Topiramate for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 26, 2012

Topiramate "I switched to Topamax from Lamictal to see if it would control my bipolar disorder and help me lose weight. My mood and sleep have been incredible, and I have lost 15 lbs in 6 weeks on Topamax. I was a little worried about having memory problems, but have not suffered this side effect at all. I have a little tingling in my feet at night, but not bad enough to stop taking it. Overall, I highly recommend this medication for bipolar disorder."

• ado...
• March 27, 2013

Topiramate "I have had a good experience after trying to find the right cocktail for several years. I have a very high-stress job and my anxiety is put to the test daily. It is not clinically significant at this point, and I can only attribute that to finally having my medicines right. I am taking Wellbutrin, Lamictal, Topamax, and Zoloft at pretty low dosages for each. I did lose about 70 pounds. After over a year on the Topamax, my normal appetite has started to return and I have gained back about 10 pounds, but I still have self-control that I lacked when I was fighting depression, which is now at bay."

• ann...
• September 6, 2011

Topiramate "I have taken Topamax for bipolar twice. First for three years, then now for a year. Do not know why I ever went off! This has been great for me after 25 years on lithium, which was like living under 4 wet wool blankets. I also tried Depakote, which only increased the weight gain and depression. At first, the side effects were a bit rough even at the initial very low dose of 25 mg. Very sleepy and tingly of hands and feet. BUT they pass, they really do. It may take a week of just being exhausted even when you increase your dose. The appetite depressant is wonderful. Also cuts down on general anxiety. Takes the real edge off the hypomania. I have not had any of the problems with finding words, etc."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 16, 2012

Topiramate "I took Topamax for 12 years as a mood stabilizer for Bipolar 1 disorder. It is a GREAT mood stabilizer and I used to be quite heavy, and I lost 100 pounds in around 6 months (yes, you read that right!). The bad part was HORRIBLE side effects. Constant itching in the summer. I developed a 9mm kidney stone when I had no prior history. I developed a blood disorder (something acidosis). I was told this was a rare side effect, but that was why I stopped taking it. However, if I could go back in time, would I still take it? You bet! One of the best mood stabilizers I've ever been on. Just make sure you EAT when taking it, it makes you not want to eat."

• Ldo...
• November 7, 2014

Topiramate "I've been on Topamax before and it worked, and went off. I don't know why. I recently went back on it, and it has made a world of difference. It's like night and day. I take it with Abilify and Xanax because I have really bad anxiety as well. I am 24 and was so depressed I wasn't leaving my apartment, but now I feel like a new person, like I want to go out and do things again. I'm not held back. I like that this medicine doesn't make me gain weight too because I've had that problem in the past. I lost 10 pounds since I went back on it 4 weeks ago. The only thing I will say that is not great is it slows down my thought process sometimes, and it gives me tingles in my hands and face, but not all the time. The benefits outweigh those side effects greatly."

• Ste...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 13, 2014

Topiramate "I have been taking Topamax for mood disorder for the past six months along with my antidepressant and anxiety meds, and I think it's GREAT! It's improved my mood so much with no side effects. I recommend it to anyone."

• Anonymous
• January 14, 2012

Topiramate "I started this medication for weight loss, bipolar, migraines. Seems like it may just be perfect...hopefully. I just finished my first week and lost 3 pounds! I workout 5-6 days a week, but due to antidepressants making me gain so much weight, regardless of my diet and exercise, I am fat. So today stepping on that scale and seeing 3 POUNDS LIGHTER! I am a very moody person, but the medicine seems to be making it right, moods seem to be very level. And haven't had one migraine! No side effects other than weight loss and loss of appetite... can't complain about that!"

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 16, 2014

Topiramate "Was put on Topamax for migraines a year and a half ago. I have had maybe one or two headaches since being on this medicine compared to the weekly migraines I was having before the Topamax, and I am down 80 pounds. I only take 100mg a day. I was just diagnosed with bipolar 1, and after reading this forum, I am going to talk to my doctor and see if upping my dose will help with that, since I've seen that it is helping all of you. I am feeling quite confident that this could be my medicine of choice for multiple ailments. Good luck to all in your search."

• Anonymous
• February 12, 2012

Topiramate "Started taking this about a month ago to level out my moods. I noticed difficulty focusing at first but it stopped. I'm also having tingling hands, feet, and face occasionally but with the way this medicine works it's worth it. Since I've been on it I'm like a new person, this medicine is a Godsend. Try it."

