Topamax and Your Brain 

I took a low dose to prevent migraines. It worked perfectly with no side effects.

I just started Topamax at 25mg a month ago and then they increased it to 50mg. They suspected seizures and migraines and essential tremor. It had helped with all of my symptoms, but I do feel high like I smoked some weak weed. I'm giggly and feel stoned and I feel exhausted by the end of the day. I still get headaches, but I'm not just randomly forgetting everything in the middle of talking and the aphasia has stopped. I hope to God I don't start getting depressed. Trying to find the right medication balance is so stressful. I'm so glad I found this channel.

I'm new watched your Gabapentin vlog first as that caught my eye with the word brain. I've watched some other vlogs and have enjoyed the topics and your presentation. Thank you for these informed discussions. Yes, I have had the privilege of going to a neuropsychologist twice. I've been on topo for 20 yrs to treat migraines after having CVA's. Secondary for seizures that started a year later (tried many heavier seizure drugs). I was on 800mg for most of those years. Lost weight, tingling in hands and feet. Then gradually reduced down due to age. I now take 300mg. Definitely have the cognitive problems as I've gotten older. Gaba started 15 yrs ago for sleep, secondary seizures, neuropathy. Gradually increased to 200mg, now I'm on 40mg. Was taken off for a month or two and it caused me to have menopause like symptoms. I've been on Lyrica for 20 yrs for fibromyalgia, sciatic nerve pain, seizures. It's been 75mg once or twice a day. Now it's twice. I asked to lower the dosage as I could tell kidneys/liver not functioning as well and blood work showed little by little changes. For me when I went on disability 5 yrs later and had to start generics, I had to take a lot more of the dosage to get the same results. Especially topromaite. Had more side effects. As I'm on a number of meds including warfarin. A year from my strokes I was diagnosed with POTS and Neurocardiogenic Syncope too. Hope this helps. If you have any more questions send through.

Wow a year ago you were at 20k and now 80k+ that awesome! I couldn’t have came across this video at a better time. I’m a nursing student about to finish pharmacology who just started topiramate for migraine prophylaxis. I was already having fatigue, trouble with memory, finding words etc and my Dr said it was most likely due to the migraines and showed me a chart of the cycle of migraines. I was MIND BLOWN. Almost every symptom I had was on there. So when I heard about the side affects of topamax I was not excited 🤣 especially because I told him I didn’t want anything that would effect my mental health. I will be taking my 3rd dose tonight and I have definitely been feeling a little funny since starting it a couple nights ago but nothing crazy. I’ve also had mood swings but I’m starting my period in 5 days so it’s most likely because of the that. Wish me luck! New subscriber here ❤️

Topamax has really helped me with my migraine maintenance. In the beginning, I did have issues with memory and it did help with weight loss, but after two years it has all leveled out and I went from 16 migraines a month to 3-5 and that is a vast improvement.

P.S. I take topiramate ER for migraines and yes, at 100, I have some word finding trouble, but have been through so many meds I am grateful this is working and terrified to try anything else. My patients also love it for migraines, but there are complications to prescribing for my (mostly female) migraineurs in some SE you mentioned, especially for using this drug for migraines (a non-life-threatening condition). Young women may want to become pregnant, or they may NOT want to become pregnant (ironic that there are problems on either side of the spectrum) and there's that pesky "dopamax" problem, which is the number 1 reason for . However, I've quitting. However, it's a great fit for so many. I've had patients with mild side effects to refuse to stop the medication because it FEELS life-saving. And I will continue to use it, with the medical discretion it warrants. Thanks for this video.

Great info! Thank you so much. After post auto accident concussion with Cluster Headaches my neurologist ordered a Brain MRI with DTI which showed 40% -50% of gray matter and neurons affected. I was prescribed Topramax 25mg qd after STRONG intolerances to both Lomectol and Nortriptyline. I'm evidently one of those people receiving neuro-protective benefits from Topramax and function very highly on it. The other meds made me totally unable to process, unable to recall, felt like part of myself was missing, couldn't make it past 2:30 in the afternoon; felt drugged. I have now discovered numerous mistakes on my work - and was unable to see or notice those mistakes. I've just spent the last month correcting everything I did while on the other medications. I feel like myself on Topramax, although there are side affects. When my medication was changed to the Topramax the cluster headaches tripled, but when I began receiving Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy they reduced by 75% and my spinal injuries are healing. Highly recommend! Good Stuff :)

came for the info on the medication, stayed for the plant stained glass window in the back😍🔥

