How Long Do Topamax Side Effects Last?
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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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Re: Confusednscared (# 31) Expand Referenced Message

I have been where you are. I was on Topomax for less than a month. I expected the tingling sensations but not the anxiety, nervousness, loss of appetite, and panic feelings. After only 4 days on the medicine, I lost my ability to swallow. I had weighed only 108 lbs before taking Topomax, and now I was weighing 98 ( at age 68). I stopped taking Topomax, but the side effects continued. The doctors told me the symptoms should be gone after a week, but they weren’t. I was finally hospitalized where all types of tests were done on my esophagus. They found nothing wrong. The ENT also found nothing wrong. I am in therapy now because of the anxiety and panic. In the hospital a PEG feeding tube was placed, so I am slowly gaining my weight back.
I hope that swallow therapy will help me.

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198

I started Topamax close to 5 years ago now. I've been on so many doses I couldn't even begin to tell you what they were. Right now I'm on 100mg a day. I'm writing this in hopes to find some answers. Since the beginning I definitely have the brain fog, it would get so bad I wouldn't remember how I got home from work. I've had the bad taste in my mouth, couldn't drink soda. I have the pins and needles in my hands and feet. Now I have new things happening that I'm not sure is my medicine or not and I'm curious to see if it has happened to anyone else. Currently I'm suffering from severe Raynaud's Syndrome. Cold is extremely painful, and it's getting to the point where I can't move. When my hands do warm back up they will get hot, painful and swell. I also have a swollen lymph node in my armpit with no explanation. It seems to hurt and swell more when I have these "cold flare ups". My doctor ran tons of tests and found nothing wrong. In my body I know something is wrong to be in this much pain. Anyone have anything similar?

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Re: Vampykitten (# 166) Expand Referenced Message

hello, did there ringing in your ears from topamax ever go away?

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196

Re: AlaskaMom (# 159) Expand Referenced Message

Hey! Did your topamax induced tinnitus ever go away?

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195

Re: Posted b4 but cant remember nickname (# 122) Expand Referenced Message

hi, i know this was an old post but did your tinnitus ever go away after getting off topamax, how long were you on?

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194

Re: FiFi (# 156) Expand Referenced Message

Hello FiFi did your tinnitus ever gonway after the Topamax?

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Re: Fifi (# 135) Expand Referenced Message

Hi did your tinnitus ever go away? Also how long were you on the Topamax ?

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192

Re: CanCan (# 11) Expand Referenced Message

Can can: Have you ever tried TRIPTANS for your migraines? There are like eight or ten different ones to try and if one doesn’t work another one can. Also, I use opiates at low doses and they do help - not morphine that knocks you out - but oxycodone pills at low doses. You should not have to suffer! That is outrageous. Talk to your doctor about TRIPTANS and low doses of oxycodone.

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191

I’ve been on Topamax for about 10 years now. My dosage has been up and down (the highest at 100mg 2x day) many times. I’ve tried going off it multiple times because I just hate how it makes me feel. But every time I try, my migraines come back full force. I get visual and cognitive auras. My migraines often mimic a stroke. I’m now on nerve block inj's. every 6 weeks so again my dr is trying to wean me off Topamax. I’m currently on 50mg 1x day. But my major issue with it lately is almost everyday I fall into a state of SEVERE lightheadedness and disorientation that can last up to an hour. I feel unbalanced and like I’m looking at everything from underwater. It nearly impossible when I’m In this state to focus on anything. I’m just wondering if anyone else has experienced something like this while on this medication?

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Re: Verwon (# 1) Expand Referenced Message

I used Topamax for Depression and after a year, I could no longer Spell. I'm a speller most of time and I was gaining weight, a lot w/o really eating much more. The memory thing made me give up....with ALZ in my DNA last thing I need is a ;push'. Blessings Sweets.

