Topamax and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Lor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2015

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."

• jus...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 23, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I have been on Topamax for a little over 6 years. I started at 25 mg and slowly went up to 250 mg. I experienced the weight loss, tingling, and the other minimal side effects at the lower dose but was encouraged to stay on the meds. As I increased the dose, I started having hair loss, dizziness, and 'white outs' where I would not be able to see at all for up to 20-30 seconds at a time. I also started having the memory issues. I started seeing a new neuro and we dropped me down to 100 mg. The hair loss stopped, but I still get the vertigo. I am now down to 50 mg. I suffer from eye pain in my left eye and still the random dizziness-which is horrible. Weaning off of this, I do Botox injections now for preventative with some relief."

• jus...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 23, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I have been on Topamax for a little over 6 years. I started at 25 mg and slowly went up to 250 mg. I experienced the weight loss, tingling, and the other minimal side effects at the lower dose but was encouraged to stay on the meds. As I increased the dose, I started having hair loss, dizziness, and 'white outs' where I would not be able to see at all for up to 20-30 seconds at a time. I also started having the memory issues. I started seeing a new neuro and we dropped me down to 100 mg. The hair loss stopped, but I still get the vertigo. I am now down to 50 mg. I suffer from eye pain in my left eye and still the random dizziness-which is horrible. Weaning off of this, I do Botox injections now for preventative with some relief."

• Nat...
• May 18, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I have always had chronic, severe migraines, often for 15 days or more of each month. Topamax has helped, but I tend to develop a resistance, so when I started getting resistant to Topamax, I came off and have not been on anything. 15 days ago, I started having severe vertigo, now diagnosed as vestibular migraine (a new twist on my migraines), and am back on Topamax. I immediately noticed a severe drop in my libido. I don't remember it from previous times. Of course, being dizzy for 2 weeks may also be killing my sex drive!"

• Anonymous
• May 10, 2009

For Migraine Prevention "I've been on Topamax for 2 weeks now after switching from Elavil. Now I'm seriously questioning that decision despite the problems Elavil caused me. The insomnia is outrageous. I have to set an alarm to take my morning dose at 5 a.m. so that my evening dose can be taken around 3 p.m. This way its effects have kind of faded off by bedtime, and with the help of some prescribed sleeping pills, I'm lucky to get a tiny bit of sleep. Of course, along with that, I have tingling, slight numbness (not enough to even complain about), dizziness, decreased appetite, taste aversion, and weight loss, of course. I haven't had too many experiences with confusion yet. On a positive note, my migraines haven't returned."

• Kel...
• March 16, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "To be honest, I can't tell you if it helped with the prevention of migraines or not. I have had chronic migraines for 15 years now. They are accompanied by a loss of feeling in my hands, aura, and sometimes my words come out as gibberish. I have tried just about everything from medications to natural remedies for my migraines. When my new neurologist suggested I take Topamax, I thought that I would finally be rid of my migraines. I didn't even last a week on this medication, though. I couldn't stand for more than thirty seconds without being dizzy and having shortness of breath. My stomach ached, and I had a tingling sensation in my hands. I also had a slight fever. My doctor wanted to attribute all of these things to the start of a cold."

• den...
• October 5, 2010

For Migraine Prevention "Only side effects I have are numbness in hands and feet, a burning taste on my tongue when I drink sodas, and some mild dizziness the first few minutes after taking the medicine. Benefits definitely outweigh these minor side effects. I went from daily migraines to less than 3 a month now!"

• Anonymous
• November 28, 2009

For Migraine Prevention "If I had to base my rating on migraine prevention alone, I would have to rate it a 10. My migraines were pretty much nonexistent while on Topamax. HOWEVER, I had extreme side effects: taste change, extreme mood and behavior change, tingling fingers/toes/lips, dizziness, vomiting, and increased eye pressure. I had to be taken off of it and put on Elavil. Like I said, as far as the migraine prevention, it was perfect, but it came with a price that my doctor and I thought was not worth it."

• mac...
• January 4, 2010

For Migraine Prevention "Only took this for a week. I couldn't function at all. Was sent home on a daily basis as I couldn't speak, was dizzy to the point of falling over, everything smelled funny, tasted funny. As a busy mother and teaching assistant, I found this medication's side effects not worth the time or effort."

• Kie...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 20, 2023

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."

• Tru...
• August 7, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "Caused retrograde ejaculation. Took this about a month, it worked great on me not getting my migraines, BUT I started to notice that I was decreasing in ejaculation until there was nothing. My vision got worse, and I got very dizzy and nervous at times. I'm stopping this medication immediately. Just don't like these side effects."

• Nan...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 3, 2017

For Seizure Prevention "Topamax is not for me. I only take 50 mg and have side effects, word retrieval issues, sleepiness, balance issues, etc. But it is the only one I can take that my stomach can tolerate! Seeking other avenues to control seizures, like reducing the radiation around me, particularly at night...appears to be working!"

• But...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 5, 2018

For Seizure Prevention "My doctor put me on Topamax because I could no longer afford Lamictal for my bipolar disorder. It was the worst experience of my life. It gave me a severe headache, loss of coordination -- if I was walking forward, I would suddenly start walking on my tiptoes in a sideways direction. I couldn't spell or form sentences. I had slurred speech, and my eyes were glazed over. I also had mild anxiety the whole time I was on it. The only good thing was that I literally had no appetite and lost a lot of weight. I only took it for about ten days a week and went back to Lamictal. I'd rather be poor than have to be on Topamax."

• rya...
• September 30, 2015

For Fibromyalgia "Very sick and dizziness."

• Ajs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2022

For Seizures "Topamax has caused me to feel dizzy and hand tremors. I wish I could select a 0 instead of a 1."