Topamax and Tingling: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 26, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "I switched to Topamax from Lamictal to see if it would control my bipolar disorder and help me lose weight. My mood and sleep have been incredible, and I have lost 15 lbs in 6 weeks on Topamax. I was a little worried about having memory problems, but have not suffered this side effect at all. I have a little tingling in my feet at night, but not bad enough to stop taking it. Overall, I highly recommend this medication for bipolar disorder."

• Boj...
• March 16, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "I'm 50 years old and have suffered from migraines since I was about 12 years old. Too long! I've taken every medicine possible for prevention or cure with little or no relief. Too many trips to the ER for shots...the only real fix; then back home in a dark room for much-needed sleep. When my internist suggested Topamax, I jumped at the opportunity. Boy, I'm happy that I did. Yes, I had the initial side effects, lost 35 lbs originally (gained 10 back), have tingling in my fingers & toes but only in the winter when I'm cold. Very manageable. I don't drink pop, but tried one. Wow...it was flat. I do struggle with words at times, but still manageable. My 3/week migraines now down to 1/month are generally managed with Excedrin Migraine. A"

• 675...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 19, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I've been taking Topamax for over 10 years. At first, I lost 30 pounds. YIKES! I stabilized and gained back some weight to a good weight for me. A few times I've had tingling in my fingers that lasted a very short duration. I've been a chronic migraine sufferer for over 30 years. Started at 20, and I'll be 54 soon. Like many... I've been to many doctors and tried too many meds. This was the only thing that worked. Thankfully, for me, the side effects were minimal. Just because you have one bad experience, don't suffer. Find something. Meditation... something. You deserve a better life. We wouldn't be on this board if we didn't want to discourage or encourage someone else. Keep trying to live pain-free."

• ann...
• September 6, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I have taken Topamax for bipolar twice. First for three years, then now for a year. Do not know why I ever went off! This has been great for me after 25 years on lithium, which was like living under 4 wet wool blankets. I also tried Depakote, which only increased the weight gain and depression. At first, the side effects were a bit rough even at the initial very low dose of 25 mg. Very sleepy and tingly of hands and feet. BUT they pass, they really do. It may take a week of just being exhausted even when you increase your dose. The appetite depressant is wonderful. Also cuts down on general anxiety. Takes the real edge off the hypomania. I have not had any of the problems with finding words, etc."

• Ldo...
• November 7, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on Topamax before and it worked, and went off. I don't know why. I recently went back on it, and it has made a world of difference. It's like night and day. I take it with Abilify and Xanax because I have really bad anxiety as well. I am 24 and was so depressed I wasn't leaving my apartment, but now I feel like a new person, like I want to go out and do things again. I'm not held back. I like that this medicine doesn't make me gain weight too because I've had that problem in the past. I lost 10 pounds since I went back on it 4 weeks ago. The only thing I will say that is not great is it slows down my thought process sometimes, and it gives me tingles in my hands and face, but not all the time. The benefits outweigh those side effects greatly."

• Nom...
• November 10, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "I started taking Topamax about 3 years ago. Began at 25mg a day for a week. The second week I was supposed to move up to 50, the third week to 75mg, and then finally to 100mg on the fourth week. I never really had to move past 25mg. My migraines all but stopped after a month of being on the medication and at the lowest dose. I had all the side effects - tingling, weight loss (very happy about it too), forgetting certain words, and the nasty taste of soda. That was okay because I only drink it very rarely anyway. I was getting 1-2 migraines a week and now, I may have 1-2 a year. Most of the side effects seemed to have faded with time as well. Very, very pleased with this medication."

• Anonymous
• February 12, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "Started taking this about a month ago to level out my moods. I noticed difficulty focusing at first but it stopped. I'm also having tingling hands, feet, and face occasionally but with the way this medicine works it's worth it. Since I've been on it I'm like a new person, this medicine is a Godsend. Try it."

• Anonymous
• February 12, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "Started taking this about a month ago to level out my moods. I noticed difficulty focusing at first but it stopped. I'm also having tingling hands, feet, and face occasionally but with the way this medicine works it's worth it. Since I've been on it I'm like a new person, this medicine is a Godsend. Try it."

• Anonymous
• February 12, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "Started taking this about a month ago to level out my moods. I noticed difficulty focusing at first but it stopped. I'm also having tingling hands, feet, and face occasionally but with the way this medicine works it's worth it. Since I've been on it I'm like a new person, this medicine is a Godsend. Try it."

