Topamax and side effects

I just started taking Topamax 50 mg for migraine control yesterday. My Dr. said the side effects were not bad, but if I noticed any I could take it before bed. Well I took it after I picked it up from the pharmacy at about 3 pm and in the evening I started feeling really sick to my stomach, dizzy, and severe hot flashes. I took a nap because I also was tired. Well I woke up from my nap and had to go to the store and had to come home immediately I felt as though I was going to pass out!!! I was so hot and dizzy!!!! Are these normal side effects???? I also had the numbness in my hands.  I read about everything but the hot flashes! How long will these take to pass? I guess today I will take it at bedtime.

[Eddie1994]

My wife started at 25 mg twice a day.  Her side effects were tingling and slight numbness in her hands.  She now is @ 100 mg daily with no appreciable side effects.  It does have a positive effect on reducing the number of migraines.  We've tracked the number of episodes since 1999, adjusting for seasonality as well.  This is how we know it has had a positive effect.  In some people it can cause the formation of a certain kind kidney stone.  She also just had one of those so we're not sure if it was the increased dosage or lack of fluids when she is nauseated by a migraine.

She will not give up on taking it however.  See if you can tolerate a few more days or check with your Doctor.  

[jimgreg]

i was on that for weight loss..i wont take it no more..i never got symptoms as you are..just felt difft on it...

[Eddie1994]

My wife started at 25 mg twice a day.  Her side effects were tingling and slight numbness in her hands.  She now is @ 100 mg daily with no appreciable side effects.  It does have a positive effect on reducing the number of migraines.  We've tracked the number of episodes since 1999, adjusting for seasonality as well.  This is how we know it has had a positive effect.  In some people it can cause the formation of a certain kind kidney stone.  She also just had one of those so we're not sure if it was the increased dosage or lack of fluids when she is nauseated by a migraine.

She will not give up on taking it however.  See if you can tolerate a few more days or check with your Doctor.  

[frank_noahsmommy]

Thank you for your comments!
Today will be the 4th day that i will take it, I am taking it in the night to try an reduce the side effects. Yesterday I just started feeling the tingling in my hands and toes. I also noticed when I drank drinks like soda they tasted flat, I did also drink a beer and It tasted flat and sweet, did anybody ever experience that?

[Eddie1994]

Your right, taste was a side effect for her as well.  This may be the reason some people use it for weight loss.  The tinglingness on the extremeties seems to be common that does not resolve over time.  My wife got use to it - beats the migraines any day!

[hurting007]

I used to be on Topamax for a combination of problems.  It made soft drinks etc. taste like metal and flat.  My stomach was always upset - that was how I lost weight, not a good way to do it.  I had "stupid" issues, it is nicknamed Dopamax by a lot of people.  My hair started falling out so much that my hair dresser asked me if I was on chemo.  With all of the side effects, I just told my doctors to forget it, to find something else.

I hope you have a much better time with it and that it will work great for you without the reactions I had.

[mdomer]

I also experienced the odd taste in soda, almost as if it burned my mouth to drink it. I had weight loss and also It is known to messes with birth control. If this medicine doesn't work for you the next one my doctor refered to me was Nortriptyline (Spelling?) I HIGHLY recommend not trying it! I experienced night terrors and serious depression. Also depakote (Spelling?) was another kind I tried and it made me depressed as well and made me feel as thought I was living in a fog. Also I had poor concentration while I was on it.

[frank_noahsmommy]

Thanks for all the input. I have now been on it for 6 weeks and started to loose some hair, not much and I do have a lot of it, but if becomes to much I will contact my Dr. I have also been on a diet and have lost 18 lbs in the 6 weeks, well I started the diet 3 weeks ago. Soda and beer still taste weird. I don't drink beer any more because of the weird taste!!! I feel fine, not depressed. But I will watch for signs....Thanks again!

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? It is good that you are adjusting well to the side effects of topamax. I agree that if you experience additional symptoms, you inform your doctor about themimmediately. This link may help with the side effects that you should also watch out for : http://www.medicinenet.com/topiramate-oral/article.htm
Take care and best regards.

[rexmanning]

I've been on Topamax building up to 100mg per day for the past 4 weeks now and the tingling and  the word finding difficulty side effects are not that different to what I was experiencing before with the migraines/headaches I was getting every day. Diet coke tastes ugh,which I am quite sad about and I have to remind myself to eat which again is not a bad thing. The days where my head is clear ( so far about 2 days out of every 7 ) I feel such a sense of relief. I am really trying to keep up my fluid intake though. So far so good. Glad you've gotten a good result from it. :)

[cinderella25]

I also have the issue with tingling in hands and feet.  My neurologist recommended Vitamin C to stop this.  It has stopped that side effect for me.  Other than the numbing/tingling I have had no other side effects from the topamax, going on 8 years of use.

Leslie

[Annelllisa]

I am new here,  (and very scared after one day on Topamax.)   My doctor started me on 200mg   2X a day  and I had to hold on to the walls to stand up, couldn't put 4 words of Our Father's Prayer toghether, lol Yes, I believed I was dying... lol and my head felt like was going to explode. I am 5'5 99Lbs. I am Bi Polar  but I am not sure this is the best drug for me. What should I do ?

[ILOVEDALS]

Topamax is a good medication, but in my personal experience, I had to started out at a low dose and titrated up to the maintenance dose of 200 mg and at one time I was on 300 mg for my migraines as a preventative.  I've been on Topamax or Zonagran, which has a very similar profile, for several years and am currently on 200 mg of Topamax divided into twice a day. Yes, the Vit C does help with the tingles in the extremities.  I would strongly advise you to call your doctor tomorrow and discuss whether you need to start on a lower dose and titrate up to the dose you need to be taking for your condition.  Are you taking it for dual diagnoses of headaches and Bi Polar or Bi Polar?  Many people that I've known that have started taking Topamax have had to start out a bit slower with the dosage and work up on it. Just call your Dr. and discuss this before giving up on it ... I was started out to high the first time I tried it and had to back down and tolerated it fine after we lowered and then slowly increased the dose to my maintenance.  Lost some weight and my Migraines improved!  Good Luck! :)

[epilepticdollie]

yikes, honey that's nearly as much as I take and I started out on 50's and I have epilepsy and weigh am like 2 of you......... I'd deffinately call your doctor that doesn't sound safe at all.....:(  especially if you can't even hold yourself up.