How Long Do Topamax Side Effects Last? (Page 4)

I began Topamax a week and a half ago as a migraine prevention. I am experiencing random facial, hands, and feet numbness. Mental fogginess, dull headaches, and tiredness. For those of you who have had success with migraine prevention and have taken this medication for a long time: How long did your side effects last? I have heard only a few weeks. I'm not sure If I can deal with this constantly much longer. I am contemplating which is the lesser of the two evils side effects vs. migraines. I have lost 10 lbs. though. Any advice?

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i took topamax for 3 months and started having blurry vision, memory loss, dizziness,trouble focusing at work, mood swings,etc. I stopped taking it completely 2 weeks ago. I still am having some problems at work and making some mistakes every day. It upsets me so much, I don't know what to do. How long before I get better?

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I have been on Topamax for 7 years. I stopped taking it during a pregnancy but resumed taking it as soon as I was able afterwards. The side effects while bothersome do go away. They lasted about 6 weeks. I was having headaches 5 out of 7 day a week. I could not function in daily life. The side effects were nothing in comparison. I now may get 2-3 migraines a month. The severity is not a bad or a long on most occasions.The weight gain slows down also. Hang in there! It's worth it.

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I have taken Topamax on and off for 7 years. Yes it does cause hair loss or thinning. After dealing with this for 6 years as a hairstylist myself. Through research i found that magnesium supplements reduce the inflammation around the hair follicle which may cause hair loss. I also take 10,000 mg of biotin daily. Use a reconstructing conditioner every 1-2 weeks and moisturizer in between. Depending on how fast your hair grows, you should see a difference within a couple of months. Good luck!

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I have been taking Topiramate for 10 years now 200 mg twice a day. and taking gabapentin 300 mg three time a day for fibromyalgia. The fog wears off and you feel better. I have had headaches since I was a kid and haven't had such good success with anything except the topiramate, botox, and self injecting toradol upon onset prescribed by my doctor.

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I took this drug for 6 wks and over a year and ahalf later I am still have most of the side effect you have listed. The memory loss is the worst. I have read this drug is a god-send for some and I only see it as a nightmare that never ends. I wish you the best.

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I feel just like you!! I only started with 25mg once a day for 2 weeks and then when I added the 2nd dose in the evening for a total of 50 mg a day I was absolutely convinced I needed to be committed!! I can't think straight and I feel so nuts and angry and I make stupid mistakes. Christmas Eve was the worst and when I called the doctor he said to stop taking it totally. If I experience this for a year and a half I could lose my job!

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I took Topamax to combat migraines for 8 years. I started out by working up to 200 mg but was bumped up to 400 mg. It was an absolutely horrible experience and I weaned myself off the medication a couple of years ago. Please understand, I experience two different kinds of migraine. One type is what people generally think of when you say migraine. It starts with auras and progresses to light and sound hypersensitivity and shooting pain over my eye. The other is a constant headache that started when I was 18 and never stopped (I just turned 46).

For years no doctor even believed me. When I was 34, I went to a headache center and was finally treated seriously. Unfortunately the medication chosen was Topamax. It provided some relief. The side effects were horrible. At one point I couldn't remember how to spell my daughter's name or when her birthday was. I lost words as I spoke. My personality changed, I had no focus, my vision changed, and foods tasted completely different. My hair started falling out and I experienced severe anxiety. I thought I was crazy.

About 3 years ago, my new doctor mentioned some of the possible side effects of the medication. I realized I wasn't just crazy and decided to stop taking it.

I had been warned that I needed to go off slowly so I started reducing my dose every two weeks. Each time I cut the dosage I would have muscle spasms and twitches. My face was particularly highly affected by the twitches. They were horrible.

I have been off the medication for two years now. Food tastes the same again and my personality has returned to normal. My headaches are back full force with a third type of migraine (complex) having joined the company. I believe I have nerve damage because I still experience muscle twitching, though to a much lesser degree. I don't forget my words as much as I did before, but it does still happen on a regular basis. My ability to memorize things has been greatly diminished. I don't think I will ever be at the ability level I was before taking the medication. It has altered my life forever.

I was a teacher. I was an excellent teacher. I really miss it.

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Dear LAW,
I am so sorry to hear you now have more / additional kinds of headaches. My symptoms have almost gone away. I still have trouble typing as fast as I did without a ton of mistakes. And when I get excited that's when I notice I have trouble finding the words.
My migraines have mostly been related to smells and dramatic weather changes. One I can avoid, the other (the weather) I can be prepared for. I also think the migraines have increased in frequency due to the hormone changes with menopause. When I meet God I will ask him about this rather annoying design defect women have!
I am back to using Relpax PRN for migraines at onset and I must have it on me when the headache starts. After the awful experience taking Topomax as a prophylactic I think I will stick with just taking medicine as a relief.
I wish you the best.