I have Neurosarcoidosis and experience constant headaches due to Trigeminal neuralgia. I have small fibre neuropathy in my feet which has led to restless legs at night. I was prescribed Topamax at its lowest dose for these symptoms, but discontinued after about three doses due to the brain fog which was largely reported by my husband, who said it wiped me out. I already take Epilim for my many neuropathies, and am prepared to tolerate a little breakthrough pain over the brain fog of, say, Lyrica. I have uveitis and felt worried about my vision being affected by Topamax as my eyes are constantly tired and uncomfortable. It’s a compromise. Thank you for a wonderful tutorial!

Back in 2011 i took topamax . I went from 178 to 98 lbs. Ended up in psych ward for 9 days. Lost ability to manage anything but primal instincts. It's 2023 and I am finally getting back my mind. But I haven't had migraines since 2011 and I suffered years with them 15 days out of the month.

Hi, thank you for this wonderful information. I have been on Topamax for Temporal Lobe Epilepsy for 8 years. I also get severe depression so it has been a great mood stabiliser. I have taken up to 300 mg but am now on 100 mg Topamax an 50 mg Lamictal. Word blindness and number blindness have always been a problem and lately I’ve noticed more strange memory issues, which is why I watched your video. Kath

I’ve been taking 200mg of Topomax a day since 2009 for atypical migraines. What Topomax has done is reduce the triggers that used to happen constantly from light, noise, scent, crowds, change in temperature and so on. The symptoms were passing out, severe nausea, face migraines, heart attack symptoms. Electric shock, complete shutdown with inability to walk or talk. Honestly it was horrible. I still have triggers but not so often or severe. I’m 75 and figure I forget words and Topomax encourages me to do more without feeling so afraid of what will happen. If you know inside that something isn’t right, get help. People might try to discourage you, but you take care of yourself. You are important!

100 mg started 20+ years ago for severe pts that was intolerable. Totally changed the way drinks taste. Depersonalization. Weight loss. Word finding difficulty. HOWEVER, it helps so much that I will stay on it.

I take it for seizures and the benefits of migraine prevention. That being said, I appreciate so much what you are doing as I am on Gabapentin as well. I'm on 300mg a day of Topimax. 1800 of Gabapentin. I have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy or CRPS since 30. Am now 57. Grand Mal seizures started about 5 yrs. later. Love what you are doing!! Thanks so much!!!

You are a blessing your willingness to d the proper research to give the ra honest information thank you very much

I really appreciate the way you break everything down!! Thank you! 🤗🫶

Topamax is also nicknamed Stupamax for the same reason it’s nicknamed Dopamax. When I took Topamax, I wasn’t worried about side effects at first, but my memory started to get weak about a year after I got put on that medication, and I got slightly nearsighted around that same time. I felt kind of scared that the side effects would mean permanent damage for me, but they stopped completely after I got off of Topamax.

I’m am taking it to prevent migraines but I am also on a weight lost journey. I had no idea it helped with obesity and weight loss. I just thought it was for seizures and migraines. I only found your channel from a search about it. And that was only because another RU-vidr mentioned her being prescribed for weight loss. Very interesting stuff. Thanks for the info.

I have been on Topamax for 2 years now, for migraines. Started on 50mg, I now at 75mg. I deal a lot with trying to find the words, but it find that it happens more than often verbally, than when I am typing text out. I still deal with tingling sensation, but I have been dealing with that since before Topamax. Other than Adhd, Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, Visual Snow Syndrome, Silent Migraines, Hemiplegic migraines all things I have suffered from since I was a child now into 40+ ; I am on no other medications for those things. I stutter a lot now, and have the abridged disconnect when trying to remember words. I am now dealing with the myopia getting worse, some days I wake up and can’t see anything out of my left eye, I had no clue that was a reaction of Topamax, thank you for letting me know.

Very informative, thank you

Ive just been prescribed this for migraines, and found your video extremely informative. Thanks !

