Topamax and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Two weeks ago, my Dr. prescribed Topamax to help aid my weight loss and reach my goals. All was well until last Friday, every food and drink, except for water and Gatorade, made me nauseous and sometimes vomit. Constant constipation or raging diarrhea. None of the foods or drinks had much taste. No appetite but growling stomach. My feet were constantly tingling. I started getting dizzy and blacking out. Horrible breast pain and just felt horrible. It was the lowest dose prescribed, so I stopped it last night and have an appointment tomorrow morning. The more I researched the drug, it's horrible for your body - eyes, digestive system, urinary system, and reproductive system to name a few. Just not worth it!"

• Aun...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 8, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I have been through so much with this medicine! I ended up dizzy, confused, very irritable, with pain behind my eyes so bad it would give me headaches every day. I was scared to death to drive as my perception was off, sometimes it was so bad it felt like the road was moving, not my car. I had memory loss and couldn't say things correctly or even make deposits at work, I felt as if my brain was trying to come out of my skull. Because of this, I had to go to the gynecologist because I had abnormal periods and to the neurologist because of my head! I also had breast, arm, and leg pain to the point where I couldn't wash my hair or get ready. My legs were so bad I couldn't make it up the stairs! My husband was scared, and I was scared I was losing my mind and had something major wrong with me. This medicine wreaks havoc on your body, brain, and eyes! NIGHTMARE DRUG... I stopped it 3 days ago and I'm getting better already... I'm 42 and a healthy person, or I was!"

• Rac...
• February 13, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I suffer from migraines and also am overweight. So the Dr. prescribed me Topamax for both. I weighed in at 209 on Feb 2, 2016, and today, Feb 12, 2016, I am 203. So far so good with the weight loss. I'm not too pleased with the side effects, however. I feel fuzzy all day, like I'm on a cloud. Dizzy, tingling, and numbness in my fingers and toes. Hasn't helped my migraines at all either. It does, though, not make me hungry at all. I have to force myself to eat because I know I have to. I don't see myself taking this medication long term. I'd rather try and lose the weight naturally. Not worth all the side effects."

• Ain...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 20, 2017

For Fibromyalgia "Diagnosed with fibro and CFS after a car accident. Began to get vertigo, light, and sound sensitivity on top of all the usual symptoms. They would stay for weeks. Found out eventually it was an aura of migraine. Topamax sorted me out. No more brain fog, vertigo, audio, or photo sensitivity. The tiredness also lifted, I can stay awake all day but can't overdo it. Pain is still there, though, but I feel so normal after so many years of dysfunction, it's unbelievable. It's like someone unscrambled me!!! I'm on 175 mg, 100 mg in the morning, and 75 mg in the afternoon."

• Ain...
• February 20, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "Developed Aurora symptoms of migraine as part of the diagnosis of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue diagnosis as a result of a car accident. Debilitating vertigo, light and noise sensitivity. Extreme cognitive dysfunction and fatigue, which were constant, but the migraine came and went, although it would last for weeks. Eventually, it just stayed, and I felt like I was walking about drunk! I was told there was nothing that could be done for me and that this was part of my condition. I found Topamax myself when I had reached the point where I had decided to end it all if this was it. Sad but true. Fortunately and happily, I am a new woman. My brain has been unscrambled! I can function again! No more hiding from the light or trying to remember why I started a sentence."

• Rom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I was prepared for the basic side effects: Carbonated beverages not tasting right, and also some loss of appetite. I was put on 100mg from the get-go. I also had the fairly common side effect of just feeling confused, though this wasn't all that severe and I was still able to do well in school. I also experienced tingling in my hands and feet, and though this was irritating, it was bearable. The real kicker for why I quit taking this medicine was when I began to have what felt like panic attacks and severe confusion, along with elevated heartbeat and dizziness. Also, my fingers would move on their own and seem to get stuck sticking straight out, and I had no control over it."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "Topamax was a dreadful choice for me for my migraine prevention. Topamax did nothing to improve my chronic migraines and made life even more difficult than it was by making me fuzzy-minded. I couldn’t concentrate, carry on a conversation, finish a task without having to stop and think about what I’m doing and why. I was too woozy to drive-I even felt wobbly while walking. I couldn’t function at all. The worst of it was this: I’m normally right-handed. While I was on Topamax, I started using my left hand as the dominant hand and knocking things over, dropping things, and generally getting frustrated by my lack of coordination. This troubling symptom lasted the longest after stopping my use of Topamax. I understand that some find this drug helpful, but it was a nightmare and a danger for me."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "Topamax was a dreadful choice for me for my migraine prevention. Topamax did nothing to improve my chronic migraines and made life even more difficult than it was by making me fuzzy-minded. I couldn’t concentrate, carry on a conversation, finish a task without having to stop and think about what I’m doing and why. I was too woozy to drive-I even felt wobbly while walking. I couldn’t function at all. The worst of it was this: I’m normally right-handed. While I was on Topamax, I started using my left hand as the dominant hand and knocking things over, dropping things, and generally getting frustrated by my lack of coordination. This troubling symptom lasted the longest after stopping my use of Topamax. I understand that some find this drug helpful, but it was a nightmare and a danger for me."

