Topiramate for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• Blo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 23, 2015

"I love the weight loss attribute to this drug. When at a dosage of 50 or 75 mg per day, I have felt happier. One day, I doubled the 50 mg dosage in the late afternoon. Note: this doubled dosage was done 4 months after initially being prescribed the medicine. 100 mg of generic Topiramate made me feel wired. An hour later, I could be found with a full cart at the grocery store. The manic in me had returned. This was not a coincidence. I took the dosage at 75 mg the following day out of curiosity. The compulsive cleaner had returned. My b/f at the time watched me scrub away at an already squeaky clean countertop. This medicine eventually will also begin to make you stutter. You can fix this predicament by reading more. All in all, B rating."

• Jfe...
• September 22, 2017

"With side effects of many other meds being a problem, I went on this as it worked well for my mom. Dr. explained that genetics play a part in medicine effectiveness as well as diseases. It had an immediate effect on my severe depression. It also helps with mild psychotic episodes during mania for me. (Voices, hearing noises that aren't there.) There is a slight tapering of appetite for me that stabilizes after prolonged use. I also have to search for common words sometimes. Pins and needles in my hands and feet, especially when I'm driving or it's really cold outside. Extreme thirst, and I rarely sweat, even when working out. ALL tolerable and SO much better compared to laying in bed all day long."

• CM...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 6, 2017

"I have been on Topomax for bipolar II disorder, with Lamictal. However, Topomax has been a lifesaver for me. I tend to have racing thoughts and impulsive behavior, as well as bouts of irritability and anxiety. I am also on Nuvigil, which can exacerbate anxiety, and Klonopin as needed. I am quite used to the cognitive changes, they do not make you stupid. Misconception: intellectual level is unchanging. However, I had to learn to compensate for word-finding instances, word pronunciation, and some fatigue. I should probably take half in the day, but I have days of fatigue and would rather not add an extra Klonopin to the night dose. But this may be needed. Don't let the bad experiences stop you, we really have to experiment to find what works for us."

• Anonymous
• March 17, 2012

Topiramate "I was diagnosed with bipolar seven years ago and have basically been on Topamax along with Wellbutrin the whole time. I have not really experienced the weight loss. I do feel fatigued and have been feeling very angry lately. I also feel sort of zombied out."

• sol...
• May 1, 2009

Topiramate "I started on this medicine in 2004. It has been a roller-coaster ride. The first, and most immediate thing was I stopped smoking and discontinued drinking anything carbonated. I rapidly lost about 30 lbs, my nails became so thin I could not hold paper. I started taking supplements as the weight loss caused nutrition loss. Tingling in hands and feet still persists, especially when I am cold. Around 2007, I entered into a psychotic break, there are other contributing factors here, so my doctor took down the dose from 200 mg to 75 mg, where I am still at today. I have regained some weight, but that is due to another medicine that I now take with this."

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

"I couldn't tolerate aripiprazole (Abilify) as a secondary mood stabilizer in addition to the lamotrigine, so I titrated up to 50 mg. It helped. A LOT. It stopped the ultradian mood cycling that occurred when they upped my lamotrigine to 200 mg, and it stopped the self-harming urge. It did, in combination with other things, cause kidney stones, but alone did not. It helped quite a bit in stabilizing moods, and I'm just upping to 100 mg/night. It did a lot for me, and I'm glad my psych put me on it. I don't want to come off. No weight gain. Even some weight loss. I wasn't expecting it, but I am certainly not sad about it. I'd recommend it, but of course, everyone has different brain chemistry, as noted with my experience with Abilify. <== Nope."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 20, 2023

"I take 50 mg of topiramate as a mood stabilizer for bipolar after trying many other bipolar medications that made me very fatigued and caused weight gain. I’m so happy I found this drug! It’s been a lifesaver. I’ve stopped my anxiety medication, and this is all I take for bipolar 2. I feel clear-headed, and I’m never depressed. I don’t suffer from anxiety anymore. It’s been a miracle drug! Being an off-label drug for bipolar, don’t let that make you think it won’t work. Give it a go and don’t give up because I went through so many meds to find the right one, and this is it. I don’t feel tired anymore, and I’ve lost weight too. I hope this has helped anyone out there who was in my shoes, trying to get the right medication and feeling the best they can be."

• Ell...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 30, 2015

"I am bipolar II with anxiety and depression but was put on Topomax because I suffer from migraines. The first time was before I was diagnosed, and I got severely depressed and had a suicide attempt. Within a week of getting taken off of it, I was better. The second time I was put on it was after I was diagnosed and put on mood stabilizers, and my doctor wanted to try it again because he thought my depression may have been from my BPD, not the meds, and it really did help my migraines. Same exact thing happened. Within a few weeks of being on it, my mild bipolar disorder was uncontrollable. I wish I could be on it because it really helped my head and counteracted weight gain from my other meds, but my body just cannot handle it."

