Topamax - The Evil Drug

I am so glad that someone else is having the same problem I thought I was going crazy. I was given TOPAMAX for weight loss now I want to cry all the time or just throw something or even worse I dont feel like getting off the couch the couch Im tooooo tired or my feet are tingling this is none sense.........LORI

I'm taking Topamax for migraines right now and I just turned 20. About two weeks after I started it, I could go down the list and basically put a check mark next to every side effect they listed because I have them. I'm a college student and I can't afford to have problems thinking. I would get this feeling like I had the word on the tip of my tongue but for the life of me could not get it out.
I have the tingling all the time and I guess I've learned to live with it. I don't like it but I like the headaches less. Yeah I've lost a little weight but its because it makes everything taste funny. Not my ideal way of losing weight.
A couple of weeks ago I ended up in the hospital with a gall bladder attack and they ended up removing it. The surgeon couldn't specifically say it was the Topamax, but I had 20 gall stones and he didn't know what caused them in someone so young who eats as healthy as I do. I'm pretty sure it was the Topamax because the anethesiologist told me that the gall bladder breaks down medications before they hit the stomach so they're in a less severe form. I'm on it again until we can get it switched but I'm now worrying about what it's doing to my stomach.

Topamax is an evil drug. I only took it for 3 weeks. The numbness in the fingers and toes was maddening. And the more anxiety and stress I experienced (which had to have been caused by the drug), the more the tingling occurred. I was thirsty like crazy. Couldn't eat. Lost at least 8 lbs. in those few weeks. A lot of food did taste funky. But my appetite just went away and it wasn't good. After the first week I started on only 50 mg a day and for me, it was like a course of chemotherapy. It screwed up my stomach majorly. But then the bomb hit - I had severe dizziness that kept me out of work for 2 days, I couldn't drive and even navigating around the house was difficult, especially after first waking up. But it did last for hours on the second day so I went off the Topamax. A week later, the dizziness started again. Not as severe but it's persistent. So I've been to two doctors and they can't figure out what's wrong with me. I've been off for three weeks now and cannot get rid of this dizziness. I'm now on amoxicillin hoping it's coincidental and maybe I have an inner ear infection. I'm also taking a non-drowsy allergy med hoping to aleviate the light-headedness and dizziness. But so far, after 2 days, it's still persisting. I hope Topamax didn't do something negative to my brain. The depression and anxiety have also persisted, although they're not as bad now. Today I've been getting headaches and feeling strange feelings in my eyes. I don't know if these symptoms are all connected with the Topamax, but it sure is coincidental. I don't see how it can still be in my system 3 weeks later but I don't know how else to explain the dizziness corrolation. I wouldn't recommend the drug to anyone. I'd rather be bipolar and healthy than have my mood stabilized and feel like a cancer patient. At least my life was manageable before.

I'M TAKING TOPOMAX FOR SEIZURES. I WAS PRESCRIBED THIS MEDICATION IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. I EXPERIENCE THE SAME TINGLING AND ALSO RECENTLY WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HAVING GALLSTONES. AS OF TWO WEEKS AGO I HAD MY GALL BLADDER REMOVED. I WAS BLAMING IT ON MY DIET AND ME DRINKING TO MUCH PEPSI. I AM GOING TO PRESENT THIS INFO TO MY DOCTOR AND TELL HIM I WANT TO BE TAKEN OFF OF THIS MEDICATION. ALSO AT THIS TIME I AM LOSING MY HAIR AND NEED TO SEEK TREATMENT AS WELL. PLEASE WISH ME LUCK.

I have been taking topamax for 6 months now and it has been GREAT for me. A pure miracle drug if there is such a thing. I started taking it for frequent headaches and I noticed that one of the side effect is weight loss. Since starting, I have lost 50 pounds and my headaches are gone for the most part. I had the tingles from time to time, but it wasnt anything I cant handle. It made soda taste funny, so I just switched to drinking water, since its better for you anyway. I stay hydrated, have lost weight, am not depressed anymore because of my weight. I feel good about myself and my head doesnt feel like its going to pop off. I diagnosed myself with gallstones and my doctor confirmed it today, so it looks like I will be having surgery. Im not going to totally blame topamax, but I think it has alot to do with it. Still, I think topamax is a good drug for me. Too bad other people cant handle it.

I have been using Topamax for mental health issues and it has helped me a lot but I think it may be causing gallstones but what is worse? I don't know! You want poison try a drug commonly prescribed as an antibiotic called leviquin!!!! After one pill I was praying for death. The topamax also stopped my migraines for the first time ever in my life.

