Topiramate and Nausea: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 26, 2012

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I love Topamax. I can only take the minimal dosage, or else I will get the tingling and start to feel a little out of it. I was suffering from silent migraines for over a year and a half. Nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, light-headedness, fatigue, upset stomach, and daily headaches, but the headaches could be cured with ibuprofen. Of course, it took a while to figure out that these symptoms were all caused by migraines, but they were, and after taking Topamax for 2 weeks, I stopped having silent migraines. I even went off of it after about 3 months of being on it, just to see if my body had possibly regulated itself, but it had not. I was sick again in no time. It was horrible. It took about 2 weeks for the Topamax to kick back in."

• Bea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 28, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I was put on it plus Wellbutrin to stabilize my mood. For 3 months, I was extremely nauseous, unable to eat a thing. I lost 12 kg. The side effects were tingling in my hands and feet, a feeling that my head was being pulled to one side, metallic taste, extreme brain fog, loss of vocab (I sounded like an idiot, I could hardly string a sentence together), attention span diminished, and extreme muscle weakness. I became socially anxious/awkward and still am. I developed a strange curry-like smell to me. I stopped when I fell pregnant and put on 24 kg, still holding on to 9 kg. It seems to have ruined my metabolism. I loved the appetite suppression (why I stayed on it) but won't go back on it, the side effects are too severe and expensive."

• Cis...
• January 30, 2013

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Took my first dose of 25 mg on a Wednesday evening. That Thursday morning, I woke up with nausea and diarrhea that only became more severe as the day went on. Had to leave work due to the severe nausea. Went to sleep around 2 p.m. and didn't wake up until 1 p.m. Friday. The only benefits I can say I had were the loss of weight (159 lbs at appointment on Thursday/155.5 lbs on Sunday), and I was able to quit smoking as I didn't have the urge to."

• Fre...
• October 7, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "In January of 2017, I suffered a head injury that triggered me to start having severe chronic migraines, tension headaches, and cluster headaches. I thought I was dying. I was having symptoms that I couldn’t explain, but they were very much there and extremely debilitating. I started with 50 mg in the morning and then went to 50 mg in the morning and 50 mg in the evening after a week. In the beginning, everything was great. My daily headaches, body pains were almost completely gone. I felt like a new person, I had this newfound burst of energy every morning, it was great. However, after a while, side effects started showing up. I lost 30 lbs, brain fog, depression, suicidal thoughts, stomach pain, nausea, constant diarrhea, bad skin, hair loss, irritable, indifferent to everything. I have now been off the drug for about 2 weeks, and I’m starting to feel more like myself. I am having some side effects of being irritable and depressed, but have only had a couple of headaches, which is good."

• 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."

• Dra...
• September 3, 2021

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I started taking Topamax to prevent migraines. I take Imitrex (triptans) as an abortive when I get full-blown attacks, but I was getting so many of them it was ridiculous, and I was always running out of Imitrex. Let me say that Topamax is a tricky med that can have very weird/unpleasant side effects. Please use it with caution. I'm rather shocked to be reading that some patients have been prescribed starting doses of 200 mg daily. Yikes! That's high. I was put on 25 mg for 2 weeks, then 50 mg for another 2 weeks and did quite well on those doses. However, when I hit 75-100 mg, I felt sick to my stomach, so I barely ate anything. I was also very tired and lethargic. I waited a while, thinking the side effects might eventually go away. Apparently, sometimes they do, but in my case, they didn't. I still felt really yucky, so I was put back on 50 mg. So far, so good and with fewer migraines and some pounds lost. Conclusion: I do horribly on the higher doses, but great on the lower ones."

• BBP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I was doing pretty well on Trileptal but was not happy with weight gain from AAPs. Greedily decided to ask my doctor to switch me from Trileptal to Topamax in hopes of some weight loss. There was none. I'm thinking this may be one of those meds that just doesn't work with me genetically. I was taking 50 mg twice a day, and it was not doing a thing for my weight or moods. It was scary. The anger, irritability, crying, brain fog. I was scared of ending up in the psych ward, so I went back to my Trileptal and left the Topamax behind. I quit it cold turkey after getting back to my regular Trileptal dose. Mentally and emotionally, I'm already feeling better, however, I am having some terrible muscle aches and nausea from quitting the Topamax."

• 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."

• 121...
• September 22, 2013

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Your experiences helped me a lot. This is my 3rd day on Topamax at 25 mg at bedtime, and the only side effect I'm experiencing is nausea. I'm also looking forward to the weight loss! Would love to lose 15 pounds."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2022

Topiramate for Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Started this med for weight loss on 25 mg for about 3 weeks, then went to 200 mg because I wasn’t seeing any results with weight (didn’t give it much time, I know). First couple of weeks, I was nauseous throughout the day, finishing half my meals, getting satiated easily (and still do). At first, the pill made me drowsy, so I would take it before bed, but about two months in, I try to take it when I get home from work (6 pm ish) since I’ve built a tolerance, in hopes any side effects listed below will occur sooner rather than later if I take it earlier. Feeling weird/out of place a handful of times (keep in mind this is a psychiatric drug). Abnormal vision/seeing dots on screens later in the day occurs mainly when I work 9-5 on a computer. I experience diplopia when I wake up/in dark settings, which is common. Only lasts for a bit. Tingling hands/feet occasionally. I’ve lost 14 lbs in 2 months but seem to hit a plateau. I exercise regularly and have a good diet."

• 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!"