Already dealing with word finding in speech and scored low of cognitive test. Yet college level English before head and neck injury. This dose not sound like a drug I would want to take. Thank you for all the information you share 👍

I am so happy to have found you. I was totally impressed that you never said "ah" once! That being said, I have been on Topamax for migraine headaches for at least 20 years. And if my memory is correct I do remember tingling in my fingers and toes when I began taking this medication. But I don't recall ever having a conversation with any of my doctors regarding Glaucoma, especially since I have had it for YEARS! I have only listened to 2 of your videos and I am a fan for life. I can't wait to share your program with one of my Doctors and all of my friends and family. Please continue your insightful and informative work. Thank you.

Hello, TBI and neck injury here. However it’s not just the head but the neck. I’m getting very frustrated with Doctors by passing the neck. The pain has localized in neck with pain traveling not only to the spine but runs up to behind the ears and at it worse to top of my brain. I still have pressure behind the eyes and the injuries are from a fall off of a ladder. If this seems long but I will use this note for explaining the Neurologist and insurance. Mind you I have had five CT scans within two days. None of them are of the neck . Thank you for allowing me to rant. To those who are dealing with doctors and insurance side stepping this issue please let me know. Respectfully Lori

I have been taking Topiramate 25mg for over a year now for BP disorder “mood stabilizer” and it has been a great help. Thank you for this informative video. Just became a follower 😊

Just started 50mg for migraines 4 days ago. I actually feel really good, like it boosts my serotonin or something. I do notice tingling, but have had that issue before. But all these negative side effects comments make me nervous. Good to be aware of as I more forward. Thanks for all the info

I've been taking it for a couple of months now for vestibular migraine. It's been a life saver. My vertigo was unbearable.

Thank you for this channel. The brain is a very complicated piece of machinery. If we all report symptoms related to our experience with medications it is sure to help someone down the road. I had a malignant brain tumor (Astrocytoma grade 3) and had a resection, radiation (6 weeks) and chemo (Temodar). I can say that for myself, one of the best drugs is Provigil (Modafinil) as it contributes to wakefulness. The least favorite drug was arricept. It induced night terrors for me and until I could figure it out I was afraid to go to sleep. At this writing the only drug that I am taking is Modafinil. It is my thoughts that nutrition plays a huge part in how the brain works. Even though I grew up in the south and love sweet tea, I now try to keep my carbs below 50 per day. Yes, it is hard when you love sweets, but I believe that tumors also love sugar.

I was originally prescribed it for my migraines quite a while ago. Now it does double duty as it also helps my orthostatic tremors.

WOW...Thank you Sooooo much for your informative, thoughtful. well-presented information. I am struggling with whether to start Topamax for migraines (My Dr. prescribed it 2 months ago and I think today is the day I'll start). I have feared risking damage to my eyesight, but I have migraines 3-4 days a week and I am so tired of them. I'll stay in touch to share my experience.

I found this very informative and interesting. I have noticed a number of subtle effects recently that I did not associate with taking Topiramate, but you just listed off several. I’ve been taking 50mg twice a day for 16 days. This is the second time I’ve taken it for migraine prevention. I’ve had multiple concussions, crushed and reconstructed sinuses, blown lower disks, cervical spine misalignment and all around beat myself up young. Now I deal with chronic headaches, recently, basically daily. The last year the headaches got pretty bad and were nearly every day. Full migraines weekly, sometimes multiple to several. My first week or week and a half on Topiramate this time, I noticed my extremities were very tingly. Like, a lot. I assumed this was just another spinal related thing. Even my nose and lips got tingly. Fingers and toes the most, nose and lips some, less the farther back on my head and farther up my arms and legs you go. The headaches did start to get milder in as little as about a 7 to 10 days in though. I also have had a few days where I forgot to eat lunch, very uncharacteristic of me. I could use to drop some weight, hope that sticks. It’s also been quite stressful lately, our 1st kid is 4 1/2 and the 2nd is due in March, wife is very pregnant, there have been some complications, and it’s been stressful. I didn’t realize it at first but I feel like I’ve been a bit more chill through the chaos and constant demands this last week. Overall I’m happy with the effects. I’m getting more done, headaches are slowing down, only 2 migraines since starting and those were in the first 4 days, the tingling is getting lighter, and I did chores for 5 hours yesterday after work before sitting down to have dinner at 9pm. So, moving in a good direction. 😅

Topamax for weightless. Can you do a video to expand more on that. What are the long term effects after achieving desired weight loss?

