Topamax for Seizure Prevention User Reviews

• rog...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 21, 2013

"This is for the Newbies out there. I started this medication when I was 15. Had my first seizure a few days before my 15th birthday. The first side effect you will experience is sleepiness, don't fight it. Let your body get a nap between 1-3, which I found to be the best time. I sleep for 1 hour and still can fall asleep at night. I am 21 now. Some advice to you: whenever you don't feel like eating, I found that sweet tea gets me hungry, find that X factor in you. The weight loss is insane. I lost 40 pounds in 6 months just by breathing. Now, sleep patterns are important. If the average person needs 8 hours, you and I need 9-10 MINIMUM. Also, try to take the dose at the same time every day, you will fall asleep faster. Hang out to see sunrise."

• Anonymous
• March 30, 2010

"I've been on Topamax (250 mg/day) for 8 years now. Up until last week, I was seizure-free for 7 years. Everything I tried prior to Topamax resulted in breakthrough seizures every couple of weeks. Topamax enabled me to get my license, a full-time job, move out of my parents' house, and eventually get my Bachelor's degree (next year!). Put simply, Topamax gave me a life!"

• Mr...
• January 29, 2015

"I've been on and off Topamax for 20 years, works good, and I've lost over 100 lbs. Very good medicine. Also, I've had five brain surgeries in my life for seizures because mine was so bad. Now I'm down to maybe one every 3 years, dry mouth a little bit, but I'd rather have the dry mouth and be 100 lbs lighter and able to drive and do things than to be off it and have only God knows how many seizures and not be able to drive."

• Ell...
• November 14, 2009

"Best medication for me yet. I have my life back. Give it time and be patient. Let your body adjust to the drug slowly and be sure to stay hydrated and eat enough even though you might not feel hungry. Drinking smoothies helps. Get enough potassium and you won't feel tingly. I can finally go back to being a student and ballet dancer without seizures! Trust me, this medication can give you your life back."

• For...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 20, 2012

"I was prescribed this medicine to treat my petite mal seizures. I was never warned of any potential side effects and never thought to ask, seeing as I had never taken a medicine before. After I began taking this, my seizures graduated to full-blown grand mal seizures. I couldn't speak, I couldn't understand others' speech, and I couldn't sleep more than a few hours most nights. Everything came to a head about four months after I began taking the medicine when I couldn't remember how to say 'Bye' to my dad. I would have rather had seizures every day than stay on Topamax! I got off of the medicine and am now on Lamictal, under which I haven't had any seizures or side effects in the two years I've been taking it."

• cad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 27, 2013

"This medicine was great in taking care of seizures, but I honestly felt like I was crazy most of the time. I lost weight, which I was happy with, but when it comes to the final review, I was a crazy, small person. I couldn't even call an order in on the phone because I couldn't think fast enough. I went back to my doctor and asked him to take me off this."

• Pee...
• October 14, 2009

"I have been on Topamax for about 4 years. I have a brain tumor and migraines with seizures. I was on Divalproex and had gained weight (178 lbs). I am 5'3'. When my doctor put me on Topamax, my hands and feet tingled, everything tasted like metal, for about a month or so I also felt like I was on 'speed.' After the first month or so and some dosage alterations, I am very happy. No seizures, headaches gone, I am now a size 3, yeah, and will be very upset if someone takes my Topamax away."

• Reb...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 6, 2015

"I've been on Topiramate now for 3 years after switching from Lamotrigine, on which I had a full-on epileptic seizure. My experience on Topiramate, however, has been fine. I lost weight like others seem to have, but have since put it back on. I surrendered my driving license for a year after the seizure but have since gotten that back. I carry out my job with ease as well, so really can't complain there. The only issues I've had are the side effects of tingly hands and feet, sudden dizziness, becoming very, very tired all of a sudden - and more recently - losing my train of thought, getting confused easily, and being unable to focus. I've noticed this mainly happens, though, when I'm bored and have nothing to do. When I'm busy, all works well."

