Topamax warning

jesyka · Dec 13, 2023 at 11:36 PM

I just found out that taking this medication can cause stress incontinence which is something I’ve been having an issue with for the last month.

I started taking it not to long ago. I stopped taking it a few days ago. This is scary & upsetting.

Has anyone else had any issues taking this medication?

Tart Cherry Jam · Dec 14, 2023 at 01:34 AM

I had multiple issues each time I tried taking Topamax, even at tiny dosages, but I did not have stress incontinence on it.

Apparently it is a rarely reported side effect, or at least it was in 2014: Topiramate-Associated Urinary Incontinence: A Case Verified... : Clinical Neuropharmacology.

jesyka · Dec 14, 2023 at 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tart Cherry Jam

I had multiple issues each time I tried taking Topamax, even at tiny dosages, but I did not have stress incontinence on it.

Apparently it is a rarely reported side effect, or at least it was in 2014: Topiramate-Associated Urinary Incontinence: A Case Verified... : Clinical Neuropharmacology.

Sorry to hear that. What issue did it cause you to have? I have an issue with acid reflux which makes me cough which causes the leakage issue too. So it’s not just the Topamax doing this.

However I don’t recall having this issue on Cymbalta which was only a few months ago. Weird.

Tart Cherry Jam · Dec 14, 2023 at 05:22 PM

I had depression, difficulty with word recall, dizziness, and general malaise.

jesyka · Dec 15, 2023 at 05:04 PM

Sorry to hear that.

Tart Cherry Jam · Dec 30, 2023 at 12:20 AM

I have had to restart it to control hunger. I have only taken two smallest doses (25 mg tabs) and I have already had one episode of forgetting a word. As is typical of such memory lapses, the word suddenly came back to me several hours later when I was not looking for it but rather was simply eating dinner.

But I have to control hunger so I am afraid that I will need to live with occasional word retrieval problems. Luckily I know a lot of synonyms, so there are workarounds...

MuddyBoots · Dec 31, 2023 at 07:09 AM

I've had no issue with it other than it adding restricting to my eating disorder and helping me become even more underweight. I had a friend say it screwed with her eyes pretty badly.

Mountaindewed · Dec 31, 2023 at 10:09 AM

Sorry for the tmi. But I've crapped my pants twice in my sleep this year and I never really thought it could be the topamax or something else I was dealing with.

Tart Cherry Jam · Dec 31, 2023 at 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

Sorry for the tmi. But I've crapped my pants twice in my sleep this year and I never really thought it could be the topamax or something else I was dealing with.

You are on a bunch of meds. Could be something else.

Mountaindewed · Dec 31, 2023 at 10:22 AM

I just googled it because I've been so stressed and anxious in general recently and it says Topamax can cause all that. I was in a good mood this morning before I took my AM dose. Now I'm all down and depressrd. I'm thinking of asking my pdoc to take me off it when I see him on the 8th.

Tart Cherry Jam · Dec 31, 2023 at 11:55 AM

Why have you been put on it in the first place? it is an odd decision to put someone suffering from an eating disorder on topamax.

MuddyBoots · Jan 02, 2024 at 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tart Cherry Jam

Why have you been put on it in the first place? it is an odd decision to put someone suffering from an eating disorder on topamax.

Pretty sure you were asking MD, but I was put on it in a last ditch attempt at halving my IQ so I'd turn from an annoying smartass to a harmless dumbass. I'm not on it anymore.

Tart Cherry Jam · Jan 02, 2024 at 07:52 AM

Yes, I was asking MD.

jesyka · Jan 02, 2024 at 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tart Cherry Jam

I have had to restart it to control hunger. I have only taken two smallest doses (25 mg tabs) and I have already had one episode of forgetting a word. As is typical of such memory lapses, the word suddenly came back to me several hours later when I was not looking for it but rather was simply eating dinner.

But I have to control hunger so I am afraid that I will need to live with occasional word retrieval problems. Luckily I know a lot of synonyms, so there are workarounds...

Sorry to hear that. I recently stopped taking it since I didn’t feel a difference in how it made me feel.