• Jac...
• July 13, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "I got headaches as a child and then migraines in my 20s. I am a fit person and work out, all beta blockers and blood pressure meds dropped my pressure too low. On my rescue meds, Botox, and topiramate extended release. Taking it at night like I am told. I wake up with blurry double vision that goes away. My feet, hands, and jawline are tingly on/off during the day. Super tired! And in the beginning of taking this, maybe TMI (I was going from an everyday bowel movement to once weekly). Plus nausea, no appetite, constipation, and I was consistently thirsty! Now I am at 125mg, need to be 150mg. BMs are better, thirst is better, tingling and blurry vision still there, tiredness is not as bad... still can’t run as far as I used to without being tired. And I have lost weight, not that I wanted/needed to. Has it helped with migraines? At this point, yes, I think so... I was just too busy feeling like crap otherwise to have one!"

• Aet...
• June 27, 2009

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I'm a 19-year-old female who has now been on Topamax for 6 weeks, 150 mg daily. I have a daily headache that ranges from a pain threshold of 1 to 5, plus nausea, with a haze over my brain that slows down capability and causes general fatigue. Every 3 weeks, this works its way up until a major migraine attack of a 9. But with Topamax, the daily headache so far has reduced to a 1/2."

• 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."

• Mic...
• November 12, 2015

For Seizure Prevention "Okay, up front and to be fair, I have a very sensitive reaction to many medications. I was on this medication for just over 36 hours, and I think it made me more sick than any medication I had ever been on. My neurologist gave it to me as an anti-seizure medication. Within just a few hours of taking it, I was feeling quite sick but was not entirely sure that that was the reason. After well under 24 hours of being on it, I felt nearly catatonic, very ill, and ultimately had to stop taking it altogether. I ended up falling in the bathroom because I was so uneasy on my feet. The upper part of my legs went numb, and at one point, I was having difficulty even speaking. I was afraid I was going to end up in the ER."

• Anonymous
• January 19, 2012

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I took it for about 3 weeks with no improvement in symptoms whatsoever. Side effects included complete loss of appetite and rapid weight loss, mood swings, intense nausea, insomnia, hallucinations, memory problems, and constant confusion. Everyone reacts differently, I guess, but this was not the medicine for me."

• Ali...
• August 8, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I've suffered from my first bout of migraine as a teenager to now 49. The last 10 months has been actually hell. I'm on blood pressure tablets, levothyroxine. Then symptoms started back in April: tingling arms, legs, numbness, brain fog, memory loss, stumbling, falling over, intolerance to light and sound. Head pain from hell, ear pressure, nausea, etc. 24/7 my life was stopping. Had a CAT scan showed I had empty sella syndrome. Migraines lasted daily for 5 months, so the neurologist placed me on Topiramate, and so far, wow, I slept for 3 days. Head pain and symptoms started to go and now I am starting to feel like me again. What works for one person may not work for the next, but for me, so far, pain and symptoms have gone."

• 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."

• 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."

• Sid...
• July 29, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "I only took this med at the 50 mg dose for two days and quit. Felt doped up and nauseous soon after the first dose. The next day, I was completely out of sorts, depth perception was off, felt outside myself, brain fog, headache, shaky, numbness in hands, burning in heels, no appetite, nothing tasted right, pop had no sweetness. The next day, same symptoms to a lesser extent with a constant tremor, overheating with movement, confusion, mood swings, and horrible mental fog, then a headache hitting about 9 out of 10, worse than my average. I decided to discontinue that evening. The next day felt hungover, had light sensitivity, diarrhea, and an upset stomach. The next day, the cloud slowly has lifted, my taste buds have not returned yet and I'm pretty fatigued."

• cam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 9, 2021

Topiramate for Seizure Prevention "I switched from Keppra to Topamax because of my seizures, and I lost around 25 lbs. I went from 147 to 120 in only 2 months. It was working for my seizures, but I was eating so little that I ended up in the hospital. I collapsed, and I was throwing up for 4 days straight. I was so weak I needed help to brush my teeth or even walk. Every morning was terrible. I don’t know how this medication is approved. I was in the hospital every day for four days getting fluids. After that, I was basically forced to eat. It was hard, but I was so weak due to lack of food that I had to eat every 2 hours. I've been off Topamax for about 2 weeks, and I still have a hard time finishing my food. I get nauseous. I'm getting better, but when I was on Topamax, I literally could not smell food without gagging. Unless you’re extremely overweight, I do not recommend this medication at all."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 28, 2022

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Works great for migraines and weight loss (for me, that was because I couldn't eat anything because I was nauseous most of the day, and food tasted bland) and had a minor effect on my anxiety, which was really bad at the time, but this drug was mostly kind of a nightmare for me. I got extremely sick with a horrendous cough and sore throat to the point I could hardly talk for months (I've had Covid, and the weird cold side effects were like Covid light to give people an idea) without hacking up a lung and ended up in the ER with it, which is what led me to get off of it, and it made my depression and mood so low that I wanted to die. My marriage was already on its way out when I started taking this drug, but Topamax definitely helped put the nail in the coffin."

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

For Migraine Prevention "I took 25 mg for less than a week, so I don’t know if it would have helped my migraines. However, the side effects were so numerous and so terrible I would rather live in constant severe pain from migraines - paresthesias in my face and arms, severe nausea, horrendous abdominal pain, altered sense of taste, and extreme cognitive difficulties. I could not drive a car or even read a book while on this medication. It’s worth trying if you have severe migraines, but don’t persist if you get bad side effects because with this medication they usually persist, especially the cognitive difficulties and paresthesia."