Topamax and Tingling: What Users Say (Page 4)

• eob...
• November 17, 2007

For Migraine Prevention "I have been taking Topamax for about 10 months now for migraine prevention. I have had several undesirable side effects, including irregular heartbeat, shallow breathing, tingling extremities, memory loss, and even hair loss. It helped only during the first few months, but now I get just as many migraines as before."

• Des...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "ONLY 25 mg/day, 2nd try. Lasted 3 days. Whoa, just whoa! Within 1 hour, my pain lessened, but side effects were already producing. First, my vision got really distorted. I couldn't focus on command at all. Then my bottom lip wouldn't stop tingling with a numb feeling. I got extremely dizzy and felt out of it. So I thought, let me lay down. Fell asleep 15 min. Woke up, thought an hour passed, was completely out of it. The whole left side of my face felt palsy, completely numb. Tingling/numbness in arms, hands, legs, and feet. The next day, visual less, but symptoms still there. Then the suicidal thoughts and worthlessness came. I made it one more day. Missed a day and took it the following day. I can't do anything on it. Comatosed and psychiatric mind games. DONE!! I'm better without it."

• NJj...
• March 6, 2008

For Migraine Prevention "I have been taking Topamax 50 mg, 2x daily for over a year now and found that it has helped me a lot with a few exceptions. They are weight loss, kidney stones, tingling in hands and feet, and frequent urination. I found that other medications didn't help (Depakote). I also take this with Inderal (B/P med) and Catapres TTS Patch (B/P med) because I also suffer from high blood pressure, and these two medications also are good migraine-fighting meds. I do recommend Topamax."

• Anonymous
• October 28, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I take 50 mg at night because of drowsiness. The medication did help me with my migraines, I've only had a few since I started the medication. My side effects include tingling in hands and feet, red eyes, but the worst is the brain fog, trying to remember the simplest things is tough. I have also noticed that I get angry about stuff more than I used to."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "Reluctantly started due to reviews to prevent migraines and clear up severe blurry vision...50 mg...caused facial tightness, made headaches worse, tiredness, slowness, about to think, ok, bouts of tingling, vision somewhat cleared, will be reducing the dose to 25 mg...we will see how this works out."

• Dan...
• October 6, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I began taking Topamax about a year ago after suffering from weekly migraines since age 15. I increased the dose to 200 mg a day before it seemed to be a therapeutic dose for me. My migraines reduced a lot for a long time, but I also do not drink alcohol, caffeine, or eat chocolate, cheese. The last few weeks, my migraines are back with great intensity. One lasted 4 days. So I will be going back to my doctor. Topamax did not affect my appetite at all. I get occasional tingling."

• mrs...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 4, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "I've been taking Topamax for about 2 years now, 100 mg a day. I have severe chronic migraines due to my spinal cord. So my doctor put me on this medication. The only side effect I've had was the tingling, but I get that anyway even before this medication, so who knows if it was a side effect. But it works okay for me when I take it regularly, but I also have focal seizures, so this medication is for both of my problems. But I always take it with my hydrocodone, so my migraines are fine."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "Used to get 2-3 weekly migraines before Topamax and would run out of Fioricet and Imitrex. I tapered up to the 100 mg dose, and while I do get the occasional tingling in my fingers and toes, it's nothing compared to a full-fledged migraine. I also dropped 8 or 9 lbs, which is a lot for me since I'm 5'2 and was 129, now I'm 121 lbs. I have almost no appetite, but almost no migraines."

• Anonymous
• July 19, 2008

For Migraine Prevention "I've been using Topamax for about 4 months after suffering for about 20 years. The migraines had started to come every week, and I couldn't function for days. This medicine allowed me to function again without having to worry about when the next big headache was going to come. Side effects haven't been too bad, some tingling, and I can no longer drink anything carbonated, but well worth it."

• Anonymous
• April 8, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "Topamax worked great to prevent migraines, however, the side effects that I experienced were not worth the prevention. I experienced numbness and tingling in my extremities, severe problems with word retrieval, a complete inability to focus or concentrate, anxiety, agitation, and severe mood issues (I became very angry and upset at the smallest of things). But what finally did me in was severe epigastric pain, nausea, dizziness, and disorientation that came about suddenly and was persistent until I titrated myself off the medication after a visit to the urgent care. As soon as I got off Topamax, the migraines were back every day, and I question which was worse - the migraines or the side effects."

• Jde...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I have been on Topamax for over a month. Migraines are almost gone. Not even taking pain meds that much. Weight loss is starting finally, and it is happening quick. I am driving again and living the life I couldn't beforehand. I do have tingling in my feet and sometimes lack feeling in a few toes, but for the lack of pain, I'll take it!"

• Anonymous
• April 3, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "Been on Topamax for 3 months. I have recently gone up on the dose to 75 mg at bedtime. I've been all right dealing with the tingling. I have quit smoking and drinking, which is great. I started working out a lot since I've been so anxious. Possible side effect? The worst for me is the sleep issues and the mood swings. Since the dose went up, I am having terrible night sweats and am waking up all night long. I'm exhausted all day with little to no motivation. My mood swings quickly and dramatically from happy to annoyed. Just trying to wait it out. I'm still having headaches every day, just not migraines."