This is excellent 👏👏 thank you :)

Years ago I took topamax for migraine prevention. I don't remember the dosage, but I believe it was on the longer side. I was only able to tolerate it for 2.5 months before I started showing signs of depression. My husband noticed a change even in my countenance and facial expressions and took me to the doctor. We had to shave off small amounts of the pills every three to four days until I finally got off them. I experienced horrible brain zaps that were very painful while decreasing the dosage. I wish I could have stayed on it because I didn't have a migraine for the 2.5 months I took it.

I take a low dose (25 mg), morning and evening,for chronic headaches. I find it slightly helps. I appreciate your lectures!! Thank you :)

About 15 years ago, I was prescribed Topamax for migraine prevention. I don't remember the dosage, but I believe it was on the low end. I only lasted about four days on it, because of the cognitive effects. The worst effect I experienced were along the lines of word-finding issues, but not exactly. In my case, I knew the words, but there was a disconnect between thinking of something and expressing it. Whether I spoke, wrote, or typed, the words that came out were not the words I was thinking of! I had just begun my first semester towards a new degree and I could not express myself well enough to complete assignments or participate in discussions. I couldn't afford to wait it out to see if it leveled off, so I stopped taking it.

I would love a video on amitriptyline. Especially the link between it and female hormones.

First off I would like to say I appreciate your channel. I have been taking Topamax pretty much since 2004. Having bipolar disorder at that time, I was reading lots of books on medicine that could help because all the usual meds didn't work. So I asked my physicist if I could try it with my Wellbutrin. At times I was on high doses as like 300mg then went down to 100mg twice a day... This medication with all its little quirks has helped me survive my life. At my worst, my bipolar was rapid cycling and I had racing thoughts, was on edge, and never slept. Topamax calmed all that I can function as a normal person. On the plus side, my nervous tics like biting fingernails, and rapid speech have also stopped. I can listen to people now. Yes, at first I felt like a stroke victim. My doctor explained that was my brain slowing down. In hind site, she was very right. But I would rather be calm than the frazzled mess of a person like before Topamax.

I am taking that starting today, I'll keep up posted with the effectiveness. Thanks, I found your video very informative. 😊😊

I also was on topomax for chronic migraines. This was about 10 yrs ago, started at a "normal" dose, don't remember the amt, but it did help some..dr raised my dose to i think 200 or even more, my memory isn't great probably due to the meds i'm on. Anyway i started noticing a soft buzzing in my head, that over time it got so loud i couldn't sleep or concentrate, i was a mess. The migraines were somewhat better but the benefits didn't last, i think altogether i was on it a yr, but eventually the bad outweighed the good and dr weaned me off it and we tried other things.

Cervical dystonia and head tremors. It’s been a life changer.

Day 1 for migraines. Will increase weekly to 100 by week four. My migraines are so bad that I need to try something. Thank you for the information. I can’t complain about my neurologist he was so informative and listened to me. He took his time. I was actually surprised and thankful.

I just discovered your channel. It’s awesome. I wonder if you have any lectures on Lexapro?

I took it for binge eating. After about 2 weeks, I started not sleeping or eating. I lost 20 pounds in about 4 weeks. I started hallucinating. I thought people were trying to kill me. I cried and heard noises. I was diagnosed with PTSD because of the volunteer work I do with children. I went to therapy for a year. I only took it about 8 weeks before I quit cold turkey. I only took 50 mg twice a day.

Just after 2 weeks of taking it I had crazy anxiety with dissociative panic attacks, crazy vision problems that made driving dangerous, muscle pain and painful spasms/jolts in my neck/leg/jaw. I never thought a medication could do something like this.

I’m new too, hopefully learn something about brain seizures, two in fact over the last 4 years and I’m a fit 75 year old pensioner!

I take for migraine prevention. My migraines are mostly the ones with the auroras or tunnel vision and also numbness on one side of my body, even on the inside of my body and confusion. I have the brain fog like right now I cannot think of all the right words to describe it. And they will just continue over and over like the visual problems they will clear and come again but the Topamax has helped and no I don't want a higher dose as I can't remember things. Thanks for sharing .

