Topiramate and Tingling: What Users Say (Page 4)

• hea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 23, 2015

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I've found Topamax to be a useful tool in migraine prevention. I've been fighting these now for over 25 years, and I've gone as far as having sinus surgery and dentures to replace my top teeth to reduce the triggers of these monstrous headaches. I've come to believe there's no magic pill to take it all away, but Topamax reduces the severity greatly. The little tingling sensation will go away, and saltiness is great when you have to take meds and don't have a full stomach. It helps with the nausea. Whether Topamax is the drug for you-don't lose hope. Just keep trying to find the right combination of diet change, sleep, trigger reduction, and meds until you find what works for you."

• Cri...
• January 8, 2015

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I was prescribed this medicine for frequent migraines. The only bad experience I have had with it is a tingling sensation in my hands at times. It is not unbearable or any reason for me to stop taking the medication. I have been on the medication for a few months and have only had two migraines since I started the medicine."

• mel...
• April 2, 2008

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "There are a few ways to get rid of one of the most annoying side effects, the tingling hands and feet. Potassium- I used to eat a banana or drink fruit juice high in potassium. All of my side effects went away after 2 years on Topamax. It is hard to wean off of. I have not taken a pill for 2 months and have far fewer headaches than before Topamax! Great drug! I lost almost 30 lbs but once we found the right dosage I leveled out and stayed at that weight for a year before weaning off."

• mel...
• April 2, 2008

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "There are a few ways to get rid of one of the most annoying side effects, the tingling hands and feet. Potassium- I used to eat a banana or drink fruit juice high in potassium. All of my side effects went away after 2 years on Topamax. It is hard to wean off of. I have not taken a pill for 2 months and have far fewer headaches than before Topamax! Great drug! I lost almost 30 lbs but once we found the right dosage I leveled out and stayed at that weight for a year before weaning off."

• Bac...
• February 6, 2014

Topiramate for Seizure Prevention "When I first used Topamax, it was for seizures, but I had not been diagnosed with bipolar, then it was thought to be depression. I lost 83 pounds, but I stopped taking it because of the tingling in my hands and face. After trying other medications years later, I gained 123 pounds, which I was devastated by and plunged into a deep depression that I am still in. After reading about it again, I know I can live with the other things, it seems minor to the darkness I have been living in. I can't wait to try it again after realizing it's better than 99% of the things I tried when I go to my appointment in two weeks. I'm excited for the first time in a long time to try it again."

• Lad...
• March 23, 2015

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I've been on Topamax for quite a few months now, and I love it for the most part! I have only had the occasional minor headache, but the side effects are good/bad. The good ones in my book are the weight loss and carbonated beverages and other sweet things tasting horrible. The bad side effects are tingling, usually in my fingers and confusion/'blonde moments,' but those are usually more pronounced the more tired I am. I can live with the bad side effects so much easier than I can a migraine every day!"

• Isn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2015

Topiramate for Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started 25 mg on June 2nd at bedtime. I had tingling in my hands and a bitter taste in my mouth. I also fought to remember what I had done all night and morning. I felt like a complete zombie. I took one dose and haven't taken any more since. The side effects this pill has aren't worth me risking it. I'd rather keep my weight until I find another way to get it off, and to this day, June 5, 2015, I still have tingling in my hands and feet and numbness in my arms, along with swelling in my fingers. I will never take another Topamax, it's awful."

• tdi...
• March 24, 2012

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I have been on Topamax for about 6 months for migraines. I take 50 mg per day. I am written to take 25 mg morning and night, but I take it all at night, which works better for me. I have not had a single migraine since starting Topamax therapy, and I find it helps to stabilize my mood in conjunction with Effexor XR. I also have cyclothymia. I have also lost 45 pounds with this medication. I have not noticed horrible side effects, with the exception of some tingling in my lower extremities, but it is not that bad and far less worse than the migraines I once suffered on a weekly basis. I am very pleased with Topamax. I refused to take Depakote because of weight gain and its effect on the liver."

