Topiramate and Nausea: What Users Say (Page 3)

• clo...
• April 2, 2016

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I am taking 25 mg in the morning. Working up to 100 mg over a few weeks, going up 25 mg every 2 weeks. I've only been taking it 4 days, and to be honest, the only thing I've noticed was the first day I felt rough, but since I've felt odd nausea. No other side effects, maybe because I've been so busy I haven't noticed them. I'm actually looking forward to upping the dosage. I want to prevent migraines. I don't know why I didn't go get help sooner. I've suffered for years, but to me, being overweight, I'm also hoping it'll help with the weight loss I've been struggling to lose for over 4 years. I'm fit and healthy and regularly exercise and eat healthy, yet I can't shift, so hoping this helps."

• 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."

• dra...
• August 31, 2010

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I was given this medication several years ago in an attempt to reduce migraines. I began using the lowest prescribed dose, as instructed by my physician. On the 3rd night, 3-4 hours after taking my 3rd dose, I woke out of a sound sleep with tachycardia (fast heart rate). I didn't know what was up. To 'calm down,' I took a shower. By afternoon of that day, I knew that it was the medication. I had pressure in my head, tachycardia, nausea. This is about the worst I have ever felt. Needless to say, I had to discontinue Topamax immediately. I long for the day when medications can be chosen based on genetic coding information. For many people, Topamax is a Godsend; but not for me."

• 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."

• Pra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 14, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I’ve been getting migraines since I was a little girl - I’m 26 now. Last year, I was getting roughly 20-25 migraines a month. I begged my doctor for a solution, and finally, topiramate was introduced to me. I was prescribed 25mg - to be taken nightly before bed. Fast forward a year later… these laundry list of symptoms I’ve never had in my life: crippling anxiety, severe depression, numbness in my hands and feet, brain fog, inability to form sentences, emotional outbursts (followed by excessive crying), excessive urination, dry mouth, zero appetite, constant nausea, shivering when it’s normal temp, overly hot when it’s normal temp, cold sweats. I’m sure I’m forgetting quite a few more. Is having 1-3 migraines a month opposed to my regular 20-25 worth it with these side effects? Absolutely not. I’d rather have the migraines. I’m weaning off this drug as I type this. I want my life, body, and mind back. Pray for me, please."

• Mia...
• January 29, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "I have had a cluster headache and chronic migraine for 6 months with no relief whatsoever, and I just started taking this medication, and on day one, it made my headache 100 times worse, and my nausea was so bad I was vomiting. By day 3 (yesterday), I was barely able to concentrate on anything or move because of my pain. Immediately stopped taking it."

• 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."

• Lmo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I only took Topamax 25 mg 2x daily for 10 days before I could no longer take the side effects. I have suffered from almost daily migraines since I was 6 years old and have always resorted to OTC medicines to 'attempt' to ease the pain. I have taken Imitrex to combat the pain and even resorted to Valium to knock myself out and sleep through it. When I heard about Topamax, I was elated, and it really does work at preventing migraines. However, within a few days, I developed some side effects ranging from annoying to considering whether I should go to the ER: burning/stinging sensation when drinking soda, tingling feet, nausea, weight loss, memory loss, irregular heartbeat, and passing out. I can't function like that."

• Dis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I started taking a very low dose of topiramate and started having awful, disturbing nightmares every night. I was also vaguely drowsy and confused all the time, which was interfering with work - I sometimes appeared slightly stupid when interviewing people. When the dosage was increased, I started having pain in my eyes, a bad headache, and nausea. It was the weekend, so I couldn't reach my psychiatrist. I called the pharmacist, and he told me to go to the hospital right away because this was a side effect that could make me permanently blind if not addressed quickly. Needless to say, this was a traumatic experience, and I would not recommend taking this drug."

• tha...
• December 1, 2014

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I've been prescribed this medication twice. Each time I took a tablet, I got sick and nauseous. It increased my migraines and the pain I was experiencing. I refuse to use this medication, and my nurse practitioner refuses to try any new medication on me. I am forced to live a migraine-infused lifestyle and live with the pain."

• Spi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "Started on Tuesday of this week, so excited to try something different since I had been on bupap for years. I took it around 2:30 pm right after my yearly visit. Around 6:30 pm, I couldn't see in my left eye, it was so blurry I had to close one eye to read. I was also confused, felt like a child on Ritalin. I was slow-paced doing things. I didn't eat, soda tasted flat. Wednesday, I woke up with stomach pains, blurry vision, diarrhea, and nausea. What a day to start. No motivation, ringing in my ears, light sensitivity, I'm just plain through with this medication. Thursday, today I'm off but still have the side effects, I don't know how long it will wear off. But I'm going back to bupap. Screw this, that medication is for people in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest!'"

• Tar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "A MUST READ. If you are thinking of taking Topiramate ER, I would NOT recommend it to anyone. In my personal experience, I started taking it on a Thursday, took the second one on Friday, and on Saturday night when getting up, I experienced severe dizziness, felt like I had to throw up, as well as could not even open my eyes because the room was spinning. Worst feeling I have ever had in my life. When I awoke this AM (Sunday), I still felt dizzy when I simply sat up from bed and still was experiencing mild dizziness and did not feel well. Trust me and DO NOT take this medication."