I am a 75 yo woman with ET and tried to take Topamax (aka 'dopamax') about 5 years ago at the smallest available dose. The day after i started this med i had a sudden visual field cut in my problematic left eye which has unilateral RP. I nearly had an auto accident due to the field cut. My mood was significantly destabilized and i had anger and aggression also immediately. My tremor was definitely significantly minimized almost to the point of extinction. I am a lifelong obese person and my appetite for food became nil. After one week at the minimum dose, after informing my neurologist about the adverse effects, he cut the dose in half for a second week of trial of Topamax and i developed uveitis which my rheumatologist attributed in writing to Topamax. At the end of the second week - first at something like 25 mg daily then second week at half that dose - i was told to stop the drug. I only had 10 degrees of central vision in the left eye when i started topamax, and that is my approximate current functional field of vision on the left currently, so i did regain the lost visual field cut over time. However, the left eye had several episodes of uveitis which progressed to CME (or cystic macular edema) in that left eye and i was told to expect to lose my vision in that eye at the time of the uveitis/CME although i have managed to retain my 10 degrees of central vision since with the use of prednisolone and dorzolamide topically OS. I continue to use dorzolamide only at HS and the CME has resolved. My ophthalmology care is currently at the UW/HMC and neurologist at Virginia Mason. Its a damn shame i couldn't tolerate the Topamax because if i had been able to take it it would have really helped with both my ET and also my overeating.

I’m taking it for tremors on a tbi 25-250 it’s been life changing 🎉haven’t had any tremors ever since thank goodness 😅

I suffered with migraines for years. I took topamax for about 1.5 years. I went wacky but haven't had any more migraines.

Topamax gave me induced akathisia. I have had a lot of meds that caused akathisia and now I am so scared to take anything. I wish you would do a throughout video on akathisia. I can't imagine there being anything more frightening, painful, horrible, or uncomfortable than akathisia.

My friend took Topamax last year and had a horrible time with it lots of cognitive issues plus more that I dont recall that was severe. While getting off she had detachment, anxiety, out of body, hyper arousal. She said it was the hardest thing she has ever gone through. She was only on 75mg and only for a few months. Ive not had any thing like that thankfully and im on 200mg.

I was just prescribed this to help with weightloss, I haven't started taking it yet....

I am currently on Diamox for IIH, but can't tolerate my target dose due to it's side effects. My neurologist is considering adding topimax on top of my Diamox to get my intracranial hypertension under control and prevent blindness, and it was recommended years ago by my PCP to prevent my migraines, which I also struggle with. I have heard anecdotally that topimax affects memory in pretty astounding ways, which is concerning because I'm already struggling with brain fog, word finding, stuttering and short term memory. Thank you for posting this!

My 13yo daughter has intractable epilepsy. She started on keppra and was hallucinating with suicidal ideations. She then switched to Tegretol and put on a lot of weight and continued to have seizures. We are now on week 7 of Topamax. She has lost alot of weight already. Mood wise she has been a bit manic and stoned like laughing at nothing. Her cognitive ability seems to be getting better..which is odd. But she is still having focal seizures we have been slowly increasing and are at 100mg twice a day.

On it for migraines. When I first got on it about 4-5 years ago my doctor rapidly moved me up to the max dosage. I believe it was 400 a day. I was on it for a couple years with no results. Long story short I decided to taper down myself due to all the side effects since it wasn’t working anyway. I was tapering extremely slowly. Once I was taking about 200mg a day I noticed my migraines were less & less & that’s what mg. I’ve been on with roughly 2-3 migraines a year now. However, I’m not the same person I was before Topamax. I’m miserable. Not happy. I have the symptoms of a bipolar person. Not to mention many other side effects.

Thanks for the Topiramate tips, just started 50mg twice a day. I was admiring your background thinking it was a digital one. Its actually real. Ur so lucky haha❤❤❤ 😊

I was prescribed it for weight loss. Only 25mg, though. Thinking about quitting it now because I accidentally forgot to take it for a couple of days and I feel more sharp in general. I really resonate with the word finding thing and it seems to be getting worse with time.