• eis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 7, 2015

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Started 100 mg at bedtime (in case of drowsiness) because I was waking up with 3 migraines a week. Later we added 25 mg in the morning to prevent afternoon migraines. My headaches have gradually improved, not just in frequency but also in intensity. Only side effects have been weight loss (about 10-15 lb, and it seems to have leveled out there, which is fine; I'm a relatively small person) and paresthesia/tingles in my hands and face. Tingling is more frequent in cold weather, but it's not bad enough to make me quit, especially not with the benefits I'm experiencing. There's been a bit of research into its use for mood disorders, which I have. I'm on other meds for that, but I wonder if the topiramate is having any extra little benefit there."

• Cal...
• November 5, 2016

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I started out at 75 mg, had to decrease at first because it made me super emotional and had really bad tingling in hands/feet, so I ended up going back down to 50 mg, then I slowly increased by 25 mg until I got up to 100 mg and I'm doing OK now. I do feel emotionally sensitive at times and do get occasional tingling in my fingers and toes if I don't eat for a while, which the Topamax also decreases my appetite and I have lost weight on. I still have ocular migraines if I stay up too late or don't get enough sleep. If I have even a small glass of wine the evening before, I will wake up with an awful migraine the next morning, so I see why they say not to drink while on the medication. Overall, it has really significantly decreased migraines."

• Anonymous
• September 5, 2009

Topiramate for Seizure Prevention "I've been on this medication for 3 years now for my seizures (50 mg/2 daily) and have not had any episodes since. At first, I would get a tingling feeling in my fingers and toes (like soda fizz), but it went away once my body was used to the drug. Recently, my pharmacy switched me to the generic version, and I hated it. Immediately that first day, I would get crazy headaches, feel dizzy, sick to my stomach, and I couldn't concentrate on anything. I went back to my neurologist and got a new prescription for brand name only and have not had any problems since. I was also still using the drug during my recent pregnancy and am happy to report no problems or side effects whatsoever."

• 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."

• Sme...
• April 16, 2015

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I have been on a generic 25 mg daily dose for a week now for migraines. The positive is that I finally have a break in the migraine of 8 plus days, no tingling in extremities as others mentioned. No additional mental fog. Cola taste is flat, and that is a plus to me as I need to drink more water. The negative is the nausea that occurs after I take the pill, and it is horrible, but I counter it with a suppository of Phenergan (sp). Of course, that knocks me out for hours. I was to increase the dosage to 50 mg, but the doctor gave okay to wait another week. This is a promising option for me after 16 years of suffering. And I have tried numerous meds over that time."

• Kry...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 25, 2012

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I have been on Topamax for about 2 years now. I am very thankful that my neurologist finally prescribed it for me. I have had my share of side effects for sure. I still cannot eat a hamburger or steak because any kind of red meat tastes funny now. I'm okay with that. At first, carbonated sodas tasted flat, so I stopped drinking them, but I found the trick to overcoming that one. If I drink them fast, I get the carbonated sensation. I still do not drink very many, though. Over time, the tingling in my hands and face subsided. The one side effect that bothers me the most is my intolerance to heat. If I get just the least bit overheated, I will faint. I will even faint from a hot shower. But I do not have near as many migraines."

• 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."

• Lin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 16, 2017

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "When I first went on Topamax, I thought it was a miracle. I had just been diagnosed with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) after 9 months of what we had previously thought was a constant migraine. Topamax was the first drug that really made a dent in the pain. However, the side effects were... a lot. - At first, I could barely eat (for about a month). - The brain fog slowly took me over, turning me into a zombie. - The tingling was never just my hands and feet, but my arms, legs, face, and back as well. - I had vision issues, including always seeing a circle in the middle of my vision, eyes opened or closed. - I had hallucinations whenever I woke up in the dark. Worst of all, the drugs would help for a week or two, then the pain would come back until I increased the dose."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2018

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "Overall bad experience. Currently tapering off (was on the med 3 months). Did work in decreasing migraines, but the side effects were horrible. Tingly hands, feet, legs, and arms; heavy chest (thought I was having a heart attack); very anxious; crying often; just not happy; very tired. I cannot wait to be off of this medication."

