cognitive side effects of Topamax

Sad Mermaid · Feb 03, 2017, 09:38 PM

I just started Zonegran for migraine prevention. It is a medication that it is similar to Topamax. I had trouble retrieving the word "garlic" from my memory today. I think this type of side effect does NOT go away - right?

Moose72 · Feb 03, 2017, 09:47 PM

It got better for me. I'm on topomax. It still happens but it's not as bad as it was when I first went on it

Sad Mermaid · Feb 03, 2017, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moose72

It got better for me. I'm on topomax. It still happens but it's not as bad as it was when I first went on it

Thank you so much - I am hopeful both for migraine prevention and for weight loss, which has been demonstrated in clinical trials.

Moose72 · Feb 03, 2017, 10:38 PM

You're not losing weight with all that exercise?

Sad Mermaid · Feb 03, 2017, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moose72

You're not losing weight with all that exercise?

Not with regular walking, no, but last year I lost 8 lbs with:

- strength training
- interval training

I then had a leg injury (unrelated to exercise), so I had to stop. I cannot wait to go back now that I have been cleared for all exercise by a physical medicine dr.

but I do believe that walking helps me not gain weight on Zyprexa.

Also, when I did lose those 8 lbs, people commented as if I lost 20 lbs, because it was in the right place - my tummy. So I hope that by going back to strength training and interval training I will have more success.

MusicLover82 · Feb 04, 2017, 12:06 AM

I had to stop taking Topomax because of a couple of confusion spells that scared me. I don't know if that helps, but I thought I'd share.

Wander · Feb 04, 2017, 02:48 AM

When I was IP last Nov/Dec I was put on Topomax. Within days I lost my word finding ability, forgot all my passwords and became very clumsy. Once I tipped a coffee all over my desk and iPhone I immediately asked the nurses to cease the medication(thankfully iPhone survived!). I felt better within two days. My pdoc wanted to put me back on it two weeks ago and I said NO, no way, and listed the problems I had. He said but you were very ill, it could have been anything. But I know it was the Topomax due to the way it started and stopped in line with me taking it. I know when I see my pdoc on Tuesday he is going to push it again but I just can't afford that kind of problem when I study Writing at university.

Maybe the side effects go away as I was only on it less than a week but it was a horrible experience. I hope it is a better experience for you. We are all different.

HALLIEBETH87 · Feb 04, 2017, 04:15 AM

I couldn't do topamax. The cognitive side effects were too bad for me
To continue it after a week.

Sad Mermaid · Feb 04, 2017, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MusicLover82

I had to stop taking Topomax because of a couple of confusion spells that scared me. I don't know if that helps, but I thought I'd share.

I do not know if mine qualifies as a confusion spell, but the following happened:

My manager at work asked me whether I connected with Melissa or she is still out. I am just returning to work and still attending IOP 50% of the time. Melissa is a licensed clinical social worker at the IOP. I got confused because I did not expect the manager to know her. It took me several LOOONG and embarrassing seconds to recall that Melissa is one of the secretaries at work. I suspected that Zonegran ( ~ Topamax) was at work behind this episode. And then a few minutes later I could not retrieve the word "garlic" from memory. The funny thing, I could not retrieve it in English, but when I tried it in Russian (my native tongue), I had no difficulties. Eventually I was able to come up with "garlic", but it felt like dealing with dark matter.