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410475 tn?1262942367

TOPAMAX, anyone taking it??

I itch all over, my legs and arms are numb and feel like needles and pits. for weeks now my feet feel like insects are biting them. this medicine compleatly ruined my vacation. I was so tired and weak I couldn't do anything. I have diahrrea and nausa all the time. I got on the computer to see if I could have a drink with the drug and noticed all these were side effects of topamax, what? I said, I didn't take anymore. I am going off it now. anyone else have these symptoms?
CAT
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Avatar universal
I hope you did not just stop taking this medication.  Just as taking the med has side effects, stopping it abruptly can have side effects.  I have been on "DOPEamax" for about three years.  Yes there are some weird side effects, thus, I call it DOPEamax.  However, the benefits of the meds out way the side effects.  For me, many of the side effects disappeared after time. Talk to you Neuro before stopping.
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Avatar universal
Yes itching all over body I'm so tired I sleep all day I have no energy I have been on topamax 100 mg for 6 month'sbut I'm getting off this medication starting today
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633143 tn?1262133535
Hi,

I feel you on the pins and needles thing.  I'm on 100mg a day and my feet used to prickle all of the time.  I never thought of the insect analogy, but that's a pretty accurate description.  My fingers and hands itch, and I can't usually feel my face.  When I told my neurologist about it, he told me to eat a banana.  Apparently it's a potassium defficiency.  I guess any foods with high potassium would be good to include in your diet, but he suggested a supplement anyway.  I take one potassium pill with dinner every night and the numbness is almost unnoticeable.  He told me that it would go away completely if I took another pill in the morning, but I don't eat breakfast so I'm just dealing with it.  For a while when I first started taking the topamax I was really worn and out and felt weird all of the time, but I've been on it since the end of Aug '08 and that doesn't happen anymore.  I do get drowsy when I take it, but I just take it before bed now.  I don't know about the diarrhea thing though.  Were you eating with them?  Or were you allergic?  

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Avatar universal
Hello cat9841

Topiramate (brand name Topamax) is an anticonvulsant drug. Topamax has some side effects like
these studies, the most common Topamax side effects in adults included:

• Unusual sensations, such as burning or tingling (paresthesias) -- in up to 51 percent of people
• Dizziness -- up to 32 percent
• Fatigue -- up to 30 percent
• Drowsiness -- up to 29 percent
• Mental and physical slowing or delays -- up to 21 percent
• Nervousness -- up to 19 percent
• Upper respiratory infection (such as the common cold) -- up to 18 percent
• Coordination problems -- up to 16 percent
• Weight loss -- up to 16 percent (see Topamax Weight Loss)
• Loss of appetite -- up to 15 percent
• Taste changes -- up to 15 percent
• Confusion -- up to 14 percent
• Difficulty with concentration or attention -- up to 14 percent
• Nausea -- up to 14 percent.

Some other common side effects, occurring in 5 to 13 percent of adults, included:

• Diarrhea
• Memory loss
• Anxiety
• Language or speech problems
• Changes in gait (walking pattern)
• Sinus infection or irritation
• Injury
• Insomnia
• Mood problems
• Decreased sense of touch
• Viral infections
• Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
• Joint pain
• Weakness
• Sore throat
• Dry mouth
• Indigestion
• Mood problems
• Back pain.
Refer: http://epilepsy.emedtv.com/topamax/topamax-side-effects.html
You can consult your physician for the gradual withdrawal of the drug and then switching over to some other drug.

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