Topiramate and Depression: What Users Say

• Bec...
• July 7, 2021

Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention "I was given Topamax about 2 months ago for recurring migraines; it did nothing but make my life a living nightmare. I started with complete loss of appetite followed by extreme nausea. After that, the psychological effects started. I became extremely paranoid. The anxiety and paranoia got worse the longer I was on Topamax, which was soon accompanied by intense depression. Next came the hallucinations. I would see paintings moving on the walls, see colors and shapes moving across the floor, and I would hear voices multiple times a day. I fully regret ever taking this drug. I want my life back."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2019

Topamax (topiramate) for Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I’ve taken this medicine, Topamax, two separate times. The first time it helped me lose weight and I didn’t have many side effects, but went off of it once I got in a serious relationship and heard it can make birth control less effective. However, two years after I got off of it, I went back on it because of my binge eating disorder and it was horrible. This time, I had side effects, I was losing feeling in my hands and feet. My face would go numb. It didn’t really help with appetite, and it started to impact my memory. I almost immediately went off of it, and I’m still experiencing memory issues. I’ll be talking and can’t remember words in the middle of a sentence. Or I’ll tell someone something and then a couple of minutes repeat it because I forgot if I said it or not. Keep in mind I’m 21 and shouldn’t be having memory issues like this. I don’t recommend it..."

• cra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 2, 2017

Topamax (topiramate) for Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "My original intent with Topamax was never weight loss (mood), nor would I have ever believed the results I've obtained 19 months later. Quick negatives: my mental agility decreased significantly, I misspell my own name, most food & beverages taste like rubbish, and the generic version is subpar. I was always overweight. I'm in my mid-30s, male, and slimmed down from 275 to the low 180s, size 42 to 32, XXL to L. The weight stays off! I still drop a few pounds every month. However, it's impossible for me to get off. I tried once and went into severe depression, but I'm at a healthy weight now with perfect blood pressure."

• Jen...
• May 30, 2015

Topamax (topiramate) for Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I was on 25 mg to start and ended up taking 100. I lost weight. But the price I paid in side effects was not worth it. I lost so much hair that when I try to braid it, it's like braiding tiny strands of dental floss. It looks so ridiculous, long I had to chop it all off just to conceal how grossly thin it is. People call it Dopamax for a reason. It made my memory Swiss cheese, and when I had to process information, it felt like fighting through seaweed. The worst side effect was the depression. This stuff makes me downright suicidal. It helped me lose about 80 pounds by starvation. I never wanted to eat. I became anemic. If you've never had that before, you'll find simple physical tasks to feel like they're inciting heart attacks."

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

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

• Lit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2020

Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention "Having thought I was suffering from every ailment under the sun, I discovered it was actually side effects of these tablets. Breast pain, confusion, exhaustion, tingling sensation in fingers and feet, inability to string a sentence together, irritability, anxiety, depression, shortness of breath, heavy limbs. Unfortunately, I am clearly not suited to these tablets. Although, on a positive note, they have stopped my migraines. I'm currently weaning myself off of them, from 75 mg, 25 mg... I've just been prescribed some high-strength B2, to start at 200 mg per day, to increase to 400 mg. In light of these not suiting me, next will be amitriptyline."

• rev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2019

Topamax (topiramate) for Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Please do not take this medication! It's not worth it! I had put on some weight, and doc wanted me to take this to curb appetite. It has caused me to become angry, severely depressed, having crying spells, overly sensitive for no reason, tingling in legs and hands, eye issues, and foggy head. It's been only 3 weeks, and I am now tapering off because I have been snapping on everyone. I was only on 50 mg, and even tapering to 35 mg didn't lessen the side effects."

• Ska...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 5, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been on Topamax for one and a half years now, but the side effects are not worth the benefits. I was prescribed this medication to lose weight caused by my other bipolar medications. It only kept me from gaining weight. Eventually, I did gain weight anyway. I was taking 150 mg at night, but it gave me severe depression. I was also so tired on this medication. My job was affected because even the simplest email became a challenge, and holding on to conversations was hard too. I just couldn't find the words. My memory was greatly changed, which was sad for my sons. Now that I am trying, with my doctor's help, to wean off, I'm having some difficulty."