• Kat...
• July 23, 2009

Topiramate "I started taking this medicine several weeks ago with a combination of Celexa for my depression. The side effects are unwelcome and welcome all at the same time. I have memory loss and can't find the right words when I'm speaking to people. I feel tired during the day, but at night, I'm wide awake. My nails have become thinner, so has my waistline. I've struggled with my weight since I was young, [I'm 17 and I started these pills at 260 lbs. I'm now at 231 lbs]. These pills make me feel like food is the enemy. I'm also having decreased sensitivity during sex."

• Kay...
• October 13, 2015

"I took this medication for about 2 weeks, hoping it would help my hypomania. Some members of my family said it helped them. NOPE! Complete DISASTER for me. I could not stay on this thing for a month! The loss of appetite really sucked, but I expected that, I thought maybe I could look past that. But I went from 120 to 117 in 5 days. It did not help my mood, it only made me dizzy and gave me uncontrollable jerky movements. I was forgetting words. I could not concentrate in school (senior in high school). Everything felt like a dream. I basically became really stupid. I was seeing flashing lights. It was bad. Once I got off of it, I felt much smarter and better. I had many adverse effects from this medication."

• Tig...
• June 26, 2016

"Absolutely horrible!! It wasn't until a year of several tests, scans, and a colonoscopy that made me go to another doctor and beg him to find out what was wrong with me. I never dreamed it was this medicine. I had lost 30 lbs, but I had diarrhea, a funny taste in my mouth, weakness, hair loss, fogginess, my memory was bad, and it felt like my muscle mass was going down to nothing. My daughter said I was looking frail all the time. It started getting hard to get out of bed. This went on for a year and a half. I was getting older and taking care of my elderly folks, so I didn't read into it much. I'm so glad I switched doctors, he noticed immediately what it was and told me to wean myself off of it."

• ang...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2015

Topiramate "I am bipolar I and went on Topamax as an alternative to the awful weight-gaining meds I have been subjected to in the past. My anxiety went through the roof! I was crying constantly, my heart was pounding, and I became fearful to leave the house. I love the 10 lb weight loss, but not worth the anxiety and hair loss... sad I wanted it to work."

• Rez...
• May 23, 2015

"I have been taking topiramate for about 3 years for depression along with Viibryd. I did lose 30 pounds and do have some memory problems. But what I have discovered is my hair has been thinning out. My hairdresser told me that she has been noticing for the last 6 months that my hair is a lot thinner and has been wanting to tell me. This prompted me to go online to see if my medicine was the cause of this. The first few comments I started reading were people saying their hair was thinning out. So I am going to assume this medication is the culprit of my hair thinning. What do you think?"

• Bug...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2017

"Started this as a mood stabilizer for my bipolar. I've been on it almost 30 days now, it has stabilized my moods for sure! Usually, before my period, I'm a monster. A crazy hormonal mess. I feel normal, not 'flat.' It's a double win for my constant headaches and hormonal migraines that are now gone too. Only side effects: minor pins and needle tingles in my toes and fingers, which last seconds off and on and aren't even bothersome to me. It seems to happen with each increase I do."

• Pol...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 26, 2018

"I’m currently on Topamax 600 mg/day for anxiety/OCD. I’ve been on this for many years for OCD as an off-label use, and along with cognitive-behavior therapy, it’s a life changer. (Note: everyone is different, and my friend who took this for anxiety had a side effect of extreme anger. I don’t have that whatsoever.) I do have the tingling, but it goes away, and when I get it, I know it’s just the medication and it’ll subside. The big thing for me is memory loss. I work in film, so instructions and continuity are important, and it’s difficult to share with people that you’re on a medication that affects that without worrying about your career. Another thing is withdrawal. Always remember to renew your prescription ahead of time. This is important for anxiety because, for me, after day two of not having it, I feel like I can’t leave the house. I’m glad my psychiatrist tried this on me. No sexual or weight gain side effects like SSRIs or SNRIs, and for me, it’s way more effective."

• Jil...
• June 5, 2021

"After working my way through approximately 7-10 different medications over a 3.5-year period, Topiramate was a game changer for my OCD (skin picking)-Holy Hannah! I realize now I've just been band-aiding my OCD and skin picking to this point. Unlike the many SSRIs I've tried, Topiramate starts working immediately. I'm taking 100 mg, and I'm fortunate that I do not experience any of the memory issues. I am calm, free of anxiety, and I genuinely wake up happy every day and love my family (every single member :) I no longer have days where I feel foggy, fuzzy, and dazed. I'm sharp, clear, and full of life. My only regret is that it took me so long to find this med. As for weight loss, I didn't really have any to lose (that hasn't been a focus), and so I'm happy to report I've only lost 5 lbs, and hopefully no more, otherwise, that will become an issue."

