How Long Do Topamax Side Effects Last? (Page 5) (Top voted first)

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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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160

I still feel like I'm having those same issues and have been off topamax for several years after being on it for 4 years. I'd never take that drug again.

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25

I'm just wondering what happened in your situation. I'm having the same issues and am ready to stop taking it although it has really helped the migraines.

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26

Bless your heart! I can't understand what the drug stores business is what you fill as long as you have a prescription. For all you have went through, cowgirl up and kick some butt, even at 78 you can do it!!! Swap to a small independent drug store but don't suffer if legally you have a prescription. And...sometimes I have to get my doctor to call them. It seems sometimes they don't want to deal with us and as long as we're quite about it, they don't have to bother. I myself know it's tiresome, I have to do this every month also but, they know me when I call. Both do...I not ugly nor rude but persistent. I have learned at a young age most don't care. Nor do they understand the pain and withdrawal symptoms we deal with.
Also the addicts have ruined it for people who really and truly need help. Really sad because it's a continual circle we deal with
Best of luck dear, don't ever give up!!! My grandmother is 91 and still fiesty as ever...

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29

I posted a reply a while ago and I figured I would post another reply because I am still on this medication. My dosage has been changed with an increase now to a total of 150 mg per day. I still get the tingling in the face and hands but not as much as I did when I was on 100 mg. I am losing so much hair that I am worried I am going to go bald but the doctors are not sure if it is the medication or if it is stress/depression. I lose more hair than one should and have cut my hair from my buttock to my chin to help but that didn't stop or reduce it. My memory has decreased as well as word association. I as well can not drink carbonated drinks of any kind and have had severe weight loss issues.

While some say this isn't a weight loss drug, my doctor said to me a side effect is weight loss and depending on your insurance carrier it is prescribed for that. Different insurance carriers have different rules for what medications are prescribed for what. One insurance wanted to deny me this medication because I do t have seizures when it is prescribed for my injury I've had for almost 5 years when my insurance changed for one month. I would not recommend it as a weight loss drug because I'm struggling to keep weight on, I know some issue right? However I hardly have an appetite and when food is served trying to find the urge to eat is hard.

I have had a slew of analysis's done to rule out things for the hair lose and weights loss and except for my injury i am by all means a relatively healthy person.

Like someone else has said it is hard to make a decision what to do when you have tried a bunch if ither medications and this medication or combination of medication treats your pain and keeps you going but the side affects are keeping you down or affecting your life. This combination was the first combination that helped any at all besides the pain killers the through at you.

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30

I was on it for a couple months. The hair loss was my only concern. I eventually weened myself off of it. I would rather suffer the migraines than to go bald. Have any of you found another drug that works?

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33

hello my name is Joleen, everyone calls meJoe. I was on topamax for like 8 yrs with the highest doesage legally proscribed. I was up to 1600 mlg a day... I know now what permit damage is done, and what is able to be reversed. ?. But all the meds I have been on since I stop taken topamax ofer a yr ago.. and NOTHING works.... I had less painful days while on topamax. So I will be going back on topamax, everyonce in a while my brain would take a break from talking and fighting with itself and take a 2 or3 day nap. No I get no breaks

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34

What would you say is permit damage and what is reversible? Do you believe this is due to the topamax medication? If not how come and if yes how come.

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36

hello to all suffering from topamax, i think its finally working its way out of my system, TG, it was the worst ive ever endured thru all my illnesses and surgeries, you feel you are definitely slowly deteriorating, this was only after less than 2 weeks on it, i had to stop suddenly, as i wound up in the ER with severe dehydration, salt taste that still isnt totally gone, and high BP and even higher heartrate, the fog and confusion, the memory, all within 10 days? why is this med still on the market its ridiculous, i cant imagine people on it for years, and while everyl is diff i cant believe all ive read claiming similar stories, the headaches were unbearable and diff from any other kind ive had over 30 years, very scarey medication,

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37

I had had migraines for over a year. Every day I had a migraine, there was never any break. I was put on Topamax,and had alot of side effects; Tingling in my arms, hands, legs feet, insomnia, every time I closed my eyes I felt like the world was spinning. Trouble speaking; My words wouldn't come out and when they did I would start to stutter. I was a complete zombie...it was horrible. I Had my wisdom teeth removed awhile back and instantly my migraines were gone. I told my Neurologist and he thought I was out of my damn mind. He said that he had never heard of anything like that happening and proceeded to tell me he guarantees they would be back within the year. I was just happy to get off the medication and that I no longer had the migraines. But, since I have been off the Topamax for months now I am still dealing with some insomnia at times, I still have trouble speaking and I still have issues with my arms and legs tingling and that pins and needles sensation. All I want to know is that if any of this will go away? I can't stand it anymore.