• Vic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I started Topamax on August 18th, and my life has changed! Today is September 2nd, two weeks without a migraine is a miracle. I’m on 50mg. At first, I was having a hard time at work. Brain fog is an understatement. But I would say it’s gone now. Within the first week, my sensitivity to light disappeared. I actually started crying tears of joy while driving because I could finally see in the daytime without a migraine. And the same thing at night. I don’t have to turn the mirror up anymore. I can see! I occasionally get some tingling in my hands and feet, but not bad at all. I will update again on my progress/side effects in a month or two. Good luck to everyone. This has been such a blessing for me."

• Anonymous
• August 1, 2009

For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "After having developed neuropathy post surgery, I was suffering daily. I had tried Neurontin with little relief and was prescribed Topamax initially at 25mg. Over the last 6 years, I've been titrated up to 300 mg and can tell you that this drug has helped tremendously. Initially, I had common side effects: difficulty finding words, I lost weight about 20 pounds, and found that I had some tingling in my hands and feet. These issues generally resolved in time, or I have just grown accustomed to them. For anyone who initially has issues with the side effects, try and stick with the medicine for a little bit unless totally intolerable, it gets better."

• Anonymous
• September 26, 2010

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I haven't been on Topiramate very long, only a couple of months. Started taking it for RLS (restless leg syndrome). I was really surprised to see that it is sometimes used as a weight loss medicine. I didn't really notice any difference in my appetite. However, my last visit to the doctor did show that I've lost 5 lbs. I don't like the tingling, crawling skin sensation side effect. That went away after a few days."

• Eri...
• March 9, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "Topamax ruined my life! Kaiser put me on it until my psychologist said, “get off of it if it’s not working,” after I told her I had been on it for over a year! This medication caused tingling in my hands, feet, face, and caused me to see people’s faces in distorted ways like a horror film! My headaches are caused by a 2cm round tumor in my left temporal lobe near my cortex at the hippocampus hypothalamus, it causes light seizures and horrible right-side brain headaches! Even though neurologists say it’s not connected, I know from research it is connected, and no one is helping me deal with the horrific, debilitating headaches! So when Kaiser said, “try Topamax,” I said, sure, why not! I lost 2 years of my life with my son, who was a junior in high school, it’s a miracle my husband of 25 years stayed married to me! Topamax ruined 2 years of my life."

• Anonymous
• March 24, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "Topamax is truly a lifesaver. I have been on this for many years now for migraine prevention, and I too would get the 'pins and needles' tingling sensation in hands and feet. I've found a daily multivitamin helps with that, and believe it or not, prenatal vitamins take it completely away. I hope this helps!"

• KDa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 17, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I was put on Topamax (brand name) in 2007 as I was having migraine headaches five and six times a month at a minimum (not just bothersome 'headaches' but full-on pain with severe vomiting and preventing me from going to work). At the time, my insurance covered it, and my copay was $10 a month. The only bad side effect I experienced was the tingling in my feet (sometimes severe), but it was worth it considering I went down to one migraine the first year I was on it. I called it my miracle drug (and I lost 30 lbs!). It gave me my life back... and then it came off the insurance company's formulary and went from $10 to $60 a month. As a newly divorced mom, I was unable to afford that, but I was able to move to the generic Topiramate - which only became a nightmare, and I now have lifelong issues (separate review for it)."

• Rac...
• February 13, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I suffer from migraines and also am overweight. So the Dr. prescribed me Topamax for both. I weighed in at 209 on Feb 2, 2016, and today, Feb 12, 2016, I am 203. So far so good with the weight loss. I'm not too pleased with the side effects, however. I feel fuzzy all day, like I'm on a cloud. Dizzy, tingling, and numbness in my fingers and toes. Hasn't helped my migraines at all either. It does, though, not make me hungry at all. I have to force myself to eat because I know I have to. I don't see myself taking this medication long term. I'd rather try and lose the weight naturally. Not worth all the side effects."