I current take Topiramate for migraine prevention. I came here bc I'm experiencing derealization, depersonalization, basically just general dissociation, extreme pupillary dilation, blurry vision, photophobia (aka light sensitivity), a floating sensation, slower cognitive processing, and tingling in the face. All these occured after stopping the medication for a bit then restarting it without weening myself back onto it (woops). I'm not seeking medical advice with this comment btw. Just putting my side effects out there in case others are experiencing the same thing. Feel free to reply if you're experiencing something similar. I believe I'm at 200mg rn

Topiramate extended release is what I take for migraine prevention but tinnitus is a side effect for me and strange as that is my legs from the mid calf down feels like they are in a bucket of ice from fall to spring. Since the migraines are worse in summer it works out okay I usually go off in the winter and back on it in spring. Very strange I think but it's true Thanks for the good info you give us

I’ve been off balance with severe brain discomfort (not headaches at all) pressure and pulsating every day 24/7 non stop for 19 months now. The doctor has prescribed me topiramate for it. I hope it works.

When I tried topomax around 10 years ago for migraine prevention, it caused a different kind of headache. Every time I stood up the top of my head pounded and hurt.

Thank you so much for this informative content! I took Topamax a few years ago in hopes of relieving my chronic (35+ years) occipital headaches. I had all kinds of crazy side effects, not the least of which was cognitive decline. About one month in, I experienced about two weeks of no head pain (amazing!🙂). After that, however, I developed a frontal headache, which remained for the duration of the six months I stayed on the drug. After five months on Topamax, my hair started falling out in handfuls. That is when I began titrating off of it. Sadly, the brain issues have remained (can't find words, poor balance, feeling "in a fog," and at times I even forget basic facts like my phone number, what season it is, and how to use an ATM machine). I am currently awaiting results of neuropsychological testing. ☹️

I just started taking toppirimate 50mg 2/day yesterday. I am 48 years old and I had two strokes one month ago, I have really bad headaches. I get pins and needles ever since I started taking this medicine yesterday. Your video has been very informative. I was not sure why my doctor prescribed this I was going to stop taking it, but I think I will give it a chance for now. I think the benefits outweigh the risks for me right now at this Tim of my life. Thank you very much for your video. The only other medicine that helps my headaches is hydrocodone which I have stopped taking which is a plus in my book.

I’m on topamax for bipolar disorder 2 (Sweden) and it has helped me so much, my memory is worse and I developed tics BUT my mood has significantly improved since I started taking them and people have told me I seem to be the person I used to be before I developed bipolar at 16 which is all I wanted

I took topamax for about 8 years and I move been it off it a few. My vocabulary has not come back to where it used to be. But I have a slightly easier time learning new phone numbers now and remembering what day it is

Could you share latest research on neuro-feedback?

I have been on it since 1996 for migraine control. It was very successful in the early years as my migraines were extremely severe and I was on Morphine injections at home x5/ week to manage them. I also have ME/CFS/FM. I am on 100 mg BD but am still getting migraines regularly and have to have a Morphine injection from my GP every couple of months after severe stress or vaccines like Fluvax or Covid vaccine. I have tried a couple of time to reduce the dose but my migraines have increased severely. Over the last 20 years I have noticed increasing nominal aphasia and memory issues, brain fog that is different from the brain frog of ME/CFS. When I began taking Gabapentin for the neuropathic pain of the FM the nominal aphasia becomes a lot worse. When you were talking about personality changes with Gabapentin I think that happened with me when I was back at work as a Midwife for 8 years, in the last couple of years as I was getting a lot of patient complaints about me saying things that I did not remember saying and would not usually say - were totally out of character for me, being very unkind or rude etc. I was also finding that I was getting very drowsy when I was driving and often had to stop and rest on my way home on a 30 minute trip. I felt SO much better when I took myself off all those drugs and lost 30kgs in the process. I also came off my anti-depressants and half of my blood pressure meds. I have been very concerned about dementia symptoms for years but all testing came back normal. QUESTION: I have been in therapy for severe childhood trauma that triggered the migraines at the age of six and they got a lot worse when I began therapy and the repressed memories returned. After 31 years I have made great strides and am seeing a new therapist who is dealing with the work in a very less trauma inducing way and I am not getting depressed or stressed after my therapy sessions. So could this be a good time to titration the doses down? Does Topamax cause cataracts?

