Topamax and Memory Loss: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Eaz...
• March 1, 2008

For Migraine Prevention "I do not recommend Topamax as a solution to migraines. Although it did help keep the frequency of the headaches down at first, in the long run, I had just as many migraines as usual, and there were too many side effects to make it worthwhile. My short-term memory was practically shot, my hands would tremor and go numb at some points, and I experienced an irregular heartbeat, trouble focusing, and sleep issues."

• Jau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I began taking 25 mg of Topamax once daily due to my migraines lingering 2-3 days at a time. Topamax did a number on my body. I completely stopped eating. Every time I tried to eat, I took one bite and would gag. I felt so extremely full constantly, even though I knew I had not eaten. Topamax completely destroyed my appetite, and although I've been off the medication for 6 months, I still never crave anything. I eat when I'm hungry, but I no longer have any cravings. While taking this medication, I lost a lot of my memory. I was constantly hazy or confused, and I felt like I was always searching for my task. I became malnourished and, confused that I quit taking the medicine completely. I would never recommend this medication because of side effects!"

• PMa...
• June 9, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I've been on Topamax (topiramate) for 6 years and loved it at first. My migraines decreased dramatically, I had weight loss from the appetite suppression, and I overall felt better. But I had pretty bad tingling in my hands and all over my face for the whole time I've taken it. Also, more recently, I've made the connection between my severe memory loss and the medication. I used to be able to retain information and facts like an elephant, but I can hardly recall simple words some days. I'm planning on going off the Topamax (with the direction of my neuro) because the memory loss issue is so disturbing to me."

• Anonymous
• February 22, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "Helped a lot with chronic migraines. I lost a lot of weight (I weighed 146 and I dropped down to 123 in two months). I ate less, but I was still eating close to what I ate before being on the medicine. I think it must speed up your metabolism. I had some mood changes, and I did have a little memory loss. I would forget words and things like that. I work with people, so I noticed it more because people would point it out. My hands/feet tingled. I noticed fewer side effects when I took the medicine at night. I only take 50 mg at night, that's all I ever have taken, and it works for me. It does wonders for my migraines, and it's worth the minor side effects. If you are a pop or beer drinker, you will HATE it because it ruins carbonated beverages."

• Sar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 18, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "This has been a lifesaver for me as far as migraines go. At first, I had a few of the side effects: brain fog, forgetfulness, but that went away after a month or so. Without this drug, I get at least 2-3 headaches a week, ranging from dull to severe. I rarely have a migraine while on it."

• WKB...
• June 9, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "I had a horrible experience on this medication back in 2005/2006. I started on a low dose of 25 mg/day and had severe nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, and memory impairment. Worked up to 50 mg 2x/day, and the nausea/diarrhea eventually abated, but the dizziness, fatigue, confusion, and memory problems continued, and I developed a bad tremor in my hands - I was dropping everything, couldn’t write legibly, and spilled food constantly. And I still had 10-15 debilitating migraines a month. Had to wean off it, but 10+ years later I STILL HAVE MILD HAND TREMORS. Worst medication experience of my life."

• Ccg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I've been on this medication for 3 weeks. At first, the effects were unbearable: brain fog, memory loss, loss for words, sleeping all day. I'm going on my 3rd week and almost all side effects have subsided. I still find myself at a loss for words sometimes. I started at 121 lbs; I'm now at 116 and still losing. I find myself never wanting to eat. Soda tastes flat. I don't mind. I like the medicine. I take 50 mg in the morning and 50 mg at night prn."

• Cry...
• January 4, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I still get slight headaches once in a while and use Excedrin Migraine with the Topamax, but it's nothing compared to what I had. The side effects go away, and the ones that don't, you get used to. I still have memory problems, so I had to lower the dose."

• mrh...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 25, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I took Topamax as much as 300 mg/day for 15 years, and my last dose was 150 mg at night. I recently changed to Lyrica, which is also an anti-convulsant, and am taking 100 mg/day and find it more effective than Topamax without the memory and lost word problems. I discontinued Topamax because it slowly got to the point where I could not remember something for an hour. Topamax also was causing erectile dysfunction problems for the last 3 years. I do not have this problem with Lyrica. In the end, I was getting 5 or more migraines a week and now get 2 or 3 a week and expect to increase Lyrica to 300 mg/day."

• Tah...
• April 3, 2008

For Migraine Prevention "I have been taking Topamax for about 2 full months now. I had a sudden onset of massive migraines. In one month alone, I went 27 days with migraines, I was a nonfunctioning person. I ended up in the hospital for 2 days. Finally, I started taking this wonder drug! I have only had 2 bad migraines in 2 months. I am able to go to work and, most of all, function at home. I do find, however, that I have memory issues and speech issues. Thank God everyone around me is very understanding, and we laugh about it."

• Kat...
• July 23, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I started taking this medicine several weeks ago with a combination of Celexa for my depression. The side effects are unwelcome and welcome all at the same time. I have memory loss and can't find the right words when I'm speaking to people. I feel tired during the day, but at night, I'm wide awake. My nails have become thinner, so has my waistline. I've struggled with my weight since I was young, [I'm 17 and I started these pills at 260 lbs. I'm now at 231 lbs]. These pills make me feel like food is the enemy. I'm also having decreased sensitivity during sex."

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

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

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!"

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

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."

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

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."

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

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."

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

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!"

• Anonymous
• July 28, 2009

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."

• Jes...
• October 6, 2019

"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."

• Mig...
• September 9, 2008

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."

• Pur...
• May 7, 2013

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!"

• New...
• January 28, 2011

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!"

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

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."

• Cod...
• July 22, 2009

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."

• jes...
• November 15, 2007

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!"