• Dia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2020

"This medication, topiramate, was torture for the entire 7-9 days I was on it (for pseudotumor cerebri), at the lowest dose (25 mg daily, taken at night). Experienced a rash on day 1, with several red spots all over my face, chest, and arms, complete with incredible itching; severe insomnia, wasn't able to sleep more than 2 hours/day; crazy agitation/nervousness; racing thoughts; uncontrollable eye movements, especially when closing them to try to sleep; worsening of my already existing dizziness, nausea, and vomiting; more fainting than usual; complete loss of appetite; anger mood swings; memory loss. Also experienced a number of vision disturbances, like cloudy vision, blurrier than usual, loss of color saturation or seeing everything tinted in a single color, seeing flashes of light/lightning bolts, severe eye pain, intolerance to light, worsening of balance, tremors. Did absolutely nothing to help the horrible pressure headaches associated with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri)."

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I was on this topiramate medication for just 2 weeks before I took myself off. I was only on the lowest dose, and I had horrible side effects. It started with nausea and tingling hands, but then it caused breakthrough bleeding while on birth control at just 25 mg (I was told it would be less effective at 200 mg+). It caused vivid dreams, messed with my appetite, and I was not only extremely tired, but I couldn't sleep despite being so tired. It did, however, stop the migraines. But the side effects were not worth it for me to continue this medication."

• Anonymous
• February 6, 2009

For Migraine Prevention "I've been on Topamax for 7 months for migraines (3-12 per month) and almost daily headaches. Severity of migraines has lessened, but not frequency. No change whatsoever in daily headaches. Yes, all drugs have side effects. Just watch out for ones your doctor may not talk to you about (because they may not know about them). For instance, Topamax has been known to cause visual disturbances. I began experiencing severe palinopsia to the point it nauseated and disoriented me, and even after I presented him with the research, my doctor told me he had never heard of any patients experiencing that. Do your own research, go with your gut, stick to your guns... you know your body. You'll know if the drug isn't for you."

• Yog...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I was started on 25 mg phen, 37.5 mg and naltraxone 50 mg. The itch was horrendous. I wanted to rip my skin off. I had to discontinue yesterday. My doctor gave me 15 mg sprinkle topiramate. This morning, sick to my stomach and vomiting. My face is red and still itching. Don't know if I have to stop this one as well... any advice, anyone?"

• Bet...
• March 29, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "Horrible drug. It did not prevent my migraines at all, and I had awful side effects. Nausea, fuzzy thinking, tingly hands, and feeling overall sick the whole 4 weeks easing on and 2 weeks easing off. Not worth it. I'm back to Amitriptyline."

• Anonymous
• January 23, 2010

For Migraine Prevention "I am 24. At first, I had no idea what was going on. I thought that my entire world was turned upside down! I was extremely tired and fatigued. My fingers, toes, face, feet, hands, nose, etc. all felt like there were little needles pricking them, like they had fallen asleep and were waking up only worse...but all day long! On top of that, I was nauseous and couldn't eat. Then finally, when I did get an appetite and did eat, I was extremely nauseous afterward. I stopped taking it and just recently started again, the confusion is the worst this time around. Although the first time around, the confusion did subside quite fast."

• Emi...
• November 16, 2010

For Migraine Prevention "I started taking topiramate to control severe headaches, but after a few days, the side effects are worse than the headaches: nausea, rapid heartbeat, weakness, ringing in ears (it's REALLY loud!), lightheadedness, dizziness that makes me unsteady standing. I'm so glad topiramate works for others."

• Hea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "I'm only on day 3 of a low dose and haven't had my MRIs yet on my brain or my neck as it hasn't been determined where the cause of my migraines is coming from. In a nutshell... I'm taking this along with 3,000 mg of Tylenol and occasional Flexeril to subdue the out of control headaches and muscular pains as this drug kicks in, which could take up to a month from what I understand. The nausea is getting bad, I threw up after 1 bite of food on day 3. My IQ and sense of reality seem to have dropped as well. I went to the bathroom and grabbed my phone (as I always do), but in reality, I grabbed the remote control. I knew I grabbed the phone, it was messed up. I'm just sitting here in a daze, and it's just day 3, on a low dose, gradually losing my mind. I understand that this drug does take time to adjust, and I will level out and things will get better, I'm just impatient, I guess. Hopefully, I lose some weight, that would be nice. Oh, and soda does taste flat. Overall rating TBD. Good Luck."

• HTL...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I took this for my chronic migraines (first 25 mg, then up to 50 mg). It did nothing for my migraines, sadly. My side effects were tingling hands/feet/face, like a pins and needles feeling. I also lost 25 lbs in 3 months because I had no appetite. I also got severe depression while on this. I tapered off because I am already on the low BMI spectrum and was scared how much weight I lost. I had bad withdrawal symptoms - tremors, headaches, very cold, fever, extreme nausea, vomiting. My depression and appetite improved once I got off this drug."

• Kay...
• April 23, 2011

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Topamax made my migraines worse - more often, more pain, more nausea, stronger auras, and longer lasting."