Topiramate for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• Canadia
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2019

"I was really hoping this was going to help, especially with the majority of the reviews being so positive. Within 5 days I was having speech problems, memory issues, and went into having self harm / suicidal thoughts. I threw it out 30 minutes ago. *** That does not mean this is a horrible option if you have been put on it. With medications like this it can be very trial and error, and will have different effects for different people. This was just my experience."

• Rekir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 23, 2020

"Took this topiramate for about 2 months. Was fine at first but still had some small manic episodes. Lost some weight which I'm not complaining about but also started losing my hair in large quantities. Nothing huge but enough to fill a brush every time I brushed my hair. Switched to a different script."

• Jen
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 22, 2019

"I have been on Topamax for 20 years/400mg each day and would love to hear about other peoples long-term experiences. I’m concerned about the long term affects and how much it is working after this long?"

• chick...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2021

"I began Topimax on Monday, 7/26 at .25mg at night. I am hoping that it will help me to lose the weight that I gained while on Seroquel. I am still taking Seroquel though so I don't know if it will work. I am also using it as a mood stabilizer. I have a mood disorder, anxiety and depression. It is day 5 and I already notice that my anxiety is better and my moods are more stabile. I have not noticed any weight loss yet. I will be upping my dose to 50mg this Monday after meeting with my doctor. The only side effects that I have had is that I feel very tired which has resulted in be finally being able to enjoy a cup of coffee. My anxiety had been so bad that I had to cut all caffeine from my diet. I noticed heartburn the passed few days which is pretty uncomfortable so I took an acid reducer. So many people talk about soda tasting different. I had a Coke zero yesterday as an experiment. It tasted flat. I hope to lose weight and not to lose my hair on this med."

• Still...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2018

"I was happy to be prescribed a bipolar medication that would not cause me to gain weight which the others had done, however; the minute I started taking topiramate I experienced bladder issues. It was pretty debilitating and painful so I had to stop immediately unfortunately. I can't comment on whether it would have worked mentally or not."

• julie...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 15, 2021

"Hey friends! Julie here, 35 YO personal trainer & mom of a 4 YO boy named Lawrence. I was given topamax for migraine prevention…a few days after starting the medication I was unexpectedly diagnosed with bipolar 2 depression. After doing some research I found out that topamax is used for both diagnosis’. Tricky part is I have a pituitary adenoma which can mimic bipolar II symptoms. DOCTOR RECOMMENDATIONS NEEDED After reading every review I was not given the correct starting dose. I started at 50 mg and a week later increased to 100 mg. Since increasing: soda tastes flat & horrible, 4 days of continuous migraines, disgustingly dry mouth, Food? What’s that?, I cannot hold a conversation, I am SO tired. On the positive side, I feel balanced for the first time in my life, no ups and downs, I am out of bed, did not spend my entire pay check in one day lol and there are more positives but can’t recall them (side effect lol) Please recommend docs!!!!"

• Rted
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2018

"Topirimate nearly killed me! I was put on it by a psychiatrist who never saw me again after prescribing it. I suffered severe weight loss and lack of appetite- I went from a healthy size 10 to 48 kg and was almost size zero. After discontinuing topirimate I began having bulimia symptoms and am sure I would have starved to death if I wasn't taken off it. It did not help my depression or other bipolar symptoms. It made me not able to empty my bladder properly resulting in kidney stones and severe urine infection. I would urge anyone considering taking this drug to do your research into physically devastating side effects carefully and only do so with regular monitoring by a psychiatrist and not for it to be left to GP to monitor."

• Mmbwd...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2022

"Best medication I have tried. I have cyclothymic disorder and this stuff worked amazing. Bad anxiety as well. Only side effect I have is constipation and sometimes insomnia. But this is the only medication that helped me."