• Fer...
• November 22, 2015

Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention "I swear, this stuff almost ruined my life. I am a veteran who suffers from anxiety and chronic migraines from an injury in Iraq. The VA (my neurologist) had me try this drug to see if it would help me with the migraines. After about a month, I noticed that I couldn't concentrate, and I'd begun to affect my studies badly. My anxiety was the worst it had ever been, and I was slipping into a depression. I had no idea what was wrong with me. The VA gave me (a person who suffers from anxiety) a medication that makes you stupid and wreaked havoc on my mind without warning me about any potential side effects. I had to process the change on my own, figure out what was wrong with me, and wean myself off the pills. Use with extreme caution!"

• Lif...
• January 18, 2021

Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention "I was put on Topamax in September 2019 to treat lifelong migraines. I suffered very severe side effects across the board. My brain got foggy, and I started dropping words or leaving sentences unfinished. I developed a skin reaction to metal, and the skin peeled off under my wedding ring and where my bra clasp met my skin. The worst part was the crippling depression and anxiety. I spent hours crying. I developed such severe anxiety and insomnia that I stopped going to bed. I would just sit on the couch all night in a fog or fighting through panic attacks. I was prescribed Ativan to manage the anxiety. My GP put me on suicide watch and started to taper off the Topamax dosage. Before I was completely off, I developed an allergic reaction: my face, hands, and feet swelled, and I developed full-body hives. I ended up in the ER, where I was put on a high dose of steroids and antihistamines. I went through horrible Topamax withdrawal, which left me nauseous and with the worst headache of my life."

• Mon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2019

Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention "I started Topamax at one 50 mg tablet, and I was okay the first weeks. Then I couldn’t eat at all, I was hungry, but I couldn’t eat, and I started developing anxiety and depression and really dark thoughts. I stopped it for 2 weeks and decided to give it another try, and that same night I took the dose, I had horrible anxiety and just didn't feel safe from myself. This medicine is horrible."

• DIA...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2014

Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention "I used it for migraines. My side effects were: depression, dehydration, impaired thinking, confusion, drowsiness, memory problems, nervousness, trouble concentrating, weakness, loss of appetite, vertigo, and severe anxiety. After stopping this medication, I still suffer from severe anxiety and vertigo."

• Joj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2016

Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention "This is the worst medication ever. Started at 25 mg for 7 days at night, then moved up to 50 mg. On night 7, advanced each week up until 100 mg. Didn't get past day 12 and decided this was not going to work for me. Vertigo, nausea, loss of appetite, irrational fears, phobias, drug-induced fog, depression, ringing in ears, and can only smell certain strange odors, which are unpleasant. All carbonated drinks are flat and tasteless. At this point, your quality of life is beyond worthless. It helped with migraines...but I was so preoccupied and sick with side effects I'm not sure what was worse."

• Anonymous
• July 31, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I took Topamax to lose weight after being on Pristiq, and it did help me lose weight fast. However, the cost was great. It worked for weight loss and helped me with panic attacks and sleep. However, it gave me the worst depression of my life. I have not known despair the way that I did while taking this drug. I could not bring myself to get out of bed to live my life. I lost my job, I cried all the time, and did not care about anything. And to add to this, I developed severe respiratory issues. I would be hacking up a lung, and my chest would be killing me 24/7 from coughing, and I couldn't talk because it was so bad. Bad enough that I went to the ER worrying that I had pneumonia twice, and we concluded that it was a side effect of the drug. Sure enough, as soon as I stopped taking it, it went away and I began to get my life back. It also didn't help for my seizures. I actually had more seizures on this med than I did prior to taking it."