• Bac...
• February 6, 2014

"When I first used Topamax, it was for seizures, but I had not been diagnosed with bipolar, then it was thought to be depression. I lost 83 pounds, but I stopped taking it because of the tingling in my hands and face. After trying other medications years later, I gained 123 pounds, which I was devastated by and plunged into a deep depression that I am still in. After reading about it again, I know I can live with the other things, it seems minor to the darkness I have been living in. I can't wait to try it again after realizing it's better than 99% of the things I tried when I go to my appointment in two weeks. I'm excited for the first time in a long time to try it again."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 16, 2015

"I found this drug to be very effective to control my seizures. Before taking Topiramate, my seizures were uncontrollable. I would get 3-5 seizures per week. Not including the amount of injuries I sustained-fortunately, nothing serious, just bumps on the head and sprained ankles from falling over. But I've been so lucky. I've also lost weight. Amazing. I've wanted to lose weight for a while now. I've lost about 2 stone. But unfortunately, the appetite suppressant within the Topiramate has ceased. It doesn't last very long. My appetite has come back :-( But the seizures have been greatly reduced, which is the main thing, which I'm very happy about."

• Anonymous
• September 5, 2009

"I've been on this medication for 3 years now for my seizures (50 mg/2 daily) and have not had any episodes since. At first, I would get a tingling feeling in my fingers and toes (like soda fizz), but it went away once my body was used to the drug. Recently, my pharmacy switched me to the generic version, and I hated it. Immediately that first day, I would get crazy headaches, feel dizzy, sick to my stomach, and I couldn't concentrate on anything. I went back to my neurologist and got a new prescription for brand name only and have not had any problems since. I was also still using the drug during my recent pregnancy and am happy to report no problems or side effects whatsoever."

• cry...
• June 2, 2009

"Topamax is very good at helping me with keeping my seizures away. My main problem, though, is sometimes anywhere between 3:00 and 5:00 in the afternoon I have a 'nap crash.' Meaning my eyes want to close because I feel drowsy no matter how much I try to fight it, and within a few minutes after my eyes close, I'm completely unconscious."

• Anonymous
• October 2, 2012

"I liked Topamax because I never worried about having a seizure. I obtained complete control and the added benefit of helping the migraines, however, the MD discontinued it after I had personality changes, severe weight loss, and acidosis."

• oif...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 15, 2014

"Good medication, reduced my GMS disorder but now I see the effects of being on this medication. I've been on it for 3 years now and like I said it reduced my grand mal seizures. But I've lost 40 lbs. I have trouble speaking the complete thought in my mind, and I'm always exhausted. Though, I have other issues that affect my sleeping habits, as I am a veteran. Pros and cons, so consider them."

• Les...
• November 27, 2009

"After years of being on carbamazepine and gaining a lot of weight, I was switched to Topamax/topiramate. First to 300 mg, then, because of G.I. side effects, to 100 mg a day and adding 50 mg of Lamictal. G.I. symptoms are gone. I do experience the metal taste, some tingling in my hands and feet, tiredness, blurred vision, some diarrhea, but these are few and far between, my weight is stabilized and not many problems with sleep. Any breakthrough seizures I have are usually when I don't maintain my regular sleep cycle, get overstressed, etc. The plus is that I am able to have a normal life. I work full-time, hunt, fish, exercise, have 2 grown boys, hobbies, and my husband and I have a very active social life. Inconvenient, yes, but worth it!"

• Sna...
• April 24, 2018

"After day one of Topamax, I felt strange. Generally sick. Very nervous. Aggressive. And then very depressed. I kept taking them. My appetite decreased, as did my energy levels. And I was overly thirsty all the time. Some abdominal pains and areas of numbness, particularly of the face, mouth, eyes, etc. Then I broke out in massive bruises. Very dark large hematomas on my arm. I also had bone pains in my lower back and legs. I felt like I was being poisoned to death. So I stopped taking Topamax after a month. After two days, I already am feeling much better. This should not be allowed on the market. Again, Topamax feels like a very cruel lethal drug/poison... Don't take it."