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

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

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."

• Mal...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 28, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I am currently taking it for intense migraines. It is the only thing that I have found that has helped. I do have breakthrough migraines, but the medication does keep the majority of them at bay. I do get many of the side effects. I get tingling in my hands and feet. I occasionally get tingling on my tongue and a weird burning taste when I drink soda. I get slight dizziness when I first take it. I am more sensitive to cold, and I get diarrhea. All of these side effects I can either live with or treat and are worth the freedom from the migraines. If you live with migraines every day, you're willing to put up with a lot of side effects just to be pain-free for a while. This medication is totally worth it."

• Tam...
• September 4, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I have had estrogen- and barometric migraines since my mid-twenties. I was noticing that the intensity and frequency of said migraines were getting worse over time (I'm 47 now). I was over-prescribed Imitrex and was having rebound migraines, suffering 20 migraines per month. So far, I've been on this medication for a little over 2 weeks, and am on 25 mg. I don't think I need to go any higher right now, which is fine by me. For the first 4 days, I had a horrid migraine, felt dizzy, and had some nausea. After that, I started feeling a lot better, more alert, no pain, felt sharper too. I'm in peri-menopause and have noticed that I get a migraine around the time of my period, but it's about a 5 or 6 instead of a 10. So far, it is working with very few side effects."

• Won...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 20, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "I've been taking Topamax (brand) for approximately ten years. Due to severe migraines, this was the only medication to prevent what had been debilitating headaches, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light, smell, sound, movement, and dizziness. After several years, my insurance refused to continue payment of the brand until I tried the generic tablets. After 3 days, the original symptoms returned. They finally approved continued payment of the brand, and now, two years later, they again have refused to cover (pay) for the medication, although it falls under the plan. For three months, my neurologist and I have issued appeals with no clear explanation of the denial. I would just like to again take meds to rid myself of this pain."

• Chu...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 27, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "I was prescribed Topamax as a migraine preventative and experienced just about every side effect. I started 25 mg/day at night for 7 days, moved up to 75 mg after 3 weeks, and remained there. Within 48 hours, I didn't have a headache at all but was experiencing side effects of tingling fingers, no appetite, and a change in the taste of foods/carbonated beverages. I did have a hard time concentrating, I'd get confused and would randomly slur words. I weighed 120-ish when I started, and within a few months, was 110 or less. I did work out and noticed no matter how hard I pushed, I didn't sweat and randomly got dizzy. Side effects are no joke, but you adjust after a few weeks."

• WKB...
• June 9, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "I had a horrible experience on this medication back in 2005/2006. I started on a low dose of 25 mg/day and had severe nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, and memory impairment. Worked up to 50 mg 2x/day, and the nausea/diarrhea eventually abated, but the dizziness, fatigue, confusion, and memory problems continued, and I developed a bad tremor in my hands - I was dropping everything, couldn’t write legibly, and spilled food constantly. And I still had 10-15 debilitating migraines a month. Had to wean off it, but 10+ years later I STILL HAVE MILD HAND TREMORS. Worst medication experience of my life."

• Anonymous
• February 10, 2010

For Migraine Prevention "LOVE LOVE LOVE this medicine! I was apprehensive at first because of all the side effect horror stories, but I was at the end of my rope with around 15-17 bad migraines per month. Sometimes I would have them 10 days in a row and my insurance would not pay for enough Imitrex, then I would run out and just suffer for days. Side effects were so bad the first week I almost quit: dizzy, complete 'weirdness,' inability to handle more than one task at a time, anxiety, spacing out and forgetting things, etc. And I still got migraines. It was a little scary. On day 8 I took a leap of faith, increased my dose (as per the doctor's orders), and the side effects all but went away, as did the migraines. Life is better now."