• rav...
• November 6, 2015

"I have been on this med for 10 or more years. For my BPD, I also suffer from clinical chronic depression, OCD, suicidal tendencies, major mood disorders, and anything else they can throw at me! I had a severe breakdown 15 years ago, and I believe something in my brain actually disconnected or fizzled out! Unrecoverable! I have tried many meds for many symptoms. I have been on Topiramate for at least 10 years, I have not had weight loss from it. I was put on it for my borderline to control my rage. I take many different meds, I believe they are all fighting one another! Topiramate has affected my vision, motor skills, slowed down my thought process, blurred my decision-making, and my ability to recognize reality from my own distorted thoughts!"

• Bee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2015

Topiramate "I had extreme vision changes, loss of memory, extreme depression with long crying spells, anger, and suicidal thoughts. I have tried it at three different points in my life and have had the same experience each time... NOT GOOD. I tried the medication three times because the doctor and I thought that perhaps the side effects were from a mix of other medications I took with the pill. I did have weight loss, but it was not worth it at all. I could barely drive, and soft drinks (although not really important) tasted amazingly disgusting. I had no warning about all of the things I might experience, and it was horrible trying to teach middle school, raise two young children, do daily tasks, and drive. I've had friends get divorced due to side effects."

• Nic...
• March 21, 2017

"I was for about a year on gen Bupropion 300 mg (Wellbutrin), gen Lexapro 20/10 mg, and Clonazepam (0.5 mg). These kept me functioning for some time and pulled me out of a very debilitating depression that kept me at home for a month. During this year, I still suffered from a lot of ups and downs, my anxiety was getting worse and worse, so were my mood swings. I kept pushing my psychiatrist, she was skeptical about my mood swings, but I knew there was more going on. I am now on 50 mg of generic Topamax (it has definitely controlled my mood swings and a bit of my anxiety). It's only been 2 months, but I definitely feel a change. Planning on stopping taking Lexapro. My side effects: weird taste on (black sodas) and dizziness. A new one is phantom smells."

• Gon...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 22, 2017

"Been taking for 3.5 years. Total godsend when I first started during a depression; I felt a calmness I'd never felt before. Got the weight loss side effect, and eventually managed to drop the 70 lbs. that I'd gained from other mental meds (karma!). Starting side effects were hard: was nauseous the first week and felt like someone had kicked my butt; the successive titrations over the next few months were the same, minus the nausea, lasting a week or less. Side effects afterwards: I'll occasionally get pins and needles in fingers, slight name/word recall issues, but no serious case of the stupids unless I go above 150 mg, and constant thirst/dry mouth. Only 8 stars because I'm not sure it's working anymore (possibly because pharmacy switched brands)."

• Lou...
• July 4, 2014

"I switched from generic topiramate 50 mg, TID (three times a day), to brand Trokendi XR 200 mg (once daily) because my psychiatrist and I believed plasma levels would remain comparable to TID dosing due to Microtrol technology. My PDOC decided that a 50 mg increase was fine. It sure was! I am indicated for topiramate for the following reasons: A. Bipolar Disorder; topiramate acts as a mood stabilizer. B. Drug Cravings; topiramate reduces my urge to use drugs, studies are directed at its propensity to reduce alcohol and stimulant cravings. C. Anxiety; topiramate is a GABA agonist and slightly anxiolytic. D. Weight loss; Trokendi XR is far superior and smoother than generic topiramate when it comes to amelioration of symptoms. 10/10."

• 3de...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2019

"If you have had problems with eating disorders, please avoid topiramate. I have struggled with eating and weight loss for many years. I was prescribed this medication for sleep and as a mood stabilizer from a psychiatrist who didn’t know the severity of my eating disorder. The severe abdominal pain, absolutely no appetite, weight loss, and for some reason, sensory issues have caused me to relapse. I only got up to 75 mg. Please avoid if you are struggling with similar issues!"

• Loo...
• May 1, 2015

Topiramate "I can only describe my experience as horrendous. I was given Topamax to balance out the severe anxiety and restlessness and insomnia I had on Abilify. It had the opposite effect, after about three weeks of taking it, I developed severe fatigue, inability to swallow properly, paranoia, and the anxiety and restlessness went through the roof. I have never been so close to ending it all to get out of the hell that had become my head. I stopped taking both Abilify and Topamax and resumed my original Aerogel. Within 24 hours, all the symptoms of anxiety and suicidality had gone. A truly terrifying experience that nearly saw my children without a mother."

• srk...
• November 19, 2008

Topiramate "I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder since I was 16, and now that I'm 25. I feel good to have found a medication that helps me. The only problem I have is the fatigue. I could sleep a lot on this medication. I guess that's still better than being depressed and irritable."

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 26, 2019

"I take 50 mg at night and sleep really well following. After first being on 50 mg for a few days, I became very depressed and had really dark thoughts about life, so I dropped back to 25 mg and increased back to 50 mg by 12.5 mg increments. I no longer have that side effect, and the medication is beginning to give me a sense of well-being. I also get migraines, so it's good for that too. Many bipolar meds can give migraines."