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38

I've been on Topamax. As far as starting and side effects go, every time I would increase my dose, I would be okay for a few days and then the side effects would hit, mainly tiredness, unable to eat, paresthesias. It did work for my migraines and the side effects do get better. There is a mental fog and while that never completely clears, it gets better also. I was on 150 mg a day. I also take Wellbutrin which I've taken for years, but I felt that the Topamax made me depressed, I didn't want to go anywhere or do anything.

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39

My son age 11 was just out on topamax 50mg 2xa day for bipolar. The first night it was taken I noticed he is very restless and his legs swings in his sleep tapping the bed. Is this common at first please someone help

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40

Hi. I am a social worker and work with children and adolescents. I very strongly urge you to get a second opinion from a respected child psychiatrist! Not only have I not run into Topomax being used for Bipolar, that is an extremely difficult diagnosis to make in children given their natural propensity for mood changes. There are many other mild medications that should be tried first. Not to mention, I do not know your son's height and weight, but that is a lot of the medication at once for a child. After suffering from Topomax side effects myself, I also urge many to reconsider this medication!

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41

i have to second and third that don't take it especially for a child

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42

Becky my son is 5ft5 200lbs. He was diagnosed with adhd, odd,seperation anxiety, bipolar. He was on adderall, concerta, abilify, geodon, trileptal, intuniv and now topamax. The dr just took him off the geodon because my son seemed tired all the time even falling asleep in class and the teachers said he was unconscious and they had to pour water on him to wake him. He is getting dark circles under his eyes from not sleeping at night. I am very concerned about this medication that was prescribed for my son and reading up about it scares me even more. I am considering getting another psychiatrist because the one he has says we are running out of meds to give him. It hurts me to see my son go through the things he does. He has been on so many different meds and it seems like he has had nothing but problems on all of them. Thank you for your reply. It means alot

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43

Thank you Cindylou. You and Becky have been very helpful. As a mother I know my child and even though he says he feels fine I know he isnt

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44

hello. I was only on topirimate for 10 days & have had moderate hair thinning being on this medication for migraines and was wondering does the hair ever get thick again? I was only on the medicine for 10 days (50 mg in the morning & 50 mg at night) and took my last dose yesterday morning. Yes, I have stopped cold turkey! I cannot deal with all the side effects! my hair was thick & curly!! would biotin help me & would it take long since I wasn't on the medication long? how long does it take to get out of your system?

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45

oh anytime and good luck i know what you mean abt being a mother, my opinion would be try a diff dr, sounds like too much meds to begin with, but i can only speak for topamax its dangerous! good luck to you and your son:)

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46

I'm glad I could help. But I am not a doctor. I a social worker who has worked with adolescents for over 15 years. First, your son's diagnoses. The symptoms of these diagnoses can look very much alike, so I would be surprised if he really met the crieteria for all of them. Second, there are a lotore medications that can be tried and that have less side effects. But no meds will work without talk therapy to go along with them. As a mother and a social worker, I would recommend getting a full psychological evaluation done by a respected child psychologist or a local good hospital. Then I would also look into finding a really good psychiatrist and therapist who would consider taking him off all meds and restarting slowly with less intense meds. I know time and insurance can be limiting, but i hope you will consider this. I am not opposed to children taking medication, but too many kids are put on cocktails of adult medications, and the side effects can be worse than the symptoms. I wish you and your son all the best and good luck! Don't forget to fight hard for what you believe in. Sometimes you have to make insurance companies and doctors hear you loud ans clearly!

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48

Hang in there Kre...it will get better!

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51

I have been a migraine sufferer for 12 years.. On every med you can think of with no effect, mind you working 16 hour shifts as a nurse with a migraine is debilitating especially when they (patients) need your undivided attention. In Oct 2011 I had a terrible migraine called my primary and was told to go in after work for Toradol IV. I went home was upstairs getting some things coming down the stairs and here comes the migraine I don't remember much but being sprawled out on the floor... Well at the neurologists he placed me on topamax 25mg per day increasing it slowly and I'm still on it today at 75mg a day.. I have good and bad days... Maybe 5 migraines a year compared to 5 a week!! That's a positive, the negative side is the coldness all the time and the tingling and loss o sensation in my fingers and especially when I am doing my job:( I am Startin to notice the forgetfulness and now I am extremely worried...

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