I’m OK without it. i’m taking vitamins now & will look into trying natural herbal pills instead.

jesyka · Jan 02, 2024 at 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuddyBoots

I've had no issue with it other than it adding restricting to my eating disorder and helping me become even more underweight. I had a friend say it screwed with her eyes pretty badly.

Omg, these side effects are scary!

jesyka · Jan 02, 2024 at 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

Sorry for the tmi. But I've crapped my pants twice in my sleep this year and I never really thought it could be the topamax or something else I was dealing with.

Sorry to hear that. Try pearl probiotics. It might help balance your gut bacteria. It’s small & easy to swallow. You can find it on Amazon or Sprouts market.

jesyka · Jan 02, 2024 at 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

I just googled it because I've been so stressed and anxious in general recently and it says Topamax can cause all that. I was in a good mood this morning before I took my AM dose. Now I'm all down and depressrd. I'm thinking of asking my pdoc to take me off it when I see him on the 8th.

Stop talking it then.

Tart Cherry Jam · Jan 02, 2024 at 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesyka

Sorry to hear that. I recently stopped taking it since I didn’t feel a difference in how it made me feel.

I’m OK without it. i’m taking vitamins now & will look into trying natural herbal pills instead.

What were you taking Topamax for? It is prescribed for a wide variety of needs by doctors of different specialties.

jesyka · Jan 03, 2024 at 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tart Cherry Jam

What were you taking Topamax for? It is prescribed for a wide variety of needs by doctors of different specialties.

Depression & anxiety. My psychiatrist is stubborn & she’ll insist on increasing the dosage first before starting me on anything new Nothing works, so I give up. She’s a free psychiatrist. I only get prescription ls from her.

Tart Cherry Jam · Jan 03, 2024 at 12:53 PM

There is low evidence tif any hat Topamax helps with bipolar and yet it keeps getting prescribed. I do not know about depression and anxiety but certainly not the first line of defense. Is the psychiatrist though County mental health?

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jesyka Poohbah Member Since Jun 2020 Location: U.S Posts: 1,473 4 283 hugs given	Dec 13, 2023 at 11:36 PM #1 I just found out that taking this medication can cause stress incontinence which is something I’ve been having an issue with for the last month. I started taking it not to long ago. I stopped taking it a few days ago. This is scary & upsetting. Has anyone else had any issues taking this medication?
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jesyka Poohbah Member Since Jun 2020 Location: U.S Posts: 1,473 4 283 hugs given	Dec 15, 2023 at 05:04 PM #5 Sorry to hear that.
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MuddyBoots Monster on the Hill Member Since Sep 2020 Location: by the river Posts: 5,546 (SuperPoster!) 4 6,469 hugs given	Dec 31, 2023 at 07:09 AM #7 I've had no issue with it other than it adding restricting to my eating disorder and helping me become even more underweight. I had a friend say it screwed with her eyes pretty badly. __________________ [Insert thought-provoking and comedic quote here]
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Mountaindewed Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Jun 2016 Location: Where the sidewalk ends Posts: 38,822 (SuperPoster!) 8 9,777 hugs given	Dec 31, 2023 at 10:09 AM #8 Sorry for the tmi. But I've crapped my pants twice in my sleep this year and I never really thought it could be the topamax or something else I was dealing with. __________________ I'm Blue
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Mountaindewed Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Jun 2016 Location: Where the sidewalk ends Posts: 38,822 (SuperPoster!) 8 9,777 hugs given	Dec 31, 2023 at 10:22 AM #10 I just googled it because I've been so stressed and anxious in general recently and it says Topamax can cause all that. I was in a good mood this morning before I took my AM dose. Now I'm all down and depressrd. I'm thinking of asking my pdoc to take me off it when I see him on the 8th. __________________ I'm Blue
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Tart Cherry Jam Magnate Member Since Mar 2021 Location: California Posts: 2,825 (SuperPoster!) 3 1,265 hugs given	Jan 02, 2024 at 07:52 AM #13 Yes, I was asking MD. __________________ Bipolar I w/psychotic features Last inpatient stay in 2018 Geodon 40 mg Seroquel 75 mg Gabapentin 1200 mg+Vitamin B-complex (against extrapyramidal side effects) Long term side effects from medications, some of them discontinued: - hypothyroidism - obesity BMI ~ 38
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