TOPAMAX was another medication I was on (for chronic headaches & migraines) in addition to Gabapentin, fentanyl, OXYCODONE, Xanax, BACLOFEN, robaxen, Wellbutrin, duloxetine, Oxybutyn 😅 after medical nightmare in 2007

I was surprised you did not mention it being used for Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) / psydotumor cerebri - especially because I do believe it is approved for this and thus not an off label use.

My daughter has been taking it since July for migraines and has lost weight from it. That’s about the only side effect I’ve noticed so far. But everyone talking about all these side effects makes me want to take get off of it.

I have a mucocele in my petrous apex, plus mood disorder, so it’s been great

Took it for a bit and it seriously messed with my head. Made me angry for no reason, agitated, and depressed/suicidal all rolled up in one. Didn't work at all for my AUD, for which it was prescribed.

I wish I would have known the risk.

I am tapering off this drug as of yesterday. Because the day before that I found out that the pressure in my eyes that the doctor has been been watching for years shot up over the year I have been on it. Now I am now on drops to lower pressure in my eyes and possible looking at surgery for glaucoma in December! I read the package quickly when I bought it but quickly forgot all it said and that is not good. I kept telling two different medical professionals I could not get any quality sleep and some nights only 3-4 hours. I told them my memory was not as good as it used to be, WORDS especially would not come to me. My husband was having to finish sentences. But because of covid and all it’s weird lasting symptoms, they were chalking it up to that. Never again. I am going through the rest of my meds and looking back at their side affects now. Getting off this 🚂 train as fast as I can.

Your information was excellent. I take 200mg at pm and 350mg Oxcarbazapine am. Oh yes words are my biggest issue.

Thanks!

Wow...this is fascinating...and who knew...all I can say is THANK GOD for RU-vid and Dr.'s like you Dr. Sullivan for taking the time to post this info for us smart people who like to do our homework and don't think Doctors are GOD.....btw you are very pretty lady. From the beginning when the Dr. prescribed this drug, and I told myself I better do my homework mostly b/c my Dr. tells me nothing because she's always one leg and foot out the door when I go see her and never listens to me and of course really pisses me off; bottom line, I don't want to be dependent on ANY drugs other than my blood pressure pills. So thanks again for all this info. I am my own once again; my own health advocate.

I haven’t taken yet. Prescribed 25 mg he said okay to cut in half to see how I do on it. Its use would be off label for anxiety. I do not need to lose weight and I am careful about what I take so I had asked if I could start at a lower than normal dose and dr agreed.

these videos are fantastic, thank you for this info! as a healthcare provider with severe mental illness, I would LOVE it if you could cite your sources. I'm on a mental health break from work, and I only have access to the CINAHL database. I am also very very tired from my mood disorder & the other medications I'm titrating off. I want to review the literature before taking Topamax, especially since I also take lexapro and diazepam and I am concerned about drug interactions. I can't find any high-quality studies that match the population group I fall into. I think I'm a bit biased since I only have access to 1 journal database, but if you could send some studies that are relevant to me (BPD, ?bipolar, chronic and severe depression, anxiety, acute stress disorder, ?CPTSD, young adult age group) I will be forever grateful

I was just prescribed Topiramate today for seizures. I'm a little confused about how it's supposed to stop the electric current, because my understanding was that a seizure occurs when the electric current stops or gets interrupted. I was on Dilatin and Gabapentin, but Doc says this is a better medication for me. I really hope this works, cause everyday is horrifying thinking that I can have a seizure at any given moment. Thank you for your channel. Best regards...

On 100 mg x 4 daily for 15+ years. Now have nystagmus with diplopia and oscillopia and can't drive. No one ever suggested to taper down or warn me of any potential side effects. I finally tapered down and now am taking 50 mg twice daily but vision is just getting worse. Taking for migraine prevention.

I reached a dose of 300 mg/day. It gave me the fogs, difficulty with finding words but helped with weight loss. Now that I stopped it I can’t control my appetite. I’m considering going back on it

I would really appreciate if you could do a video on how and why Xanax gives me seizures. I never had a seizure until I got on Xanax and only have seizures when trying to get off the medicine and I hate having seizures so I feel like I'm stuck on that med for life and I really don't want to be I believe it has given me PTSD depression and a few other things.