• Kyl...
• October 10, 2019

"I have taken Topamax 200mg 2x daily since 2006. I tried several meds for rapid cycling bipolar and side effects were awful. My experience is Topamax works great for bipolar. I will not change. You must not vary. If I miss or forget, I feel immediately sensitive and emotional and will be prone to depressive behavior or worse, manic with depressive moods and all over the place. For myself, the side effects improved over time after you make it through the tingling toes and fingers in the first month. And also, that brain fog and searching for the right word. I've learned how to stimulate my brain and not feel like I'm always reaching for an adjective I used to know. For me, my body adjusted. And it is so worth it compared to other drugs' side effects like muscle jerking, or gaining 40 lbs, or being a zombie and feeling nothing. My first episode is something I never want to happen again. I will never switch to another med. 13 years on it and I'm great. My therapist says I'm the highest functioning bipolar patient she has ever met!"

• Jes...
• August 20, 2015

"I was afraid to take this medication. I went online and looked it up, and read so many bad things about it: hair loss, memory loss, etc. I am so glad I went ahead and gave it a try for myself. I think it's a miracle drug! It's helped stabilize my mood, taken away my migraines, and even helped me lose a few pounds! I haven't had any negative side effects at all from it! I know its effects everyone differently, and for me personally, it's been great. I love it!"

• l8r...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 17, 2015

"Put simply, this stuff saved my life. I've been on nine meds to treat my suicidality associated with my ultra-ultra rapid cycling bipolar II. The AAPs gave me tremors, Seroquel made me a zombie, lithium made me suicidal, Lamictal and Saphris aggravated my bulimia. My doc didn't want to use antidepressants for fear of driving me into mania. We thought we were out of options. I stumbled on topamax while looking at an NIH research study. I suggested it to my doc, he said, why the hell not? In three days, my suicidality was gone, and I barely cycle at all anymore. THIS IS A MIRACLE DRUG."

• Zoe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 11, 2014

Topiramate "I tried EVERY medication out there, I swear. It has always ended badly, bad side effects, bad combinations, etc. And because of that I have been more against taking meds. Once we finally figured out that depression wasn't my problem, and I was diagnosed with a mood disorder (unofficially Bipolar II since I'm still not 18), I'm finally on 75mg of Topamax, 20mg of Prozac, and then I take Adderall XR 30mg and Adderall normal 10mg and this combination has had any positive effect, without any negative side effects. I do think I have suffered from the side effect of memory loss and slow thinking, not enough to make me stop taking it though. It has helped me so much and I recommend to anyone who is having trouble finding medicines that work for them."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2014

Topiramate "Taking Topamax with Zoloft ... my first week was tough but I feel so good. I have PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety. In the 4 months I had three episodes, and that's so good because I was having episodes every day. I feel good."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 16, 2017

"I feel normal and am at my best functionality in years. I've been on 150 mg for 4 years. I'm so grateful. Hypomania sustained and managed. I sleep 9 hours a night, I own my own business, and I am a single parent. I'm very calm."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2016

"It seems most people are fixated on the weight loss aspect, and I have lost my appetite, but I wasn't a big eater anyway. I just have the metabolism of a sloth! I am thrilled at the mood stabilizing effects I am experiencing. Despite the 'shaky' evidence of topiramate as a mood stabilizer, I am stunned that it is actually working. I feel level, functional, calm. If I get a difficult feeling, I am able to pull myself out of it and rationalize better and return to center more quickly. Life is easier. When I went on this a few months ago, it was with the primary intention of losing weight, but now I am feeling so much better, striving for anorexic levels of thinness is not at the forefront of my mind. I am having no negative side effects."

• sur...
• July 7, 2010

Topiramate "I have taken Topamax for the last 8 months as a mood stabilizer. It has worked great. Not only has it helped with my moods, but it also helped me lose more than 30 lbs without struggling to lose it. It was easy and great. I am happy again, and I don't feel like I want to chew off everyone's head when I start to get irritable or around 'that time of month'. It's been a lifesaver."