• Jen...
• July 20, 2017

Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention "I'm writing about my 18-year-old daughter who is currently on Topamax. She has suffered from migraines since she was about 12 years old. They would take her out for 2-3 days each, occurring anywhere from 2-6 times a month. When she was first given Topamax, we thought it was the greatest medication ever. Problem solved, she felt that the tingling fingers and face, as well as the flat soda taste, were well worth not suffering from migraines. HOWEVER - and I cannot stress this enough - as she increased her dose, she exhibited personality changes. She became depressed and overall just wasn't herself. Thankfully, we recognized this and are working with her doctor to back off the Topamax. We will be looking into other options. Not worth it!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2013

Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention "I took Topamax for 2 months until I finally threw in the towel and could take no more. It did stop the migraines, but the other side effects were horrible. I did have the tingling in my hands, feet, and lips, and food did taste way different. I was so depressed I could barely even get out of bed. I actually gained about 5 lbs. while I notice most everyone else lost weight. I cried every day for a week straight, and I'm not like that. My house was a wreck and I could barely help my son with his homework."

• Hea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 11, 2017

Topamax (topiramate) for Fibromyalgia "I was put on this medication for fibromyalgia and basilar-type migraines by my neurologist in high school. I originally went off of it because I could not handle the side effects. I was then bullied by my mother and doctor into going back on it because 'it was my only option.' I became face blind, could not navigate my way around even with a map, memory difficulties, issues doing simple math, became asexual, and had no motivation to interact with people. Towards the end of my time on Topamax, I was so depressed that I would just sit despondently. I switched doctors, and she immediately stopped it. The side effects went away after stopping the first time, but after the four years on it, I still have some side effects that haven't completely gone away."

• Hea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 11, 2017

Topamax (topiramate) for Fibromyalgia "I was put on this medication for fibromyalgia and basilar-type migraines by my neurologist in high school. I originally went off of it because I could not handle the side effects. I was then bullied by my mother and doctor into going back on it because 'it was my only option.' I became face blind, could not navigate my way around even with a map, memory difficulties, issues doing simple math, became asexual, and had no motivation to interact with people. Towards the end of my time on Topamax, I was so depressed that I would just sit despondently. I switched doctors, and she immediately stopped it. The side effects went away after stopping the first time, but after the four years on it, I still have some side effects that haven't completely gone away."

• DDI...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 13, 2016

Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention "I didn't use it long enough to see if it would prevent my monthly migraine, but I wanted to share the side effects I experienced. I started with 25 milligrams twice a day for 7 days and felt okay, but did experience some tingling in my feet and fingers. Then I increased to 50 milligrams twice a day per doctor's order, and things really changed. I started having the craziest dreams every night. Tingling was very pronounced every day in my feet and hands. I couldn't get out of bed easily. I felt very lethargic and really like a zombie. I kind of had a flat affect and felt very robotic at times. Other times, I was very depressed and irritable, or even angry. I stopped taking it. Also, I was hungry all the time. That was not normal for me at all."

• DDI...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 13, 2016

Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention "I didn't use it long enough to see if it would prevent my monthly migraine, but I wanted to share the side effects I experienced. I started with 25 milligrams twice a day for 7 days and felt okay, but did experience some tingling in my feet and fingers. Then I increased to 50 milligrams twice a day per doctor's order, and things really changed. I started having the craziest dreams every night. Tingling was very pronounced every day in my feet and hands. I couldn't get out of bed easily. I felt very lethargic and really like a zombie. I kind of had a flat affect and felt very robotic at times. Other times, I was very depressed and irritable, or even angry. I stopped taking it. Also, I was hungry all the time. That was not normal for me at all."

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

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

• Ida...
• September 11, 2015

Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention "I was getting 10-12 migraines a month when I was prescribed Topamax. I took it for a little over a month but had to quit because it made me extremely depressed and suicidal. After I stopped taking it, I felt fine again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 21, 2015

Topamax (topiramate) for Fibromyalgia "Highly negative experience. Was treated for migraines with this medication; however, I ended up with severe depression and suicidal behaviors. It became so bad I could not be left in our house alone. I had muscle atrophy and injured myself just from trying to walk. One broken foot and three back injuries. Worst medication I have ever taken; it almost killed me."

• RLM...
• September 20, 2007

Topamax (topiramate) for Migraine Prevention "I took Topamax for about 10 days to prevent migraines. I had several undesirable side effects (trouble focusing, problems with word retrieval, sleepiness). But the worst was feeling depressed. I stopped taking it."

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

Topamax (topiramate) for Bipolar Disorder "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."