3 years, and the only side effect I experienced was an initial weight loss of about 15 lbs. If there was any cognitive difficulty, memory loss, difficulty remembering words, etc., I didn't notice, as it was worse when I was experiencing a migraine. Before taking Topamax, I would have a headache for months, with no relief. After I started taking Topamax, the migraines were down to 3 a month. My Dr. started me on a dose of 25 mg, 2 X a day and titrated me to 100 mg, 2 X a day. Unfortunately, the Topamax no longer seems to be effective, and on my next visit, I will ask my Dr. to either increase the dosage or prescribe a different medicine. Also, I have to agree with another post I saw, I am always freezing!"

• Mig...
• September 9, 2008

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Like many of you, I've suffered since I was a teenager with migraines 3-5 times a week. Some would be so serious I would end up in the hospital a few times a year. I even lost a job because of my migraines. I had to plan my life around them. Now at 35, I've been on Topamax for 6 years, and it's changed my world. It's given me my life back. I'll still get an occasional headache that requires me to break out the Imitrex, but nothing serious. I haven't had too many problems with side effects other than having a little less quick recall/memory, but not enough to really matter. Potassium seems to help with the side effects. My main side effect is getting a rash/hives from overheating."

• New...
• January 28, 2011

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I am a 50-year-old male who has suffered from migraines for nearly 40 years. The toughest years (about 25 of them) consisted of migraines in excess of 300 days in any given year. Then I found Topamax and asked my neurologist if we could give it a shot for me. That was 6 years ago, and now I have less than 50 headaches (not migraines) in any given year. My dose is 200 mg in the morning and 200 mg in the evening, and yes, like most of you, I have had to deal with the numbing in the extremities, but you get over it in time. The memory thing, well, how good was my memory anyway when I had a migraine that lasted for 6 months and I was blacking out at times, tunnel vision, and puking almost daily. This medication gave me my life back. Thanks!"

• Kar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 27, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I loved how Topamax made me feel - I was losing weight and didn’t have migraines at all! It was incredible... until I started feeling like I lived in a fog. Also, I would lose my train of thought and stumble on my words all the time. It made me forgetful... I unfortunately had to stop taking it :("

• gdh...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 9, 2017

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I've been on Topamax since 2010. I started taking 50 mg, but I was given the generic and had a really bad allergic reaction to it. My skin broke out, and I had to see a dermatologist. I was eventually given Topamax (the brand name), and I no longer had the allergic reaction. The 50 mg wasn't strong enough, and eventually, I ramped up to 200 mg. I had weight loss in the beginning (close to 90 lbs, which I could afford). I've gained about 20 of it back, but I've not lost any since. I do feel that I get somewhat spacey and suffer from some memory loss. I've asked my doctor if I can come off the medication beginning next year. I've been on it too long, and I am concerned with the memory side effects."

• cra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 24, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on 50 mg of brand Topamax for two years, and the cognitive impairment is significant. I often forget how to spell my last name, I don't remember events from just yesterday, and I can't spell anything anymore for the life of me. I take it for Rapid Cycling Bipolar I and went off it for two weeks to attempt to get my cognition back. By about the 6th day, I started to show signs of mania, and by day 8, I was full-blown manic with psychosis. I'd do anything to get off this brain mush of a drug, but it serves a purpose. Oddly, I never went into psychosis until this drug. Oh, and the days that passed without Topamax led to the worst headaches ever. Buyer beware."

• maw...
• July 13, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started on this medication on July 7th, 25 mg at night for weight loss. The 1st night wasn't too bad, now, when I take it at night, I can't sleep. I just started today on twice a day. Some of these reviews scare me to the point that I'm not sure if I want to continue taking this. I don't have memory loss and don't want it and surely don't want my hair to fall out."

• jes...
• November 15, 2007

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Topamax has been a lifesaver for me! I am living alone without fear for the first time in my life. I can go outside during the day and not feel like crying from the pain of 24/7 migraines. I can drive without fear of not being able to get myself home. The side effects I have had are weight loss (I needed it anyway), some memory issues (I write things down more), and last, the big one: I have lost almost all my hair. It’s very traumatic, but after years of pain and fear, I am free to live my life, and if I have to live it in a wig, so be it!"

• Cod...
• July 22, 2009

Topiramate for Seizure Prevention "Have been on it for two weeks now, lost 20 lbs, had two episodes. Have short-term memory loss, can't think of words, tired all the time, feel like I can't function at work. On 50 mg in the morning and at night (100 mg a day), going up to 150 a day, increasing to 100 mg at night. Having problems sleeping at night. I'm getting used to the side effects, though. They get better with time, I guess just hang in there. The weight loss is a big plus. I have no appetite at all, I have to make myself eat. Confusion is a big problem, I'm not driving now."

• new...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2019

Topiramate for Bulimia "It's been 3 weeks since I started taking Topamax 50 mg daily. All soda and carbonated drinks taste disgusting. I can no longer taste salt or sugar either. I tried making mashed potatoes for my family and nearly gave them all strokes due to the heinous amount of salt I added. Yet I could barely taste it. Also, my memory is even worse than it was. I don't even remember 3 days out of this past week. I blinked, and now it's the weekend. And I've lost 2 kg! So far, so good."

• Dim...
• June 28, 2016

Topiramate for Seizure Prevention "When I first started this medication, it was OK. I was never told this medicine could cause memory loss. It's really bad, I can't remember at times if I took my medicine, and places I have been going all my life I can't remember how to get there. Please be aware!!!"

• TMS...
• February 9, 2017

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "This drug is horrible. Pros: yes, it destroys your appetite and you lose weight because of that. You also don't enjoy food, which made me less inclined to want to cook for others (note: I am a foodie and love to cook). Cons: this drug did zero for my migraines. I take Amerge; it works! I felt so foggy and 'in and out' of the ability to concentrate in the mornings (100 mg nightly dosage). Okay after 4 hrs. My mouth was literally so dry and my tongue so thick-feeling that I could not get 3-syllable words out. Also, I had to grasp for words. I was losing confidence in my own performance, and others commented on my lack of 'snap.' This was after a year! Short-term memory was shot, perhaps because of 'in and out' concentration. Hair! Had to get extensions!"

• Hea...
• December 2, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am stopping Topamax after 3 months. Initially, I lost 13 lb pretty fast, within a couple of weeks. I was laid up with an injured back and sick, so I wasn't moving, but then I wasn't really eating either. Since then, I've played with the same 5 lb. I am taking 100 mg 2x a day. After about 6 wks, I got some of the common side effects (vision, memory, taste, exhaustion), and I stopped losing weight. But I'm fairly certain it is the source of some pretty severe depression that didn't exist prior to taking it. I'm glad I lost 13 lb, but the depression is too much to handle, and I'm throwing in the towel. Wish it had been more effective, but really it stopped working after about 3 weeks anyhow."