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Re: TAYLOR (# 2) Expand Referenced Message

Im in need of someone that has been through past awful effects this medication,please explain is this permanent,what have you done to help clamn the severity im having its been loss of hair horrible pain what can i do,have u any advice any info apprciated more severe problems exsist,i need any help thank u

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188

Hi! I've been on Topamax for over 15yrs and like everyone else here I have tried all the other medications and treatment options. I initially was placed on 150mg for about a year then tapered to 50mg daily. My migraines were so severe I missed work, constantly in the hospital, used Imitrex you name it. I do have some fogginess and problems sleeping but for me it is far better than the headaches. I have more normalcy to life which I enjoy. I have recently been trying to go off all meds and go natural, however, after 4 days my headaches returned and although I've went back onto the Topamax I still have a slight nagging headache everyday unlike before so I am also using Excedrin Migraine along with it. Each medication out there is going to be different for everyone and there will always be the "out of the box" patient's who are exceptions to the norm. I suggest you way the quality of life of with and without and what you can tolerate each day. Good Luck to you.

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187

Will start decreasing topomax for seizures. Can i start with one half of 25mg for 4 to 6 weeks at a time. Until 400mgs are gon e. With minimal .side effects. Been taking
for 20 yrs. Kinda scary to start. Topomax not working. For seizures a. 33 yrs old female. Also am taking vimphat, lamitcal, fyacoma. and prozac

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186

I've been taking the generic version of Topamax for a week. I was prescribed to be on 100mg but started off at 25mg and had to double my dose each week till a 100mg. This drug is dirty. I've been having horrible dull headaches, nausea, loss of concentration, memory problems & I can't find the right words to use. Constant hand and limb tremors and weakness. I feel like a zombie and my eyes hurt. I went for a second opinion and the Dr took me off it immediately.

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Re: Jessica (# 20) Expand Referenced Message

Hi Jessica, this post is pretty old, but just saw it and it seems to relate to me best. I have been on topamax 200 mg a day (100mg bid) for about 10 years. Just recently started to have numb toes and feet. It got so bad even in my face I thought I was having a stroke and went to the ER. Neurology said it was the topamax, even though I have been on it so long, that it "builds up" in your system, and also can affect you if your electrolytes are off (I had low potassium) so they took me off of it, and now I just have a med for rescue, but wondering if the numbness will go away and when.

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184

Took 50mgs. then Neurologist upped it for my headaches, (have had one constantly since 2012. Learned to live with this one.) also Peripheral Neuropathy in my legs. At times my headaches will kick up to the 'killer' notch. This wasn't helping at all (All the 'TRIPTANS' WERE BAD EFFECTS.) I started with what you're experiencing, numbness and Brain Fog. Progressed to Peripheral and Vocal Seizures. Took a long while for me to get off this drug. Enjoyed the weight loss help though. Sorry, don't mean to make a joke of this. NOT a joking matter. I have a friend who has been on this for 10-20 years. She said her effects wore off and this drug is a tremendous help to her. NOT EVERYONE EXPERIENCES THE SAME REACTIONS,IF ANY. Good Luck.

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183

I was taking 200mg 2x a day for 5 years for migraines. I experienced fatigue, severe brain fog, tiredness, inability to remember things, and KIDNEY STONES! I have been off it for 10 months now and things are slowly improving. I can remember people's names now! And I'm no longer tired all the time.

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182

I also suffer from chronic head pain. Trigeminal Neuralgia, Occipital Neuralgia. Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgia. I can advise you and point you in some proper directions if you haven't already found help! I know your pain!!

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181

My hair is falling out with topamax and my bones are hurting. I take 50mg at night... How do I get off this drug? It helped migraines I had daily, but I'm not ready for baldness.

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180

My 17 year old daughter has migraines. So the children's hospital gave her topamax 4 x daily equaling 150mg. So since she has taken it she has had bad anxiety, inflicted self harm, and started smoking marijuana. She is type 1 diabetic and had weight loss surgery on the first of the year. This has been an awful summer. Could it be the topamax that has changed her so drastically?

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