• Anonymous
• July 16, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "By the time I started Topamax, I was getting migraines 2-4 days a week. Topamax seemed like the best fix. And for a while, it was. My migraines significantly reduced, though I did get most of the common side effects: slight tingling in my fingers, carbonated beverages tasted gross, and weight loss. My main warning about this medicine is weight loss. It seems to be paraded as a benefit, and to some it may be, but if you are already naturally slim, pay very close attention. I wound up dropping to an unhealthy weight despite all attempts to counter it, and it's ultimately why I had to stop Topamax. I was unwillingly wasting away. When I stopped, my migraines returned in short order, and I'm still looking for an alternative that works."

• Rom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I was prepared for the basic side effects: Carbonated beverages not tasting right, and also some loss of appetite. I was put on 100mg from the get-go. I also had the fairly common side effect of just feeling confused, though this wasn't all that severe and I was still able to do well in school. I also experienced tingling in my hands and feet, and though this was irritating, it was bearable. The real kicker for why I quit taking this medicine was when I began to have what felt like panic attacks and severe confusion, along with elevated heartbeat and dizziness. Also, my fingers would move on their own and seem to get stuck sticking straight out, and I had no control over it."

• Lyn...
• January 27, 2017

For Fibromyalgia "Miracle drug! The side effects can be daunting at first, like tingling/numbness in extremities that won't stop for hours, but if you increase your water intake substantially and power through, it's totally worth it. My daily tension headaches are 90% gone, which is huge for me. It didn't do much in terms of overall muscle pain reduction or the daily body aches, but I did lose over 30 pounds in four months. I stopped drinking all carbonated drinks (because it makes them all taste super flat weirdly) and definitely am not as hungry as I used to be, so that's just a bonus."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 11, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "My current dosage is 100mg daily. I started at 113 pounds. Today, I weigh 100 pounds due to Topamax. Yes, I agree with everyone, in the beginning, the side effects were the worst. However, my doctor warned me that I would not feel relief until I reached my full dosage and my body adjusted to it, which was about 12 weeks. And I did see a difference. Before Topamax, migraines controlled my life, I had roughly 15 a month. With Topamax, I rarely have a severe migraine at all. Typically, I just get 5-7 headaches a month, which is a big difference. Yes, sometimes I forget my train of thought or feel tingling in my feet. However, those side effects beat the alternative of 50% of my life being controlled by severe migraines."

• Ann...
• January 29, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I am a retired teacher with a long history of migraines. Because of a heart condition, there were many medications I could not take. I suffered through many days taking mostly over-the-counter medicines. I was put on Topamax 10 months ago. At 100 mg a day, I was so stupid I could never have run a classroom. I could not do simple math problems or remember the names of streets nearby my home. The huge relief of not having migraines made it almost worth it. After all, I was now retired and did not have to be as sharp as I once was. It was a tough decision. My family was frustrated too with my huge brain fog. I also had the tingling and taste changes but they are easy to adjust to. I recently weaned myself down to 50 mg a day and it's working well."

• Swe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 13, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I just started Topamax. So far, I get the tingling feeling and the brain fog. Nothing major, though, and I zone out a lot. I barely eat, and when I do, it’s healthy. I hope this works. I’ve tried everything. I’ll update in a month."

• Sti...
• December 30, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am experiencing the tingling every day in my fingers, I am not hungry. I did have the brain fog to where I wouldn't drive. I wouldn't make any decisions about anything without talking it over with someone I trusted first. I am now up to 75 in the morning and at bedtime, and I still have the tingling, but the fog has been lifted. The headaches are so much less, but I have only lost 3 pounds. Can't seem to stop smoking, even with this. Still hoping this will help with the smoking. Wish me luck."

• Jen...
• November 15, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I have been taking 75 mg Topamax once a day for about 10 years now. I have gone as far as taking 100 mg until I started not being able to get the words out that I was thinking of. That side effect has not completely gone away but is better. When I first started, I did have the tingling in my hands and feet, but it was no more than like having carpal tunnel. I also have the weird taste where soda tasted flat and tomatoes taste weird. I did lose a little weight. The tingling went away, I adjusted to just not drinking soda. And tomatoes started to taste fine. I also take Sumatriptan for when I still do get a headache. However, the headaches are much fewer and further between. I will get a cluster of them about every six months, but still better."

• Kat...
• January 8, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I started taking Topamax about two and a half weeks ago. In that two weeks, I've lost close to 10 pounds. I've also had tingling in my fingers, feet, and toes. I've gotten tingling in my lips, too. Other than tingling body parts, so far I love it, and I've gone from headaches every day to maybe four really small ones and one migraine."