• sal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "I took this for 5 days and nearly tore my hair out. So much nervousness, anxiety, dizziness, nausea, and tiredness! I cannot function on this pill. 25 mg per day, and the doctor told me to increase to 100 mg per day. I think I would have died, and plus, it does NOT work."

• Ama...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "Worked wonderfully to get rid of my headaches! For the first time in nine years, I didn't have daily headaches. The side effects were awful, though! Ringing in the ears, dizziness, flushing, numb face/hands/arms/feet, the list goes on and on. My doctor had to wean me off of it."

• Tos...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 25, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "Was on Topamax 200 mg 2x a day for eight years. It cut back on my daily migraines. Went down to about 2-3x a week. I lost 125 pounds in the first year I was on it. No appetite. Food tasted metallic, flat, or just weird. I did get one kidney stone. After years of being on a high dose, I started getting chest pain. My doctor took me off Topamax about 7 years ago. I had bad withdrawals after weaning off, no seizures thankfully. Migraines have been daily again for the last 18 months. Tried to go back on Topamax, but I can't tolerate it anymore. After one 25 mg tablet at bedtime, I woke up with a severe headache, dizziness, and nausea. The next night I took one tablet, and the side effects were increased. I stopped. Side effects were bad for two weeks. No thanks."

• Anonymous
• September 5, 2009

For Seizure Prevention "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."

• Hut...
• February 7, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "Horrible medication with tons of side effects. I have tried this stuff twice over a 15-year period, and this time was much worse. All the side effects listed I got to experience within two weeks of taking this drug with slow introduction. And I still got migraines even while taking it, and now I have to take eye medication on top of wheezing, felt like puking, dizzy, edgy, and wanting to kill myself. Throw this one in the wastebasket and try the alternatives before touching this stuff."

• mel...
• December 19, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "I started taking Topamax a year ago, and it helped with my visual migraines. I had the side effects such as delayed speech, confusion, numbness, carbonated drinks are horrible tasting, dizziness, all the normal side effects. But they only lasted a few weeks. I'm at 100 mg a day now, 50 in the morning and 50 at night. Now the side effects don't bother me at all. I haven't lost not one pound, so I'm not sure what the weight loss is about. I actually gained 10! Overall, it's doing its purpose."

• AH0...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "The 2 weeks I was taking Topamax ended up being the worst 2 weeks of my life. I was started on this med on Wednesday. By Monday, I was halfway through my day at work when I got lightheaded, dizzy, a terrible headache, and started experiencing left-sided numbness/tingling. Nearly wrecked and ended up in the ER, where they diagnosed migraines. Was sent home to have a headache with left-side weakness/numbness, confusion, and a foggy feeling for the next 2 weeks. 5 doctor's appointments, 2 ER visits, 1 outpatient infusion for migraines, and 1 admission to the hospital later. I finally figured out on my own that when I stopped taking Topamax, my symptoms got better. Although they are still not gone. My vision has changed as well as other long-term effects."

• Des...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "ONLY 25 mg/day, 2nd try. Lasted 3 days. Whoa, just whoa! Within 1 hour, my pain lessened, but side effects were already producing. First, my vision got really distorted. I couldn't focus on command at all. Then my bottom lip wouldn't stop tingling with a numb feeling. I got extremely dizzy and felt out of it. So I thought, let me lay down. Fell asleep 15 min. Woke up, thought an hour passed, was completely out of it. The whole left side of my face felt palsy, completely numb. Tingling/numbness in arms, hands, legs, and feet. The next day, visual less, but symptoms still there. Then the suicidal thoughts and worthlessness came. I made it one more day. Missed a day and took it the following day. I can't do anything on it. Comatosed and psychiatric mind games. DONE!! I'm better without it."

• Anonymous
• April 8, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "Topamax worked great to prevent migraines, however, the side effects that I experienced were not worth the prevention. I experienced numbness and tingling in my extremities, severe problems with word retrieval, a complete inability to focus or concentrate, anxiety, agitation, and severe mood issues (I became very angry and upset at the smallest of things). But what finally did me in was severe epigastric pain, nausea, dizziness, and disorientation that came about suddenly and was persistent until I titrated myself off the medication after a visit to the urgent care. As soon as I got off Topamax, the migraines were back every day, and I question which was worse - the migraines or the side effects."