• Les...
• November 27, 2009

Topiramate for Seizure Prevention "After years of being on carbamazepine and gaining a lot of weight, I was switched to Topamax/topiramate. First to 300 mg, then, because of G.I. side effects, to 100 mg a day and adding 50 mg of Lamictal. G.I. symptoms are gone. I do experience the metal taste, some tingling in my hands and feet, tiredness, blurred vision, some diarrhea, but these are few and far between, my weight is stabilized and not many problems with sleep. Any breakthrough seizures I have are usually when I don't maintain my regular sleep cycle, get overstressed, etc. The plus is that I am able to have a normal life. I work full-time, hunt, fish, exercise, have 2 grown boys, hobbies, and my husband and I have a very active social life. Inconvenient, yes, but worth it!"

• 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."

• Bib...
• May 2, 2015

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "My neurologist prescribed me Topamax to prevent migraines 4 days ago. The first night I took the pill, I had horrible side effects (tingling and numbness for hours). The following night, I decided to take my vitamins (which I didn't do the night before), and I didn't experience the same side effects. Not sure if it helped, but I make sure I take them every single day!! The only side effect that I get is slight tingling in my hands occasionally."

• Arm...
• May 9, 2016

For Seizures "I deployed to Iraq in 2012. I had my grand mal seizure at the age of 21 after a mission. Was sent home for testing. I was put on other seizure meds that absolutely sucked. Then my neurologist prescribed me Topiramate. It was a rough first few weeks with new tastes and tingly hands and feet, but slowly the almost constant minor seizures I had in my right arm were gone. I love this medicine. I haven't had a grand mal since October 2013."

• Anonymous
• April 27, 2008

Topiramate for Trigeminal Neuralgia "I suffered a stroke in '04, and my neurologist prescribed Neurontin to deal with the resulting numbness and tingling on the right side. A year later, and after emergency gallbladder surgery, he put me on a low dose of Topamax instead. It worked well, but I've had to eventually increase the dosage. The side effects were minimal; I needed to lose the 35 lbs I lost (and my wardrobe needed updating :0), and the additional tingling is nothing compared to what I feel when I don't take it. Expensive!"

• Stu...
• February 13, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I've only been on Topiramate for 1 month. I have been getting the tingling feelings in my hands, but I'll learn to live with that if it'll help me lose weight. Right now, I'm 5'8" and weigh 265 lbs. I'm hoping to lose about 50 lbs sometime in the near future. My current dosage of Topiramate is 50 mg 2x a day and will gradually increase to 200 mg a day."

• Anonymous
• June 1, 2008

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I dealt with migraines for so many years that I cannot even remember. Due to the cost of Topamax, at one point I quit taking it. I am back on it now. It is a lifesaver for me. I have had some of the side effects: weight loss, tingling fingers, cold feet, taste change, etc., but they are all worth it not to have the life-stopping migraines anymore. Once the dosage is regulated, it is wonderful. I have probably had 2 migraines in the past year, and neither has been intolerable."

• RVG...
• March 17, 2011

Topiramate for Migraine Prevention "I had tried everything: Depakote, verapamil, Inderal, etc., and I had several migraines a week. I have been on Topamax for 15 years, and it has made a huge difference. I still have a few migraines a month, which usually respond to Imitrex. As the years have gone by, the tingling and loss of words have gotten much better. I can't do without this medicine. I'm a nurse, and for the one or two out-of-control migraines per year, I use injectable Toradol. That is a miracle medicine. No more emergency department for me. I can now feel free, live a normal life, not terrified of being stuck in a dark room with vomiting and wanting to die."