• Cod...
• July 22, 2009

"Have been on it for two weeks now, lost 20 lbs, had two episodes. Have short-term memory loss, can't think of words, tired all the time, feel like I can't function at work. On 50 mg in the morning and at night (100 mg a day), going up to 150 a day, increasing to 100 mg at night. Having problems sleeping at night. I'm getting used to the side effects, though. They get better with time, I guess just hang in there. The weight loss is a big plus. I have no appetite at all, I have to make myself eat. Confusion is a big problem, I'm not driving now."

• Dim...
• June 28, 2016

"When I first started this medication, it was OK. I was never told this medicine could cause memory loss. It's really bad, I can't remember at times if I took my medicine, and places I have been going all my life I can't remember how to get there. Please be aware!!!"

• tea...
• June 1, 2011

"My five-year-old was prescribed this medicine after he started having breakout seizures on his other medicines. After about two weeks, the seizures had not decreased, and he started complaining of severe eye pain. A visit to the eye doctor confirmed very high pressure in his eyes. It did not work well for him."

• laz...
• February 21, 2012

"First off, my dosage 200 mg twice a day, 26 yo male. It works, in fact, the only anti-seizure medication that has worked for me. I have noticed weight loss of 15 to 20 lbs under my natural weight (135 to 155 at 5'11') from being on the meds to off (but that could be lack of exercise). Other than that, it keeps me going in my daily life. Just don't miss too many."

• Cin...
• May 27, 2008

"I have been on this medicine for about a week now. I was on it before for about 3-4 years. After the initial side effects, which lasted probably about a month, the only one that lasted was that I had a lot of energy, which always isn't so bad. Everyone reacts to medicines differently, though. I didn't have such a bad experience with this one."

• rob...
• January 31, 2010

"I took Topamax for approximately 5 years with little trouble. I did have the metallic taste and could not drink carbonated beverages. In July 2009, I had to quit Topamax due to a little published side effect: kidney stones. I was on a pretty large dose (600 mg). I had a 9 mm kidney stone and many, many small stones. I take Keppra XR now. It prevents the seizures, but I have gained all the weight plus some that I had lost on Topamax, but no seizures or kidney stones."

• chi...
• August 12, 2009

"Was taking this medication for a seizure disorder. I was on it for about 4 or 5 months, but had to go off of it because of all the side effects. I was extremely depressed, crying at least 7 or 8 times a day. Memory loss, could not sleep, tingling in feet and hands. The only good thing about it was I lost 32 lbs in about 6 weeks."

• Sar...
• February 15, 2020

"After weaning off the old med and onto the Topamax he was taking (1000 mg twice daily), he is a tall, skinny guy, but at 6’5 weighs around 190-195. He was on the prescription for 6 months. Shouldn’t you request to see him sooner considering how significant his med switch was? He dropped down to 160 pounds, but still had small episodes. He was desperate to make them work and overall wasn’t sure when to actually call the doctor with issues because he didn’t want to be a bother. The problem is these meds weren’t prescribed very well and he just threw him on them without having baseline tests (blood, recent MRI) etc., to base his switch on. He has now been switched again to the acid one as well as Cephra (sorry, spelling I’m not sure), but this is the fourth medication he’s been on. But yes, the Topamax isn’t great for already thin people, and also the side effects heavily affected his speech and ability to think clearly (he sounded drunk half an hour after taking them)."

• Ann...
• November 23, 2016

"I've been on this for over a year. Works very well. I have one side effect, tingling in my feet. I eat a lot of greens and bananas to help with that. I lost 45 lbs because of it as well. I take Vitamin B-12 to help with my memory because of the seizure meds... like every seizure med can affect your memory."