• anony...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 28, 2021

"I have never been so glad to read bad reviews in my life! I thought it was just me. My psychiatrist just kind of prescribed Topiramate on a whim. I don't normally question him. He mentioned no side effects. But he never does. So, 200mg daily for 8 months. I've wondered why I had less than no energy, sudden problems with bladder infections, hair loss, can't spell, can't remember yesterday, can't concentrate. It didn't help my moods either. I had just accepted the fact that it was me at 61. Now I know differently. It just took 12 hours of research to find out. It was worth it. I'm very upset with my psychiatrist of 12 years. Don't take this medicine if you have an alternative."

• Jemma-m
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2020

"Started taking topiramate. Christmas night was first night I started itching. I took my Atarax calmed it down went to sleep 2nd night I took it same thing, But I also woke up @ 2:30 and my mouth was sore and my tongue felt like it was burning sensation and I was itchy all over"

• Disco...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2021

"I started taking a very low dose of topiramate and started having awful, disturbing nightmares every night. I was also vaguely drowsy and confused all the time, which was interfering with work - I sometimes appeared slightly stupid when interviewing people. When the dosage was increased, I started having pain in my eyes, a bad headache and nausea. It was the weekend, so I couldn't reach my psychiatrist. I called the pharmacist and he told me to go to the hospital right away because this was a side effect that could make me PERMANENTLY BLIND if not addressed quickly. Needless to say this was a traumatic experience and I would not recommend taking this drug."

• MikeH
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 16, 2021

"This medication paired with sertraline derailed my life. I was so sick I was forced to take leave from work. At the five week period of the medication my blood work came back with “critical” levels in 7 results. I wound up in the ER and was diagnosed with Neutropenia. At this point I’m now on my fourth week off work, isolated from family and my levels are slowly returning to normal (fingers crossed). Be careful and get your blood checked regularly. I was at 0.2 neutrophils, 136 blood platelets and 2.0 WBC, I also had mild cytosis and irregular smears. All in all I was better off rapid cycling on my other medication or not even on medication. I pray my body isn’t permanently damaged. Every patients worst nightmare. Having the drugs that supposedly are going to help you totally derail your life."

• chaot...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 22, 2013

Topamax (topiramate) "Over the edge...best thing ever!"

• Level...
• August 1, 2011

Topamax (topiramate) "I have been diagnosed with anxiety for over 10 years. I have been taking Lexapro and have Bipolar for 3 months. I have been on Topamax. I love it. I have lost weight and feel great."

• katdog
• July 10, 2008

Topamax (topiramate) "Love this. I have been on Seroquel and gained a tremendous amount of weight and turned into a zombie. I lost 20 lbs in 1 month and feel the best I have felt in a long time."

• Bipolar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 16, 2015

"Be very careful with the dosing, less is more. Start slow. For me, I'm Bipolar 1, and 50 mg brought clarity, but 100 mg made word-finding difficult."

• great...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 6, 2014

Topamax (topiramate) "I have felt great. No weight loss yet, but I feel very good. I am taking it with sertraline. And so far, it is the right medicine for me."

• Kimbe...
• February 10, 2013

Topamax (topiramate) "Stabilizing when used with Lamictal and Lexapro."

• Geddy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2014

Topamax (topiramate) "I have been taking it for mood and it works wonders! Mood is stable with only one side affect."

• austi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 17, 2016

"I take this as a mood stabilizer, it has really helped level out my moods."

• DebsD
• January 2, 2017

"After so many years of trying, I finally start to function as a (almost) normal human being. Topamax is my lifesaver."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 16, 2019

"I love Topamax! It has helped so much with my racy thoughts I have with my Bipolar. It even helps me sleep at night."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 16, 2012

"Love it for bipolar disorder and losing weight! I've been on this for just over 3 years, and I've lost close to 100 lbs!"

• learn...
• October 14, 2010

Topamax (topiramate) "Caused hair loss, moods were crazy- very anxious and memory loss. After 8 weeks the weight loss is not worth it. 5lbs and I bet that was just in hair loss! "

• Jallo
• February 17, 2018

"On Topamax 8 years. 200 mg daily. Bipolar 1 with psychotic features. It levelled my moods and I lost 165 pounds in 20 months. Maybe a little brief mental fog rarely, but I can live with it."