• Anonymous
• July 6, 2010

For Migraine Prevention "I suffered from chronic migraines misdiagnosed as tension headaches for 10 years before being sent to a neurologist who started me on topiramate right away. It was very hard at first to get over the fatigue, but the immediate improvement in my headaches was a life-changing experience. The weight loss was an added benefit. My hair has thinned a bit, the taste changes are mild, as are the tingling in my hands and feet (a few seconds here and there like they fall asleep-except it's in the middle of the palm or the sole). The chronic migraines (4-6 days a week) are now down to about 3 days a month, and the fatigue is no longer bothersome."

• ge3...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 8, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "When I first started Topamax, I couldn't notice the side effects except for the tingling in my hands, feet, and face. I thought it would go away with time, but here I am, 2 years later, and it is still happening. This medication also prevented my migraines at first, then I had to be put in the hospital for 5 days to get treatment about 6 months ago, and now they are back again. If you miss even one dose, you get a whole new set of side effects as if you started the medicine that day! Before I took this medicine, my hair was so thick, and I never really noticed the hair loss side effect until now because my hair is falling out in chunks. Topamax also caused me to get kidney stones and be hospitalized for a month. The only good thing is I lost 50 lbs."

• ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2013

For Fibromyalgia "I was on Topamax for almost a month, but I had to stop because of the painfully tingly feet. It didn't do much for my pain overall either. I was also taking it to curb my appetite and for PMDD, but my appetite was the same or worse, and it did nothing for the PMDD (might have actually made it worse!). We tried this because Geodon worked well for my PMDD but suddenly stopped working after 4 years (and gave me tardive dyskinesia)."

• 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."

• chi...
• August 12, 2009

For Seizure Prevention "Was taking this medication for a seizure disorder. I was on it for about 4 or 5 months, but had to go off of it because of all the side effects. I was extremely depressed, crying at least 7 or 8 times a day. Memory loss, could not sleep, tingling in feet and hands. The only good thing about it was I lost 32 lbs in about 6 weeks."

• Lrd...
• September 2, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "This is my first time taking them. I already feel the tingling in my face, hands, and feet. This is a scary feeling, and just by reading the reviews, I'm already thinking of not continuing this medication. I'm all for weight loss, but hair loss and memory loss, OMG, that's too much. I just want to feel better. I've been battling migraine headaches since middle school, and now I'm 33. Something has to give."

• CM1...
• November 15, 2009

For Migraine Prevention "I am 42 and have suffered with migraines since I was a teenager. When Imitrex came out, I thought that was a lifesaver, and it was. I used to get a migraine and have to go home and hide under the covers for a day or two, but Imitrex isn't a preventive like Topamax. The only side effects were in the first 2 weeks with subtle numbness and tingles and loss of short-term memory. The longer side effect has been the weight loss, but I had been overweight by 20 lbs anyway, so this has been a blessing! I look great and have only had a few minimal headaches since June."

• Uni...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 11, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "Day 3 on this and was prescribed for migraines but also watching weight due to weight gain from taking nerve meds. Current weight 216 lb and looking to lose back under 200 pounds. I have experienced tingling in hands a bit with Topamax in the first 2 days, which is considerably fast but definitely from these pills. Will update after a few weeks."

• Moo...
• February 4, 2010

For Migraine Prevention "Minimal side effects, some tingling in hands and feet, some 'Topamax moments'... trouble finding words to complete sentences, etc. Did experience a 30 lb. weight loss, which I didn't mind. But most of all, it drastically decreased the migraines!! And if I do have one, it is very manageable."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• November 5, 2011

For Migraine Prevention "Topamax has helped my life dramatically. I have had daily headaches for close to 20 years, and I was always nervous that they would turn into a migraine, which was at least 3-4 times a month. Since I have started this medicine, the headaches are gone! I am on 100 mg daily and did stop taking it for about 2 weeks because I was busy. The headaches came back immediately, just as bad as before the medicine, and it took shots to get rid of them. I hopefully will not have to stop this medicine. I do get tingling every once in a while, but it does not hurt or stop me from doing daily activities, it just surprises me. I do tell my doctor so he is able to keep track of them. Hopefully, if this medicine does not work for people, they can try something else."

• Ann...
• November 23, 2016

For Seizure Prevention "I've been on this for over a year. Works very well. I have one side effect, tingling in my feet. I eat a lot of greens and bananas to help with that. I lost 45 lbs because of it as well. I take Vitamin B-12 to help with my memory because of the seizure meds... like every seizure med can affect your memory."

• lun...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 31, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I take 25 mg in the morning and 50 at night. Within the first two weeks of taking it, I tried to commit suicide, I was fighting major depression at the time too. By week four, the feeling went away. It took 2-3 months for the fingers and toes to stop tingling, but I had that in the toes anyway from nerve damage in the back. They increased my evening dose, and within two weeks again, I tried to commit suicide again. This time twice in one week, and within a month I stabilized again. My doctor will not raise it anymore even though I just begged her to. It's only day 7-21 that I need to be watched, and the last time I called my sister to take me to the hospital for the second attempt. I didn't lose weight on it."