Was introduced to to topamax today so I'm new to this was given for migrations

Hello, thank you for all the info. I’ve been taking topamax for more than 15 years and never new all this you talked about. Thank you. Now in addition to topamax I’m on a new medication called xcopri, can you please give some info on it if possible. Blessings.

Great video thank you! Here’s my story. I take Topamax for migraines. I was getting them almost daily. I took 25 mgs once daily for a year then upped my dose to 50mgs. As soon as I did my side effects seem to worsen so I dropped down back to 25mgs. My side effects are extreme tiredness, tingling of hands and feet, forgetful/brain fog and I think it might make me a little nervous. I did lose weight almost immediately when starting the medication. I lost about 20 lbs. I’ve recently gained almost all of it back and nothing in my diet or exercise routine has changed. I’m not happy about it. I know I don’t take Topamax for weight loss but for me. It wasn’t a bad side effect.

I was on it in my 20s and could tolerate it. Made me lose ALOT of weight. Back then I was migraines w auras. Forward to my mid 30s and after a stroke and several TIAs I was finally diagnosed with hemiplegic migraines and given topomax again. For some reason could not tolerate it. Gave me a horrible anxiety attack blurred vision loss of words. I have tried a tons of "preventatives" and none help. Now I just have to use nurtec to try to help on onset.... most of the time it doesn't

Take it originally for hemiplegic migraines (sort of helps) then my pdoc has me off label for BP1, BPD and PTSD (not sure if it helps at all for these).

I've been on Topamax @ 400mg for over 20yrs for migraines and I'm also on gabapentin @ 3600mg a day for over 10yrs!! I have the memory problem big time it frustrates me when I know the word but can't say it!!

I was on this a little while for bipolar disorder by the VA. I don't remember the dosage of how long but when I moved and went to a different VA area they called it the "stupid pill." Unil this day my memory has been bad.

I was a cluster headache sufferer from the age of 14 to 32 and tried all the drug available to try and get rid of them, when topamax came along it was like a life saver. Anyway i ended up on a very strong dosage and my doctor let me self dose without any help and i ended up on 300mg a day. I now suffer from very bad memory loss, depression, struggle to remember words and so on.

So Im kinda scared of taking it due to the side effects, can someone please tell me how it works and what side effects you guys have experience? What major side effects and how did you fix it?

My doc wants me on it for insomnia and weight loss but I am leery of the glaucoma and other risks.

Extreme Joint/bone pain or stiffness with topamax: When topamax was much newer for migraine, my neurologist prescribed it to potentially help reduce my migraines .... im not sure how much it really helped there and initially i had no discernible side effects until i started experiencing a sensation of locking up in the hips when in a squatted or bent position, i dont know how else to explain it other than it felt like something would break if i straightened too quickly and it was painful - because of the duration i was taking it, it took QUITE a long time to figure out the connection... as soon as i stopped the topamax this stopped and it was the joint pain and random bone breakage warning in less common side effects that even tipped me off that there might be a connection .... sharing in case anyone else has a similar experience after taking topamax

I have been suffering from a vestibular concussion for the last 11 months. I was only on Topiramate for 3 weeks when I started hearing voices, seeing stuff & people that weren’t not there. Other symptoms: loss of appetite (weight loss which was a plus), shaking, tingling all over, confusion (and I felt stupid), anger, and impulsive. I literally felt like a walking zombie. The reason I stopped the medication is because the suicidal ideation became stronger. 😢 I rather just deal with the migraines/dizziness/neck pain over feeling like I no longer want to live. What really pisses me off is that the Neuropsychiatrist came off like she thought I was making these symptoms up.

I took Topamax for migraine prevention. However ; I was plagued with kidney stones.

I was just prescribed it for migraine prevention

I took Topamax 15 or so years ago, for depression, migraine prevention & ET. Titrated up to full dose, then started having dementia-like symptoms like getting lost on my way home from work. I don't know if Topamax would have been effective because I could not stay on it. Dementia-like symptoms resolved after I finally was off.

I'm on a way lower dose than 300 and 4 and still experience word finding.