• man...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 30, 2014

Topiramate "I've been on every medicine. I've had electroshock therapy. Medications don't really work for me very well. I'm only taking Lithium ER 450 mg right now 'cause my body can't handle more of it. I was taking Topamax for headaches, I thought, but my psychiatrist said it might help my mood. Been taking it for years. I didn't know that it did work for me until I stopped using it. I broke into a manic episode because I started taking that Garcinia weight loss thing, and I wasn't on the Topamax. Well, I guess Topamax DOES work."

• GOL...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2019

"I'd like to comment and say that I've had success with Topamax. I take 100 mg a day, 50 mg in the morning and 50 mg at night. I take it for bipolar rapid cycling. I am a 5'8" male who weighed 200 lbs. I have lost 20 lbs over 4 weeks with exercise and the fact that Topamax makes it real easy to not eat as much. I don't binge like I used to because I gained so much weight on Zyprexa. I was able to cut back on my dose of Zyprexa significantly due to the mood-stabilizing qualities of Topamax. Initially, I had some depression starting Topamax, but it subsided after a couple of days and I feel amazing. This has helped my mood, my weight, my self-confidence, my well-being, and my quality of life. I give Topamax a ten out of ten. I recommend exercise to prevent the feet and hand tingles."

• DD4...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 22, 2016

"I recently went back to the doctor for antidepressants. She wanted to put me on a mood stabilizer. Most of those cause weight gain so I said not if it's going to make me huge. She gave Topamax. She said I will lose weight. Within about 6 months, none of my clothes fit so I weighed myself. I was shocked I had gotten back down to numbers I haven't seen since I was a teen: 119-123. I'm 5'2' so to me, that's perfect. Food is never on my mind unless my stomach starts growling. I forget to eat. This drug is great for people who have problems with weight. I don't get any other side effects. It doesn't make me a zombie. I take 50mg near bedtime. I know it's for seizures & migraine. Sometimes mood. NEEDS TO BE FOR WEIGHT LOSS TOO. Highly recommended!!"

• 4gr...
• July 14, 2008

Topiramate "Have used Topamax for over 2 years, in conjunction with Wellbutrin. Never knew that life was quite like this. I am now almost 53 years old. To think that I lived so many years never being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. I am so happy that life is so wonderful because of Topamax. Only side effect has been weight loss but, that really is a good thing. It is wonderful to be back at my true weight because the bipolar disorder is now managed."

• Ano...
• February 17, 2017

"After 31 years of misery, countless amounts of medications and bad side effects, feeling completely hopeless, and like I would never be happy, Topamax has already started to change my life. I suffer from PTSD, anxiety/panic, and mood disorder. Although it doesn't do a thing for my anxiety or panic, the difference in my mood is like night and day. I cannot believe how calm and patient I have become already taking this medication. It has saved my life and the people around me!"

• Pen...
• May 16, 2015

Topiramate "I was diagnosed bipolar 2 about 3 years ago. I am a 36-year-old female. I was originally given Topamax 50mg at night with Seroquel 50mg, as well as a variety of antidepressants and Klonopin for anxiety. That worked great for a while until it didn't, and I weaned myself off everything. DON'T DO THAT!! I had a horrible hypomanic episode followed by a 4-month depressive crash. I'm now on Latuda, Celexa, Klonopin, and my good buddy Topamax. I have had no serious side effects from Topamax. A little hair loss (more like extra hair in the brush) but it's only noticeable to me. Not bad. No word loss, no memory problems. I'm in grad school with a near 4.0 GPA. It helps me maintain my weight so the other meds don't affect me."

• Cra...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 6, 2015

Topiramate "Miracle drug for me! I seem to have a bad reaction to every drug that is specifically for bipolar! No, I'm not as creative as I was, but it's between being so high and then crashing so far down or a good steady me! I'll take this compared to a hospital any day."

• l8r...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2015

"I'm ultra-ultra rapid cycling bipolar II and bul. been through 6 mood stabilizers / APs / AAPs. My experience on those was disastrous. Lithium made me more suicidal, lamictal made me binge, destroyed my memory, didn't help my mood, seroquel put 20 lbs on me and made me a zombie, didn't help my mood, latuda and abilify made me shake. I was terrified of weight gain on Depakote/valproate/risperdal. I was at my wit's end, suicidal, and terrified that I wasn't going to live to my 33rd birthday, then I found NIH considers Topamax to be a mood stabilizer so I asked my pdoc about it. Within a week at 50 mg I had a full day where I didn't cycle at all. I woke up feeling okay and stayed that way all day. I didn't cycle at all. Things are looking good!"