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I have been on Topomax daily for about 5 years (severe migraines) until just recently when a new dr. weaned me off of it in favor of a beta blocker. With the Topomax I had tingling in my hands and feet, changes in taste(not being able to taste carbonation and artificial sweetness tasted terrible), loss of concentration, grogginess and "brain fog" for the entire time I was on the medication. I even got lost going home from work a couple times when I was especially tired! I didn't actually realize how bad and foggy I felt until I was off the meds altogether. I feel amazing now! I am remembering things again, I can finally concentrate and I am not tired a the time. I hope that all out there being prescribed this med for migraines know that there are alternatives with much fewer side effects. Please talk to your dr about alternatives or get a second opinion. Well wishes to all on this med and all who suffer from the things it treats.

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I've just been reading your post about Topiramate, and I must say that I've been also suffering for years and tried alsorts of medication!
I did try Topiramate a couple of years ago and only stuck it for a couple of days, as I couldn't cope with the side effects !
This time I'm going to try just half a 25mg tablet at night to begin with.
How long do the awful side effects last ?

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I am happy to say that the side effects of Topamax are almost gone after 2 months since the last dose. So two months of side effects for only two weeks of use! That's horrible! When I get anxious or excited or angry - my words still get jumbled and I feel like they won't come out my mouth the way I want. I've only had two migraines but I take the Relpax immediately. For me - the migraine is easier to deal with than the Topimax. I may or may not have a migraine but I had to deal with the side effects everyday.

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Did the pharmacy refuse to fill the prescriptions or was it the insurance company, the reason I ask the pharmacy can't refuse to fill it unless it's to soon but then they'll usually just tell you it's X amount of days to early and we can fill it on this date but they can't just flat out say NO we will no longer fill this for you

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I must say topamax saved my life! I am a chronic migraine sufferer. Three migraines a week or more. Tried all traditional migraine medications and non of them worked for me. Ive lived in pain almost all my life and went to see a migraine specialist a couple years ago amd he suggested topamax. Im on 150 mg a day. I take 100mg when i wake up in the am ans 50mg before bed. I find i am very tired all of the time but to live migraine free is a godsend. Id have them in my sleep dureing the day, lose my vision... and now i can live a normal life. Wish id have the weight loss side effect though like some of the rest of u but im pretty happy with results and they outway the side effects for me.

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I'm really interested in any alternatives or what type of preventative you are currently taking? I had no idea the side effects of this medication and have even been diagnosed with ADHD since being put on it. Hoping to be off a lot of my meds in the near future!! Thanks:)

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I been on topamax since March and April of this year and when i go out i get dizzy how do i get ride of this

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Sccording to hosp staff neurologist, this stuff put me in the hosp after taking it for 1 1/2 wks. I stopped it per dr suggestion. pharmacis said it is nasty drug re side effects. I had 3v seizures and a stroke on the same day, dr from Mayo told me to get to ERnow ! He thot I had another stroke s when I talk ed to him, they believe topomax was the culprit. Go to pharmacy v and ask for a comprehensive print out re this drug. It cut my appetite so much, I didn't want to eat, therefore I forgot I needed to cook. Did nothing for headaches.pls do xtra research b4 putting this in ur mouth

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U gave mg and i have been on Topamax for a couple weeks and just noticedthis horrible taste in my mouth. I was wondering how long this would last, since i did see it as a side effect.

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In response to alternatives, I have severe chronic migraines. I was perceived topamax after trying about 10 other preventative meds. Topamax was the first to have any effect on migraine, reducing frequency to about half. Cognitively I suffered a lot of memory recall issues. Weight loss was also very severe. My dr. Changed my script to zonegran. That med saved my life. All migraines gone, no cognitive issues, no taste issues and still affected weight loss but to a lesser degree. I recommend if you are taking topamax for migraine, ask your dr. About zonegran. I've been on it for three years

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I was on Topamax for 2mos experienced bad side effects such as tingling and swelling in the feet,fingers, mouth,muscle and joint problems unable to concentrate.Awful medication to be on.I was put on it for Tremors I am no longer on it and why that medication is not yanked off the market for it is doing more harm then good according to my research

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I have been on topamax for many years (for migraines). The tingling gets less eventually depending on dosage (6months max)and the taste thing, you are stuck with it...no more sodas...lol...sickish feeling and nausea can be possibly eliminated by taking the medicine at night vs morning or the other way around...maybe try the slow release topamax

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