What topamax can do to you anyone else. - Epilepsy Message Board

limeridge · 07-06-2003, 12:27 PM

I've been on topamax for about 6 years now and I think it's about time to get off of it. My memory is so bad from before being on it. People tell me things and 5 seconds later forgot. I work at a job and I'm so lucky that the people there understand me so much. I can eat and eat and not gain a pound with them at all. People always say god your so skinny do you ever eat. Are you trying to lose more weight. The thing is NO I'm not at all.
I'm just wondering if anyone else is having any of these problems at all. Please let me know thanks..

UH-60 · 07-10-2003, 11:07 PM

My wife just started topomax today. How long did it take to feel the memory loss? She was on Dilantin but gets sick and doesn't like the loss of balance it causes. We were hoping topomax would be a good choice, plus she wants to lose the extra weight. Sounds like you don't recommend it. I do know that Dilantin causes brain degeneration so that one is definitely out. Good luck.

Porkette · 07-11-2003, 03:53 AM

Hi,
I was on topamax for only 1 month for my absence (petit mal) and complex partial sz. While I was on the drug I had 23 sz. just in one month when I usually average 8-10 sz. a month. I didn't care for the AED because as you mentioned I lost more weight and never wanted to eat except for breakfast and that's because I can't take AED's on an empty stomach.
I have found that a few AED's that I've taken over the yrs. have caused me to have short term memory problems also. I've been on mysoline (primidone) for many yrs. and my short term memory has gotten really bad over the yrs. Sometimes I will ask my husband the same questions 2-3 times in a day but I don't remember. I'm taking neurontin also and I ask myself if that can cause short term memory problems also.
Here's wishing you only the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue

karenz · 07-17-2003, 04:23 PM

I lost lots of wt on Topamax and ALSO lost lots of memory with it. But they say it could be the sz too that are frying our brains. I had to get off it because I had so much tingling all over the place it woke me up in middle of the night even. Tegretol made me gain wt, Keppra sent me into clinical Depression, Phenobarb put me to sleep and didn't help my Simple Partial Sx any. I'm about to try Dilantin and am NOT looking forward. I don't think there is any perfect drug out there yet, unfortunately. Good luck!

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Karenz, 30-something Mom. Simple partial sz since childhood. 4 grand mals. On Keppra

livenflower · 07-20-2003, 08:54 PM

i have been on topamax for about 9 months now and i take a pretty fair amount of it. I lost about 30 pounds in 2 months. I have a lil bit of speech problem but not that much sometimes i get kinda lost in what im saying or thinking or i cant finish what im saying cause i will forget. I have simple seizures and this is the only medicine i have ever taken.