I have actually been given Topamax for many reason, Bulimia, migraines, depression and seziures. These things were interconnected with the practicing of aneating disorder when I was younger. I am now in recovery. :) Topamax has been a healthy thing for me to try and I have had no problem. Our bodie's are all different that's for sure! IT was exciting too because I was doing everything in moderation, my exercise and eating and this med helped me looked extremely good and I wasn't trying hard! I was really excited! I am glad it's working to take it! It gives me more energy! I have had no migraines and no seizures. My eating is consistent and my addictions are at bay. I do not just attribute this to Topamax but first and foremost Christ! Without Him I'd still be a REAL mess! A med is a bandaid but not forever for me... CB

I started taking Topamax about 4 months ago. I have the tingling everyday throughout the day, but the dr. suggested increase in potassium and this helped A LOT! It does not do it near as much. However, I have never been so dizzy in my life and it is pretty much everyday and almost all the time. I also started having this thing where I would get very dizzy and whatever stationary objects I was focusing on would appear that they were shaking back and forth, the visual perception disturbance has been the scariest part. The dizziness very annoying and hard to work. I am also tired a lot of the time and seem to have much less motivation/energy than in the past. I did NOT get the benefit of losing weight (the only GOOD side effect of the drug). I am considering going off the medication, but am kind of scared because it has taken away my migraines which is great!

I have been on Topamax for about a month for my daily migraines. I have experienced several side effects that are making me consider quiting the medicine completely which sucks because my heachaches have calmed down tremendously. I have tingling in my hands, feet, lips, and recently my entire face. I am a college student and i'm scared to start my classes because latley i cant even concentrate on reading a magazine. I feel dumb latley and and if someone asks me something when I try to respond its like I can't get the words out and they look at me like im "stoned." It's embarassing. I have lost my appetite, but when I am hungry, the food I used to enjoy doesn't taste good anymore. I am also noticing that I am more emotional then ever. I can cry for no reason at all. My memory isn't so sharp either. Im only 19 years old. Does anyone know if any of these side effects are long term? I sure hope not. That would be scary.
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I have been on Topamax(100MG) for about a month for my daily migraines. I have experienced several side effects that are making me consider quiting the medicine completely which sucks because my heachaches have calmed down tremendously. I have tingling in my hands, feet, lips, and recently my entire face. I am a college student and i'm scared to start my classes because latley i cant even concentrate on reading a magazine. I feel dumb latley and and if someone asks me something when I try to respond its like I can't get the words out and they look at me like im "stoned." It's embarassing. I have lost my appetite, but when I am hungry, the food I used to enjoy doesn't taste good anymore. I am also noticing that I am more emotional then ever. I can cry for no reason at all. My memory isn't so sharp either. Im only 19 years old. Does anyone know if any of these side effects are long term? I sure hope not. That would be scary.
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I have been on Topamax(100MG) for about a month for my daily migraines. I have experienced several side effects that are making me consider quiting the medicine completely which sucks because my heachaches have calmed down tremendously. I have tingling in my hands, feet, lips, and recently my entire face. I am a college student and i'm scared to start my classes because latley i cant even concentrate on reading a magazine. I feel dumb latley and and if someone asks me something when I try to respond its like I can't get the words out and they look at me like im "stoned." It's embarassing. I have lost my appetite, but when I am hungry, the food I used to enjoy doesn't taste good anymore. I am also noticing that I am more emotional then ever. I can cry for no reason at all. My memory isn't so sharp either. Im only 19 years old. Does anyone know if any of these side effects are long term? I sure hope not. That would be scary.
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topamax has been my savior,,,yes the first 3-4 months I had little to no appetite, certian food tasted bad or foods I loved for 20 years no longer tasted good at all. I take topamax for chronic pain syndrome , nevre pain,,,,neuro trans mitters in my brain always sending pain signals , where major pain meds would not take my pain away 3-4
25 mg a day would take away my pain within 15-20 mins and helps my fibromyalgia as well,
Tingling ..yes I had it ...not so bad off and on the first month or so then went away as I build a tolerance to the drug. I look better, I feel great , I keep my topamax handy every where because I never know when I will get a pain surge.
Prior to topamax I could barely walk up stairs , and my pain level was a 10 , I lost 40 lbs and I regained a active life style ! Thanks Topamax.

I was only on 25 mg of Topamax for 2 1/2 months. I am still having horrible side effects and quit taking this drug on April 25 -- now nearly four months ago. The best way to describe the side effects; taste aversion accompanied by horrendous dry mouth and tingling/numbness pervading my entire mouth and teeth. My mouth feels like an arid desert with a grittiness on my teeth, 24/7. I brush my teeth 10 times a day but this does not help. I am taking no other medications so I have NO doubt that this evil drug caused this. My neurologist does not care nor believes me. I am afraid this is NEVER going to disappear.